Fishing for digicam advice

[beaky]

No pix in this post, but I   figure this is the right place.
A question for all you digital shooters:
I'm finally ready to spend about $200 on a decent digital camera... that's not much, I know, but... been looking around online, and the Olympus C765 with its 10x zoom looks pretty good at around $250 average. The high-power optical zoom is very important to me, and the options are limited indeed in that price range.
However, just for laughs, I stopped into a Staples during lunch and saw that they had a Kodak DX7590, 5MP instead of 4, also 10x zoom, a very nice German lens (not the usual crummy Kodak optics), and the camera dock, for $200, which is about half the typical price. It's not a refurb; it's brand new. Online reviews indicate it's probably a good deal at that price, but I'm wondering if any SimVers have had firsthand experience with this model..
I'll probably buy it regardless, but thought I'd ask first...

[Wing Nut]

Spend $1000 on a Nikon D90 and you can't go wrong...  :)

[Hagar]

Hi Rotty. I'm not qualified to give advice & it depends what you want it for. You seem to know what you're doing where cameras are concerned & what to look for regards specs. I know nothing about Kodak digital cameras but the lens is obviously important. I don't think you will go far wrong with any of the major manufacturers.

I'll probably buy it regardless, but thought I'd ask first...

Sounds like you already made your mind up.

PS. Get one with an optical viewfinder if possible. The digital one on my S5000 is a blasted nuisance & spoils a decent camera. IMHO

[beaky]

Thanx, Doug- yes, the one I'm thinking of has an optical viewfinder; also high on my list of priorities. Actually... it's electronic, but it allows shooting without using the LCD. Are you talking about a proper old-fashioned optical viewfinder? Didn't think one could get a digital camera with that feature.
The lens is from Schneider-Kreuznach; I don't know anything about them, but it's gotta be better than Kodak's usual stuff, or they probably would not have incorporated it into this camera.
I have sort of made my mind up- this thing seems like a real bargain at that price. Only thing that would stop me is a horror story of some kind from one who owns one...

[beaky]

Spend $1000 on a Nikon D90 and you can't go wrong...  :)

No doubt, but I don't have a grand to spend on a camera right now.

[beaky]

Just checked another review, and I think I see now what Doug's complaining  about with an electronic viewfinder... this model seems to have a pretty good one, but it's not immune to "video lag", which I guess means that the moment you see as you snap may not be the moment you capture.
That doesn't sound like fun at all... hmmm... I  could learn to compensate, at least with predictable movement, such as flybys. Just take the picture a hair early.
Whaddya think, Hagar? Is that what you were talking about?

[Hagar]

I just checked that Kodak DX7590  out. http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?KOD-DX7590
Looks very similar to my S5000 with a higher spec. I reckon you can't go wrong at that price & would have checked it out myself if I was thinking of buying one now. The docking station is a bonus as these usually come as extras.

the one I'm thinking of has an optical viewfinder; also high on my list of priorities

I think you'll find it's digital.  A small version of the LCD screen in the viewfinder. Make sure you check that out. I would say that's the one downside to this type of camera. Not too bad once you get used to it & it might not bother you.

[Hagar]

[quote]Just checked another review, and I think I see now what Doug's complaining

[beaky]

Another review indicates the EVF is pretty accurate in terms of color and percentage of captured image (near 100%; your S5000 got lower marks from the same reviewer ).
I did power up the floor model and peek through the EVF, but wasn't looking for "lag". Otherwise, it looked pretty darn close to the LCD image. Not sure about the "freeze" thing; I'll be sure to play with it some more before I plunk down my hard-earned clams.

[beaky]

Of course, the ideal is a proper DSLR but I can't afford that.

True, true... I still get goosebumps thinking about my torrid but brief affair with that high-priced Canon DSLR at Airventur '03! Alas, she was out of my league...

[Craig.]

As Ken said recently and i said a while back. Its not the camera but the Lense with DSLR's aswell as a little bit the photographer to.

[Hagar]

Another review indicates the EVF is pretty accurate in terms of color and percentage of captured image (near 100%; your S5000 got lower marks from the same reviewer ).
I did power up the floor model and peek through the EVF, but wasn't looking for "lag". Otherwise, it looked pretty darn close to the LCD image. Not sure about the "freeze" thing; I'll be sure to play with it some more before I plunk down my hard-earned clams.

LOL That's the problem with this stuff. You settle for something & as soon as you walk out of the shop someone comes up with something better. ::)

That lag can be a darned nuisance but I learned to live with it. Still catches me out at times & I have plenty of photos of a clear sky or otherwise a beautiful closeup of my feet. Another problem if you're used to a proper zoom lens is presetting the zoom before you take the shot. I've got plenty of beautiful close-ups of part of the plane or a little speck in the distance.

All part of the fun. If you can't take a joke forget it.

[Fozzer]

Before I buy anything, I pop into the newsagents shop and look for magazines relating to the products I am interested in...together with their recommendations/ best buy, etc...!

For digital cameras, over here we have the "What Digital Camera?" publication....as an example.
Lists all the cameras, prices, specifications, star points, recommendations, comparisons, etc...
They always make a good bed-time read before taking the plunge*...!

Paul.

* ...into camera purchase...of course... ... ...!!

[beaky]

Thanx  to you both, chums...

Foz: I've been doing a bit of research for a while (my preffered reading room is the "throne"), and my study had led me to the sad realization that for less than $300, I'd have to settle for 4x optical zoom and 3MPx maximum... if I seem impulsive about this one, it's because it's a stone bargain!!
Probably went down in price because it's already obsolete...

BTW, Foz; who's the cute bird in that new sig picture of yours? Like the paint job... been flying lately?

And to both of you gents: you do realize, of course, that by helping me, you will be partially liable for the impending avalanche of digital photos posted here by yours truly.... !!!
If I make my purchase before Sunday, there could be a crop of pix from ORA, weather permitting...

[Hagar]

I dug out a couple of my rejects (plenty to choose from there) to demonstrate the problem with that darned viewfinder freeze & shutter lag combined. Some of my almost best shots. What is it about me & Spitfires?




The air gets a tad blue around me at times.

I look forward to the deluge.