another digicam request

kimchicowboy · 05-20-2004, 05:00 AM

i'm looking into getting a new camera. 5MP and 5x optical zoom is what i'm looking for. since i plan on traveling a bit the next few years, i'd like to take some nice photos and have good zoom capabilities. i'd be happy with a sony F717 although it is an old model. any others that any of you would recommend? i'd like to spend no more than $600 on the camera alone. thanks!

Jeffbx · 05-20-2004, 05:23 AM

I know some people here will disagree with this, but I'd recommend that you stay away from Sony cameras for 2 reasons - 1) the more expensive, proprietary memory stick, and 2) I always feel more comfortable buying a camera from a camera mfr, not an electronics mfr.

I love Olypmus - I'm on my 3rd one, and they've always been great. They have released a bunch of new models lately - I'd recommend that you look at the C-5060 wide zoom (5MP & 4x zoom). $532 from NewEgg.

What's more important to you - the resolution or the zoom? If you can go with a lower zoom, you can save quite a bit of $$ - Olympus C-5000 is only $299 from Newegg. 5MP and 3x optical zoom.

Go with a lower resolution & higher zoom - Olympus C-765 is $425 from Newegg - 4MP and 10x optical zoom.

Canon & Minolta also have some good offerings. Check out the list of 5+MP cameras from Steve's Digicams.

Mpowered · 05-20-2004, 06:12 AM

You could get the Sony T11. 5MP with 3x zoom. It's probably very pricey though.

faither · 05-20-2004, 07:06 AM

Proprietary memory stick or not, for the money there is no better camera than the F717.

The optics and feature set are unparalelled at that price point. You won't believe the benefit of the swivel body/lens until you use it. You can get photos from up above and down below and actually see what you're photographing.

Oh, and you can pick up a 512MB memory stick pro for about $120 delivered. A high-speed CF card isn't that much cheaper.

kimchicowboy · 05-20-2004, 07:16 AM

yeah. that's true faither. many individual reviews of the F717 are just so dang good.

faither · 05-20-2004, 07:27 AM

I've had the 717 since it came out and, earlier this year when I was looking for a new camera, I purchased the 828. Not enough difference to justify the higher price. I actually returned the 828 and went the DSLR route with the Pentax *ist D (another great camera IMHO. If you're interested, you can see pictures with both my cameras at pbase.

That said, I still have the 717 and it travels with me each day in my backpack -- for photo-ops that present themselves.

Burzhui · 05-20-2004, 07:58 AM

you can get either the 707 or the 717... trust me not that much of a difference i played with both.

and the 707 can be had for like 300.

I will actually soon be looking at selling my 707 or maybe just giving it to my dad, i just really miss the interchangeble lenses of my SLR so DSLR is the next logical step for me

ramazank2 · 05-20-2004, 09:48 AM

If you are traveling those cameras are too bulky. I have an olympus c720 and I hardly use it because it is a pain to carry around. So I just bought a Canon S500 and it is great. Definetly get a smaller camera. It was a very tough choice between the S500 and T1 but cost and canon quality got me.

kimchicowboy · 05-21-2004, 01:07 AM

i do have a small camera (canon S200) but would like to take nice shots when the opportunities arise.

burz, i'll look into the 707 as well. thanks for the input!

Apex · 05-21-2004, 01:45 AM

The Olympus C8080 is one of the better 8 megapixel consumer cameras. Just a tad under your price ceiling (if you buy from one of those no-name places), to a bit above.

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_...c8080_pg6.html

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olym...0wz/page20.asp

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/ol...8080wz-review/

http://www.megapixel.net/cgi-bin/fs_...80-review.html

kimchicowboy · 05-21-2004, 07:08 AM

the C8080 is indeed impressive.

05-20-2004, 05:00 AM	#1
kimchicowboy Admiral Join Date: May 2000 Location: in the middle of the pacific ocean Posts: 5,344	another digicam request i'm looking into getting a new camera. 5MP and 5x optical zoom is what i'm looking for. since i plan on traveling a bit the next few years, i'd like to take some nice photos and have good zoom capabilities. i'd be happy with a sony F717 although it is an old model. any others that any of you would recommend? i'd like to spend no more than $600 on the camera alone. thanks! __________________ "I pick my nose too but never eat it." - bachviet, 3/30/04 if anyone wants to go scuba diving in oahu or wants to learn who to scuba dive in oahu, PM me.

05-20-2004, 06:12 AM	#3
Mpowered Lieutenant Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 324	You could get the Sony T11. 5MP with 3x zoom. It's probably very pricey though. __________________ "Leaders? What leaders? **** these so called leaders! I don't respect them. I respect those who take action without being a leader." -Tommy Boomfiger

05-20-2004, 07:06 AM	#4
faither Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: FL Posts: 3,240	Proprietary memory stick or not, for the money there is no better camera than the F717. The optics and feature set are unparalelled at that price point. You won't believe the benefit of the swivel body/lens until you use it. You can get photos from up above and down below and actually see what you're photographing. Oh, and you can pick up a 512MB memory stick pro for about $120 delivered. A high-speed CF card isn't that much cheaper. Last edited by faither : 05-20-2004 at 07:09 AM.

05-20-2004, 07:58 AM	#7
Burzhui hot in velour pants Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: New York City Posts: 9,198	you can get either the 707 or the 717... trust me not that much of a difference i played with both. and the 707 can be had for like 300. I will actually soon be looking at selling my 707 or maybe just giving it to my dad, i just really miss the interchangeble lenses of my SLR so DSLR is the next logical step for me __________________ ____________________ IF A FAT GIRL FALLS IN THE WOODS DO THE TREES LAUGH?

05-21-2004, 01:45 AM	#10
Apex Can you hear me now? Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Here Posts: 5,506	The Olympus C8080 is one of the better 8 megapixel consumer cameras. Just a tad under your price ceiling (if you buy from one of those no-name places), to a bit above. http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_...c8080_pg6.html http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olym...0wz/page20.asp http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/ol...8080wz-review/ http://www.megapixel.net/cgi-bin/fs_...80-review.html __________________ The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance - it is the illusion of knowledge. Daniel J. Boorstin (1914 - )

05-20-2004, 05:23 AM	#2
Jeffbx Fleet Admiral Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Michigan Posts: 9,390	I know some people here will disagree with this, but I'd recommend that you stay away from Sony cameras for 2 reasons - 1) the more expensive, proprietary memory stick, and 2) I always feel more comfortable buying a camera from a camera mfr, not an electronics mfr. I love Olypmus - I'm on my 3rd one, and they've always been great. They have released a bunch of new models lately - I'd recommend that you look at the C-5060 wide zoom (5MP & 4x zoom). $532 from NewEgg. What's more important to you - the resolution or the zoom? If you can go with a lower zoom, you can save quite a bit of $$ - Olympus C-5000 is only $299 from Newegg. 5MP and 3x optical zoom. Go with a lower resolution & higher zoom - Olympus C-765 is $425 from Newegg - 4MP and 10x optical zoom. Canon & Minolta also have some good offerings. Check out the list of 5+MP cameras from Steve's Digicams.

05-20-2004, 07:16 AM	#5
kimchicowboy Admiral Join Date: May 2000 Location: in the middle of the pacific ocean Posts: 5,344	yeah. that's true faither. many individual reviews of the F717 are just so dang good.

05-20-2004, 07:27 AM	#6
faither Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: FL Posts: 3,240	I've had the 717 since it came out and, earlier this year when I was looking for a new camera, I purchased the 828. Not enough difference to justify the higher price. I actually returned the 828 and went the DSLR route with the Pentax *ist D (another great camera IMHO. If you're interested, you can see pictures with both my cameras at pbase. That said, I still have the 717 and it travels with me each day in my backpack -- for photo-ops that present themselves.

05-20-2004, 09:48 AM	#8
ramazank2 Commander Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Costa Mesa, CA Posts: 1,295	If you are traveling those cameras are too bulky. I have an olympus c720 and I hardly use it because it is a pain to carry around. So I just bought a Canon S500 and it is great. Definetly get a smaller camera. It was a very tough choice between the S500 and T1 but cost and canon quality got me.

05-21-2004, 01:07 AM	#9
kimchicowboy Admiral Join Date: May 2000 Location: in the middle of the pacific ocean Posts: 5,344	i do have a small camera (canon S200) but would like to take nice shots when the opportunities arise. burz, i'll look into the 707 as well. thanks for the input!

05-21-2004, 07:08 AM	#11
kimchicowboy Admiral Join Date: May 2000 Location: in the middle of the pacific ocean Posts: 5,344	the C8080 is indeed impressive.

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