Thread: Need a Digital Camera

This bloody technology stuff is beyond me - but i aim to borrow one of my daughters cameras to bring to 's

I need the phone camera explained to me as i dont know how to use it or how to transfer the pictures on the computer.

So maybe just the phone camera will do what i want .

Thanks and see you at 's

Cheers

If you are using a camera that takes AA batteries, I can recommend the Sanyo rechargable "Eneloop" type.
They are charged when you buy them and they maintain charge for a matter of months when not in use, unlike many other types of rechargables.
Good luck searching for a camera, I have had a number over the years and now am happy with my Fuji 5600 at home and a Panasonic FX7 at work.

Forget the specialist shops, they will charge you more and baffle you with bull dust.

For what you want to do there is no reason to spend more than $200 - and that should get you the camera,a couple of decent cards and rechargable batteries.

My wife just bought a Sanyo from Kmart - $98 for 7megapixels, a 1gig memory card thrown in and the thing lets you reformat and resize images through the camera.

That is all you need for a happy snap camera.

Hi Calm,

How you get photos from the phone to your computer depends a lot on the phone, so it's best to get some advice from the folks selling the phone (unless you feel like googling it all).

The usual options (in approximate order of convenience) are:

1. Phone has a mini USB connector on it, so you can connect it to any computer using a fairly common and readily available cable.

2. Phone has a removable memory card that can be slotted into a card reader attached to your computer (card readers are ridiculously cheap).

3. Phone needs a special cable that you buy as an accessory from the phone manufacturer.

4. Phone can transfer files via infra-red or bluetooth (wireless). Probably only good if you have a laptop as most desktops won't have either. Also double check that the phone CAN actually do this - just because it has IR or BT capability doesn't necessarily mean it can transfer photos that way.

5. Phone has no way to transfer photos except by MMS or email, which you pay for. Favourite method of unscrupulous phone companies' subsidised phones. Unlikely to find this on phones with a better camera though as the file sizes are too large.

Note that with some of these methods you may require special software loaded on the computer. Get some advice from the experts. Some phone manufacturers make it easy to do and others see it as a revenue stream to lock you into a really inconvenient method where you have to buy parts and software.

If you plan to print any of these pics and use them like 'normal' photos, then you may be better off with a separate camera as the image quality is higher (unless you go for a really good phone, but $$$). If you just need happy snaps for the web etc the convenience of having a charged camera in your pocket any time you need it is worth the additional head-scratching and few extra $ up front IMO.

Try asking your girls about phones, I bet they'll know exactly what you need!

Thanks for the advice DD, there is a young bloke (i think Allan is his name) from just north of melbourne that i will see on saturday - he has a good handle on this techno stuff so will show him the phone and the camera and take his thoughts.

Here is the phone i have and while it works i wont be buying another one.

BTW the camera i use now is my daughters IXUS 60 and the photos downloaded always load straight onto the forum without resizing or whatever so that is another bonus.

As for asking the daughters - do you think i will admit that they might know more than me

Plenty of good brands out there David.

Will second former about dpreview. It is a good site. The tip about getting standard batteries is good too. What was said earlier about small lenses not getting enough good light to the sensor for high megapixel counts to matter is bang on. Once you get over about 4 MP there won't be any worthwhile gains.

One thing I will say is get yourself a camera with an optical viewfinder. The LCD displays suck power drain your batteries and leave you wondering how much you are spending on batteries.

Studley

My missus has an Ixus 55 which is a great system if you understand it's limitations, it has travelled extensively on a motorcycle, aeroplanes, big and small, backpacked and most dangerously, in her handbag. Had it for a few years now.

I hopefully have attached a photo taken with the Canon, as you can see it isn't exactly in Melbourne.

I myself finally picked up something cheap for motorcycling, I bought my camera from Aldi, my version is called the traveler DC-6900 6mp, runs on 2 AA batteries, you get four rechargeable batteries, plus a battery charger, carry case which also has a belt attachment, the size is actually slightly smaller than the Ixus 55 but a tad thicker, plus the usual software, which worked straight away once loaded. The Canon software didn't work, needed a download before it would.

It travels in an exterior bag in it's own case attached to my tank bag, I travel a fair bit of dirt (BMW GS) and so far it hasn't missed a thing.

You can whack a set of normal AA batteries available anywhere.

My model has been superseded and is still available in most Aldi stores as the market seems to be saturated with cheap cameras. I think for bottom feeder camera, this is about as good as it gets. I think the current price is about $139 from Aldi that I saw two weeks ago.

the Ixus is certainly a better camera, so is the software, but the price is really good for the Aldi camera.

For quality resolution, the Canon is better, the Aldi one isn't that far behind, but you really do get what you pay for.

Mick.

Forget the camera - NICE BIKE!

Truly If your going to buy a Digital Camera these days ONLY BUY OLYMPUS OR CANON

If you want Clear and bright shots get the Olympus its technology is way far better than most on the market. I think I have a link to my gallery if you want to see other shots from an Olympus.

Some thing like this will kick anyone's photos out of the park Olympus Mju 1060 Digital Camera - 10 Megapixel

Even camera's like my 30D $1500 worth take shots of this caliber.

So I hope that narrows it down for you, If you like to see what Im talking about look at some shots on the internet from other camera's here is a good link to start

http://www.steves-digicams.com/

Cheers from Noel

If you want Clear and bright shots get the Olympus its technology is way far better than most on the market. I think I have a link to my gallery if you want to see other shots from an Olympus.

Does that mean that i will never get clear and bright shots from my Nikon ...how disappointing

Originally Posted by Brown Dog

Does that mean that i will never get clear and bright shots from my Nikon ...how disapointing

Yeah - you must be crying your eye's out!

And what happens if I want some unclear and murky lookings shots, can I not use an Olympus?

And of all the subjects photographed, how many are really worth the zillion MP poked at them? Not to mention the capability of the nut behind the lens

Noel you have got to be kidding haven't you? There are many first rate cameras out there. Given Canon's rep for bringing stuff to market before it is ready I wonder why you are so keen to make a blanket claim that only Olympus and Canon make anything worth having? What about Pentax Leica (who do some very nice compacts) Nikon Sony (Zeiss lens and Sony makes most people's sensors) to mention a few?

The Olympus you recommended apart from having no optical viewfinder also has only a 12 mm x 8 mm sensor. Typical compact stuff but how it can produce anything to rival a Canon 30D? The lens is 37 to 260, in 35mm equivalent. I'd assume it is in fact a 12 mm to 87 mm lens. Pretty short. No doubt you realise that the longer a lens is the better it's quality and the larger it's front element is the better the quality. Also the more zooming range given to a zoom the more quality you lose. So what sort of coke bottle did you mount on your 30D to get images of that quality out of it?

I am pretty sure the Olympus you mentioned does some really great things for the type of camera it is but it is still a compact. You lose some quality and gain convenience.

Studley

Yea I'm sorry that looked one minded I did not mean it to be like a few of you guys I have got to use many digital camera's The Nikon's are good nothing wrong with Nikon so many out there.

There are plenty of good posts on here to guide you to a good working setup for you.

Indeed look at some sites and reviews, Then you on the way to more good memories

cheers!

The rules for negative size (now sensor size) still apply. A compact camera has a very small sensor whereas a digital SLR has either an APS size sensor or a full 35mm size sensor.

A moderate digital SLR will still give a better image when enlarged to A3 size than a high megapixel compact. That being said, the quality of images out of compacts and the size makes them much more convenient that a digital SLR and very suitable for normal use.

My wife and son both have the powershot SD870 IS (US camera - here's the link http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/co...&modelid=15655)
and it has proven to be a fantastic little performer. I still use and old Powershot that I purchased in 2004 and it takes pretty decent shots.
I'm hanging out for an EOS 5D Mark II to replace my EOS 350D. The 350D is still a great camera and I've taken over 12,000 shots on it. But GIVE ME MORE MEGAPIXELS!

Cheers,
Peter