Pls help me choose one of those cameras:

Canon Pro90 IS
1500$
1856x1392 resolution
2,6 million
LCD=1,8"
10x optical zoom
4x digital zoom
16 MB Compact Flash
Lithium & charger

FujiFilm FinePix 6900z
900$
2832x2128 resolution (interpolated)
3,3 million
LCD=2"
6x optical zoom
digital zoom (but how much x?)
16 MB SmartMedia
Lithium (without charger???)

Minolta Dimage 5
900$
2048x1536 resolution
3,14 million
LCD=1,8"
7,1x optical zoom
2x digital zoom
16 MB Compact Flash
AA (4)

Minolta Dimage 7
1500$
2560x1920 resolution
4,92 million
LCD=1,8"
7,1x optical zoom
2x digital zoom
16 MB Compact Flash
AA (4)

--Michael Vlastos
Athens, Hellas
http://users.panafonet.gr/dr_michael/michalis.htm

Dr_Michael,

Well, I'm not a fan of Fuji or Minolta. Guess that narrows it down. Ever think of an E-10? They are at a good price right now. I may even sell you mine. I'm currently looking at an E-20, but I am financially limited, so this is up in the air.
In any case, look at some photos from an E-10. The colors are amazing.

Jason Busch

Dear Jason,

I had till 2 weeks ago an Olympus 990c zoom. But one Albanian stole it from my car. I was very satisfied from the quality of the images and generally be the camera. Yes I thought of E-10 too but I found it too expensive (1900$). Maybe the price is not valid anymore? Do you know the price?

And by the way, what is the price of your camera? And where are you located? Thanx.

Dr_Michael,

I'll email you.

Jason Busch

I would appreciate to:
-tell me which of them is "value for money".
-vote for the best of those 4.
-tell me any disadvantages/advantages you may know for them.
Thanx!

Dr_Michael said:

I would appreciate to:
-tell me which of them is "value for money".
-vote for the best of those 4.
-tell me any disadvantages/advantages you may know for them.
Thanx!

Click to expand...

Hi Dr_Michael,

I would vote for the Canon PowerShot Pro90
I believe this camera to be the best for the value.

Here's a link giving you the disadvantages and advantages.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canonpro90/page17.asp

Are you sure your not interested in the E-10?

Bob Graham

Hi Bob,

well if I am interested in E-10? I really dont know. Isnt it old model as it exists the E-20?
Thanx for your suggestion about Canon and for the link!

Dr_Michael said:

Hi Bob,
well if I am interested in E-10? I really dont know. Isnt it old
model as it exists the E-20?
Thanx for your suggestion about Canon and for the link!

Click to expand...

I'm not sure if the E-20 will be worth the price difference of the E-10.
Once the review comes out then we'll see. You really don't get that
much from the specs. More than likely I'll go with the E-20.

Bob Graham

Hi...

Random thoughts...

Dcresource.com is a good source of current US Pricing...

Have you had a look at the new sony offering: D707... value for money! Good results! Nice Zeiss vario sonar lens and high 5mp resolution... rich saturated colours... sharp... have a look at Dp's reveiw.

For printing photos, the high resolutions offerings are better.

Canon has nice colours but lower resolution and is unable to do macro. biggest lens though. And still exspensive as far as I know.

Fuji has got good colours and is loaded with features... and $200 reduction in price is being introduced. Good performing lens... but performs best at 3.3 mega pixel setting... depends what you prefer, but inclined to produce warm colours making orange skin tones.

Dimage 5... nice lens... lots of features... thats all

Dimage 7 high resolution, but not as good as Sony 707...err for me, but has a few more features... one of the best non pro digicam lenses. Quite fiddly and chews batteries...

Very good random thoughts but:

1) Minolta includes AA batteries (major drawback)
2) Fujifilm uses Smartmedia (drawback)
3) Sony is generally a drawback for me!
4) Canon is really very expensive (major drawback too!)
5) Olympus is even more expensive (major drawback too!)

So which to choose?

Why do you think Smart media is a drawback? If that is the big reason keeping you from buying a 6900z I think you should reconsider. Visit the Fuji Talk forum and see some of the excellent images created with that digicam and for the money I think you'll be convinced. I bought one about two months ago -- after spending a great deal of time deliberating on my options for my 1st digicam -- and haven't regretted it for a moment.

regards,
Cassandra

Dr_Michael said:

Very good random thoughts but:

1) Minolta includes AA batteries (major drawback)
2) Fujifilm uses Smartmedia (drawback)
3) Sony is generally a drawback for me!
4) Canon is really very expensive (major drawback too!)
5) Olympus is even more expensive (major drawback too!)

So which to choose?

Click to expand...

Hi Casandra.
Look what a guy says about smartcards:
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1023&page=1&message=1615765

I read every post in that thread and it appears opinion is pretty much split down the middle about smart media. So I will just add my .02 cents: When I was researching digital cameras I thought I had an open mind about digicam brands but I was not looking at anything that didn't have a Canon, Nikon, Sony or Minolta name on it. I never gave Fuji digicams a thought. I also had my mind made up after reading negative comments about smart media not to buy a camera that used it, for the very reasons listed in that thread you linked to. However after my research I came to the conclusion that the 6900z was a gem of a digicam (ergonomics, resolution, color, telephoto and macro capabilities, etc.) and that my aversion to Smart media was grounded more on opinions than fact. So what if smart media for my camera cannot exceed 128mb? http://www.newegg.com sells smart media dirt cheap. Theirs also has a lifetime warranty. I love my 6900z and wouldn't trade it for any other prosumer digicam on the market today.

Dr_Michael said:

Hi Casandra.
Look what a guy says about smartcards:
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1023&page=1&message=1615765

Click to expand...

Cassandra,

I really believe that you helped me decide. I was planning for Canon but the 1500$ is too much, so I am going straight away for Fujifilm (900$).
Thanx so much you helped me really!

I don't think you'll be disappointed. The Fuji Talk regulars are very helpful and will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Meanwhile, visit Ron H's 6900z gallery for a look at the sort of images that digicam can produce:

http://pbase.com/galleries/ronhep

Cassandra

Dr_Michael said:

Cassandra,
I really believe that you helped me decide. I was planning for
Canon but the 1500$ is too much, so I am going straight away for
Fujifilm (900$).
Thanx so much you helped me really!

Click to expand...

Hi Michael, have you considered the Oly 2100? It is also a good camera, has got 10x zoom, with image stabilization, excellent low light capability, good burst mode, movie mode with sound, 15frames per second, zoom & image stabilization work in movie mode too.... though not perfect, no manual white balance mode, have heard about chromatic abberation problem (common in digital cameras) but IMHO no camera is perfect, you have to decide your priorities.

also it's smallest in size (smallest with 10x zoom and Image Stab, Oly 700 is with 10x zoom but no image Stabilization) and the price is lesser than its other counterparts
Oly 2100uz $500-$600
Canon PRO IS 90 $800

Sony CD1000 is also expensive (has got 10x zoom, but stores images on CD, permanent storage, not reusable)

Do check reviews on dcresource.com, imaging-resource.com, stevesdigicam.com and of course dpreview.com

For lowest prices check mysimon.com, pricegrabber.com, pricescan.com, bizrate.com. For reseller's reputation check resellerratings.com and click pricegrabber's "stars", don't rely on gomez's "two stars", isn't based on consumer feedback.

I have just ordered my first digital camera (c2100) at i4digital.com (have to buy 2 accessories for free shipping or pay $100 for shipping, total $616)

Best of luck!
Waqas Usman

Cassandra said:

http://pbase.com/galleries/ronhep

Cassandra

Dr_Michael said:

Cassandra,
I really believe that you helped me decide. I was planning for
Canon but the 1500$ is too much, so I am going straight away for
Fujifilm (900$).
Thanx so much you helped me really!

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Dear Dr_Michael,
You forgot to mention some of the drawbacks as well.
I don't know them for Minoltas (although I know that
people are not always happy with them) but those
for Canon are very serious:
1) Strong color aberrations,
2) Much noise.
(And I do not list weight here - it's a matter of preference.)

I would suggest you to not care about the amount of
digital zoom. As Phil pointed out many times, it is never
better than you can get in a modern image processing
application in your computer.

I have been hesitating for a long time, was also considering
Canon Pro 90 and Sony 505V but after reading a lot of
reviews and advices of great friendly people on all forums
(like Cassandra ) eventually decided for 6900 and
never regretted. That was a gift camera for my dad but
after playing with it I will buy anotrher one for me as well.

Best regards

Masha