[muglo] Re: Digital Camera

(all prices CAD)

I've been researching digital cameras recently as well.

Good sources for info...
Steve's digicams, 
<http://www.steves-digicams.com/2002_reviews/fuji_3800.html>
An amateur web site (blog) based in Toronto...
<http://www.torontopics.com/digital.asp?pagename=digicams1>
And, a camera review site
<http://www.dpreview.com/>

The Canon A70 seems to come up at the top of the pack in most reviews of the
<$500 and 3.3 megapixel range for its size. it has a replaceable (though
expensive) lens and a boatload of features (3x optical zoom), and is quite a
small creature (25% less weight than the Fuji 3800, and 1/3 the size...
because of the lens... the Fuji has a much bigger (& presumably also better
since more light gets through) lens).

I think we're going with the A70. It's small, point-and-shoot, has
reasonable optics, and, most importantly, a 3.3 megapixel CCD. Plus, it'll
print directly to our inkjet (though, I don't imagine I'll be using that
feature much).

I won't go for <3 megapixel since this camera is planned as a replacement
for 35 mm film. 3.3 megapixel isn't nearly as good as film for 8x10" prints,
but it suffices for 4x5" prints which is what our 35 mm cameras get used for
anyway.

I figure this (A70) camera will get augmented in two years by another
(better) one. Last year the A60 (*very* popular 2 megapixel version of the
A70) cost ~$500. This year it's $300. In two years I figure they'll have an
A90 5 megapixel model for $500 and an A80 4 MP for $300 if the trend
continues (5 MP cameras are already coming in at $600). In two years,
cameras may also be capable of substituting for home movie cameras. The only
limitation on that is the size of the storage media, and the battery supply
(maybe external battery packs could be used for shooting video with your
digital "still" camera).

In 5 years I imagine the distinction (on the mid-range cameras) between
digital video and still cameras will have disappeared :) :) :)

5 MP should suffice for 8x10 printing, I imagine. One problem with future
cameras is the speed of the storage media. Right now, it seems the CCDs (the
chips that capture the images) aren't the speed limiting factor, but that
flash cards, microdrives and the likes are the limiting factor. Perhaps as
laptop RAM comes down in price, sizeable RAM chips will be included. A 512
MB, lower-power version of a SO-DIMM would suffice. You could shoot pictures
to your heart's content, and then allow the camera to write the images to
storage media in "shooting downtime".

That said, I'd love a 3800, but can't justify the expense for such a "large"
camera (I like the Fuji 402 but the optics are weak and price high... you
really can't pump much light through such a small lens).

PS I'm surprised your EOS 1000 would go for a trade-in for $50. You should
be able to fetch quite a bit more on EBay or in London's used market (a
small market will always fetch a premium).

Eric.

on 8/6/03 12:54 AM, Tee Cashmore at tee.cashmore@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> Some of you may be interested in some extensive research that I did to
> select a digital camera. I have a Canon EOS RebelG SLR, a Canon EOS 1000
> FN and a 80-300 mm telephoto  lens. I take about a roll of film a week,
> many of which are political, many plant & flower close ups and a
> smattering of building shots that end up as expert witness stuff.
> I was astonished as to how low a value used SLRs have. I was offered $50
> on a trade for my 1000 which I could replace for about $350 today.
> Final choice was a Fuji 3800 for $650. It has a 6 x optical zoom on a
> 3.2 Million pixel, 38 to 228 mm lens. It was the only one less than
> $1000 that had a good viewfinder for anyone wearing glasses, one of the
> few that had a through the lens viewfinder. It is also rated top in its
> range by Consumer Reports. The 2800 model is also a very good buy at
> $450 (Costco).
> The software runs beautifully on a Mac with O/S 8.6 to 9.2, or X.
> Hope this helps someone else to decide as it's a very confusing world
> out there with just too many choices to pick from.
> TTFN,
> TeeC


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