what do you guys have for digital cameras.Need to enter the 21st century.Got the computer thing handled pretty good but would like to show you guys some of my cars and projects plus i just got a state contract that requires emailing pictures of damaged vehicles.I see the posts on how to do it,just wondering if i need a $100 camera or a $500 camera.What works good for you? Sorry if im in the wrong forum.

In Bench you will get alot more viewing and ideas. I will move it for you. :)

Thank you!

Eric,

I've had several digital cameras over the years ranging all the way up to a multi-thousand dollar Nikon DSLR's and the camera I grab most often..... my wife's Panasonic TZ. It's a great little camera with big features in a package still small enough to fit in a pants pocket for car shows. 10x zoom, 5MP, rechargeable batteries, and uses SD memory cards. We have taken this camera all across the US and through much of Europe. When it dies, I'll buy another one just like it. The only thing it is not good for is really fast moving race track shots. The big DSLR is still tops there. You can pickup the newer model of the TZ that is 10MP and has a 12x zoom for just under $300.00 at places like Best Buy. (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9312326&st=panasonic+tz&lp=3&type=product&cp=1&id=1218082646384)

I'm certainly no photographer, but I just bought a Canon SD970 IS point and shoot digital camera for my trip to India. I have a number of photographer friends and many of them recommended this camera. Also doing research online pointed me to this camera:
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=145&modelid=18335

Having taken a bunch of pictures on my trip to India (http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=163444&highlight=India) I can say for someone not photography inclined this camera takes wonderful pictures.

Its fairly small, has a great LCD screen, long battery life (over 300 shots) can take pics 1 sec apart etc. 12M pixel but supposedly with a new image processor that really helps the pic quality (looks good to me).

If I had to say something negative about it, I would say the lack of a view finder would be it, but having used it for awhile and since the LCD screen is so big and bright (even in bright Indian sun) I can't say I really miss it now.

There are a ton of sites that review digital cameras but I found these useful:
http://www.digitalcamerainfo.com
http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camera-reviews/
http://www.digitalcamera-hq.com/digital-cameras/point-and-shoot_ratings.html
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/

You can drown in the above info, but good for a crash course. Hope this helps. I'm sure some of the photographers around will chime in with their own advise.

Hey Eric, there are so many types of digital cameras out now your first decision is do you want something with interchangeable lenses or a compact. Compacts are generally point and shoot but are coming with a lot of features these days. Interchangeable lens cameras can be set to shoot fully manual to fully automatic and everything in between.

If you want something with a zoom feature make sure it's an optical zoom and not digital zoom. Digital zoom is snake oil, it works but all it does is make each pixle larger so as you zoom in the picture becomes dithered. Optical zoom means the lens moves or grows and shrinks in length as you zoom in and out. All the compacts come with digital zoom, just ignore it as a decision making feature. Iif you do go with a compact make sure it has a viewfinder as well as lcd screen for aiming. There will be times when the surrounding light is bright and you won't be able to see the image on the lcd screen. I don't know why some manufacture even build them without a viewfinder!

Use this site help you decide what meets your needs and see what's available. http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare.asp

I use a dslr with interchangeable lenses, it's doesn't fit in a pocket but I always shot pictures with an slr back in the film days and am use to lugging it around. Canon and Sony make some great entry level dslr cameras, I give the advantage to Sony as they put their anti-shake feature into the camera body, all the other manufactures build anti-shake into the lens. If you end up with a collection of lenses you will understand, with Sony you don't pay for the anti-shake over and over... The dslr is going to be more expensive overall and you may find some high end compacts not so small but smaller and less expensive than a dslr. Look for cameras advertised as "prosumer" for a good middle ground between compact and dslr.

Canon SD790 here. Has tons of features I have not got to yet. Takes awesome pics.Paid about $250.

Canon SD790 here. Has tons of features I have not got to yet. Takes awesome pics.Paid about $250.

X2, and even I can use it :D

years ago I bought a real cheap digital camera so I could take pics and put stuff on e-bay, when I sold 300$ of stuff I bought a 2.1mp digital camera-I still own it for the same reason a year ago I bought the wife a 7.1mp camera for the wife for 100$ - great for the money! if your just starting you probably dont need a high dollar one, but see what features you want. I just bought a mini DV video camera for 240$ that takes movies and stills the 2gig memory card will hold like 1500 pics- who needs that many?

I bought the wife a $300 camera for b-day and for Christmas daughter got an $80 one.... I can say the $80 Kodak is just as good :yes:

Check on www.newegg.com for deals :yes:

One thing to consider on the smaller cameras is the size of the flash. Some of them are so puny they're worthless at distances beyond about 15'. I've got a Nikon D80 that I like a lot - mainly because I like the ability to control exposure, white balance, shutter speed, and image effects in ways the smaller cameras won't do. But looking back I think the D40 would have done just as well for half the price. The down side of a DSLR is it's size, weight, and fagility. Every camera is fragile, but you'll be much more careful with an expensive DSLR to the point that you may wish you hadn't bought it. Digital camera technology is evolving quickly and many of the portable cameras will work quite well for a reasonable price. Long story short, unless you're an avid photographer and like the adjustability of a DSLR, I'd stick with the portable cameras. Besides taking good pictures, I'd grade them in terms of flash, battery life, and the time it takes to snap a picture. I swear some of those smaller cameras can take a good 4 or 5 seconds to trigger the shutter which is very annoying.

I bought a Panasonic FZ18 based on the reviews here http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare.asp
It has a 4GB Memory card and 18x optical zoom. I regular come back from drag races with over a 1000 pics. In the unlimited burst mode it takes a picture about every half second. It has combined zoom of 72X. I took this picture from the ground, that shirt is hanging in my room window 27 floors up at the Sheraton Fall's View Niagra Falls Canada
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb291/yellow69RS/P1010883.jpg

I went through this about a year and a half ago. Read all the reviews, specs, opinions, etc. It'll make your head spin.

I use a 10MP Fuji. The resolution and macro/super-macro are great, which is good for me since I take a lot of detail pics (part #s, casting #s, tags, broach marks, etc.). But it lacks in the CCD so the color in "normal" pics leaves some to be desired and has a tendency to "speckle" with indoor pics.

I agree about what Dennis says about how optical vs. digital zoom works, I wouldn't necessarily call it snake oil. Maybe it's a selling point/spec, but it does work. It's just that it's really susceptible to shake once you go into digital.

Example, this was from 80-100 yds. away, into digital zoom, and cropped from 10mp. X44D80 car, had to check the front brakes, right? :D

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b217/RamAirDave/Random/WheatRddrum.jpg

Thanks guys, im still paying attention.

Avoid the chain stores they are way over priced, id recommend e-pay,
I got an Olympus 8mp shipped to my door for $68 it takes great pics and accepts micro sd cards for tons of storage.
Try picking up a similar model at wall fart or best buy for that.

I suggest not getting an SLR unless you really need the features that it offers (More control, ability to change lenses). You just need a point and shoot with at least 6MP, for what you are doing things will be close up and in the daylight so no real need for a big zoom or flash (Do keep in mind that optical zoom is better than digital zoom) You should prolly get away with a 300 dollar camera that you can still use for non-work related stuff. Also I DO suggest using a big brick and mortar retailer. I am in the IT business and I still use Best Buy for all of my personal purchases. I always buy the "super warrenty" too. I have actually ran over stuff (a laptop and a cell phone) and Best Buy replaced them on the spot, no hassle. Try that with an online retailer. Besides its a business write off anyway.

I like the Olympus Tough series. Bought mine ( 850SW ) through Amazon.

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1365

I like it because it resists the dirt and grime we all have in our garages and it has a shaky hand mode (digital image stabilization). It is also shock resistant and waterproof.

They have some newer models that I have not explored yet.

If you do find a great deal online, be careful because there are a lot of shady places out there. I nearly got taken by Broadway Photo (though it appears now after getting in trouble with the law they may be better now).

Check any place here first:

http://www.resellerratings.com/

I don't know a lot about digital, but a couple years ago my wife got me a Sony Cyber-shot and I love it. It does everything I want it to do and more. I don't have a lot to compare it to, but most EVERYONE else that ever sees it and the pictures it takes wish they would have gotten one too. Kevin

They almost all take great pictures. I would make sure I got one with a rechargeable battery so you dont have to walk around with a pocket full of triple As.
The battery in my Canon Rebel lasts about 3 months per charge.

I guess a lot depends on how much your willing to spend. I have kids and they are only kids once. I figure how can you put a price on your memories? Besides last time I had their pictures taken it cost $800 at a studio. I used to have a Nikon D-80 with the Nikkor 18-200 VR lens. The kit was about $1800. It took really awesome pictures until the body stopped working. Im taking it to get it serviced. So I just bought a Nikon D90 body and im even more impressed. It takes incredible pictures and it can also shoot HD 720p video. Not something I plan to do a lot but neat to have.

I have a kodak 5 mp camera that my parents bought for me back in 2005 for Christmas. I like it. It takes excellent pictures

http://people.clemson.edu/~jaander/images/100_2462.jpg

http://people.clemson.edu/~jaander/Images/100_2174.jpg