Camera Reviews
First of all, any digital camera will work for this course. If you intend to buy one here are my recommendations. 1. Buy a 4-megapixel or higher camera. Here are some guidelines to print output quality as it relates to mega pixels. • • • • • 1 mega pixel can produce good 4 x 6-inch prints 2 mega pixels can produce good 6 x 8-inch prints 3 mega pixels can produce good 8 x 10-inch prints 5 mega pixels can produce good 10 x 12-inch prints 10 mega pixels can produce good 14 x 20-inch prints
2. Buy a camera that allows you to manually set the aperture size and shutter speeds. Aperture refers to the size of the lens opening. Shutter speed is just that--it controls the amount of time the shutter is open. Often this is referred to as “Aperture Priority,” and “Shutter Priority.” Check the manual or specifications on any camera you are considering to see if it has these important features. Below is a list of cameras that are recommended by either Consumer Reports (July 2006 issue) or PCWorld that meet these recommendations. To find out more about Digital Cameras visit http://www.pcworld.com/ and click on the link for “Cameras” found on the left side of the screen. Additional information can be found at http://www.steves-digicams.com/hardware_reviews.html Consumer Reports recommendations for Compact Cameras. Listed in order.
1. Canon PowerShot A620 $325, 7-megapixels 2. Kodak Easy Share Z700, $250, 4-megapixels 3. Olympus C-5500 Sport Zoom, $280, 5-megapixels 4. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W5. $220, 5-megapixels (Consumer Report "Best Buy") 5. Canon PowerShot S80, $435, 8-megapixels 6. Olympus Stylus 800, $330, 8-megapixels 7. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S60, $180, 4-megapixels 8. HP Photosmart R817, $300, 5-megapixels 9. Canon PowerShot A520, $170, 4-megapixels 10. HP Photosmart R717, $265, 6-megapixels
Consumer Reports recommendations for Advanced Compact Cameras. Listed in order.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Canon PowerShot G6, $580, 7-megapixels Nikon Coolpix 8400, $560, 8-megapixels Canon PowerShot S70, $400, 7-megapixels Kodak EasyShare P880, $490, 8-megapixels Fujifilm FinePix E900, $360, 9-megapixels (Consumer Report "Best Buy") Canon PowerShot Pro1, $670, 8-megapixels
Consumer Reports recommendations for a Super-Zoom Cameras. Listed in order.
1. 2. 3. 4.
Canon PowerShot S2 IS $360, 5-megapixels Kodak EasyShare P850, $390, 5-megapixels Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5, $350, 5-megapixels Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1, $355, 5-megapixels
5. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20S, $490, 5-megapixels 6. Fujifilm FinePix S5200, $315, 5-megapixels 7. Kodak EasyShare Z740 $265, 5-megapixels 8. Nikon Coolpix 8700, $480, 8-megapixels 9. Olympus SP-500 UZ, $310, 6-megapixels 10. Fujifilm FinePix S9000, $540, 9-megapixels
Consumer Reports recommendation for Digital SLR cameras. Listed in order.
1. Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT, $900, 8-megapixels 2. Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D, $1090, 6-megapixels 3. Canon EOS 20D, $1400, 8-megapixels
PCWorld.com top recommendations for Point-and-Shoot cameras that have shutter and aperture priorities. Listed in top order.
1. Canon PowerShot A520, $200, 4-megapixels 2. Casio Exilim EX-Z750, $380, 7.2-megapixels 3. Fujifilm FinePix E900, $410, 9-megapixels
PCWorld.com Top five recommendations for Advanced Digital Cameras. Listed in order.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Canon, PowerShot G6, $579, 7.1 megapixels (PCWorld "Best Buy") Fujifilm FinePix S5200, $400, 5-megapixels Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30, $700, 8-megapixels Olympus SP-500 Ultra Zoomo, $380, 6-megapixels Canon PowerShot Pro 1, $699, 8-megapixels
PCWorld.com Top five recommendations for Digital SLR Cameras
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Olympus EVolt E-300, $720, 8-megapixels (PCWorld "Best Buy") Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT, $870, 8-megapixels. Canon EOS 30D, $1499, 8.2-megapixels Nikon D70s, $950, 6.1-megapixels Nikon D50, $665, 6.1-megapixels