New camera

[nepenthes gracilis]

Hi guys I'd like anyones input on which camera do you think is best to buy? I've decided on this one: Camera I'm looking at (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/standard-pod-wrapped.jhtml?id=0024949&navAction=push&navCount=5&indexId=cat420016&parentId=cat420016&parentType=index&rid=&cmCat=MainCatcat20166&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fcatalog%2Fpod-link.jhtml.4_A&_DAV=http%3A%2F%2Fa1460.g.akamai.net%2Ff%2F1460%2F1339%2F6h%2Fwww.cabelas.com%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcontent%2FPod%2F02%2F49%2F49%2Fp024949ii01.jpg)

And here is the full page of all the cameras to choose from: Camera selection (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/index/index-display.jhtml?id=cat420016&navAction=jump&navCount=1&parentId=cat20712&parentType=category&rid=&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fcatalog%2Fcategory-link.jhtml_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20712)

I've decided on theC-5000 Olympus digital due to the Super Macro capabilities and the prices seems pretty reasonable.

If anyone sees a better deal, I'd appreaciate your input!

Dustin

[drunknmunky]

Well depends on how much you are spending.

I am an amature photographer and i use a nikon coolpix 5700 and i have yet to be impressed with any other cameras in the mid/high price range. *If you are looking at the lower end of cameras, look at the cannon powershots. *i carry one of those little ones that fit into an altoids tin and it takes great "snapshot" photos. *

[Dyflam]

I would recommend checking out Steve's Digicams. (http://www.steves-digicams.com/) Lot's of excellent reviews and sample photos. http://www.**********.com/iB_html312/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Lauderdale]

Hi Dustin,
The C 5000 is an excellent choice. *I was considering it but went with the Olympus C 750 instead. *It is a 4.0 mega pixel with the same “super macro” capabilities(as close as 1.2” from subject) *as the C 5000 but it has a 10x zoom (38 mm to 380 mm) which allows you to really "reach out and touch" your long range subjects. *Its' night time photo capability is excellent. *Also, Olympus makes a pretty wide ranging selection of attachment lens for it.
As far as price, it is a more expensive camera but I bought mine online for only $432 including shipping. *No matter what camera you choose, shop online very carefully and you should be able to better the list price by about $100.

Munky, Great site…you got some talent…and nice looking friends.
http://www.**********.com/iB_html312/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[larry]

I prefer Sony/Canon/Nikon
Have you looked at this tiny little Sony?
Link (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Sony/sony_dscv1.asp)
Check out the samples, they are stunning!

[drunknmunky]

While the sony cameras are great and some of the olympus cameras are decent as well, you will run into a huge cost upgrading and replacing the memory cards. Both sony and olympus use propriatery memory media that can not be mass produced by 3rd party companies as such will cost more.

Make sure the camera you buy will accept Compact Flash or Smart Media cards. Those are the standard media at this point and are much cheaper than the brand specific media.

[trashcan]

I have the C-750's little brother, and I can whole-heartedly recommend it. One really nice thing is that it takes AA batteries. So you can very easily have replacement batteries if you take it on a trip (cough, junglegeeks). The xD stamp sized flash cards are really nice, too!
Nep G, are you planning on having your pictures developed? I have a 3.3 megapixel camera, and the pictures blow up beautifully to 7x10".. Generally, pictures are just resized down to share online, so I don't think they would look much better than a lesser megapixel camera resized down to a viewable size. Just a thought.

[drunknmunky]

only 7x10? *http://www.**********.com/iB_html312/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif i'm sure it will do better than that!

my little 2.0 megapixel will blow up to 20"x30" poster quality! *a little grainy, but it looks decent enough for a window sign or poster=)

[trashcan]

I bet it will, too. That is the highest I have done, though. I haven't tried larger, so I can't comment (from personal experience anyway) on how it will look.

BTW: http://www.imaging-resource.com is a great place for information.

[nepenthes gracilis]

Dylfam, thanks for the great site! http://www.**********.com/iB_html312/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Lauderdale, I was informed today by friends that "Optical Zoom" is superior to digital zoom generally. My camera has NO optical focusing cabablities whatsoever. I have an Olympus D380...

Pat, I just want this for my plants and my PC pictorial history of the plants. No develping or anything like that.

So far, I'm thinking about the C-5000 Olympus or the FinePix from Fujifilm S5000 Digital. It has an 10x optical zoom. Which do you guys think would be the better choice for macro? Eithe,r way I'm paying the same price, the Olympus is 5. Meg and the Fuji is 3.1 meg with super CCD HR whatever that means.

Thanks http://www.**********.com/iB_html312/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[trashcan]

Nep G, yes that is true. Digital zoom, imho, just tends to make the pixels larger. So it looks closer, at the cost of clarity. That's why you should get the C-750 with a 10x optical zoom. http://www.**********.com/iB_html312/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

But, if you are just doing plant stuff, with the super macro mode, you don't really need it (long optical zoom). Once you go into super macro mode (at least on Olympus cameras), the zoom is locked, and you only focus.

[larry]

Yeah, if you only plan on taking plant pics to archive on your computer, a 2 megapixel would be just fine. Since you're taking plant pics, there's no need for high powered zooming either. Digital zoom is B.S. but you know that by now http://www.**********.com/iB_html312/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[nepenthes gracilis]

I found a reasonable price for the C5000 Olympus...Here (http://www.ephotoclub.com/viewitem.php?IndexID=5424&RefTag=dealtime)

What about the Fujifine pix S5000? Is that good for this or no? Basically I'm debating between these two unless anyone else has a better suggestion....the Super Macro mode on the Olympus has grabbed my interest due to what i want to do...Nep pictures and close ups. Of course I'm sure it will be just fine with regular shots of the collection as well.

Thanks for all you guys help http://www.**********.com/iB_html312/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif I really appreaciate it since I'm just beginning to understand what DC's are junk.

[trashcan]

http://www2.butterflyphoto.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=C-5000

A little cheaper. but depending on S&H on both sites, it could be pretty close.

[drunknmunky]

If you are taking pictures of plants you will really fall in love with the SuperMacro on the olympus. I think that if all you really want to do with it is plant pictures, this is the one for you.

[Lauderdale]

The C-750 and 740 have 10x opitical zoom and this is a really fun feature that I use constantly for boating and sports pics. *That coupled with the "super macro" mode was the reason for my choice of the 750.
The 740 is a less expensive version of the 750 and would have been my choice except it doesn't have a "hot shoe" for an external flash.
As I said in my original post, there are many good cameras out there. *I would figure what one will best serve your purpose...and then go one step UP.
http://www.**********.com/iB_html312/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[larry]

Read the rating for ephotoclub before you buy
Ratings (http://www.resellerratings.com/seller4229.html)

[nepenthes gracilis]

I think I am going to go for the Olympus C5000. Just have to rustle up some money for it now. http://www.**********.com/iB_html312/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Pat, thanks for the site.

Larry, I dunno who Im gonna order from but thanks for the heads up about the Co.

[Joachim Danz]

Hi Dustin,

the ability to focus on small parts of plants varys very much from my experience (the older Sony model I had was just crap). I would recommend testing the cameras in question prior to purchasing them. A local dealer where you can test the cameras in question might be more expensive in first place, but cheaper in the long run.

Cheers Joachim

[nepenthes gracilis]

Yes Joachim. I did try that...but it appears that they shut the cameras down at Walmart after 9 at night. http://www.**********.com/iB_html312/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif Next time i am out there, though I will ask one of the clerks if he can turn the power onto them so I can indeed test the features on them out. They had a couple nice models of Nikon there and I think a Fuji...really $$$ though.

[nepenthes gracilis]

Hi guys, well I think it's down between 2 cameras.

The:

Nikon Coolpix 4300 and the Olympus C-5000

Decisions decisions.........