Different need - help!

My digital camera just departed the family and I'm looking for a replacement.

Other than the normal requirements, I have two "must haves", which I guess can be labeled "legacy" needs. The first is it has to run on AA batteries. When I travel (often) I have other devices that use AA's, so it's nice to have all draw from the same pool of batteries. Also, I only have to lug one charger around (it's bad enough that my cell phone doesn't use AA's )

The second "must have" is SD cards. I have two 1GB SD cards that hold 500 pictures at hi-res each. Also, I can stick SD cards straight into my laptop and download them without cables.

As to the more normal types of criteria, I need more than 5x optical zoom and manual focus and aperture/speed control.

As for megapixels, I figure that anything I buy will have 5mp or more, whether I want them or not, so that's not really an issue.

I had a Minolta Dimage Z1 and it was great. However, it either had no manual focus or if it had the feature, it was well-hidden. Also, its shape was a little awkward for packing.

I know Pete and some other deep-pocket guys like the Nikon D70/100's, but I wouldn't have the heart to take such an expensive camera on the road and beat it around. Besides, from what I can tell, no expensive cameras meet my "legacy" requirements, anyway!

Ideas/comments/suggestions?

 

Hmmm... tall order I can probably name some cameras that fit three of the criteria, but not familiar with anything that fits them all.

Nikon D70's are like Canon Rebels: Lithium Ion (proprietary) batteries, Compact Flash type card storage and virtually unlimited optical lens choices (limited only by your budget )

I am sure someone will come up with some options.

Harold

 

Try this site if your looking for a camera, it has many options to offer. Just put in your requirements, cost, memory,lens, etc.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/INDEX.HTM

George

 

Hemi,
I think you hit the nail on the head! Canon PowerShot S2 is. Looks to be a great, full-featured camera.

Harold

 

For $500??? Wow!

 

Wow! As a backup to the backup, what a stunner! A 12x optical zoom? I haven't seen that since my days with 16mm film cameras, back in the early 70s.

 

Not only that, it has Image Stabilzation!

 

That is exactly where my mind was wandering (S2). Maybe Monday I'll go get it.

Thanks for all the help, guys!

 

Yes, the Image Stabilization will help you make the most of the 12x optical zoom.

Harold

 

Only thing is... I'm having a hard time finding a store in Denver that acutally has one in stock!

 

From what I've heard, they are really selling fast. I did some research on it. Fantastic for the price, but the maximum f-stop is f/8. That's not enough for me. Besides, my wife found me drooling over it, and stopped that nonsense. With the ability to focus on things touching the lens, I'm not sure what the f/8 maximum stop will mean. IT also has adapators to extend the wide-angle and telephoto--the wide angle from 36 mm SLR equivalent to 28 mm. The telphoto adaptor is a 1.5x teleconvertor. Good reports on both in the press.

I get real antsy when I can't get to f/22 for model photography.

 

William, if you've decided that this is the camera for you, you can order from B&H Photo or Adorama. Both have it in stock. B&H is $475 and Adorama is $460. Both are extrememly reliable and many pros buy stuff from them.

 

Pete, this is a P&S digital and not a DSLR. By their lens design the P&S cameras have deep DOF while the DSLRs have very shallow DOF. The f8 max could very well equivalent to a f22 on a DSLR in terms of DOF effect.

The DOF is very deep for my Coolpix but the DOF of my D70 is very shallow.

I would not worry about f8 max for model photography.

 

This puzzles me a bit. Perhaps a smaller imaging area means the lens can maintain sharpness edge to edge better?

I've read a few reviews now. It seems chromatic aberration is a slight problem with all the cameras in this class. That would probably get worse at f-stops smaller than f/8. Most people would not notice, but photo editors do! But then, Photoshop can do a good job reducing that problem. I'm not complaining. This camera with a 12x optical lens and image stabilization costs about what one good fixed focus DSLR lens!

I do think it would be good for model photography. The DSLRs are a little bulky to get into tight places, and cameras one class down don't cut it for adjustability. I've been thinking of using mirrors for some shots, because I can't get a DSLR into the right spot. As long as I can set a manual focus, and a manual f/stop (which I believe you can on the S2, I'd be happy.

 

The camera will have three uses around here. By far #1 is work. I typically take 400-1200 shots per site visit, which is why those 1GB cards are so helpful. And for that, DOF is a total non-issue, but a strong telephoto and IS are very helpful. And the AA/SD card factors are vital. Also, a DLSR will be too heavy and bulky for the added benefit. My partner carries a Nikon D100 and that's too much bulk and heft for me. Of course, he's a much better photographer than I am and the added benefits of a great camera are worth it for him. Not for me, though. I prefer simple, light and easy to handle. My pictures will never make a calendar (his do) or a magazine article. The only thing that matters is that designers and clients recognize what I'm trying to show them

Second use is railfanning, where a telephoto is invaluable. Model photography is a distant third. I'm not a wonderful modeler and never will be, because that's neither my strength nor my interest. But that is an area where depth of field makes a big difference. I don't take a lot of trouble with extra lighting and such, and if f8 isn't enough, oh well, I can live with that, as long as I can focus manually (which my previous camera didn't allow).

 

Pete, it's the physics of a shallow focal length lens design. The S2 has a focal length of 6mm to 72mm. Most 3x optical zoom P&S have focal lengths of somewhere around 6mm to 18mm. The minute size of the CCD sensor allows lenses with such short focal length. Because of the short focal length, the DOF is increased tremendously.

One advantage of the P&S over the DSLR is that dust is never a problem with P&S cameras.

 

Thanks, MK! My last optics class was about 40 years ago. I guess I was thinking equivalency (6mm on the S2 is equivalent to 35mm on an SLR), rather than plain old physics.