[Braver]

for usability, size, and looks IMO nothing beats an Ixus. my parents have one, an dit's just abreeze to use, and you get great quality pics from it.

personally, being a very graphic minded person, I'd want all the options and megapixels I can buy. I love making impressive pictures.

but for family snapshots and holiday pictures, taken by everyone in the family, IMO go Canon Ixus. Compact Flash is a plus too.

 

[greenhorn]

Pierre, if you think you need a *very* thin camera (which fits in the chest pocket of your shirt or even inside a wallet) check the Casio Exilim S3. It has no zoom, but it's 12 milimeters thin.

The Minolta Dimage Xt is thin also - but not as thin as the Casio Exilim.

 

[Music Fanatic]

Quote:

Originally posted by greenhorn Pierre, if you think you need a *very* thin camera (which fits in the chest pocket of your shirt or even inside a wallet) check the Casio Exilim S3. It has no zoom, but it's 12 milimeters thin. The Minolta Dimage Xt is thin also - but not as thin as the Casio Exilim.

Off topic: I think naming a camera "Dimage" was a big a mistake -- it is just too close to "Damage".

 

[Pierre Lambion]

Thanks for the many answers!

I will focus on the Ixus, Dimage and Coolpix and try to test them as much as possible.

I aggree 100% that ergonomy is more important than raw features/performance. It is nice that dpreview gives detailed speed indication as this is also a concern (how fast you can take the first picture, how fats is the autofocus, ...).

I also prefer some settings to be available without going through small and longish menus.

Many things to look for!

I will probably go for a 4MP with a 3X optical. It will certainly be enough for me.

Thanks again,
P.

 

[dffman2001]

www.dcviews.com
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/cameraList.php
http://www.dpreview.com/
http://www.ephotozine.com/index.cfm
www.megapixel.net
http://www.imaging-resource.com/
http://www.steves-digicams.com/default.htm

These are all good sites for looking for reviews

I would also support the recommendation for the Canon S50 or S45; they produce awesome picture quality. I would recommend you to look for a more advanced camera, as you will have more manual control and less menus. If you are looking for a good compromise, you should look for the Canon A80, which should be in your price range, produce awesome photos, simple and small enough yet provide enough manual control to grow on.

[edit] And by the way, the zoom multiplication is the same as the fun factor multiplication. With a long zoom, you will take pictures you never thought you could. Once you try, you can never go back to the wimpy 3x!

 

[Pierre Lambion]

Damn it! More temptation!

Is a zoom (optical) above x3 really usefull without a support (tripod?). I have not that a steady hand and will not walk around with a tripod!

P.

 

[ls20]

in my opinion, anything above 3x is not necessary

in the day, with the high resolution of todays camera, you can crop

in the night, the extended zoom will be useless anyways

 

[marios_mar]

Quote:

General orientation advice for digital camera

Here's my advice:

STAY AWAY!

In a couple of years youll be sorry for you the money and youll be wondering if these digital excuses for photographs were worth all the trouble.

Go analog and learn about photography if you are a serious amateur and enthusiast. For anything more than just taking pics of friends and trips and shoot a couple of photos to remember and show it to others etc digital is a waste of time and money.

For the money of those digi cameras you can get a used mini middle format system or more stuff in small format. (ebay.DE)

For 900 EUROS you can get a starters Mamiya 645 middle format system which in terms of quality surpasses and will surpass ANY digital system that will be produced in at least the next 10 years.


It all depends on how serious one is on photography though. see above.



I hope anyways you will be happy with your decision.

Dont bash me. Its just my advice.

 

[dffman2001]

Quote:

Is a zoom (optical) above x3 really usefull without a support (tripod?). I have not that a steady hand and will not walk around with a tripod!

In my experience, the zoom that is greater than 3x is quite useful. It allows you to take picture of things that are usually much too small or far away. I think that in most daytime conditions, a longer zoom is very useful. Although at night the longer zoom becomes rather limited. I have taken pictures at a play at very long focal lengths and they have come out great.