Digital camera & digital photography resources
for professional & amateur photographers

I'm new here, and thought I'd introduce myself. I'm 16, and live just out of the cities in Minnesota. My photography skills are pitiful at best, but I'd love to learn. My current camera is a Sony DSC-P31, which, if you don't know it, go back in time several years, and you'll find it. It takes the occational good picture, but nothing as high quality as I'd like.

I want a new camera, something relatively new to the market, that won't go obsolete like, tomorrow. I haven't been doing my research for nearly long enough, but I've discovered this sort of thing is best learned from personal experiences, rather then just the facts. Not to mention, I only understand about a quarter of what I'm reading. Sure, you can tell me what the cameras stats are, but if you could translate them into newbie english, I'd appreciate that.

So far, I'm looking into one of several cameras. Either a Fuji S602, a Nikon 5700, a Fuji Finepix S5000, a Fuji Finepix S7000, a Sony DSC-F828, an Olympus C5050z, or an Olympus C750uz. If anyone can tell me about any personal experiences or the like, I'd appreciate it. If you have other recommendations, I'd appreciate them. My current budget is running between $1000-1200, but if I could get a good camera for less, that'd be nice to. I want something that can do low light shots, with, or without flash. An optical zoom of atleast 5x, a decent macro lense, and more then 3 mega pixels, though not required. I would also, if possible like something with changeable lenses ( I know the Finepix have them), so I can try something new.

I might not have experience with cameras, but I'm stubborn, and persistant, and will get the results I want. Please be easy on my, and my lack of understanding. I'll work on it, promise, lol. Thanks much!

Lisa

__________________
I live in my own little world, but thats ok, they know me here.

Feel free to check out my gallery.
http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/showgallery.php?ppuser=2217&cat=500&password=

Report this to a moderator | IP: Logged

Wecome!!!

Well I will just jump in and give you a few points on a few of these cameras you are asking about.

I did notice you stated that Fuji's have "changable lenses". Well actually NONE of these cameras have changable lenses, for that you will have to purchase a DSLR. But EVERY camera you listed will accept CONVERTERS. Converters are a element/lens that you mount in front of the fixed camera lens that will allow you to achive a wider view or a more telephotoic view. But thats not a worry since every model you listed will accept them, or can be converted to accept them.

Fuji 602
I feel in love with this camera when it first came out many years ago, since its was packed with features. Over all its has the feel, look, and operation of a 35mm, but the advantages of digital. With a lens tube, I found you can easily add converters (which I often did) and the over all image quality was GREAT for a 3mp. I will admit its detail was nice and noise levels was LOW. But Fuji had some issues with the sharpening and image control. I often found the images to be flat and soft (since sharpening had to be set to OFF). I loved the camera and its FAST SPEED, but images were often over worked from the camera, and seem to have that FLAT Fuji look. This camera was hit or miss. When it was on, it was ON! But when its not, its not much you can do. Probably the most finicky camera I have used.

Nikon 5700
I have always admired this camera, but it was alway out of my budget. That was until Nikon dropped the prices. I picked one up a few months ago for $400 and its the best $400 I have ever spent. The Nikon has more control than most other cameras, and even more than some DSLR's. Over all this is a camera you have to learn, its takes a while to master this work or art. I have to admit the layout is differant, but once mastered, its logical. The images are always pleaseing, and allow plenty of room for Post Processing. Many comment on the focusing, actually its the Auto Settings that Nikon use. Once there reset, the focusing its actually spot on (better than many of the others in this list), but its still slower at focusing than most. The 8x zoom fits my needs since I am a zoomer. I do find the barrel distortion more than I would like though. Great camera, but tough cookie to start off with. It has its cons though, I find the focusing is good, but some times its finicky. The manual focus is nice, but not as good as the Sony or Fuji. The LCD is sharp and accurate, but takes 1-2 seconds to give the sharpness. The slowest camera of the bunch as far as max zoom f-stops go. Focus is slowest as well, but once prefocused its the second fastest, behind the Sony! Has a finicky moving lens as you zoom, most others are fixed once turned on.

Fuji 5000
When introduced, I though this would be the next 10x KING, but it was a let down. It still had the common Fuji softness and flat look as the 602 did. I found the compression was way over done, and image quality suffered. Also that lovely noise free image, fuji had was not longer there. But for a simple to use, and attractive 10x camera, its a GREAT buy. As far as image quality goes its probably the worst of the list you have here.

Fuji 7000
This is the big brother to the well known 602. When introduced, it was the biggest talk around. The image quality did improve, and detail did jump. But Noise came along with the 6mp camera. Most will find its a better trade off than the newer noisy 8mp's, but its still shows more noise than I would like. The colors and detail has improved, but it still has a slight Fuji Look in my eyes. Nothing wrong with that though. Whether your pointing and shooting or using manual controls this is a well layed out and easy to use camera. Again a good by for the money. As far as feel goes I have to admit the 602 & 7000 are the two best feeling cameras in my humble mind (with the lens tube attached though).

Sony 828
Great camera, I have to admit the design is nice, but you will love it or hate it. I find the functioning lenses, gives a 35mm feel and actually works rather smooth. It has decent controls and a NICE image color. I find the 4 colors system was a improvement. The colors are fairly natural, but still has a SONY look (slightly over saturated). But most find this look more pleaseing. Hands down that 8mp sensor has the detail, but noise comes along with it. Some have commented on the Purple Fringing, and its there, but not as big of a issue as most make it (noise is the biggest problem with it). Over all a great camera, but at $1000, its a little over priced at the moment.

Olympus 5050
This was a odd camera to be in this list since its zoom range is much less than the rest. But with a spotting scope and an adapter, this is a killer setup. You will find many lenses to attach to it for improve that zoom range. The images are top notch and the Olympus Layout is nice and easy to use. Macros and landscapes are its PROs, its a master at them. My uses with this camera is limited to only a few shootings, so I am not the best one to give info on this camera.

Olympus 750
Over all this is probably the FUNNEST camera out of the bunch. With its 10x and small size, its a blast to use. But its is a powerful little camera for the money. I find its a little small for my hands, but my better half would not live without it. So test it first to see how it feels in your hands. Over all the lens is fairly quick and the image quality is nice. You will find some noise in normal shooting conditions, but thats common with most big zoom camera. Nice camera for the money...

All these cameras, you listed will probably fit your needs and go beyond them. But then again all theses cameras excell in differant areas. Sports/action=Fuji 602 or 7000, Wildlife= C750 or Fuji 5000, Closeups= Nikon 5700 or Olympus 5050, Landscapes= Sony 828 Fuji 7000 or Oly 5050, Flash Photography= Nikon 5700 or Fuji 602/7000, and the list could go on...

I would recommend playing and giveing them all a fair chance. Review your needs and maybe even post them up. You will see many of the cameras you have listed here, have photos posted weekly in the POTW, so you can review what they are capable of.

Last edited by JCW3 on May 6th, 2004 at 06:03 AM

Report this to a moderator | IP: Logged

Wow, that was alot to take in. Going to have to reread that one a few times. Thanks for everything tho. As I said, I'm not really sure what I'm looking for, and unfortunitally, I'm not sure I've found it just yet. I mostly take close up wild life pictures, of fast moving animals. Go figure.

I have a Sony now, so I understand what you mean about the Sony look, and I can never get it just right. I like how easy they are to use, but I'm hesitant after some of the results I've gotten in the past with my camera. Then again, I've looked at some of the comparisons to some of the other cameras on the list, and I thought they outshone the rest, by color and clarity. But without seeing the actual subject it's hard to tell.

On the other hand, the first digital camera I used was a 5 year old 3.5" floppy Sony Mavica that took MUCH better pictures then my fairly new camera. Maybe I should give the Sony's another try.

The Olympus 5050, and the Olympus 750 were added as kind of a last minute kind of thing. I know pretty much nothing about them, and haven't gotten a chance to check them out yet. I was actually inspired to atleast look into those two after looking at some of the pictures in the photo gallerys.

The people here take really amazing pictures. It's so inspiring. I wish I had the talent, or, for that matter, the subject matter. Here in suburbia there isn't much to look at besides expensive cars, rich snobs, and perfectly manicured lawns.

The Fuji 7000 I fell in love with, just for the zoom, basically. As I said, I've been an aquarist for several years, and my subject matter mostly seems to revolve around the fish currently inhabiting my bedroom. There not the easiest things to get decent pictures of.

The Nikon is another one I don't know much about. All around, they seem like great cameras, but I personally have never used one. I see I'm going to have to make a run to a camera store in the near future and play around with some of these to get a feel and see how they work with me.

I don't mind having to master the camera. I've had my little Sony for nearly a year and a half and I'm still learning new things about it every day. I lost the manual about a week after I got it, and have been hopelessly lost ever since. About 3/4 of the functions on my camera, I couldn't tell you what they are.

Anyway, thanks again. This will definitally be something to keep in mind. I see I'm going to have to do a little more research. Until then, if anyone feels they want to fill my brain with ideas, please do, I encourage it. Theres not much else up there at the moment.

Lisa

__________________
I live in my own little world, but thats ok, they know me here.

Feel free to check out my gallery.
http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/showgallery.php?ppuser=2217&cat=500&password=

Report this to a moderator | IP: Logged