10,500 feet is way the heck up there!

I have the Canon Elph 3.2MP and finding it is really nice. I "collect"
several hundred photos, deleting the ones that are bad, and burning them
to a CD. I have a DVD/CD viewer that plays .jpg files. So I watch my
photos on the television. Be careful, a JVC DVD that was promoted to do
this, didn't and I went to a Phillips. JVC help desk confirmed.

Bob Fry wrote:

"Jay Honeck" writes:

Well, I shouldn't say "never" -- but it was so big and unwieldy that I never
caught that candid shot at the birthday party, or that image of the fall
colors on my way to work. It was just too danged big to be considered
"portable", and it was a major production to get it set up.

That's why we went with the Canon Elph a couple of years ago, even though
photographically there were superior choices. The danged little thing
actually, REALLY fits in your shirt pocket, has a useful little zoom lens,
easy to use controls, and takes pretty darned good pictures. (All the
pictures on our website were taken with it.)

Exactly so. I got a Canon Powershot S10 3 years ago for that very
reason: the camera that you don't carry around won't take any pictures
at all. I've taken over 1000 pictures with the S10, so have easily
paid for it with savings on film. OK, maybe not, 'cause I wouldn't
have taken so many pix with film.

Some observations:

- I rarely print photos, viewing them on the computer instead. So
more pixels simply means you get to crop more of the original
picture. I'm still happy with 2.1 MP.

- More important to me now are faster startup time, faster time
between shots, more powerful optical zoom, better battery life.

- I usually don't use the LCD display 'cause it runs down the
battery. Get one with a good optical viewfinder too. I only
occasionally use the manual adjust for light quality or exposure. But
control over the flash is critical (force on/force off).

- I really like the panorama feature...this is where you take multiple
overlapping shots, aided by the camera, and software later stitches
them all together. Good fun.

"Michael 182" wrote in message
. net...
I know, I know - it's way OT, but I'm about to spend significant money on
a
digital camera, and it seems like the people in here may know more than
any
advice I'm getting from friends. I posted over on alt.photography, but it
is
a pretty quiet newsgroup.



Check out http://www.stevesdigicam.com
He has reviews, sample pics, etc from what seems like every digital camera
known to man! haha
Seriously though, give the website a shot...

Link doesn't work for me. I get redirected. Sure it's right?

mike regish

"Chuck" wrote in message
nk.net...

"Michael 182" wrote in message
. net...
I know, I know - it's way OT, but I'm about to spend significant money
on
a
digital camera, and it seems like the people in here may know more than
any
advice I'm getting from friends. I posted over on alt.photography, but
it
is
a pretty quiet newsgroup.



Check out http://www.stevesdigicam.com
He has reviews, sample pics, etc from what seems like every digital camera
known to man! haha
Seriously though, give the website a shot...

"mike regish" wrote in message
. net...
Link doesn't work for me. I get redirected. Sure it's right?




Sorry... try this...

http://www.steves-digicams.com/

If you want a pocket-sived camera with a 10X zoom, the Kodak DX6490
might be a good bet. Here is a URL (which will need cutting and
pasting:

http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQueri...equestid=13807

I've found the earlier DX4900, when paired with an LCD viewer and
CrystalVue monocular, makes a good wildlife camera. I'd suspect that
the new Kodak would be even better for digiscoping.

Paul

Michael,
I've been researching digital cameras for the past year or so waiting for
the right combination of features, performance and price to replace my Canon
A2. The price of all the DSLRs ruled them out immediately. The
performance, mainly focus times and focus accuracy ruled out most of the
others. However, there have been a few new ones mentioned on
http://www.dpreview.com that have greatly improved the focus times, focus
accuracy, and startup times. I think I remember one of the newest ones
mentioned having a 10x zoom. For sports you really need one with fast focus
times and accurate focusing and maybe even continuous focusing. I thought
the Minolta DImage A1 would be the leading candidate for me but the focusing
was too slow and occasionally indicates focus on the subject but it would
actually focus somewhere else. It also eats batteries at an amazing rate!
Checkout the dpreview website, it has a ton of reviews and links to a large
amount of information on digital photography.

Rick Poole


"Michael 182" wrote in message
. net...
I know, I know - it's way OT, but I'm about to spend significant money on
a
digital camera, and it seems like the people in here may know more than
any
advice I'm getting from friends. I posted over on alt.photography, but it
is
a pretty quiet newsgroup.

So, here are some parameters:

$1,000, including enough memory to make the camera useful

10x or greater zoom for youth sports - soccer and basketball

ability to increase zoom for wildlife, nature photos - maybe attach to my
Kowa TSN 822 scope

use for pictures in my 182

What else should I be asking? Is this enough info to make a decision? I am
leaning toward the Fuji S-5000. Any opinions?

Thanks,

Michael

Great site. Thanks. I have a lot of reading to do...

Michael

"Rick Poole" wrote in message
news:L3Kjb.573595$Oz4.546350@rwcrnsc54...
Michael,
I've been researching digital cameras for the past year or so waiting
for
the right combination of features, performance and price to replace my
Canon
A2. The price of all the DSLRs ruled them out immediately. The
performance, mainly focus times and focus accuracy ruled out most of the
others. However, there have been a few new ones mentioned on
http://www.dpreview.com that have greatly improved the focus times, focus
accuracy, and startup times. I think I remember one of the newest ones
mentioned having a 10x zoom. For sports you really need one with fast
focus
times and accurate focusing and maybe even continuous focusing. I thought
the Minolta DImage A1 would be the leading candidate for me but the
focusing
was too slow and occasionally indicates focus on the subject but it would
actually focus somewhere else. It also eats batteries at an amazing rate!
Checkout the dpreview website, it has a ton of reviews and links to a
large
amount of information on digital photography.

Rick Poole


"Michael 182" wrote in message
. net...
I know, I know - it's way OT, but I'm about to spend significant money
on
a
digital camera, and it seems like the people in here may know more than
any
advice I'm getting from friends. I posted over on alt.photography, but
it
is
a pretty quiet newsgroup.

So, here are some parameters:

$1,000, including enough memory to make the camera useful

10x or greater zoom for youth sports - soccer and basketball

ability to increase zoom for wildlife, nature photos - maybe attach to
my
Kowa TSN 822 scope

use for pictures in my 182

What else should I be asking? Is this enough info to make a decision? I
am
leaning toward the Fuji S-5000. Any opinions?

Thanks,

Michael

"Michael 182" wrote ...
So, here are some parameters:
$1,000, including enough memory to make the camera useful

10x or greater zoom for youth sports - soccer and basketball

ability to increase zoom for wildlife, nature photos - maybe attach to my
Kowa TSN 822 scope

use for pictures in my 182

What else should I be asking? Is this enough info to make a decision?

Well, my answer is: It depends on your quality standards.

Within your budget, I guess you can find a decent "prosumer" digital (i.e.
with a fixed zoom lens) that is good for normal size enlargements in good
lighting conditions. But if you want the ability to do make really big sharp
enlargements (or part-frame crops) and get noise-free (grain-free) pictures
also in less bright conditions, you need to look at a digital SLR. The Canon
300D is a breakthrough camera is this area, but with a decent memory ( for
example 2 pcs 512 MB CF cards ) it still exceeds the $1000 mark including
lens. On the other hand it delivers as good pictures as almost any 35 mm
film camera, unless you would use the very best professional lenses and
films.

The prosumer cameras have some drawbacks compared to the dSLR: The image has
more noise (or"grain") especially at high sensitivity settings used in low
light. There is often a noticeable shutter delay, which makes action shots
(sports, wildlife) harder. The viewfinder (optical or electronic) is not as
good. On the plus side, it is more compact and with a flip-out LCD
viewfinder it enables shooting from uncommon viewing angles.

Hope this helps.
/Nils

"Michael 182" wrote in message
. net...
I know, I know - it's way OT, but I'm about to spend significant money on
a
digital camera, and it seems like the people in here may know more than
any
advice I'm getting from friends. I posted over on alt.photography, but it
is
a pretty quiet newsgroup.

So, here are some parameters:

$1,000, including enough memory to make the camera useful

10x or greater zoom for youth sports - soccer and basketball

ability to increase zoom for wildlife, nature photos - maybe attach to my
Kowa TSN 822 scope

use for pictures in my 182

What else should I be asking? Is this enough info to make a decision? I am
leaning toward the Fuji S-5000. Any opinions?

You'll love the S-5000
I just bought one recently.
Fantastic Camera for the money.
Mine - complete with extra memory card and camera case was - $1049
Australian
10x zoom is outstanding.
2 x digital makes it even more so.
Through the Lense.
Up to 6 megapixel because of the "Super CCD"
Extra lenses available for wide angle and greater telephoto is you use the
supplied adaptor.
Takes standard AA batteries, so if you ever have flat batteries, more can be
got from any local store, and rechargeable AA's are cheap.
Uses XD memory card, so the camera can store what it just took very quickly,
and be ready for another shot quicker. XD is the quickest form of card.
Total flexibility from TOTAL MANUAL, to totally auto, and all between.
Quality of the shots is amazing, but ignore the camera when it says it wants
the flash, most of the time it doesn't need it, the shots are great without
it.

It's not pocket sized, but is small enough to carry around easily.

Trentus

Just looked up the S5000, looks like you can get one for $329USD. Might
have to upgrade.

Trentus wrote:
"Michael 182" wrote in message
. net...

I know, I know - it's way OT, but I'm about to spend significant money on

a

digital camera, and it seems like the people in here may know more than

any

advice I'm getting from friends. I posted over on alt.photography, but it

is

a pretty quiet newsgroup.

So, here are some parameters:

$1,000, including enough memory to make the camera useful

10x or greater zoom for youth sports - soccer and basketball

ability to increase zoom for wildlife, nature photos - maybe attach to my
Kowa TSN 822 scope

use for pictures in my 182

What else should I be asking? Is this enough info to make a decision? I am
leaning toward the Fuji S-5000. Any opinions?


You'll love the S-5000
I just bought one recently.
Fantastic Camera for the money.
Mine - complete with extra memory card and camera case was - $1049
Australian
10x zoom is outstanding.
2 x digital makes it even more so.
Through the Lense.
Up to 6 megapixel because of the "Super CCD"
Extra lenses available for wide angle and greater telephoto is you use the
supplied adaptor.
Takes standard AA batteries, so if you ever have flat batteries, more can be
got from any local store, and rechargeable AA's are cheap.
Uses XD memory card, so the camera can store what it just took very quickly,
and be ready for another shot quicker. XD is the quickest form of card.
Total flexibility from TOTAL MANUAL, to totally auto, and all between.
Quality of the shots is amazing, but ignore the camera when it says it wants
the flash, most of the time it doesn't need it, the shots are great without
it.

It's not pocket sized, but is small enough to carry around easily.

Trentus