Digital Camera Question

[MidwestTransplant]

Looking for advice. I am buying a digital camera as a gift. Looking for a compact, functional one. I have looked at the Casio xslim and the smaller Sony models. Open to any suggestions/opinions about these and others.

Only concern with the Sony is that I don't know if the Sony memory is compatible with the flash drive of a PC. I can put my Sandisk memory card directly into my computer which beats having to attach by cable. Anybody know about that too? Thanks in advance.

[cynatnite]

1. We're getting a new one in a few weeks...

I've seen some Canons I liked. My HP one has gone redneck on me. Duct tape to keep the batteries from falling out. :)

[KitchenWitch]

2. You can get a card reader for any type of flash memory card

The card reader plugs into one of your USB ports. Card readers are fairly inexpensive (~$20), so it really does not matter what camera you buy.

[TahitiNut]

3. The Photography Forum is the place to get the best answer ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=280

[MidwestTransplant]

4. Good idea, thanks

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Every digital camera I have ever bought comes with a cord

that goes from the camera to your computer and you can easily download pictures. It is also convenient not having to take the card out of your camera. I wouldn't recommend card readers. I had one delete a whole card full of pictures, more than once.

[SoCalDem]

6. I know it's trite, but I love my Kodaks

:)

[Canuckistanian]

9. Some of the new ones are wireless

Big $$$, though.

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. Interesting; how does that work?

[Canuckistanian]

7. I got a Fuji Finepix this year

Cheap, easy to use, BIG viewscreen and you don't have to think about settings unless you really want to.

I use it almost daily.

[cynatnite]

8. How many megapixels? I like the big viewscreens n/t

[Canuckistanian]

10. I got the A600, with 6.3 megapixels

Good enough for non-critical shooting.

[krispos42]

12. Big screens kill batteries

My parents are jealous. They gave me their older Sony 5.0 megapixel camera with a screen maybe 1.75" across for a nice 6.0 megapixel Canon with like a 4" screen. And they have to keep swapping rechargable batteries in it because it eats them so quickly. I just charge up my Sony's built-in lithium-ion battery and I'm good for hundreds of pictures. :-)

[cynatnite]

13. built in battery sounds much better...adding that to my list of wants n/t

[krispos42]

14. Well, it comes out easy enough. About as easy as the memory card/

but it's a Sony-specific item. One of their "InfoLithium" batteries. You can't just drop in a couple of Duracell AAs if the battery dies, like my parents can. But it's never been a problem as long as I remember to charge it up before a day out.

I got screwed one day in Chicago because I used it the day before a fair amount, then forgot to recharge it before we went downtown the next day. Oopsie!

[MichaelHarris]

11. I'm a big

fan of the Panasonic point and shoot cameras, they have Leica lenses on them. When you get right down to it most point and shoot cameras are the same, it's the lenses that will make one shine over the other.

Some Sony's have Zeiss lenses and some Kodaks have Schneider lenses. I use a lot of Leica cameras so the Panasonic with the Leica lens was my first choice.

[Up2Late]

16. My advice is, most are good, but you have the right idea, get only those that take either...

...SD memory cards (same size as a MMC, but faster and more secure) or xD memory cards. Those are the least expensive memory cards and the most compatible. Go any smaller and you'll most likely need an adapter, any larger, you're buying old, soon to be obsolete technology. Don't buy one that only take a Sony Smart Stick, I think that card type is being fazed out soon.

Then, get one with the best lens possible, Nikon, Canon or Zeiss are good, but Zeiss is the best.

Unless you are buying a Digital SLR (with detachable lenses), in that case, get one that matches any lenses you already have, unless you are just going to buy all new lenses.