Camera Advice
 

My almost 6 year Nikon Coolpix 2500 has some batteries that are about ready to crap out on me. Should I finally use this as an excuse to upgrade to something new, or should I spend the $15 or what ever the replacement batteries are going for, and risk getting something inferior and might last me a year. The pictures are also not coming out as good as I would like them to be, that may be due to the many times I have dropped the camera :o

I was thinking about getting a Panasonic DMC-LZ5, which is about the closest thing to owning a Leica I will have :D. Costco has them for $249 right now...

I'm going to follow this thread too. I've been using a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P150 7.2 MP which is great for just about everything I need it for, even product shots. It was inexpensive and hooks up easily to my computer for downloading. It takes a 1 GB memory card and the batteries last for 200 minutes even using flash on every pic.

The draw back is shutter speed. I need to use a flash to get clear pics or it needs to be on a tripod. I'd like to make sure my next digital camera has a faster shutter or an adjustable setting for it. I'd like to be able to take better pics of my glass art in low light settings without having to set up a mini studio every time. I also like to have the ability to use a wide angle lens.

Prices have really come down since I bought my camera. You can really get a lot for your money these days.

I still use my 2500 for eBay pictures and hauling around. Love the rotating lens feature.

But yes, it's time to get yourself into more pixels and features than you'll ever need in your life. About a year ago I decided to stop just short of the DSLR cameras and investigated the ultra zoom models. Almost went with the Panasonic, but chose the Canon Powershot S5is.

Here's the camera you mentioned for $159.95:

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-LZ5S-Digital-Camera-Stabilized/dp/B000E168E2/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1231290593&sr=8-1

I have a Canon G7 and love it. The current model is a G9 or 10, but they're great cameras. It's about $475-$500 and well worth it.

I've been debating a DSLR for a few years, but I still can't justify the $450 minimum price, plus I have family members with them, so I can borrow when needed. Plus I am worried I would mess up a DSLR if I took it out on one of my adventures I take time to time...

I am looking at the DMC-LZ5, because of the size, and the optics are about as good as I can get. It is also designed for what I would be doing with it, taking it on my travels and adventures, and has an aluminum case.

I was mistaken on the model, it is the DMC-TZ5

Costco prices suck on electronics unless they offer a large coupon. I will say their reurn policy is very good, but their selection and prices usually stink compared to web shopping.

Shop the internet, the big sites like Amazon, Tigerdirect, or Buy.com. Better yet, do a google search for the model # your shopping for. You'd be amazed by the price variations. Many sites less than half price of the local Best Buy, Circuit City kinda places.

Costco has a deal on them right now, I think they are marked down $50

Anything by Canon. They are one of the last companies to still use all glass lenses in their digital line of cameras.



They also use the CCD from their professional lines in their consumer lines, so that you get a very clear picture when you go back to edit it.



I have a Powershot S500 thats 5 years old that takes better pictures than my brand new Nikon.



I am a big fan of Canons. I have an XS-i DSLR, S500, SD1000, and some older Canon EOS stuff.

I love my Canon, cost more but its the best digital camra I have used.

I spent a VERY frustrating Christmas trying to get pictures of my new grandson using my Canon PowerShot A630. While it is an excellent camera for documenting construction details for archival purposes, the 1/2 second delay made it USELESS for pictures of my grandson. ( Infants change their expression at a rate of 10^63 times per second.)

I am going retro. I have pulled one of my old collector cameras off the shelf, and sent it, and its lens away for a CLA. Its a Russian ( Ukranian actually) copy of Leica III, Zorki4 with its 85mm f1.5 lens. At least when I press the shutter release, the picture happens NOW!
I will miss the ability to immediately view my results, but I believe they will be worth waiting for. All at a cost far less than a DSLR.

What does CLA mean?

- Peter.

I got one a couple of years ago, and I am quite happy with it.

Got my daughter one of those slim digital cameras three years ago, and due to her stubbornness of not keeping it in a case, it isn't up to snuff anymore. But the technology has gotten better and cheaper, so replacing your old one for something better (for the same or less price) makes sense.

As for my kid, if she wants a new camera, she can go buy one herself! Maybe she will take better care of it if it was paid for out of her own pocket! ;)

CLA means Clean, Lubricate and Adjust.
It should return a camera to functioning as it was intended. The same for a lens--it should be adjusted to provide proper focus, etc.