greenthumb
Junior Member
+1 on the startup/shutter lag/processing time statements.
you dont really notice how bad this can be until you use someone else's crappy camera and want to smash it after just a few shots.
a few other things to keep in mind.
media formats.
some mfgs use proprietary card formats. sony uses memory stick, olympus uses xd, etc.
if you have several sony cameras, a sony laptop, sony flat panel, this can be keep very usefull, otherwise its incredibly annoying and is expensive to have to buy a different format for every different device you own.
SD is in general the most popular and is somewhat becoming the standard in flash memory for many electronic devices. its also one of the cheapest and widely available.
batteries have also been mentioned.
most point and shoots use a specific battery pack for that camera or line. this keeps the size and weight down, but if you want extra batteries be prepared to pay out the ass (unless you use ebay and buy generic ones).
AA batteries are cheap and plentiful worldwide. theyre also heavy and bulky. if you buy a camera that uses AA`s, its unlikely it will come with rechargeables - which you will inevitably want - and now you must buy them and a charger; adding to the cost.
i think the best way to start is to realistically ask yourself how you are going to use it.
is it going to always be on automatic, or are you going continually adjust the settings?
are you going to make prints, or just look at your pics on the computer?
do you need an enormous zoom?
i think many people buy cameras way above their needs. spending twice as much to haul around something 3 times the size, just to get the same shot they could have with a tiny cam.
you dont really notice how bad this can be until you use someone else's crappy camera and want to smash it after just a few shots.
a few other things to keep in mind.
media formats.
some mfgs use proprietary card formats. sony uses memory stick, olympus uses xd, etc.
if you have several sony cameras, a sony laptop, sony flat panel, this can be keep very usefull, otherwise its incredibly annoying and is expensive to have to buy a different format for every different device you own.
SD is in general the most popular and is somewhat becoming the standard in flash memory for many electronic devices. its also one of the cheapest and widely available.
batteries have also been mentioned.
most point and shoots use a specific battery pack for that camera or line. this keeps the size and weight down, but if you want extra batteries be prepared to pay out the ass (unless you use ebay and buy generic ones).
AA batteries are cheap and plentiful worldwide. theyre also heavy and bulky. if you buy a camera that uses AA`s, its unlikely it will come with rechargeables - which you will inevitably want - and now you must buy them and a charger; adding to the cost.
i think the best way to start is to realistically ask yourself how you are going to use it.
is it going to always be on automatic, or are you going continually adjust the settings?
are you going to make prints, or just look at your pics on the computer?
do you need an enormous zoom?
i think many people buy cameras way above their needs. spending twice as much to haul around something 3 times the size, just to get the same shot they could have with a tiny cam.
