Digital Camera question

[PigsinSpace]

I'm buying my first digital camera and have narrowed my choice down to three possible options.
1) Kodak Z740
It has 5 megapixels and 10x optical zoom with audio and video.
Price: 357 euro

2)Fuji FinePix S5500
It has 4 megapixels and 10x optical zoom with audio and video
Price: 354 euro

3)Fuji FinePix S3500
It has 4 megapixels and 6x optical zoom with just video (no audio)
Price: 278 euro.

256mb ram inc in all prices above.

Obviously, I like the price of the cheapest. Just wondering does 1 megapixel make much of a difference. I'm not pushed about the audio/video thing.
I like the look of the Fuji S5500 best.

Anyone out there have any advice?

[Al White]

Fuji finepix f10

[up.the.kingdom]

Check out the light sensitivity rating (ISO) of each - not sure about the other two but the S3500 isnt very good in low light, you'd need a tripod like.
Look up the user reviews on Amazon - usually loads of reviews with all the good and bad points.

[Corkaholic]

Best camera on the market at the moment have read loads and loads of reviews about it

Panasonic DMCFZ5 (http://www.maddens.ie/index.cfm?page=viewP roduct&productId=87)

Your welcome ;)

[PigsinSpace]

Check out the light sensitivity rating (ISO) of each - not sure about the other two but the S3500 isnt very good in low light, you'd need a tripod like.
Look up the user reviews on Amazon - usually loads of reviews with all the good and bad points.

ok, the Kodak Z740's ISO is 80/100/200/400/800 ISO and the Fugi S5500 is 64/100/200/400

so I guess that means the Kodak one is better as it has 1 megapixel more aswell.

The thing is I like the 'style' of these cameras the way they mimic the SLR style. The Nikon S1 I'm sure is very nifty but I prefer the big optical zoom lens look.
The coolest-looking one of my original 3 above is deffo the Fuji S5500 but I think the Kodak might be a better all-round camera for the same price as it has a bigger lcd screen and 1 megapixel more....
still undecided....
Also none of them have image stablization but don't know how important this is.

[PigsinSpace]

Best camera on the market at the moment have read loads and loads of reviews about it

Panasonic DMCFZ5 (http://www.maddens.ie/index.cfm?page=viewP roduct&productId=87)

Your welcome ;)

yes, this one is lovely but I'm afraid it's about 100 euro outside my budget.
Thanks though.

[PigsinSpace]

thanks for that site, very good prices alright. I still don't think my budget will stretch to the panasonic though as I'd have to buy a memory card aswell....a pity the Fuji S5500 is out of stock....

[William Underhill Malice]

bought the fuji finepix E550 a couple of weeks back from Amazon. Camera and 512mb card (bought seperately) came to 300euros after converting from sterling.

Its 6.2mp 4Xoptical zoom. Handy little thing except it ships without a power supply which means the batterys drain faster when you hook it up to your PC for transfering pics. Good though.

[mickey]

My dad has the s5500 and he gets great photos with it.

[oliver hymn]

I'm buying my first digital camera and have narrowed my choice down to three possible options.
1) Kodak Z740
It has 5 megapixels and 10x optical zoom with audio and video.
Price: 357 euro

2)Fuji FinePix S5500
It has 4 megapixels and 10x optical zoom with audio and video
Price: 354 euro

3)Fuji FinePix S3500
It has 4 megapixels and 6x optical zoom with just video (no audio)
Price: 278 euro.

256mb ram inc in all prices above.

Obviously, I like the price of the cheapest. Just wondering does 1 megapixel make much of a difference. I'm not pushed about the audio/video thing.
I like the look of the Fuji S5500 best.

Anyone out there have any advice?
wow. how things have changed.

[HappyMonday83]

I'm buying my first digital camera and have narrowed my choice down to three possible options.
1) Kodak Z740
It has 5 megapixels and 10x optical zoom with audio and video.
Price: 357 euro

2)Fuji FinePix S5500
It has 4 megapixels and 10x optical zoom with audio and video
Price: 354 euro

3)Fuji FinePix S3500
It has 4 megapixels and 6x optical zoom with just video (no audio)
Price: 278 euro.

256mb ram inc in all prices above.

Obviously, I like the price of the cheapest. Just wondering does 1 megapixel make much of a difference. I'm not pushed about the audio/video thing.
I like the look of the Fuji S5500 best.

Anyone out there have any advice?

The quality of the photo has little to do with megapixels and isos. It all boils down to the quality of the chip, the only way to find out which one is best, it to set all three cameras the same and take a picture.

[Allergic!]

I put this up before, may help you for comparing
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sidebyside.asp

[fytaan]

Try here for as well, I think someone posted this link here before:

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

And this taken from an american forum where someone was asking advice on a Nikon D40:

NOOOOOO NOOOO Do Not Buy D40!!!
I work very close with developers of new D-SLR trough Best Buy Corp in Richfield MN. D40 is replacing D50 which is still the better and bigger camera. D40 can accept only some of the lenses, and not all of the Nikon 35 mm and some of digital ones. Nikon is trying to sell those cameras to people who are not familiar with them and too afraid to go full D-SLR. That is why D40 is around $599. If you would like something really good for the money and you would like to stay with Nikon, go D80. Yes it cost more, but you will get so much more out of it; wireless flash connection with multiple flashes for family photos so you will never again go to "professional photographer". At least once a month I talk to all of them in that industry (D-SLR: Nikon, Canon, Sony, Olympus, Penatx, Panasonic and point and shoot: Kodak, Olympus, Casio, Sony, Canon, HP, Nikon etc.)
For small point and shoot, remember one thing for digital cameras: mega-pixels are not everything and digital zoom is selling point only (never ever do not use digital zoom)! … and that is why you need to stay away from most of Casio (way overpriced for the job), Sony W version cameras, old Panasonics ( 2005 and beginning of 2006, FX07 is good Panasonic), almost all of HP as of today, Olympus that uses AA batteries (unless it has 12X optical zoom)
For D-SLR today, your best bet is to get D80 if you would like to have something that is really good (get one that comes with the lens 18-135 mm not the body only) which will cost you around $1299; body only $999. If you decide to go body only, than go to Canon Rebel XTi with 18-55 mm lens (included with camera, again do not buy body only because you will pay too much) for $899. However if you are price sensitive like me, your best option is to go Canon Rebel XT for $699 (silver), DO NOT I repeat DO NOT pay that much for the black version of Canon Rebel XT, it is lower grade model with different and lower grade sensor. I do not care which retailer will tell you what I test this things before that hit the market and I think I know what I am talking about.
One more thing:
Nikon and Canon are top two leaders in D-SLR and Digital Point and Shoot cameras in the world with Sony right behind them. Canon as of right now is little bit more than 1% better than Nikon. Nikon lowers will tell you how Nikon is superior compare to Canon, and Canon user will tell you how Canon is superior compare to Nikon. If you look at any major world recognize photographer, you will see that they use different cameras for different occasions. This is there main difference. Canon is faster like it or not, and that is what they are concentrating on to (all of Canon today is at least at 3fps and 30D is at true 5fps). Nikon is better for still portrait and weddings (technology is concentrate more towards reflection of the skin and less noisy mirrors).
If you need just point and shoot on your vacation: Canon SD630 ($269-$299 depending on the promos, 3inch’ screen with the best filter in sun or snow in the industry, also shortest lag.); for everything from vacation to family photos Canon SD800IS ($399 or less image stabilization built inside of the lens which is also wide angle that will give you 50% more of the picture than others), durability Olympus 720SW ($349 or less, shock resistant up to 5 feet and truly waterproof up to under 10 feet, just jump and dive) and portrait Nikon L5 ($299 or less with 5X optical zoom).

[Ms. Cork]

I'm buying my first digital camera and have narrowed my choice down to three possible options.
1) Kodak Z740
It has 5 megapixels and 10x optical zoom with audio and video.
Price: 357 euro

2)Fuji FinePix S5500
It has 4 megapixels and 10x optical zoom with audio and video
Price: 354 euro

3)Fuji FinePix S3500
It has 4 megapixels and 6x optical zoom with just video (no audio)
Price: 278 euro.

256mb ram inc in all prices above.

Obviously, I like the price of the cheapest. Just wondering does 1 megapixel make much of a difference. I'm not pushed about the audio/video thing.
I like the look of the Fuji S5500 best.

Anyone out there have any advice?



I have the Kodak Z740. It is a great camera and I'd have no hesitation in recommending it. It has a superb zoom. The quality of the photos is excellent. You recieve an application for viewing photos on your computer (Kodak Easyshare) which is quite good. (If you are not on a mac though I would recommend using Picassa - regardless of which camera you choose to buy.) The printed photos I have had developed are also of very high quality.

The Z740 also has lots of different options for the environment you are in when taking your photo. There is a video recorder. You can change the mode to suit moving objects, bright scenes, night, close-ups, text etc.

A few criticisms that may or may not bother you:

When you are using the camera on the video setting you can not zoom in during recording.

The battery is a CRV3. The one you receive in the package is not rechargeable. I know you can get the rechareable but I have found it difficult to find. It's a pain in the ass when you are out clicking away and the battery dies.

I personally find it difficult to take a decent night shot with the camera. (This could be me and my lack of skill).

Overall though, it is an excellent camera. If you want to see a few of my photos to check the quality of pixels etc send me a PM.

[bosco]

Go for a Sony H2 - it's got a 12x optical zoom, 6MP, decent video recording and iso up to 1600. It's about as good as you'll get for that kind of money without taking another step up. Or the Canon S3 - either camera has its pros and cons but they're probably the 2 best.

Megapixels aren't everything.

www.DPreview.com is the job for comparing cameras and getting very detailed reviews.

Get at least a 1GB card plus extra batteries and a charger (if it doesn't come supplied), and ideally a decent bag as well.

www.pixmania.com is cheap, fast and reliable.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H2 + Pixmania PIX SLR case 15 x 11 x 14.5 cm + Sony Memory Stick Duo Pro MSX-M1GS 1 GB memory card € 373


or if you're determined to go with the kodak:

€265 from www.pixmania.com
KODAK EasyShare Z710 Zoom + PIX SLR case 15 x 11 x 14.5 cm + Memory card SD 1 GB + V900 PC22 Charger LR6(AA) + 4 rechargeable NiMH LR6(AA) batteries 2500 mAh