Help a technophone find a digital camera

[jaminb]

OK, figure it's time to move into 2006 and get rid of my cheap normal camera that cost about twenty quid ten years ago.
First question is whether people think it's ok or ever worthwhile to buy a digital camera from ebay, particularly when 2nd hand?
I want a relatively no frills deal that won't be out of date and can hold a fair amount without needing any special effects/techniques etc.
Are there any particularly worthy brands?
Ideally I'd like to spend under sixty but I'm not sure if that's worthwhile, could spend more if it's genuinely worth it what do you reckon?
As ever, help is muchos appreciados.

[Brozyniak]

technophone :thinking:

what will you be using the camera for?

How much the camera can hold is predominantly down the the size of memory card that you put in it.

Good brands include; panasonic, sony, canon, casio, samsung

maybe nikon ;)

I guess with buying a camera off ebay you'll need to be aware as with buying anything else pretty much. People are upgrading all the time so you can find good deals especially if you don't care too much about the latest megapixel count.

[Highlander]

Not sure £60 will move you into 2006!!
Maybe 2004 or 2005. Unless you go for the cheap nasty cameras!!

[jaminb]

really? As I said I'd pay more, but after a quick glance it doesnt seem that much difference, as I say that's probably due to my own ignorance, how much would you recommend (on average obviously)
What do I want to take pictures of? Friends and stuff I do basically, no flash art shots or anything, only got about three sets of photos from the last seven or eight years, feel like I'll probably regret not having the memories years down the line...

[Highlander]

Personally, i'd recommend a Canon Ixus of some sort, but I think your're looking at £150+. Looking back at some of the other 'recommend me a camera' threads has turned up this bargain (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001FFMCA/thedvdforums-21). Don't know much about it, but it seems reasonably spec'ed.

[RooterRotor]

Morgan computers have refurbished Olympus C360s for £46.99 at the moment.
3.3MP with 3x optical. Probably good enough for what you want to do. Uses XD, but reasonable prices on XD cards at MyMemory (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://scripts.affiliatefuture.com/AFClick.asp?affiliateID=17278&merchantID=884&programmeID=2718&mediaID=0&tracking=&url=http://www.mymemory.co.uk/xD-Picture-Card) etc now.

Morgan Olympus (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://scripts.affiliatefuture.com/AFClick.asp?affiliateID=17278&merchantID=9&programmeID=54&mediaID=0&tracking=&url=http://www.morgancomputers.co.uk/shop/detail.asp?ProductID=2104&CategoryID=16&SubCategoryID=268)

[jaminb]

Sorry to show my ignorance but what is XD? Sounds like something I'd want, but not sure

[John C]

xD is a memory card format - it's proprietary, and I think only Fuji and Olympus use it, which means it's generally more expensive than, say, SD memory or compact flash (two other kinds).

[Fast Eddie]

Morgan computers have refurbished Olympus C360s for £46.99 at the moment.
3.3MP with 3x optical. Probably good enough for what you want to do. Uses XD, but reasonable prices on XD cards at MyMemory (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://scripts.affiliatefuture.com/AFClick.asp?affiliateID=17278&merchantID=884&programmeID=2718&mediaID=0&tracking=&url=http://www.mymemory.co.uk/xD-Picture-Card) etc now.

Morgan Olympus (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://scripts.affiliatefuture.com/AFClick.asp?affiliateID=17278&merchantID=9&programmeID=54&mediaID=0&tracking=&url=http://www.morgancomputers.co.uk/shop/detail.asp?ProductID=2104&CategoryID=16&SubCategoryID=268)

Nice Spot. I reckon that would do him fine and meets the budget, he shouldn't need a high capacity card if he doesn't take many pics.

[jaminb]

thanks for that guys, the thing is I'd hopefully be taking the camera on some travels so may well take a load of shots-how many fit onto the XD with that one you recommended?
Just to check, does no-one buy straight old cameras (ie with film to process) these days, will they soon be obsolete?

[tonytol]

depends on the size of the XD card and image resolution setting of the camera. Most of the DPreview/Steves digicams reviews give an indication of number of show.

Film cameras are still being sold and bought. Probably nowhere near as many, but they do have a lot of advantages - cost, 'resolution', battery life, capacity, easy to buy media thorught the world. The only real downside is time and cost to get the media (film) developed.

[dunkrag]

jaminb - check out this camera (http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/dimagex20.html) .

I've been using it for 18 months and it was a great budget, point and shoot but decent quality camera.

It take normal AA batteries and has a 3x optical zoom.

You'll get a 512mb SD memory card for around £18 and get anywhere in the region of 600 pics on it depending on what quality you have it set at.

It takes small file size videos also.

By the way - I've got mine for sale in the classifieds for £45 delivered. :D


Here are some shots I took with it last year.

Yosemite
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y23/dunkrag/PICT0056.jpg

Flower
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y23/dunkrag/Flowershot.jpg

Joshua Tree
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y23/dunkrag/PICT0206.jpg

[matthoulb]

Personally i'd get a Canon Ixus, they take good pictures, are built well, and are very easy to use :) £150+ though, but it is definatly worth it.

[JOV]

dunkrag

Nice pics just goes to show you don't need 8 Mp and lots of dials and options

Now why did I buy my FZ30

Oh because it is Fab cool etc

[Wishy]

X20 is ok. It seriously lacks when you try and do anything creative though, no manual controls of any kind. The iso just "floats" - its entirely automatic. Battery door is poorly constructed and the CCD is one of the faulty sony ones (Although warentee replacement sorted me very quickly).

But as a small camera, its ruddy cheap and takes passable photos

[RooterRotor]

...may well take a load of shots-how many fit onto the XD with that one you recommended?
A 256MB xD card will give around 130 - 140 shots with a 3MP camera like the 360Z at it's highest quality setting.

w2w (http://www.w2w.com/searchResults_x4.asp?searchtype=3&andor=0&tabSelect=TAB4&searchvalue=xdall&pageTitle=All%20-%20xD-Picture%20Cards) are offering a 256MB Fuji card for £13.89 incl delivery - cheaper than MyMemory, although w2w have a reputation for slow delivery.

If you want to use the panoramic function on the Olympus - with the supplied Camedia software - you'll have to buy an Olympus branded xD card though.

[kiran_mk2]

I've got an X20 but I've jt bought an A620. I still keep the X20 in my coat pocket for nights out. It's no worse than any other camera with a P mode. EV, WB and ISO control (ISO is in the setup menu - took me 18 months to find it). 2MP is plenty for 6x4s and maybe even upto 8x10.