Digi-cam questions

Looking to buy one this year. I've seen posts on high quality video cams and well as a thread on good digi stills. What I am looking for is the ultimate combination of both.

Great stills
An acceptable video mode (not making any serious films here)
Smaller is better
Cheaper is better, but not a big factor
Recording audio is a big plus


I would love something I can haul around with me on the mountain or sneak into the strip club... at least haul around the mountain. Gotta get vids of Buster-led maggot thrashings waist-deep at Crystal this winter :)

I just picked up a Sony DSC-W1 . 5mp, 3x optical zoom, good video, super good video w/faster memory stick.

Comparable to the Canon s500, a bit bigger, but $100 cheaper, and more manual controls, etc.

review, info.

Chris,

You rock! Thanks. Any others out there comparable to these two? The video capability looked pretty sweet. Wish it had a waterproof case, but I can prolly come up with something.

thx dude,
Rusty

After much analysis, I went with a Cannon S400. The stills are as good as any 4mega pix cameras I've seen. The video is pretty good for a small camera but I don't have much else to compare it to. For a waterproof case, you want a Pelican 1010. I take it kayaking all the time and its never leaked one drop.

http://comparestoreprices.co.uk/imag...-clear-red.jpg

Optical one,

Where did you buy yours?


Foggy,

Where did you buy the Peli case?

I bought mine at Best Buy and paid way more than I had to, but when I bought it everyone else was out of stock, and when I want something I suck at waiting.

Butterflyphoto.com has 'em at $340 or so. I've bought from them in the past, went well.

Not the right one to sneak into the clubs, though. Too big. You need the crazy data-from-goonies-hook-up stealth 8mp watch-cam.

I've been wanting one of these for a long time. Olympus claims it's waterproof and shockproof.

Anyone used this model? any comments?

I bought a JVC last month. Pretty good Video quality. I hear Cannon is the best. Here's a still shot grabbed out of the Video stream. I was about 100 yards away.
http://www.kokotele.com/highhorse.jpg

Quote:

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Originally posted by Geoff
I've been wanting one of these for a long time. Olympus claims it's waterproof and shockproof.

Anyone used this model? any comments?

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I've never used the Olympus digital, but it's very similar to their Stylus film model. I have one of those and it's bomber. One of the great point-and-shoot cameras of all time. I'd recommend the Olympus with no hesitation.

This is my latest object of desire: Canon Powershot S1 IS
http://consumer.usa.canon.com/app/im...is_586x225.jpg

3megapixels
IS = Image Stabilization
10x optical zoom
manual exposure control
video is 640x480x30 frames a second.


If you're look for video, most are only 15 frames a second, most are only 320x240 pixels, some cameras (don't have a microphone.


I have a Canon A60 and really like the image quality. I don't like the shutter lag but that's a problem with most digital cameras.

edit: and another thing -- in movie mode some cameras (like my A60) set the focus when you start and don't adjust on the fly like a video camera.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Snow Dog



I have a Canon A60 and really like the image quality. I don't like the shutter lag but that's a problem with most digital cameras.

edit: and another thing -- in movie mode some cameras (like my A60) set the focus when you start and don't adjust on the fly like a video camera.

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I assume you actually mean lets you adjust the zoom...
The S1 IS is one of very few consumer digicams that allow you to zoom in and out while recording in video mode. The best part is that the zoom motor is silent and not picked up by the microphone like the other consumer digi's. But keep the camera very clean a tiny speck of dirt in the mechanism will make noise.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Geoff
I've been wanting one of these for a long time. Olympus claims it's waterproof and shockproof.

Anyone used this model? any comments?

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i think thats the 4mp version, i have the 3 and have been pretty happy with it. I havent had it out in much wet weather, but it is solid and small.

Quote:

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Originally posted by karma
I assume you actually mean lets you adjust the zoom...

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I'm not sure what I mean:( since I can't find what I thought I found before in the manual.

Fack. The memory card suggested in Optics review for 12 minutes of video costs $600!!! Holly shizznit. Didn't realize I'd hafta spend more for freakin' memory (Pro card) than I would for the actual camera. Optics, others, what are all the extra costs I'm missing?

Rusty

I've always thought if you want to take video, buy a video camera, if you want stills, buy a still camera. If you try to get a single unit that will do both you'll probably end up compromising both. That said, If you're just going to take the occasional short video, buy a camera and get the largest memory card you can afford. You shouldn't need a $600 memory card. There shouldn't be any other "hidden costs" other than to realize that digital cameras eat batteries pretty quick. Invest in a good set of rechargeable batteries.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Rusty Nails
Fack. The memory card suggested in Optics review for 12 minutes of video costs $600!!! Holly shizznit. Didn't realize I'd hafta spend more for freakin' memory (Pro card) than I would for the actual camera. Optics, others, what are all the extra costs I'm missing?

Rusty

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Check ebay/pricegrabber.com on the card. Sandisk makes a memory stick pro without the sony label and price.

The sony takes AAs, comes with rechargables, but you can use any in a pinch.

The 512MB Pro stick can be had for around $180. Not sure how many minutes of the best-quality vid that gets -but the vid shot with standard memory stick ain't bad, and you should get plenty with that card.

Rusty, you can get those peli case at any whitewater/kayak store. If you need the web check out NRS .

Pentax Optio S4 or S4i.

4 megapixel, video, microphone, small, don't know price in USD though.

Rusty, a good place to compare prices on this kind of thing is http://www.cnet.com if you don't already know about it.

www.dpreview.com

Quote:

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Originally posted by karma
I assume you actually mean lets you adjust the zoom...

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From my Canon A60/A70 manual (the Movie Mode issues section):

The AE, AF, white balance, and zoom are set and locked to the setting of the first frame.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Geoff
I've been wanting one of these for a long time. Olympus claims it's waterproof and shockproof.

Anyone used this model? any comments?

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I have it. the first model with 4.0mpixels.
Was before a super happy user of Olympus Mju (film one)
and though that this digiversion would be as good.
Sadly i had to be dissapointed.

A bit Blurry pictures, autofocus isnt that good, no manual exposure controll (ia stop and/or shutterspeed).

There have come out now a bit improved version (410 or something) that MIGHT have addresed those problems.
Dont know..

But if i would go to the camera shop now, id pick a different bradn/modell with better manual controlls.

Meine 0.2 euros.

Cool, thanks


How is it for action/skiing photos?

(I think Shutter delay is the term I'm looking for)

Quote:

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Originally posted by Geoff
Cool, thanks


How is it for action/skiing photos?

(I think Shutter delay is the term I'm looking for)

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Sucks. Big time.

The programming seems to be prioritized on closing aperature first in bright light situations, instead of increasing shutterspeed.
I.A. You get motion blurred pictures in broad daylight up in the mountains, just because the shutterspeed stays in 1/60 - 1/125 range and aperature is fully stopped.

So get a camera where you can manually controll the exposure, set relatively high shutterspeed (1/1000 -1/2000) and dont care about the aperature. Full Depth of field is usually aquired on f8 on most digital cameras due to shorter focal length that those cameras usually possess.

Or something.

I have bought 2 digi cams from Buy Dig http://buydig.com/ they seem to consistenly beat other internet dealer's prices.

I own one of these guys -
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Cano...ntview-001.jpg

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/spec...n/canon_g5.asp

Awesome camera, lots of frills, but simple enough that you can usually leave it on Auto focus and get killer shots. The video is pretty dang good too.

whichever you buy Rus, make sure it has a line out, so you can attach a helmet cam...I want to see helmet cam footie from a troop jump!!!

anyone know of any other website where people go to discuss cameras? I'd like to get more opinions on that olympus stylus 410.

or, a website that does side by side comparison on similar cameras would be cool.

www.steves-digicams.com - good reviews here

www.dpreview.com - good forums here

Another option would be to get something like the Sony PC1. It's a mini-dv cam with a 2 or 3 megapixel still camera option.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Geoff

anyone know of any other website where people go to discuss cameras? I'd like to get more opinions on that olympus stylus 410.

or, a website that does side by side comparison on similar cameras would be cool.

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http://reviews.cnet.com/Digital_came...tag=cnetfd.dir

CNet is great for comparisons and searching by features or price. You can create your own side-by-side comparisons.

Rusty - After lots of research, I settled on the Fuji FinePix F700. Small camera, great color and contrast and 30fps video @ 640x480 with sound.
Fuji F700 info

One last edit:
I've been keeping an eye on this Sanyo camera for a while. It's getting mixed reviews, but seems pretty damn cool. I believe they made some mods to it late last year. I haven't heard how much it was or wasn't improved.