Choosing Digital Camera
06-21-2005, 11:43 AM
#1
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I want to buy a digital camera. I want some manual controls, sometimes I will print A4 or even A3 (rarely).
I like Olympus cameras.
I'm thinking about:
- mju mini ---- 4 Megapix ($240)
- mju mini S - 5 Megapix ($280)
- mju 800 ---- 8 Megapix ($320)
- C-55
- C-770
Need your oppinions. How many megapixels do I need?
I like Olympus cameras.
I'm thinking about:
- mju mini ---- 4 Megapix ($240)
- mju mini S - 5 Megapix ($280)
- mju 800 ---- 8 Megapix ($320)
- C-55
- C-770
Need your oppinions. How many megapixels do I need?
06-21-2005, 11:48 AM
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How many megapixels you need depends on what you will be using the pics for.
For just saving them on your computer, you need no more than 3mp.
For printing:
4x6" prints = 3 megapixels.
5x7 = 4 megapixels.
8x10 = 7.2 megapixels (In practice, 6.1 megapixels can get by at 8x10)
11x14 = 8 megapixels
If you won't be doing any large prints, just normal size, a 4 or 5 megapixel camera would be perfect.
Here is a quote from another thread where I explained megapixels and size of prints:
Keep in mind that more megapixels = larger image, which gives you extra room to crop out certain areas and still make decent sized prints. But don't buy higher megapixels than you need.
There is way to much emphasis on megapixels, and the typical user needs no more than a 5 megapixel camera. More megapixels doesn't mean more quality or clearity, only larger size.
For just saving them on your computer, you need no more than 3mp.
For printing:
4x6" prints = 3 megapixels.
5x7 = 4 megapixels.
8x10 = 7.2 megapixels (In practice, 6.1 megapixels can get by at 8x10)
11x14 = 8 megapixels
If you won't be doing any large prints, just normal size, a 4 or 5 megapixel camera would be perfect.
Here is a quote from another thread where I explained megapixels and size of prints:
QUOTE ("Joshuwa)
To print at the lowest possible "photo-quality", you need to print at least 300dpi (although the 350dpi standard is prefered).
At 8x10, that would be a 2400x3000 pixel image.
2400x3000 = 7,200,000 (7.2 megapixels).
Now you can go a little bit lower than that with minimal noticible difference, but definitely no lower than 5mp. An 8x10 printed from a 3mp image would not be very high quality, and would be noticeabley unclear.
A 4x6 at 300dpi would be 1200x1800, or 2,160,000 (2.2 megapixels). Keeping to the 350dpi standard, that increases it to 2,940,000 (3megapixels).
In theory, you could print an 8x10 from a 1-megapixel camera. But it would look horrible. For photo-quality, the minimums are a little higher than what the manufacturers like to advertise.
At 8x10, that would be a 2400x3000 pixel image.
2400x3000 = 7,200,000 (7.2 megapixels).
Now you can go a little bit lower than that with minimal noticible difference, but definitely no lower than 5mp. An 8x10 printed from a 3mp image would not be very high quality, and would be noticeabley unclear.
A 4x6 at 300dpi would be 1200x1800, or 2,160,000 (2.2 megapixels). Keeping to the 350dpi standard, that increases it to 2,940,000 (3megapixels).
In theory, you could print an 8x10 from a 1-megapixel camera. But it would look horrible. For photo-quality, the minimums are a little higher than what the manufacturers like to advertise.
Keep in mind that more megapixels = larger image, which gives you extra room to crop out certain areas and still make decent sized prints. But don't buy higher megapixels than you need.
There is way to much emphasis on megapixels, and the typical user needs no more than a 5 megapixel camera. More megapixels doesn't mean more quality or clearity, only larger size.
06-21-2005, 12:40 PM
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is it ok if camera don't support TIFF and/or RAW format?
now I'm choosing from Olympus mju-mini S and mju 800.
Spec:
Mju-mini-S
5 mp
2x optical zoom
4x digital zoom
macro mode from 8 cm
ISO 64-400
continuous drive 7 shots at 1.7 frames per sec.
--------------------
mju-800
8 mp
3x optical zoom
5x digital zoom
macro mode from 3 cm
ISO 64-400 (800 and 1600 in 3 megapixels mode)
continuous drive 10 shots at 4 frames per sec.
can be controlled by remote control
I like mju-mini-S design very much, but I like features of mju-800 ...
now I'm choosing from Olympus mju-mini S and mju 800.
Spec:
Mju-mini-S
5 mp
2x optical zoom
4x digital zoom
macro mode from 8 cm
ISO 64-400
continuous drive 7 shots at 1.7 frames per sec.
--------------------
mju-800
8 mp
3x optical zoom
5x digital zoom
macro mode from 3 cm
ISO 64-400 (800 and 1600 in 3 megapixels mode)
continuous drive 10 shots at 4 frames per sec.
can be controlled by remote control
I like mju-mini-S design very much, but I like features of mju-800 ...
06-21-2005, 12:47 PM
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Nah, you don't need Tiff or RAW.
I'd go with the mju-800, simply because of the higher ISO mode so you can capture really fast motion with the higher shutter speeds it will allow, or take low-light pics without a tripod. It also has the better zoom (2x would drive you mad - that's nothing at all really).
I'd go with the mju-800, simply because of the higher ISO mode so you can capture really fast motion with the higher shutter speeds it will allow, or take low-light pics without a tripod. It also has the better zoom (2x would drive you mad - that's nothing at all really).
06-21-2005, 12:50 PM
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mju mini has 1.8" LCD
mju-800 has 2.5" LCD. it also has internal 19 MB storage.
I think I'll choose mju-800.
Is it ok if camera doesn't have viewfinder. It has only LCD on the back.
mju-800 has 2.5" LCD. it also has internal 19 MB storage.
I think I'll choose mju-800.
Is it ok if camera doesn't have viewfinder. It has only LCD on the back.
06-21-2005, 01:17 PM
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Ehh..I don't know - that's a bummer not to have a view finder.
Using the LCD is fine, but it drains the bettery REALLY fast.
You will be buying batteries left and right.
What is it about these particular brands that interest you?
Have you considered anything from the Canon A series?
The Canon A95 is an AWESOME 5mp camera for $300.
For the price, you can't get any better than that.
Using the LCD is fine, but it drains the bettery REALLY fast.
You will be buying batteries left and right.
What is it about these particular brands that interest you?
Have you considered anything from the Canon A series?
The Canon A95 is an AWESOME 5mp camera for $300.
For the price, you can't get any better than that.