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

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

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1999 Toyota Corolla VE (Mine)
2006 Honda Odyssey (Wife's)
1979 300CD (sold)

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.

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Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys

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

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Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys

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.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

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.

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1999 Toyota Corolla VE (Mine)
2006 Honda Odyssey (Wife's)
1979 300CD (sold)

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

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1999 Toyota Corolla VE (Mine)
2006 Honda Odyssey (Wife's)
1979 300CD (sold)

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.

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Question Authority before it Questions you.

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

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1999 Toyota Corolla VE (Mine)
2006 Honda Odyssey (Wife's)
1979 300CD (sold)

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.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

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

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

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.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

What does CLA mean?

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

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!

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

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.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags