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Buying a new camera, need opinions

edited November 2007 in General
So I was flipping through the Future Shop flyer today, and decided that digital cameras are pretty cheap now. Whereas 7 MP was way too expensive a couple of years ago, these cameras are now very economical. Both of these are around $200 but I can't decide which ones better. I know theres a few avid photographers on the site and even if your not, a few opinions would really help me decide. Thanks!

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Olympus 7.1MP Digital Camera (FE-220)

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Casio Exilim 7.2MP Digital Camera (EX-Z75RD)

Comments

  • edited September 2007
    Hey bud,

    check out this website for good reviews on cameras: www.dpreview.com

    The only other thing I can say is that my mom has an Olypus, not that exact model, but a small instant somewhat like the one you are looking at there. It takes good pictures... is pretty nice to use and feels sturdy.

    I have no fact to back this next statement up with. But in my opinion buy the camera (Olypus) that is made by a camera company. Dont buy the camera that is made by a general electronics company (casio). Just the way I see is Olypus has much more experience makeing cameras than the alternative and as such probubly has a better product. But thats just a feeling with no evidence.

    If you want to know what Instant camera I would buy:
    Nikon Coolpics P5000 Although its kinda on the pricey side (broadway Cameras has it for 350$)

    good luck!
  • edited September 2007
    Thanks for the info bro, I ended up buying the Olympus. So far I'm pretty happy with it especially considering the price I paid. It's a quick shooter, nice and thin casing, and stores plenty of pictures. The big lcd screen is nice too as opposed to the tiny one on my old digital camera. The only downside to keep in mind with Olympus cameras is that it takes XD memory cards, which is a proprietary format used by Olympus and Fujifilm. It's not as fast or small, or as widely available as other forms of storage like SD or microSD but still gets the job done just fine. I wonder where digital camera technology is going in the next few years, considering the MP are already high enough for mainstream use...
  • edited November 2007
    where is digital camera technology going to go in the future?

    First of all they have to catch up to Anolog. I am pulling this number out of my bum, but I heard that a regular film camera shoots at around an equivelent to 14 megapixels. Where some high end Digital SLR cameras are pushing that number there are other factors that must accompany this resolution issue. For example the speed at which a digital camera can take a number of series shots is not yet at the speed of an anolog camera, although that too is getting closer.

    Beyond that, probubly digi cams will just get smaller, higher pic quality, more memory, and smarter (as in auto focus and metering).
  • edited November 2007
    Just get a digital SLR.
  • edited November 2007
    yeah dude... DSLR is the way to go.

    right now I am shooting a Canon 40D. It is working out for me!
    used to have the Nikon d70s but made the switch for various reasons.
  • edited November 2007
    Whats does megapixel mean in reference to the quality of the pictures? More detail?
  • edited November 2007
    yeah i realize i could have looked it up but i thought id ask someone first hand ^. and the answer yes which is what i thought would have taken less characters than what you typed
  • edited November 2007
    The question was: Whats does megapixel mean in reference to the quality of the pictures? More detail?

    That does not require a 'yes' or 'no' answers. Plus, why does the amount of characters that I have typed have to do with the fact that you are lazy?
  • edited November 2007
    So I'm lazy and you're a jerk, case solved :P?
  • edited November 2007
    Ha ha, thats Ja-dub's favorite website! I think he gets money everytime he posts it in a forum.

    Megapixels are a standard of quality in images. If you are purchasing a camera it is important to take into account the quality of the lens too. Poor quality lens will make poor quality pictures even if the pixel count is high.
  • edited November 2007
    I do love that site and I love doing that same trick to people.

    It's pretty funny when people get all excited as they think someone took their time to research an article for them to learn... but then they get owned.
  • edited November 2007
    Krazy_Konrad;18084 said:
    Ha ha, thats Ja-dub's favorite website! I think he gets money everytime he posts it in a forum.

    Megapixels are a standard of quality in images. If you are purchasing a camera it is important to take into account the quality of the lens too. Poor quality lens will make poor quality pictures even if the pixel count is high.
    as well as OPTICAL zoom, digital zoom lowers quality although it'll zoom in.
    but explaining this to non-technological savvy customers is like explaining quantum physics to a 3year old.
  • edited November 2007
    Ha ha, I tried explaining the polarity of earth to my 3 year old. He just looked really confused. But I am pretty sure he understand where rain comes from! (cold fronts coliding with warm fronts, air pressure, elevation changes...etc)

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