I've got the Olympus C4000z, with 3x optical, and you can get it for $250 at Costco.... And you can get a lens tube adaptor and actually use all your 35 mm filters/lenses....

 

Okay... not exactly lied...

Unfortunately/Fortunately... the Canon A80 has been discontinued. Apparently it is being replaced with a model called the A85 which isn't quite out yet. I didn't want to wait... so what did I buy?

After mulling over the options of what was available, I wound up with a Sony DSC-W1 Cybershot camera, featuring...

- 5.1 MegaPixel - I would have been happy with 4, but the cameras available with 4 megapixels weren't floating my boat.
- Carl Zeiss photo lens
- phat 2.5in LCD display
- very compact for travel
- includes NiMH rechargeable batteries
- 32MB memory card
BONUS
- 128MB memory card for free with camera purchase

Total cost was $450 for camera, carrying case, tripod, and sales tax. So, I went $50 over budget and did not get my swivel LCD. Though, I can live without the swivel since the tradeoff is a 2.5" screen vs 1.5".

Will be taking photos of my car and at HIN this weekend. Will post the results from my new toy sometime next week!

 

i was thinking about getting the Sony W1, but found the DSC-T1 to be more worthwhile. you gotta love the design on the T1, and it has all the functions of the W1 (except for the 4x optical zoom).

i picked one up online for about $460 shipped.

 

The T1 was $100 more than the W1 and did not include the free 128MB memory stick, putting it out of my price bracket.

 

Sony didn't get such good reviews as Canon Powershots. And as all sony stuff it's overpriced for what it worth.

I recently bought Canon A60. Best professional reviews all over the net, best quality of picture, good ergonomics. Reasonably small size. It was around 500 without card though.

But keep in mind that you'll grow out of 128M pretty soon and Sony memory sticks are about twice more expensive other kinds of memory. So Sony will get your money anyway.

Here is one of my shots

if it's didnt show do right mouse click -> show picture


skaled down version if big one doesn't want to work

 

I have been happy with my Canon Elph S410....4 megapixels...just point and shoot. I didn't need anything too complicated, just good pic quality.

 

I have the Canon SD10. It's a pretty good tiny camera. Indoor shots are mediocre though.

 

I just got a SONY T1... its totally kick ***!

 

Vlad (all)...
I actually wanted the Canon A80... it is pretty much in everyone's top 10 list and usually one of only 2 that doesn't cost $800 plus.

Unfortunately, it's been discontinued and I could not find one to buy here in town yesterday. And, it's replacement, the A85, won't be out for a few months.

Alternatives were the A75 (no swivel LCD and 3.1MP) and the Canon S1-IS (also 3.1MP, expensive, and not terribly compact). Though I did give the S1-IS some very serious consideration.

Ultimately, I went with the Sony W1 because it was a great value for the price (I did not have the luxury to wait for an online purchase, I'm talking relative to other retail outlet options). The larger LCD screen offset my desire for the swivel LCD. Lots of auto and manual photo options and settings. And 5.1 MegaPixels. One thing I don't like is the lack of decent zoom, but if I find I need more I can get upgrade lenses.

I realize Sony hasn't reviewed well, but much of the reason for this is their low-end cameras are crappy. The mid and higher end stuff is actually on par with other companies offerings. I do feel the Canons are typically the best of the bunch, but they simply did not have the Canons available that I wanted. Normally, I would then have punted to Nikon, but because of the sale pricing I was able to get a better Sony than I could for the same price in the Nikon line.

And I doubt I'll outgrow the 128MB card. I actually have a total of 160MB in memory sticks and always travel with my laptop so I can download pics when I need to. The work camera I was using only had a 64MB card and I never maxed it out... not even when I went to HIN Charlotte.

For $450 total, I got...
- Sony DSC-W1 (included batteries and 32MB memory card)
- an additional 128MB memory card
- a portable tripod that telescopes to 40"
- carrying case for everything but the tripod

 

Vlad, Did you mean S60? The A60 is a <$200 camera. The S60 is very nice. I chose the G over the S because of the faster lens at the expense of less portability.

 

Im looking into this camera, found it for $423 online. How is the flash with it? How does it take night pics with the flash, is it strong or on the weak side. Ive heard its not that strong and I would hate to have a $400-500 camera that couldnt take decent night pics....any input is appreciated

 

Personally, I want this one...

http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer...819/index.html

Price isn't TOO outrageous either...

 

Yep... definitely like the Nikon 8700. Unfortunately that and many others were out of my price range.

 

well, it is just a point and shoot that just happens to fit in your pockets and is 5MP. the flash isnt that great, but the AF is awsome. it is little on the strong side, but i would have that instead of a weak flash.

if you do decide go with the T1, get a bigger Memory stick (duo pro at least 128mb). the stock 32meg will only hold about 30 pics at 5MP mode.

 

Yes, S60 of course. All those numbers are so meaningless and confusing.

I was initially looking Canon EOS 10D SLRs but then I realized that with lenses and additional equipment I'll seriously overflow my budget. And then guys here brought S60 to my attention and it really had all I need, except exchangable optics of course. And it is really compact too. So I traded optics for size and price under$500. I desided that I'll get SLR later down the road, but now I'm not sure I ever will. Quality of pictures of S60 is amazing, colors are true to life outdoors and indoors, and pocket size allows to bring it to all the parties and events. And I still can customize everything, and do bracketing and stuff, just like on good SLR. I compensate slow lenses by prefocusing, once you get use to it it's not a problem.

I've checked it costed me $557 with 512MB card shipped. And I'm often out of space even with that card, since I like the idea of cropping later, so I always use L size, extrafine quality.

 

That's the site I use for independent indepth reviews of cameras. It's not just stupid - great camera, looking cool, and nice color (of camera) too. It's evaluation of every little aspect of camera with picture tests of everything. Helped me a lot.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/WB/WB.HTM

 

The Canon A80 is still available on the web. Go to Google enter canon A80, and you'll be confronted with lots of choices.

Lou

 

Duh... no kidding. The problem was I didn't have time to wait on a web purchase to be shipped to me if I was going to have the camera for this weekend. If I had made this decision and had the money for the purchase a week ago, I would have bought it on the web. However, with cash in hand and only one day to work with, I got the best I could find at local retail outlets. So far, the DSC-W1 is pretty phat!

 

Well Duh

Good for You Maybe you should have planned better. Duh

Ever hear of overnite shipping

Lou

 

Overnight shipping is my middle name...but it comes at a price and may have taken McDuck over budget. Have fun at the show Andy and take some nice pics of the brick, and there should be some other objects there to focus that lens on as well.