Purchasing Digital Camera - I need advise

[Cutty]

So I am eager to acquire a digital camera soon, both intended for indoor (Lego-related ^^) and outdoor use.

I am, however, a bit "broke" right now, so I'd rather not spend anymore than say 50-75

[Hobbes]

I'm not a master but I've been using a mid-range digi-cam for about 1 1/2 years now. From my experience I can say:

- Is more expensive = better?

Yes and no. More expensive usually means more megapixels which usually means better picture quality (read more below).

- What does the increased amount of megapixels really do to the final resolution?

It depends on what you want to do. If you just need small (1024x768) pics for your internet gallery cameras around 2-3 MP are way enough. If you'd like to print them or even have small posters made you need as many MP as you can get. The more MP the more information is stored in the picture and the better the printed result looks.

But MPs are not the only factor that comes with picture quality. Many MPs don't help if the "converter chip" (dunno the technical term) is bad. That's that thing that actually converts what the lense sees into digital data. And there's some real crap out there. Also, the cheaper, the crappier.

One important thing: forget digital zoom. All that counts is optical zoom. Digital zoom is like blowing up a picture on your PC - it gets blocky. Digital zoom does the exact same thing.

- How do I know whether I have a good product concerning color-depth, contrast aso.?

There are reviews available on the net. You won't get around reading them.

- Any major manufacturers to be preferred/avoided (like I'd never buy a Sony product unless I really have to...)

I have a Konica-Minolta. They shut down their camera business recently, though. But the classics that are popular among analogue photographers are also recommendable among digi-cams, so Canon, Fujifilm, Kodak, Konica-Minolta and the like...

- Which memory-medium is preferred by experts? SD-cards any good? (at least they're widely in use...)

SDs get increasingly popular. I use them myself and can't complain. They're not that expensive anymore and don't need much space, either. CF is also still popular. Slightly cheaper but bigger.

Here's a pretty good site that helped me at the time I wanted to buy a camera: digitalkamera.de. Also, Steve's Digicams is quite good.

It'll all come down to what you want to do. You won't find a camera that does it all. Not even the big-shots for tons of

[SuvieD]

A decent camera will cost 100+

A good camera will be 250+

An excellent camera is 400+

Digital cameras are a good investment if you like pictures at all. I would personally wait and save up some money so you can get something worth having for many years to come. I personally prefer the Canon Powershot series as it has an image stabilizer built in uses decent priced AA rechargable batteries and with a good card even on very high settings can capture 200+ pictures. The amount of detail is excellent and I have found mine to photograph LEGO very well which is a nice extra for me.

When buying a camera though remember to budget for a case, cleaning equipment, batteries/charging dock, memory card(s) and a warranty/professional cleaning plan if possible. It is easy to go get a camera with 200 and after you add all the extras walk out having spent 300+.

[ApophisV]

For photographing Lego I can recommand one camera:

Fuji FinePix A345

BUT there are some problems with this cam:

a) When using the close up mode there is no flash, that's why you need some external light. (I use a large white sheet of paper as background in combination with two desk lamps, that works really fine for me)

b) Normal pictures (you know, everything else that is NOT made from plastic parts ) are not really good. First of all, almost every picture is blurry as long as you don't use the "sports mode", even if you make the pics carefully. Then the compression sometimes is worse than it could be. (This does not affect close up pictures though)

Even if it is no all-day cam, it worked perfectly for me for making Lego pictures. Before this cam I had the chance to use four other digicams which all had major flaws, the worst case was a Canon which simply did the blurriest close ups I ever saw.

[Hobbes]

SuvieD's right, I forgot about the batteries. Some cameras come with proprietary "Akku-Packs" - those cost a small fortune. So, check if the camera uses AAs. If you buy AAs, see that they are 2100+ mAh - anything below won't last long since digi-cams are power drainers...

[Kikuichimonji]

Funny you should say that. I just bought this one today. So far, I'm really happy about it :-D

[Cutty]

Whoa! Vielen Dank ihr lieben Leute!

Now for some heavy sparing money-wise (AAARGH! But I need more vikings/shadow knights!)

and reading all the recommended literature.

Since I am a total beginner when it comes to digital photographing I see some steep learning curve ahead of me (adds one more to my growing list ^^)

Again thanks to you all,

Cutty

[Zane]

While we're on the subject, I was looking to buy one, with all Cutty requested, but also it should be a Olympus...don't ask.

TT