Buying A New Digital P&s

[macgyver]

To all the si fu here,

I am targetting to buy a new digital P&S camera next month. I need your recommendations. My budget is RM1200.

Thank you in advance.

[ionStorm]

If you want the tiny ones, i'd recommend the Olympus mini mju. Its slightly over your budget.

If you don't mind a little bulk, the Canon A series would be good.

[ionStorm]

AA batteries are good because they are easy to find and cheap to buy. Rechargeable AA's are cheap. Even if you rechargeables run out, you can still look for a shop to get them or pack a set of alkalines with you. The bad thing about them is that, usually cameras that use AA, use 4 batteries, and that adds to the bulk of the camera. You won't find any mini P&S using AA's.

Proprietary batteries can be made small, hence allowing the built of a smaller body. The bad thing is, they are expensive, on the mini's they hold a relatively short charge, and you can't bring them over to another camera. For most mini cameras, you will find that you need at least two. If you go for a full day tour, you will usually run down the first battery.

One is not better than the other. It depends on your application and your budget.

Personally, i'd go for proprietary batteries. I don't intend to have many cameras and I don't intend to change very often.

[cheongyap]

propriety batteries are expensive, average at Rm200 - Rm 250
but of course the good thing is your camera is smaller in size

AA batts are cheap, but becoz of the battery compartment,
this will cause your camera to be quite big size.

So u have to consider u wanna a medium size camera or a compact size camera

[cheongyap]

But from what i know, those propriety batt can recharge up to 500 times.
So by the time u charged up to 500 times, i will be like 1 1/2 years already.
(Consider if u charge batt everyday :P 500/365 days)

[cheongyap]

FYI, AA rechargable batt can charged for 1000 times as stated in the batt packaging.

[kin]

i do prefer using the rechargeables AA batteries than propriety one. i have a Canon A400(AA batt) and have experience with Canon S60(propriety). they both last almost the same when fully charged. when use my A400 without switching on the LCD, it lasted for 3 day of usage.

but of course it's very hard to find PS camera using the AA. And using AA batt kinda little out-dated also.

And the Canon S60 quite a good cam. Hav lots of function, shoot RAW, Manual Focus... but the price should be round RM1600-1800.

Go and try the models urself at those camera roadshows. I think there'll be one at Times Square tis or next week

cherrio!

[yoong]

canon A series hands down. :lol:

[khoking]

how about Canon A95? Around RM1300+- I think.

Or, Nikon CP3200? RM750

I too undecide of which one to get for my sister in law... :dunno:

[ionStorm]

Just wanted to mention that, cropping from within the camera is not a good idea, unless you intend to print directly from the camera. Post processing from your computer is always a better option.

[khoking]

Originally posted by macgyver@Nov 25 2004, 02:39 PM
I heard Nikon CP3200 can do cropping from the camera and save the image. Is it true? What other cameras has this feature?

Thank you.
my Olympus C5050 can do this too, but I never use it as I prefer to crop using PC.

[eugene]

I heard Nikon CP3200 can do cropping from the camera and save the image. Is it true? What other cameras has this feature?

I did cropping on my CP3100, quite alright with not much lost in quality..I presume the next generation of that is acceptable too..

Wait a min...CP3200 priced at RM750? What about CP3100? Obsolete?

:( :( :(

IMO, AA batteries are much more convinient. Problem is, you can only use it for so long. Forget what is said here about using it for about 1.5years. From my experience, they last you 12months tops. Mind you, I am the type that discharge fully before charging, so it ain't from memory effect. I shoot a lot with my P&S (my only form of digital), so I charge my batts, every other day.

Looking for a cheapo P&S depends largely on your size and quality you looking. By quality I meant the features you want. I shalln't endorse any particular brand of camera due to my lack of knowledge of gears (pardon my ignorance), but I know that if you go for those big boys such as ninon, cakon, olympA...you probably get quite a decent P&S there.

[ionStorm]

Hmm...I didn't think rechargeables would die so quickly...12 months?

Its possibly because the available AA rechargeables are all NiMH whereas most of the new proprietary batts are Li-Ion

[david.tan]

get a fuji, any model will do, coz their color is much better ;)

[maxby]

A canon A85 would be nice.... :lol: :ph34r: :lol:

[franky]

macgyver - kodak 3.2mp at RM449 :) my fren bought a coolpix5100 at RM888