jennifer, thanks for the additional info. Some points to consider:
> Batteries - IMO the type of batteries used in a particular Camera is not the most important factor to consider. It's probably more prudent to find the best Camera for your needs, and simply adjust to whatever type of batteries it uses. I appreciate that you have lots of rechargeables on hand that you "charge often", but keep in mind that
all rechargeable batteries have a finite life, and once they've reached their maximum in terms of charge / discharge cycles, they will have to be replaced.
High capacity (2300 maH+) Ni-MH (AA) batteries are certainly one option, but don't rule out using Li-Ion batteries - they have a great power-weight ratio, charge quickly and retain a charge better than NiMH.
P&S Cameras deplete batteries much more quickly than in dSLR Cameras in most cases, due to the fact that P&S Cameras utilize the LCD monitor for shooting and "live preview". Using the LCD for every shot will deplete the battery quicker. dSLR's only use the monitor for review, and there is only one SLR model (AFAIK) that provides for preview on the LCD.
I usually travel with a total of three Li-Ion Batteries for my dSLR and two Li-Ion Batteries for my P&S Camera (they are basically the same type of Battery, so are interchangeable between the two Cameras). I usually top-up the charge on these at nights if power is available, so I've always got a couple of fully charged batteries on hand during the day.
> Megapixel range - at the moment, you'll probably find it difficult to find anything with less than 5-6 MP. These will provide lots of resolution, even for enlargements, however of course more MP is always better in this regard.
> Zoom range - this is an important feature IMO, and is one of the main reasons I decided to switch to a dSLR. The 3x zoom range on most P&S Cameras just doesn't work for me. Some P&S models have 4-5x zoom (usually with some amount of digital zoom), so you'll have to decide what range is important to you.
The other factor that is important to me is wide angle capability, another item that is often limited on the standard P&S Cameras. I found that I used the wide angle Lens
far more than I had anticipated on my last trip. Again, your choice.
> Budget flexibility - my approach in this regard is to decide what Camera best fits my criteria, and then figure out how I can afford it. If I have to wait to get the money together, at least I get the Camera I wanted. I suppose everyone approaches this a bit differently?
> Brand preferences - as you don't favour a particular brand, your selection will probably take a bit longer as you'll have to assess a greater number of Cameras. I tend to prefer Cameras from manufacturers that have been in the
Camera business the longest, as they have more experience with these (as opposed to electronic equipment manufacturers who only make Cameras as a sideline). Again, find the best Camera for your needs, regardless of which brand it is.
From what I've seen, many of new Cameras being introduced lately have been designed to use SD Cards, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding one that uses those.
Regarding the memory cards used by Kodak, if these are an SD Card then it doesn't matter whether the card is branded as Kodak, SanDisk, Lexar or whatever -- an SD card is the same regardless.
Sony is the only Camera that uses an "odd" memory card format, as they use those goofy Memory Sticks. Leave it to Sony to be different (they obviously haven't learned anything from their experience with Beta!). They may be subjected to a "deja vu" experience with Blu-Ray in the near future - we'll see???
> Image stabilization - this is a feature that is appearing on an increasing number of newer Cameras. This is accomplished in a number of ways.
In the
Canon dSLR's, the image stabilization is built into the Lens, rather than being fitted inside the Camera as it is with some of the other brands. The Lens has a small (but very intricate) gyro mechanism inside that "steadies" the lens elements if there is a bit of movement. This provides some
limited compensation for movement. Other dSLR's have this built into the Camera, rather than the Lens.
Some of the new P&S models from Canon have this feature built into the Camera as well, but since these don't have interchangeable Lenses, this makes sense. This feature is quite useful for shooting in low light situations without flash, at slow shutter speeds.
One other
important (IMHO) feature to look for is the ISO range of the Camera (what would have been called the "film speed" in the old days). Some of the newer models provide ISO 1600 or 3200 (or higher) capability. However, one caveat to keep in mind - with some Cameras, as the ISO range increases the noise increases in the image. It's a good idea to check the reviews to see how the different models fare in this regard.
Now that we've covered all that (whew!), some suggestions.
You might find it worthwhile to visit some of the local Camera stores in your area, once you've decided on a basic list of features. Have a look at the various models, to see what appeals to you. Take any recommendations from the sales people "with a grain of salt", as they
sometimes tend to push one brand over another simply because they get a better commission on them. In addition, not ALL sales people are that well educated with respect to the products they're selling - they know the "party line" from their training manuals, but beyond that the knowledge is a bit lacking.
Regarding the review sites, you'll note that ALL models have pros & cons. Sorting these out is the most challenging part of the selection. I usually look for the coveted "Highly Recommended" rating at dpreview.
I tend to separate digital Cameras into three general categories:
- Point & Shoot: this is undoubtedly the majority of digi-Cams on market these days. The store shelves are full of this type of Camera! They're compact and light and most will easily fit into a pocket. Many of these use SD Cards, so that fits one of the criteria on your list (there aren't too many of these that use CF cards any more, but some use the micro-SD, XD or whatever). However, they also have some drawbacks in terms of limited zoom and wide angle range, and ISO range.
- "Monster Zoom": these seem to be increasing in popularity somewhat, as they provide up to 12x optical zoom along with image stabilization in most cases. The Image Stabilization is important as when the lens is extended to it's maximum zoom range, any amount of movement is amplified so without this photos would be blurred. One example of this type of Camera is the S3-IS that
PONR mentioned (this Camera is also capable of shooting some video with stereo sound, from what I recall?). That particular model is getting a bit "dated", however it hasn't been replaced yet by a newer model so you might want to have a look at one (Panasonic has some MZ models as well). I believe the S3 uses SD cards, but I'd have to confirm that. The disadvantage of these types of Cameras for most people is the size - they're not exactly "pocket" models!
- Digital Single Lens Reflex (dSLR): these are the ultimate for flexibility and photo quality, but they're also the most complicated and most expensive. Purchase of a dSLR is only the beginning of the process, as in order to use the Camera as it was intended, extra Lenses are required and a whole range of other kit from Flash units to Filters. Most of these have an "auto" mode on the dial, so these can be used as an elaborate and expensive P&S Camera. HOWEVER, in order to get the best image quality and best results from a dSLR, it's almost essential to use other shooting modes and have some knowledge of aperture & shutter speed settings, white balance, etc. To say that there's a bit of a "learning curve" would be an understatement!
I'm probably correct in assuming that you're not the least interested in a dSLR, however I wanted to include that as it completes my list of the three general Camera types.Once you've narrowed down your selection, check
www.dpreview.com or
www.steves-digicams.com (or other sites) to get the professionals opinion of a particular model. This should help to narrow down the selection even further.
PONR, I'm assuming you mean 10x of
optical zoom?
Hope this helps you with your Camera selection. Let us know what you decide.
Happy shooting!!!
