Another Camera Question :)

Madame Leona · #1 03-20-2011, 07:30 PM

I thinking of getting a Kodak EasyShare C195. Do you have one or would you tell me what camera you have and love? I'm a casual picture taker, not a photographer

Thank you in advance for any and all help!!!

Altair · #2 03-20-2011, 07:48 PM

Your best bet is to go to a camera comparison site such as Digitalcamera-hq to help you choose. These sites will allow you to compare by price range, type and brand name.

Madame Leona · #3 03-20-2011, 07:53 PM

Thank you! I'm heading there now. I knew I could count on a fellow intercottee for help.

Jillirose · #4 03-20-2011, 08:11 PM

I had a Kodak, which took great pics, but ATE batteries! I now have a Canon PowerShot with rechargeable battery that plugs right into an outlet charger and lasts forever. I know there's a lot more to a camera than battery life, but it's an important factor. We just took it to Disney for a week and the battery never died.

Madame Leona · #5 03-20-2011, 08:24 PM

Did your Kodak have rechargeable batteries?

Itchy · #6 03-20-2011, 08:34 PM

I went to Best Buy and purchased my first digital camera. You could also go to Target or Walmart. You can touch and check out the features of each. You can compare zoom and the such.

My first one is a Fuji SLR type camera and it is great. I have had it for 6 yrs.

My daughter bought a simple point and shoot Fuji last year and loves it for photo quality. Before that she had a Canon and had a lot of trouble with it.

Just shop around and you will find the right one that works for you.

Hope this helps.

JPL · #7 03-20-2011, 09:34 PM

After having a few with camera specific rechargeable batteries I prefer cameras that take AA Batteries. I then buy a few sets of rechargeables AAs. This way in case of emergency I can always purchase regular AA batteries. I learned this leasson after forgetting my charger one time and after day 1 my camera was a paper weight

azcavalier · #8 03-20-2011, 09:56 PM

OK, I am more than a casual photographer, so i'll try to curb my enthusiasm a bit.

Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, Sony, Panasonic all make great cameras. I have a Pentax point 'n' shoot as well as a Pentax DSLR. My wife and daughter each have a Casio, which actually takes really good pictures. Who knew? I always thought Casio was a watch company, but their cameras have been pretty good.

I don't like Kodak, for one main reason...they feel cheap. I want something that's not heavy, but at least feels solid. I have yet to handle a Kodak that felt like I wouldn't break it.

I am a fan of rechargeable batteries instead of AA'a. The ones that come with camera specific rechargeable batteries usually last longer (the batteries, I mean). However, as a previous poster said, if you forget your charger, you're toast. But digital cameras usually run through AA batteries pretty fast. Of course, you can get AA batteries anywhere.

One last thing. I actually think that Sony cameras are wonderful. My only complaint is that they use a proprietary memory card that only works in Sony cameras, whereas ALL of the other camera manufacturers pretty much just use the standard SD card. So, if you get a Sony, you'll have to buy their Memory Stick. If you ever lose/break that Sony and decide to get another brand, you'll have to buy new memory.

Ramblingman · #9 03-21-2011, 03:20 PM

Another one here who is more than casual.

The replies are all pretty good info. You need to think of all things, such as type of storage, batteries and usage, and even reputation of camera brand.

Believe it or not, you can get some good answers at a store like Best Buy. They don't work for commission there so they can be a bit more honest than some other places. Research your cameras, come up with some basic questions, and ask the person in the camera section. Then head over to the Geek Squad and ask for their opinion on reliability issues. They can tell you which camera gets sent out for repair more than others.

I prefer the AA type rechargeable batteries, for the reasons stated before. You can use regular AA's in emergencies, but if you do, get the ones specifically for cameras. They will last longer.

I also prefer using cameras that use SD cards, but my main DSLR is a Canon that uses the CM card. I have a couple of point and shoot cameras that use the SD card - one is a Kodak that has been very versatile and has taken some lumps, and the other is a 12MP Insignia I just got from Best Buy for our trip to DW in two months. I picked it up so I don't have to lug around my main camera with all the lenses.

Look around, check online sites that compare them, and ask questions. Then once you get it, play with it to learn it so you get your full use out of it.

And good luck!

Madame Leona · #10 03-21-2011, 08:39 PM

Thank you all for your help. After all of your advice, talking to a very nice guy at Best Buy and some serious web searching...I bought the Kodak EasyShare M590. I'll admit, price was a big deal for me but it also had a decent reputation and some very good ratings. I had to order it and hopefully it should arrive soemtime this weekend....YAY!!!! Thank you again.

Ramblingman · #11 03-22-2011, 05:00 PM

Congrats. Hope you are very happy with the camera. Use it when you get it. Play with it. Take lots and lots of pictures. That's how you become comfortable with it. The more comfortable you are, the more at ease you are with it, and the fewer mistakes that turn out to be forehead-slappers (d'oh!).

I hope you get lots of great pictures on your trip.

Madame Leona · #12 03-29-2011, 04:12 PM

Picked up my new camera today and so far I am in LOVE with it!!!! Plus, it's pink so I know my boys won't be trying to steal it

Ramblingman, I've got to little cheeses that are more than willing to let me play with my camera. I love a new toy and I don't get one very often. This is my first new camera in 10 years!!!!

luvdiznee · #13 03-30-2011, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jillirose

I had a Kodak, which took great pics, but ATE batteries! I now have a Canon PowerShot with rechargeable battery that plugs right into an outlet charger and lasts forever. I know there's a lot more to a camera than battery life, but it's an important factor. We just took it to Disney for a week and the battery never died.

I went the opposite way. I had a Kodak that had a rechargeable battery that could charge by way of a computer or outlet. Then after a few years it would not hold a charge. I would charge it then the next day turn it on and it would be dead. So I bought a Vivitar that takes batteries. The pictures come out good, so thats pretty much what matters to me.