Originally Posted By Daannzzz Thanks everyone so much for all the input. My budget is in the introduction level. $300 or so for the camera and then an additional amount for a larger memory card, stick, sd or xD or which ever I end up needing.
Originally Posted By debtee I would agree with Bloona on the rechargeable batteries! My cousin was just here for 6 weeks from the UK and was constantly buying batteries. It was so annoying, looking for a shop that sells them wherever we went! My camera takes a rechargable lithium battery and it's Bliss to simply recharge, it lasts for ages too! We bought an adapter for when travelling in USA and it works fine!
Originally Posted By peeaanuut the complaint on rechargables is that most people only get the 1200 or 1600 mAh capacity. Look for at least 2100 or 2400. They are not much more expensive and actually last about 3 times as long. I can take well over a thousand photos on my olympus on one set of 2400s. The key thing is to not use the viewfinder to take pictures.
Originally Posted By itsme 300, Ok I would say something like this- <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=331593&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation" target="_blank">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bn h/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=331593&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation</a> or <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=397425&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation" target="_blank">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bn h/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=397425&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation</a>
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I have a Canon S1 IS ( S2 IS is now out) -- and I like Canon for their lenses ( I also have 35MM Nikons) -- 3.2 MPX - witha 10X optical zoom -- the best feature for flexibility. For whatever reason it doesn't eat batteries anywhere near the rate of my last 2 digital cameras which were smaller in nature. extremely easy menu and large enough screen for a 50 year old like me to read -- picture quality excellent -- I have had it a year and love the quality
Originally Posted By Daannzzz I have been eyeing the New Canon A620 but since I have decreased the MP that I need the A610 may be exactly what I am looking for. Perhaps and Old poloroid Swinger will do. :0) Yes. I did have one of those back in the late 60's.
Originally Posted By itsme Yes the A610 is great little camera and i think you would be very happy with it. The place in the links i provided is a reputable place to deal with. My local pro-store that i deal with does do mail order and on some things does beat the prices of the place i linked, you can contact them here-<a href="http://www.allenscamera.com/" target="_blank">http://www.allenscamera.com/</a> They have a very good rep and deal with alot of pro photograpers. Dont know the policy here about links to stores and i only buy stuff from them so im not trying to drum up biz for myself or anybody just trying to help you save a few bucks. Dealing with a high end camera store imo is much better then the big electronics store so if you have any in your area you should try them also.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer My Fuji can take about 600 photos or more with 4 AA batteries, depending on Flash use. I used to use rechargeable, but found that the regular version is easier, I have been getting 4 AA for about $1 watching for sales, or going to Costco.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <My Fuji can take about 600 photos or more with 4 AA batteries, depending on Flash use. I used to use rechargeable, but found that the regular version is easier, I have been getting 4 AA for about $1 watching for sales, or going to Costco.< Darkbeer -- I just made the same change before summer -- much easier and unless someone is shooting hundreds of pix per month cost is negligible
Originally Posted By itsme I just read somthing a while back on how the rechagables are not as strong as the disposables. I dont know about all the mzh azh abcs or whatever. But it talked about how some are not even close, They showed a "d" that was nothing more then 2aa inside as far as the numbers and power went. They talked how unless you are going to use them everyday for a period of time its usally better to use a good brand of disposables.
Originally Posted By peeaanuut yeah the disposables are about 4500mAh which is more than double of some of the strongest rechargables. The issue is quantity. If you go through at least 1 set a day (im sure DB goes through 2 or 3 in a trip to DL) than thats where it can get expensive. On a typical day at DL, I used all 4 sets of my rechargables, which amounts to about 2 sets of disposables. When I was going 3 times a week, that would get expensive for me. But fo the casual camera user than disposables are great. I know I wouldnt have wanted to pay the cost of the disposables when I was shooting the long beach baseball team. I used 7 of the canon specific batteries for 1 game. I took over 3 thousand shots per game. In dispoables that would have amounted to a hefty sum.
Originally Posted By itsme Depending on what im shooting if i dont take my bag with me i carry an extra set of the canon batts {4 total}, i can put 2 in camera at once which alows me about 2500 shots and my FlashTrax which allows me to only carry one card. I was out one day and i had my whole camera bag but left my batterys home on the charger, In my bag i a have a clip that holds 8aa's, I struggled getting about 150 pixs that i took having to turn camera off now and then to let the batts rest. Nothing matches the ni-cads that come in some cameras.
Originally Posted By peeaanuut oh yeah, over rechargables and disposables are the ones specifically for the cameras. For my digital rebel I love them. Plus they are the same kind as in my canon optura 20 video camera.
Originally Posted By Daannzzz FYI. I ended up buying the new Canon A610. It is not one of those super compact ones which felt almost too small. This one felt good in my hand with the positioning of the buttons seeming right for me. <a href="http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Canon/canon_a610.asp" target="_blank">http://www.dpreview.com/review s/specs/Canon/canon_a610.asp</a> I bought a 256 SD card and a battery charger with 4 Secret of NimH batteries which are charging right now. The total for everything with tax came to $401.00 so my budget was busted but since I paid for this with my anniverary gift from work I am out only $100. I am completiong the Disneyland 50th DVD tonight so will ply with the new toy tomorrow.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer FYI, I can usually get 2 days worth of DLR photos on one set of 4 "AA" batteries, one of the benefits of the xD cards is that they use a lot less "energy" then most other memory cards. I found out that with the rechargeables, I would get less than one day's worth (or less than half) of the disposeables. I am currently using RiteAid's store brand of Alkaline Batteries, and have had long life from them They were on sale, 12 batteries for $2.50.
Originally Posted By Daannzzz Thanks for the info Darkbeer. I will check Rite Aid and Costco for AA batteries. This is the first camera i have ever owned that has "settings" on it let alone a menu. I have been reading the manual. I need a drink.
Originally Posted By mj9401 I have been looking for a new digital camera for the last few months. I narrowed it down to two cameras, the Canon S2 IS and the Sony DSC H1 which are both 5mp and 12x zoom. After playing around with them in the shop I ended up with Canon and I absolutely love it!!
Originally Posted By DreamFairy Canon PowerShot S2 IS is my next camera. I've been drooling over this one for awhile now..
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Canon PowerShot S2 IS is my next camera. I've been drooling over this one for awhile now< I have had the S1 IS for almost 2 years now and it is a lot of camera combined with realtive ease of use -- the S2 is awesome --
