Digital Cameras: 2 Megapixel vs 3 Megapixel, 2X vs 3X zoom

[look_ma]

I hope this is the correct thread.

I am going to buy a digital camera and I have it down to 2 choices. My question is do I really need 3 megapixels? There is about 100 dollars in price difference. I am split between the Nikon 3100 (3.2 megapixel) and the Nikon 2100 (2 Megapixel), exact same camera features, display and everything I am going to just take pictures of my dog, car, friends, moving objects, nighttime shots, giant spiders, and the usual. Most people say 2 mega pixel is all I need, but when I look at the picture close it always look not clear to me when I just look at the nitty gritty (1600 x 1200). I will be doing some Photoshop and plan to keep this camera for 3 years. In all reality I am of course going to be scaling down the pictures to 1024 x 768, but I want the images to be super clear (i.e. you cant see pixelation).

I also have another dilemma, 2X or 3X optical zoom. The Nikon 2100 and 3100 both have 3x, but the canon elf has only 2x optical zoom, do I really need that extra X? The reason I am think about a Canon Elph is because the movie mode has audio versus the Nikon does not. I am thinking my only use for video would be for recording burnouts and races at the racetrack, because a car video w/o sound is pointless, but I would only do this on occasion. But the Elph has that one less zoom but with audio. I do not care about digital zoom, that’s just hogwash.

Also, I am stuck between these cameras because of their small size and I refuse to buy a Sony, HP, or Kodak. If you have advice please post, thanks.

[look_ma]

Thanks chosenfool, i went with the canon elph 2.0 megapixel only 2X zoom, i wnet ahead and took your advice and am getting an extra bettery. Now i just have to wait till bestbuy gets the in stock, and yes i know it is cheaper to go online, but bestbuy has 4 year PSP.

[Speedfreak]

Well, I completely agree with chosenfool. As he knows, I have the C700uz. It is pretty much the same as his except it doesn't have the image stabalization (though I rarely use digital zoom and my hands are pretty steady for optical) and mine doesn't have the fixed lens as his does.

I work at Costco and I always tell people that they don't need more than 2MP for just everyday pictures. I have printed full page 8.5x11 pictures from my 2 year old Epson with some nice photo paper (get good brand name photo paper. I got some of that GQ stuff from Fry's and it bleeds).

As far as the zoom, 2-3x is pretty standard. Most cameras only have that with the exception of our Olympus' and a few others.

Good choice though. Size is one of the only things I wish differently about my camera. It would be nice to just carry it around in my pocket. I almost thought about getting another one just for when I go to parties or something where I don't need the huge zoom.

[Speedfreak]

Yep. I guess I should have mentioned that.

For me, I use my 2 year old plain ole Epson, ink I get for $3 each on Ebay and 50 pack of Epson photo paper (8.5x11) @ Costco for $18.

The output is excellent.

[ray]

i've had a fuji 2300, 4300 and am currently using a canon elph 200. the fuji 2300 was a great beginner camera, but the thing that bothered me most was that is used 4 AA batteries. It made the camera heavy, they drained quickly and i hated carrying around AA batteries everywhere. The pictures were sharp and clear and it was a good starter. The fuji 4300 was big, but came with a rechargeable battery which seemed to last a long time. I was able to take pictures of BMX riders with no problems. Sometimes the shutter speed was a bit too slow, but i wasn't doing much action photography. Again, quality of the picture was superb. I switched to the Canon Elph 200 because i wanted something small. I have an APS Elph LT260 and absolutely love it, so i figured the digital version couldn't have fallen far from the tree. I am very happy with the quality of the photos it takes and the battery hasn't given me any problems yet. I haven't seen a need for an extra battery yet.

I think you're going to love the elph. I know i do.

[attgig]

Originally posted by lilbigblue
i've had a fuji 2300, 4300 and am currently using a canon elph 200. the fuji 2300 was a great beginner camera, but the thing that bothered me most was that is used 4 AA batteries. It made the camera heavy, they drained quickly and i hated carrying around AA batteries everywhere. The pictures were sharp and clear and it was a good starter.

my first was the fuji 2400....soo freakin big and heavy....

i'm thinking about that pentax optio S......any thoughts?

btw, what did u do with your 2300??? sell it anywhere?

[chuckieshere]

my first was the fuji 2400....soo freakin big and heavy....

i'm thinking about that pentax optio S......any thoughts?

btw, what did u do with your 2300??? sell it anywhere? [/B]

I know you were addressing lilbigblue, but to chime in, I've had a Canon S110, then Canon S230 (gave the S110 to my dad), then just ordered a Canon S400 (if Dell ever delivers)

With the Tamrac 5688 almost form fitting case ($10 shipped from goodguys.com), the Canon fits in my dockers khakis front pocket comfortably. You can feel it, but it's not annoying. However, it feels bad if you have anything else in that pocket as well.

The pentax optio S IS tiny...but it's gotten relatively poor reviews in the fourms at dpreview.com . There are a fair # of testimonials of people trying out the optio, then returning it for the elph due to image quality. It's fair quality, just not canon/nikon quality.

Here is a swedish review. I have NO idea what it says, but it shows some example pics showing the fuzziness of the pentax: (I clicked no to whatever prompt appeared when going to the site, worked fine)
http://www.cyberphoto.se/pentax/digital/ops.php