Digital Camera

[John]

Hi Folks,

I was given a digital camera from my parents for my birthday, but me being me I would like it to have the 'zoom' function, which it doesn't. They said I could exchange it if I wanted to, so I'm off to Dixons tomorrow/Friday to get it exchanged. The camera was about £100, but I don't want to spend much more than £130, max £140, in essence an extra £30-£40.

Any tips on what to look out for would be a great help. It was from Dixons, I can't open up the box else I'll break the seal on the packaging and they won't refund it, so can't check it out properly.

Thanks,
John

[Win2Win]

Just get a Fuji in the price range they are all top rate. I have a S5000 which does more than an SLR, but the 204/205 models have X3 zoom, and do a great job. Don't be blinded by the numbers, 2.1M pixels easily allows a clear pic on A4.

Fuji also has an easy to use menu system, and a great auto focus, as well as you can do video on it. Think they make toast as well, but not sure about orgasms......but then I suppose being student you'll see things we can only imagine at our age

[Bulldog]

I got a Kodak DX6340 for Chrimbo. Might be a bit more than you want to spend but it has Optical and digital zoom up to 14x.

Try to get Optical zoom as this is proper zoom. Digital will only enlarge the picture not improve the focus on the subject

[Win2Win]

Mine has X22 and when I attach the telescope I can see for a few Billion light years, how far are you thinging SJ

Bonusprint do quality digi prints from only 15p each, cheaper and better than anyone else. Their software also corrects crap!

[John]

Cheers guys,

The camera is a Kodak CX4310, the picture quality is 3.2 Million but I can sacrifice some of that and still get just as good quality *visually* with zoom as well. Optical zoom it'll be then hopefully, as that sounds a lot clearer.

[Win2Win]

Digital zoom just enlarges the pic with software SJ, so make sure it's optical. Also try and get one with a 35mm thread adaptor on the front, this allows you to attach or 35mm lens, and filters (& telescopes). The Fuji S5000 has this, but not sure about lower models, but worth asking.

[ADIPaul]

I too have a Fuji, albeit not a recent model, but I find the colour rendition superior to other makes.
Colour is quite often overlooked in the search for megapixels etc. and, of course, it can be compromised by your printer. If your camera has good quality colour to begin with, it makes it easier to correct when printing.
BTW, I used a five colour cartridge Epson printer, but found a three colour Epson (my Dad's) superior. The five colours were supposed to enhance flesh tones, but I found they just gave an overall pinkish cast to my prints.
Anyway, I like the Fuji range and use it with a three colour Epson and am happy with the results.... until I can afford a camera upgrade!

Paul

[John]

Fuji or Kodak then at the mo probably. I've been on the Dixons website but they won't have half as many on the site as in the store, so when the snow has gone tomorrow/friday i'll take a trip down there and see what they can offer me.

Thanks for all your replies. :)

[John]

OK, I've got the camera, but why are cases like £9.99 upwards! It's just a case!

[Win2Win]

I got the cases free with the Fuji models.

Make sure you buy 2300 rechargeable NiMH batteries, nothing less.

[Bulldog]

I got the cases free with the Fuji models.

Make sure you buy 2300 rechargeable NiMH batteries, nothing less.

2300??

Should've bought a Kodak. Mine only takes 2

[John]

The humour never gets better in here then!

I did buy a Kodak, it was the least expensive one they did with an optical zoom (3.3). 2.0 Mega Pixels, 16mb memory, video. Only the batteries aren't lasting for long when the camera is switched on, and it turns itself off. The batteries were fully charged when i bought them, so I don't know what's happening. I'm not using it for long lengths of time so it isn't much of a problem. It's just annoying......

[Win2Win]

They are probably 1300 rated SJ, don't hold much power, you don't expect decent extras do you! You'll need a 128MB card as well to get the best out of it, use www.Dabs.com or www.Aria.com

You can get cheap batteries here;
http://www.battery-force.co.uk/bf/br...s/results.html

These are what you need RB102746 AA NiMH 2300mAh Pack of 4

[Bulldog]

Using the screen will run the batteries down more quickly but that's the whole point of a digital camera aside from the clarity of image so it looks like you need the better batteries

[John]

Purchased. :D

[Win2Win]

Remember to use a charger, two paper clips in the mains can be a little dangerous!!

[John]

Is there a special type of charger I need to buy? Or just a plain simple normal battery charger?

[Win2Win]

SImple wil do, but look in Argos for a 1hr fast charger, cost about £15-£20 but worth it for camera batteries. Some of the really cheap chargers can take 24hrs!! So read the small print :)

[John]

Only just got round to buying a charger, got it off the Battery Force website. A strange thing is that they included a belgian chocolate with the product inside the envelope!

Still on the hunt for a cheap but classyish-looking case, although the only place I've properly looked is Dixons.

[Win2Win]

I've ordered so much off them, I've ordered the box to put the chockies in!! :)

[rusko]

Some of the outdoor shops(field & trek, cotswold, tec,etc) do cases which hold camera, batts and mem cards, i'm sure lots of internet camera sites also do.

[jollyjayne]

After reading the favourable comments on here, I have just ordered a Fuji S5000 with 128MB ready for my hols next week........... :D

[Win2Win]

I've attached a pic I took with the S500. It is better quality than film, and you can do more with it. Zoom shots work best with a tripod.

Use Bonusprint online to get the prints published, it's the cheapest around, and quality is excellent.

PS. It's Sentosa beach in Singapore, only 6 weeks and I'll be their again :)

[John]

Blimey! I'm moving to Wales!

[samantha1303]

I know you guys are talking bigger and better things here but I just want a cheap camera with a flash that I can take standard pics with, indoors and night time.
I have had 3 cheap ones so far and they have all been rubbish.

[John]

I think all Fuji cams are good, not just the digital ones. If you're prepared to spend £30-£50 you can get a decent one for that price. Treat it as it is meant to be treated and it shouldn't give you any hassle. Dixons is a good place to start, whenever I go in they're always willing to help out. :)

[Win2Win]

Fuji 205. You can't go wrong with this one, bought my Dad one for Xmas, and he loves it. You'll need another 64/128MB card for around £30.

http://www.pixmania.com/dev/gui_web/...e=uk&&srcid=37


http://www.fujifilm.co.uk/digital/cameras/a205/

[John]

That looks good Keith but for that price plus the extra memory, surely may as well get a standard digital camera. My digicam was £130, have had no problems with it whatsoever, picture quality is first rate, and I love it.

[Win2Win]

But you know the advantages of digi. You don't have to have every pic processed, you can easily delete the crap one's. You can't take short video clips with a normal camera. It's easier to manipulate them on the computer, and it impresses your mates :)

[John]

Sorry Keith, my bad, I thought those links you put up were just for normal cameras that required a film to run. Hence my previous post!