Still Looking

[barb_48]

Hi,
It's probably been a year now since I have been looking to buy a digital camera. Guess what, still looking. I'm really not in a hurry, and I am eternally grateful for all your previous inputs. I have to tell you that I can only buy whatever my airmiles catalogue is offering,
(money is tight).
I enjoy looking at everyone's pics but I realize that you guys have cameras that I will never be able to afford. Enough said, I have two new options along with the old ones. Please tell me what you think. I have researched them, but it's blah, blah, blah and I get frustrated. Again, I want a overall good camera, great color etc. Here's my option again, Minolta Dimage Z3, Canon Powershot S1 1S, Canon A310, or the Olympus C_765, oh and the Pansonic LC70. I still can wait, Airmiles might get some of the new Canon that are coming out.
Anyways thanks
P.S. Been having alot of trouble loading this site lately, anybody else have that problem?
Thanks again for putting up with me.

[modmans2ndcoming]

I looked at review after review of all those cameras. I was about the buy the canon Powershot S1 IS but was disappointed that there was no 4 MP version that I could get. the rest of the big zoom lines had issues....the kodak had a sticking mode wheel, the Minolta Z2 had some bad barrel distortion ( I did not bother with the Z3 because I could not afford it) and on all of them the shutter lag was high. Then I found the Kyocera m410r. 4MP and quick Shutter. a burst mode that can go until you waste the memory card, 30 FPS video that can go until the memory is full, with audio (no zoom though). it comes with a lens attachment ring, it uses cheap SD cards, the only think it did not have is image stabilization which is almost not needed for many handheld shots because of the shutter speed, but you can just buy a tripod or monopod otherwise.

dave's digicams has a nice review of it. and buydig.com has it for 378 dollars, no tax and free shipping. plus their high speed SD card prices are as low as you would see on pricewatch.

[EOSThree]

I seem to remember you wanting some reach for sports photography. The Canon S1, Minolta, and Oly all offer similar zoom ranges in the 10x (12x on the minolta) range. The Canon and Minolta offer image stabilization, which can help in low light, and hand holding a long zoom. The other cameras you list are of the compact type and don't offer the reach the Minolta, Canon, and Oly do, they will fit nicely in your pocket, but you won't have much of a telephoto lens. You have to decide whats important to you.
My picks:
1) Minolta: +best zoom range, image stabilization. -pretty big, pretty weird looking(but thats OK )
2) Canon S1: +2nd best zoom range, image stabilization, great movie mode. - purple fringing, only 3mp.
3) Oly: + same zoom range as Canon, compact size. -no image stabilization.
If I were starting from scratch like you are, and presented with the above choices I would get the Minolta.

[barb_48]

I seem to remember you wanting some reach for sports photography. The Canon S1, Minolta, and Oly all offer similar zoom ranges in the 10x (12x on the minolta) range. The Canon and Minolta offer image stabilization, which can help in low light, and hand holding a long zoom. The other cameras you list are of the compact type and don't offer the reach the Minolta, Canon, and Oly do, they will fit nicely in your pocket, but you won't have much of a telephoto lens. You have to decide whats important to you.
My picks:
1) Minolta: +best zoom range, image stabilization. -pretty big, pretty weird looking(but thats OK )
2) Canon S1: +2nd best zoom range, image stabilization, great movie mode. - purple fringing, only 3mp.
3) Oly: + same zoom range as Canon, compact size. -no image stabilization.
If I were starting from scratch like you are, and presented with the above choices I would get the Minolta.

I was looking at someone's pics on his website, he had the Z3 and the Minolta G600. From what I can see the G600 color was more accurate.
My decision is zoom or no zoom. I hear alot of people wishing they had zoom.
My picture taking will be mostly basic like animals, people and landscape.
Thanks

[modmans2ndcoming]

I was looking at someone's pics on his website, he had the Z3 and the Minolta G600. From what I can see the G600 color was more accurate.
My decision is zoom or no zoom. I hear alot of people wishing they had zoom.
My picture taking will be mostly basic like animals, people and landscape.
Thanks

then make sure you get a nice size zoom on that.

[EOSThree]

Any of the cameras out there will do a credible job of taking pictures of animals, people, and landscapes. It depends what you want to do with the camera. Do you want something that fits in your pocket and is always there? Then you will compromise on the zoom range, with the exception of the Oly. Do you want to take a picture of the birds at your bird feeder? Then you will compromise on size, with the exception of the Oly. Do you want to hand hold the camera? Then IS will help, which the Oly doesn't have.
The color reproduction can be manipulated with the software that comes with most of these cameras. I looked at Pbase at pictures taken with the Minoltas you mentioned and both cameras did a good job. I know it's really hard to come to a decision with so many parameters. The perfect camera isn't out there. I think you will have to pull the trigger on the camera you think will suit you best, and then work with, and around the shortcomings it has.
I am personally a Canon man and will probably stick with them because I understand how they work, and have invested in CF cards, reader, batteries, etc. that work with my Canons. If I were making the choice you're making, I would probably get the S1 IS, I think I remember suggesting that to you before. The reach of a 380mm, Image stabilization to help hold that long lens steady, and it's a canon. I suggested the Minolta to you because it seems to offer the biggest bang for the buck. 4mp, 12x zoom range, Image stabilization. The Oly offers the same zoom range as the canon, but without IS. It is very hard to hand hold a lens of the length of these zooms, the IS helps you hold the lens steady. I like the idea of a fairly long zoom, I looked long at the S1 to replace my G2. I think you will be surprized how close you have to get to wildlife to fill the frame with a smaller 3x zoom. With my G2 I get pictures of a couple of dots in the middle of the picture. Even with my 10D I get animals surrounded by a lot of open space with a 300mm lens.
What ever camera you chose, when you learn how to use it, you will enjoy it. Don't expect miracles. The dynamic range of a digital sensor is similar to slide film(about 5 stops), and becomes more difficult to expose correctly. The great thing about digital is you can take as many shots as you want, to get the shot you want. The more you do that the better your shots will become. Until you get a digital camera, though, you can't begin to go through that learning process. And contrary to your first post, you don't need a great camera to take good images.
Taken with a Canon G2:

[Clemmie]

Barb - of that group you list, I would go with the Minolta Z-3. Nicely featured new model, with the heritage of the Z-1 and Z-2 behind it. Is also drawing good reviews from owners, some of whom are shooting sports, in the Minolta groups that I frequent.


Now - I just wish I had that many airmiles, so I could get one.......

[barb_48]

Barb - of that group you list, I would go with the Minolta Z-3. Nicely featured new model, with the heritage of the Z-1 and Z-2 behind it. Is also drawing good reviews from owners, some of whom are shooting sports, in the Minolta groups that I frequent.


Now - I just wish I had that many airmiles, so I could get one.......

Years of spending way to much money Clemmie. I visited your website, love your cat!
Do you own a digital camera, because I noted that you had a 35mm slr camera. I could also buy a Minolta Maxxum 70 with my airmiles. I would imagine that I would get spectacular photos from this camera. Digital on the other hand would be more convenient, since with film I tend to have film in the camera for a year. I can also get the new Minolta G600 but it's lacking zoom.
Thanks anyways we'll see what happens.