negotiate india istyle and get back to me. right now i was concentrating on the olympus that i mentioned earlier. i do agree sony gadgets aremore expensive.

Nerd and others what do you think baout the camera whistler has been whistling happily blowingthe trumpet that it is good. Hey and my budget of course.

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Orginally posted by Whistler

Hi cCheryl,
Thought of sharing my views too ~o~
I have just done some home based research for a friend with similar use as yours. But his budget was about $250.
I suggested that we go in for a camera with following features-
- Small to carry & easy operations(which can always be carried in a pocket & ready fr use)
- Optical zoom(atleast 3 x)(pref internal zoom so that high mositure in Niagara doesn't jam the camera -which already happened to me)
- Memory card should be 'SD' - as its most universal,fast & can be used later in PDA's, MP3 players etc. (Sony memory stix can only be used in Sony gadgets & r more expensive! )
- Battery (preferably AA or AAA, rechargeable types or something cheap & easily available)
- As its for home use so a 2mp or 3 mp should suffice

Before I cud find a good camera, my friend loved the Centrios3.1Mp +MP3 camera from Radioshack for $140. It was nice & very small, but unfortunately the pictures taken were crap fr a 3mp camera. So we returned it & decided to go in for a good branded camera again.

I use a Minolta Dimage X, which is very small in size, has 2.1 mp, 3x (internal) Optical zoom, uses SD cards & a re-chargeable battery. When I bought this camera 2 years back I paid after taxes,an extra battery, 64 SD card,mini Tripod& case about $650 !
But the other day, I was checking out "Telecity Electronics" in downtown & they had the same camera for about $250 with free case- which cud be negotiated if I was taking it for sure!!!! - Indian ishtyle !
I have already checked the same camera in other places too & it costs much more.

SD cards are cheaply available now , if u pick a copy of "Metro" or "24hours" on the last page! FactoryDirect & Computer Outlet both sell a new 256mb SD card fr $49 & $59 respectively , which generally sells for about $90 in bigger stores.

I take about 100 shots on a 64 mb SDcard on 'Fine' quality at 1280x960size, which means that you can print very clear images of the normal 6x4 size & each picture takes approx 400-500kb space on ur PC harddrive.
On the same 64mb SD card I can also take on "Standard" quality at 640x480 size about 250 pictures each taking 100-200Kb space only.

All images are on JPEG format.


Remember, once u buy a camera you'll realize that the battery dies after about 10-15 flashes (B'day parties fr me !)- so better to buy an extra one. I picked an extra(generic) one frm someone in eBay at $20 which was sold in Radioshack fr $75 !

If you are interested for a similar camera in the near future or find a better deal - maybe we can buy together & do some good negotiations to our benefits ????!

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soberflier, if i can't afford a digi, camcorder is miles away for now. honestly digis are used much more than cams, cams may couple of times a year.

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Orginally posted by soberflier

Ccherrryl ..Hello..

Digital cams are great.
I agree with ON. Hes right, all of it. Though its not my "bread & butter" - i am just a gadget buff who follows up on such stuff - waiting for the prices to fall
I have a 3.1 MP digicam minolta. Take vacation and birthdays pictures etc.
Results are great, plus you can download and keep them on a CD or even email them.
Printouts are also good.
If i may make a small suggestion you may liketo check whether the camera you are planning to buy can take SD cards (additional memory) which are sometimes handy.
Speaking for India, AAA batteries are best - as they are available everywhere or if need be you can take the ones in the wall clock or the toys out and use them on the camera. There are batteries like 123, 123c etc which are often hard to get - or you may have to keep spares handy (pardon me if you get them everywhere in"foren" land )
As regards features on a camera theres no end to those things (and the cost part too).
Anything above 2.1 is more than sufficient, 3.1 is Ok. You really cant make out the difference in a 2.1 and 3.1 photograph.

If the dealer has sample pictures - look at the tips or extremities of the image in the picture - say if its a man, lok at the fingertips, ears - if they are sharp and clear - thats a good enough camera.

In the lighter vein - if you ever go to a saree shop in Calcutta - they always ask whats your budget is- unlike Northern India where they just unfurl saree after saree till they pile up in front of you making yuo feel guilt and you finally buy one. So bear with us bengalis Ki bolo ON Dada Its in the genes even though we may have stayed miles away from Calcutta !

Just a thought - do you have a camcorder ?

Regards

SF

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While browsing around now -

Pentax Optio S40,4 mp,with Optical zoom !!!(instore price)
Now I think thats a steal - but only available at :::

http://www.heartlandtown.com/stores/blacks.html says:
Location:
Mavis Road is to the east and Britannia Road West is to the south.
775 Britannia Road East.

http://www.datadeal.com/gallery/RFD



Personally, I don't like the Olympus camera,as the picture quality is good, but while in Niagara last summer my zoom system jammed & just stopped functioning due to high moisture. I have since then opted for internal zoom cameras !
Good Olympus deal at best buy :ttp://www.bestbuycanada.ca/marketing/weeklyad/en/default.asp?lang=EN
Check page 8 of the deals.

Olympus 3.2mp, 3x Optical zoom plus FREE Epson all in one colour printer for only $330

thanks whistler the one at blacks does not show the feature other than what u listed.

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Orginally posted by ccherryl

thanks whistler the one at blacks does not show the feature other than what u listed.

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Guys ur all so much into search, comparison, i definitely gained a lot but I think honestly working around my budged would eventually settle for olympus D 580 and honestly even if the technology changes may be 2 years from now, hopefully i should be able to afford a better quality, then probably i will put this on e bay for sale.

even though all of you suggested minolta, pentax, thos go beyound my $300 budget and plus u know taxes, other add ons add to quite a bit.

the dppreview website has so much of info

Thanks a ton,

cherryl

Bad luck - Optio S40 - all gone in Blacks !! - it was on sale - $150 less thn normal price!

HP 707, 5mp, 3x optical is now on sale fr $349 - $100 less thn normal price. They have 4 left now. I'll try to get one if possible.