Need help choosing between 2 digital cameras

[Jenny]

Ok, long story short: My mom is getting us a digital camera for Christmas. She bought one at Sams Club and then saw it (or so she thought) at Walmart (where she works part time, since she can't make enough money teaching) for $30-$35 cheaper. She got the 2nd one home (expecting to return the first one to Sams) and realized they weren't exactly the same thing.

I can't find reviews. Help me decide if I absolutely need to have the higher priced one...

Kodak Easy Share 4330

Kodak Easy Share 4230

Thanks in advance. :)

[skynet]

It really depends on what you will be using it for, and how good of an eye you have for pictures.

http://www.kodak.com/cgi-bin/webCatalog.pl?product=KODAK+EASYSHARE+DX4330+Zoom+Digital+Camera

http://www.kodak.com/cgi-bin/webCatalog.pl?product=KODAK+EASYSHARE+CX4230+Zoom+Digital+Camera

It seems like the main differences are that the 4330 has 3.1MP(11" x 14") v 2MP(8" x 10") and it also have 10X Zoom VS 6X Zoom. However they both have 3X optical zoom. Optical Zoom means no quality reduction. The 4300 Has some extra bells and whistles but nothing too extrodinary.

If you want really nice pictures for the web, I would keep the 4330, but then again I have done alot of photoshop work so I get picky to the bone. If you are just going to be printing the pictures, the 4230 should be plenty good.

[Jenny]

Mostly, we will be using it to take pictures of our son, send to my mom to see via email, etc. Probably won't print out much, since we don't have a photo printer.

Is the 2 mega-pixel a lot worse quality than a 3.1?

[skynet]

That is really something that you would have to decide. Take a gander

4230
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2002_reviews/CX4230_samples.html

4330
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2002_reviews/DX4330_samples.html

The both take some very nice pictures. Take a look at the reviews to see if there is anything in particular you like better about one.

Since you will be emailing the pictures and be taking up close pictures I think you'll be fine with the 4230. You will probably want to crop the images anyway for suitable email. But be sure you check out the reveiws and the sample pics.

[caribiner23]

Given the choice, I would go for the higher density.

At some point, you may want to blow up some images in print and the extra resolution will make a difference.

If you are not planning on printing a lot, or if you aren't going to print any pictures larger than 8x10, the 2.1 will work just fine.