It's not all just point and shoot!

Just-Beeming · Post by **Just-Beeming** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 4:07 pm

Camera's!
This question has been asked before but in this ever changing technology the answer given 6 month ago is likely outdated.

What kind of Camera are you all using out there on the road???
I am looking for a new digital camera.

I had a great little Samsung that had a zoom malfunction....long story short, I exchanged it for a crappy nikon that takes terrible pictures of blurred people. Slow shutter and lag time between shots...lots of weird 'noise' in the image with odd colors, lights, etc.
It is small and difficult to use especially with golves on or cold/hot days.

So I am tossing out this question ....

There is so much technical information that it is hard to wade through.
I am sort of leaning toward consumer reports Kodak Easyshare z612 but want to get some other opinons before I buy. I notice is that a lot of these cameras are off the market/ not available by the time the consumer report info is tested. ...

Consumer Reports likes this kodak as well as several Cannon models sd800, a 7101s, a 630, s3 IS.

Your thoughts ????

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 6:06 pm

I just have a little Cannon IXUS 40...small enough to stick in my pocket and simple to use..I like it...But I'm sure there are much better camera's out there.

DJ

Post by **iowabeakster** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 6:28 pm

I am in the camera market myself.

The first question is knowing what you want. Is your priority for "Great Photos" or "Easy, point and shoot".

Great Photos: If you are willing to spend the money and you really want to "GET" those great shots, you need to look at a SLR (digital) type camera. This means separate camera body, with interchangeable lenses (good ones are $$$). This also means learning how to adjust shutter speeds and aperature (Size of hole in lens). Next you'll be wanting a tripod. Now your "camera" is getting a bit bulky and heavy.

Sound scary? It's pretty easy and fun.
A lifetime of great photos is priceless.

Easy: I don't have any specific brands or models. Like anything esle, I suppose, you get what you pay for. The bigger lenses would generally indicate MORE LIGHT. More Light means better pictures. Bigger has it's problems on motorcycles. But it means better memories also.

The salesman should ask: How much do you want to spend" How much are you willing to learn?

Post by **r1150rider** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 11:25 pm

My first digital camera was a Casio Exilim 4meg that I bought specifically to carry with me when I ride. I wanted something that would easily fit in the pocket of my Levi's, I knew that if it was a pain to take along, I wouldn't. I've had that camera for 4 or 5 years now, and many thousands of miles! The Exilim series are seemingly "bulletproof" and takes a decent "snapshot", but definitely has it's limitations.

A couple of years ago, I bought an Olympus SP-500UZ (6meg) which is still a "point and shoot" but a vast improvement in capabilities over the Casio. But, it's definitely bulkier and requires more effort to get out and grab an image.

I'm now at the point of looking at DSLR's, I've come to realize that I want the optical through-the-lens viewfinder as opposed to the small screen on the back of the camera (which is hard to see in bright light). I have a whole drawer full of film SLR bodies (5, actually) and a "slew" of lenses, which I used (a lot) for years. But I've been spoiled by digital imaging, and I don't think I can ever go back to film (even though I love the quality and simplicity of it), at least for creating images while travelling by moto.

I'm prob'ly going to go with an Olympus E-410 body, and "upgrade" with a lens or two from their "pro" lenses (I really love "good, fast glass").

Post by **MikeCam** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:42 am

CNET.com has good reviews, Editor's Choices and Ratings, Feature Filtering and Current Price Bargains in an easy to follow format....

Takes the pain out of sorting all the information.

I'd suggest: avoid MegaPixel overkill (too much is more than enough); limit features to what you know you want and do not chase the ones that are not useful to you; no digital zoom needed; optical zoom rules. EZ interface: USB2.0

Post by **rdsmith3** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 4:09 am

This site has reviews of cameras

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare.asp

Post by **toner87** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 11:01 am

I have a Canon 20D DSLR that I love and it takes great pictures (25000 and counting). However, if space and accessibility is an issue, and it usually is when packing motorcycles, a smaller point and shoot camera is probably your best option. I'm in the market for one myself that I can stick in a pocket when I'm riding my Rockster or one of my various bicycles. If I were to buy one today it would have an actual viewfinder you can look through to compose your shot and it would have a full manual setting. Unless you're printing posters, 6-8 megapixels will be fine. More is really overkill. Make sure it's durable, too. Go to BestBuy, Costco or Circuit City and hold a bunch of cameras in your hand, see how they feel, see how large the buttons and screen are, judge the fit and finish, etc. Then go online and get the best price on the one you liked.
One of the reasons I opted for a Canon DSLR over a Nikon is the way it felt in my hand. It just felt sturdier to me. YMMV.

And judging from the excellent pictures taken here by riders with small point and shoot cameras (DJ for example) it really would seem to be the way to go.
Toner

munchmeister · Post by **munchmeister** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:17 pm

Nikon D80 with 18-70 zoom. Before that, Konica Minolta 7D digital SLRs (sold it to get the Nikon). I went with DSLRs despite their bulk because the image quality is better with a bigger sensor. That does not mean more mega pixels, just that the sensor is bigger which usually means less "fringing," less "noise" (i.e. "grain" in the film world) and DSLRs have the ability to change lenses, for things like macro lenses, etc. Most, like the D80, have the "point and shoot" automatic settings. But they are big, they are harder to pack (mine, in its case, with accessories, fit fine in my Hepco & Becker top box) and they are expensive, though prices are coming down. I added a RAM mount with at 1/4-20 RAM camera base to the top of my top box, which made the RR into a "tripod" and that worked very well and also allowed for self timer shots where I could get in the picture, for road trip photo reports. But, it is hard to beat the little slim cameras that just slip in your pocket or tank bag. All depends on what you are going to do with them.

--Doug

Just-Beeming · Post by **Just-Beeming** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:19 pm

Thanks for the input thus far. The web site was really helpful. It is nice to see what folks who really understand camera's rate them. Those experts.!!! But we riders are experts too since we use them in a very specific manner.

I thought I was buying a simple point and shoot but the resolution, speed and image stability is rotten...thus the title of this thread

I usually have more room in my tank bag than I use, but size is a factor. Yet, I have been tossing out more pics than I keep so that is a factor as well....sort of leaning toward one of the canon powershots.

So as Iowabeakster asks 'is it picture quality or ease of use'...well, its both...but if easy results in crap...I will work a little harder....sacrifice some space & go a little bigger.
...it's a tricky balance.

Keep your suggestions coming I really value the opinions and website education.

Carol

Post by **iowabeakster** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 4:21 pm

In the market myself. I found this.

LOADS OF REVIEWS! All types of cameras! Search around, I am still at it.

http://www.popphoto.com/testsreviews/

Sit · Post by **Sit** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:22 pm

Carol,
We just have an old Kodak easyshare and like it a lot. It is several years old and does a great job. If something were to happen to it, I would not hesitate to get another one, newer and better of course. One thing I did before buying was to literally test all the ones in the price range I was looking at. I would pick a point in the store and have Christina walk by it. As she passed the point, I would snap the photo. This way I could see what kind of delay the camera had. The kodak pretty much took the photo when I pressed the button. Others were so slow, she would almost be out of frame.

Post by **garylspolar** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:25 pm

Nikon D40, with 18-200 VR lense. Does EVERYTHING I need it to, takes fantastic pictures, and vibration reduction lense is even better than the camera it is attached to.

I had a point and shoot, and I missed too many shots, and the quality just was not there.

Post by **zooomart** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 12:07 pm

My $.02
I have always been a Canon fan. I recently helped my sister get a Canon A570IS. The A series is a little bigger than the Elph series so easier to hold with gloves on. Has a 2.5" screen so showing pictures is easy. Uses AA batteries either rechargeable or throw a ways.

The main difference between DSLR and a point and shoot, lens and accessories aside, is the size of CCD chip that gathers the light. The bigger the dimensions of the chip the better in low light, less noise, and well, lets leave it at that.
Since the chip is the most expensive part Camera designers keep making them smaller and making up for it mainly in software improvements.

I like the A570IS for the image stabilization which helps prevent camera shake blurring the picture in low light. It also has face recognition software that focuses preferentially on face shapes rather than the bushes or fence behind your uncle and aunt.
My sister loves it, whew talked her out of a Nikon, and it is now even cheaper. B&H photo has them for under $200 bucks. Get a 2 gig chip and you are good to go.

I second the suggestion of DP review!
Good Luck

Just-Beeming · Post by **Just-Beeming** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 4:00 pm

Thanks for you input. It is one of the camera's that is in the 'running'.
Maybe the very best bang for my buck when applied to our sport.

I just saw this camera today also. Much lighter than the competitiors and a few customer ratings have it as high as a perfect 10. http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-cameras ... &tag=uolst

The other camera that looks appealing is the Canon G7.

As I continue researching I am finding myself thinking...Hey, maybe I should get two or three camera's....I find myself comparing them to bikes.
Cruiser...Canon S3 IS, Sony DHC H7, Kodak z612
Street bike...Canon SD 800
Dual sport...Canon A 750 IS, G7

I will keep looking till I find one ...(or two) that is right for me.

Post by **zooomart** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 4:15 pm

I like the analogy, no wonder I like the SD-800 and A-570IS...they are just like my R1150R!
Lets just keep this between us, I don't need another example on the internet that I've lost it

Just-Beeming · Post by **Just-Beeming** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 5:52 pm

All this technical jargin in the camera world makes me feel like I am speaking klingon. I know...I can get a little cuckoo!

Bottom line is that there is no one perfect unit in the camera world...
At least in the motorcycle world there is a perfect unit....
the mighty R1150 R

That does not mean that I wouldn't like a spare to experiment with.

Post by **iowabeakster** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 8:53 pm

edited, google gave me list of some very bad internet sellers.

bad google.

Post by **rdsmith3** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 9:28 pm

There are many, many internet camera retailers that you do not want to do business with. Check here, for example
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/sho ... p?t=292688

Post by **zooomart** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 9:42 pm

rdsmith3 wrote:There are many, many internet camera retailers that you do not want to do business with. Check here, for example
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/sho ... p?t=292688

I will second that!

Never had a problem with B&H after 15 years and a few dozen orders. Adorama is on the same level. Prices much lower than these two is probably too good to be true.

Post by **iowabeakster** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 11:19 pm

sorry, i should have mentioned that you also need to research some into the sellers. The comments above are right. I have been doing more research into those LOW LOW price guys. Thieves, scammers, bait and switch sellers.

review of online retailers.

http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14677