WTB/WTK: Best Digital-Cameras Available ?

[Blanksguy]

Posting this as WTB (as I do want to purchase a Digital-Camera)....but WTK (Want To Know) information on these prior to going out and looking at these for my selection and purchase.
Maybe this "thread" will help some of our other/older members ?

Requirements for a digital-camera would be:

1: "User-Friendly". (I am "old-school"...computors are not easy for me).

2: The ability to take close/clear digital-photos of WWII German markings on Parts that everyone likes to see close/details...but also be able to use it for regular photos.

3: Well-made digital-camera (I don't mind spending a little money for a good camera.....I just don't need something that will break going to the field...or after a couple months use).

4: I don't know if they have color/B&W options........(and I know nothing about "Pixles"...or the counts og these).

5: Brand-Names?...who has what for sale?...where?...and costs?

6: Battery-life?

7: Last...What have you used that works?....and using this same digital-camera, can you post a clear digital-photo of some close/clear/small markings?....then what "settings" did you use.

I don't want this thread to sound like a camera-class.......but a little information may help me and others on the board?
Thanks for the help guys, RichardS.
Blanksguy2001@chartermi.net
PS: The US Army always taught me that if you make a "requirement"..........then give them a way/ideas....and information to "meet-the-requirement".

[TOM R]

I use an old (3+years) olympus d-380 it is super simple to operate,snap pics, plug into a usb cable, open the supplied program (you install on your computer), and copy to my documents, loading pics to this site is the same or easier then ebay/gunbroker etc. my camera is 2.0 megapixle wich is not so good but my pics are clear enough for you guys right?

[Hole_Puncher]

The Nikon D70 which is a 35mm digi camera is a very good unit that takes very good pictures.

[TOM R]

I use moms kodak easyshare dx4900 with the docking base /charger,it is nice 1 button to transfer pics to computer and built in charging base but is not quite as user frendly of a camera as the olimpus I got

[salt6]

1: "User-Friendly". (I am "old-school"...computers are not easy for me).

Most newer cameras under a couple hundred dollars are user friendly.

2: The ability to take close/clear digital-photos of WWII German markings on Parts that everyone likes to see close/details...but also be able to use it for regular photos.

You will want a camera with a macro function. This will allow you to take close up photos.

3: Well-made digital-camera (I don't mind spending a little money for a good camera.....I just don't need something that will break going to the field...or after a couple months use).

Sony makes several good digital camera.

4: I don't know if they have color/B&W options........(and I know nothing about "Pixles"...or the counts og these).

Color or black/white will be handled in the computer after you download the pictures. Some cameras have additional features to manipulate the pictures in the camera. I believe this is a waste as it's is easier to work on the pictures in the computer. Most cameras come with some type of editing program. The more pixels the the larger the photo can be printed without losing detail. Most cameras will have 3 to 5 mega-pixels. You won't need to worry about this. One last thing to check is zoom, optical vs digital. The higher the optical number the better the zoom function.

5: Brand-Names?...who has what for sale?...where?...and costs?

Sony, any big box store. I would suggest you buy in person so a sales person can show you the features.

6: Battery-life?

Cameras come with either built in batteries or removable. I prefer removable so I can replace dead batteries in the field and keep taking pictures. Rechargeable batteries will save you a lot of money. Also memory should be considered, built in or removable. I prefer removable. This way if I'm taking a lot of photos I can carry spare memory like an extra roil of film. Also a feature some cameras have is the ability to take video.

7: Last...What have you used that works?....and using this same digital-camera, can you post a clear digital-photo of some close/clear/small markings?....then what "settings" did you use.

I use a Sony 3.2mega pixels Cyber-shot.

Here is a primer for digital cameras.
http://www.photo.net/equipment/digital/basics/

Here is a link to a review page of different cameras.
http://pcworld.pricegrabber.com/search_ ... al-KW0036/

[TOM R]

both cameras i use take aa batteries, I found the duracell ultras last the longest in a digital camera the kodak camera with easy share dock , the dock is also a charger

[762x51]

I use an older Cannon "Power Shot A70" - Simple, easy to use, with 3.2 Mega Pixels and have learned a couple of things from using it.

1) Almost any camera with 3 Mega Pixels or more will give you decent results.
2) Macro focus is a MUST for those close-up shots.
3) Make sure that the photo editing software that comes with the camere will allow you to resize the photos to 800x600 pixels.
Photos larger than this take guys with dial-up connections a long time to download and 800x600 is a good trade-off.
4) Get a camera with a removable memory card and buy a USB adapter (around $30) that will allow you to connect the card direct to your PC.
I found that downloading photos to the PC is much, much faster with an adapter.
5) Buy a 256 meg or greater size memory card. The ones that come with the cameras are simply too small and will only hold a few hi-res photos.

Regards,
Orin

[smoggle]

I prefer Olympus. Had a 1 megapixel a while back that survived a dunking from the kids in the pool and numerous drops. I bought another Olympus because it took the same memory as the first but was a 3 megapixel. which is plenty good in the resolution department. Like they said above, Macro is what you need foor close ups. It is 2 years old. I think about replacing it but it is still fine.

I hate the tiny little ones. Make sure the buttons ar easy to manipulate. IE big enough to see and far enough apart you aren't hitting 2 at a time.

IF you get one that uses AA batteries I reccommend Walgreens brand batteries. they always have them on sale and they are 30% less than Energizer/Duracell and last as long. Get a camera that uses more than 2 batteries. Mine uses four. 2 for the screen and 2 for picture taking. Don't use the image screen too much. That chews up batteries fast.