Rate Your Digital Camera

[BillyP]

I'm in the market for a digital camera. I was wondering what everyone else uses and how good/bad they like them.

If you would, copy and paste the part below and rate each category on a scale from 1 to 5 (5 being the highest/best).


Brand/Model

Ease of use

Battery life

Controls

Dependability

Price

Software that came with it

Comments:

 

[MikePA]

Here's a link to a recent thread that has a number of opinions and comments about digital cameras. I wasn't sure if you had seen it. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[BillyP]

Thanks Mike. That thread started out pretty good but ended too quick /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Right now I'm leaning towards the Canon A80 or the Olympus C750.

 

[MikePA]

I have the Olympus UZ2100, the predecessor of the C-750 and I think it's a fantasic camera, particularly the 10x optical zoom. The new Minolta, the Dimage Z1, with a 10x optical zoom and 3.2 megapixels looks great as well.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Mike,
I to am runnng the Olympus, C2100UZ which I assume is the same as yours. Anyway. I think it is a great camera and would highly recomend it to anyone.
I like the looks and the specs on the new Minolta Dimage Z1. The only negative thing I read was that the casing / housing felt light and cheap.
I suspect it would feel alot like holding the Olympus. Still. For the price of $350 - $425 it seems like one heck of a camera. A 3.2 MP camera, "With" a 10X zoom would be nice and I wouldn't mind taking one for a test drive.

 

[Bird]

Billy, for such a rating to be reliable it seems to me the rater would have to have had some experience and/or technical knowledge of several different makes and models. And while we have several forum members who certainly qualify, a lot of us amateur photographers (and I barely qualify as even an amateur) probably couldn't provide any help. I'm quite happy with my Olympus D460Zoom, but know there are better cameras available, and you can buy them cheaper than what I paid a couple of years ago because prices have come down since then.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Brand/Model, Olympus C2100UZ, 2.2 MP w/ 10x optical zoom

Ease of use, Fairly easy. I was able to figue out most of it.

Battery life, Not bad. I tend to use the screen alot which burns up the batterys faster, but since it uses 4 AA size I just keep many sets of rechargable on hand. My Fuji digital happens to use the same batteries and storage media.

Controls, Good in my opinion. I have no complaints.

Dependability. I have owned it for around 2 years with no problems. It goes from house to truck, to tractor, to kayak, to job sites. I am careful with it, but it certainly doesn't get babied.

Price, around 2 years ago, it was $630 with S + H

Software that came with it, Olympus Camedia. Easy to use I think. It is the software that I use for all my digital pictures and is the software that I use to reduce my pics for the TBN.

Comments: I wish it were a little more compact for the ease of carry. This is the reason that I grabbed up the Fuji when I saw it. I bought the Fuji, NIB for $100. I found it at a 2nd hand shop. The lady received it for a gift and didnt want it. When the shop owner said lets start it at $100. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I Pounced on it immediatly. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue">I to am runnng the Olympus, C2100UZ which I assume is the same as yours.</font>
Correct. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

<font color="blue">I wouldn't mind taking one {Dimage Z1} for a test drive. </font>
Nor would I. My wife, on the other hand... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[lampfarm]

I went through the same difficulty picking a camera a couple of years ago. I would recommend a website that reviews digital cameras systematically, http://www.dpreview.com/

There are user discussions on some of the cameras if you have a question about a certain model. Good luck.

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue"> The new Minolta, the Dimage Z1 </font>

I ordered one earlier this week and picked it up Thursday night. I'll let you know how it works out in a few weeks. So far, so good. Right out of the box it worked well on auto settings. Took a quick video, too. 16M chip is not worth a hoot. Bought a 256M chip. Nice weight and feel, even though it is plastic.