Steve'sDigicams

Morag2 · Dec 25, 2006, 10:46 PM

Hey all, recently I have had my motivation for photography resurrected by somebody else with an interest in it, and so I went out today for the first time in months to shoot a few pictures. I would like to purchase a new compact camera to compliment my current prosumer model (Kodak P850).

Awhile ago I was looking for the best ultra-compact around and just couldn't find anything that I wanted. So now I am less worried about size and would just like a good consumer camera. Here is what I've looking for.

1)ISO performance would be nice, usuable ISO 800 at least.

2)Something suitable for taking pictures inside a school, so that ISO would come in handy, I could use flash I guess, but it would be awesome if I didn't have to.

3)Something using SD cards would be preferred as I have a few of those lying around, and I also like AA batteries as opposed to Lithium cells.

4)Zoom, I would like 4x (140mm) or better if possible.

Thats basically it, the catch is that I want a really cheap camera seeing as it is a second camera. About $150 would be nice ($100 would be wonderful, but I can't see that happening)

This would mainly be a backup camera, or one to always have in my car. (My Kodak P850 is too bulky for everyday use)

mongrelchild · Dec 26, 2006, 1:17 AM

Some older casios are pretty good for a nice price, but hisgh iso and low-light performance is generally awful.

Pentax has some very modern cameras for very attractive prices.... Don't know how they do with high iso though.

Fuji was meh. had a z2 that did up to iso1600. Anything above 64 was unusable. Noisy as all hell, probably due to processing.

flippedgazelle · Dec 26, 2006, 9:24 AM

Maybe the Kodak C875? I wound up getting mine 2 weeks ago from Staples for $126 w/free 512mb SD card, after a 12% customer appreciation coupon and a price match.

It's a pretty decent little camera, and fits in my pants pocket.

Jeff at DCResource.com likes it, as does our own mtclimber. I posted a non-flash, ISO 800 sample here: http://www.stevesforums.com/forums/v...mp;forum_id=18

Battery life is not so hot with AA, but seems better since I switched to Kodak's nimh pack a few days ago. I managed to get the Easyshare 3 camera dock - which comes with the nimh rechargeable battery pack - and an extra battery pack from Buy.com for $35/shipped.

flippedgazelle · Dec 26, 2006, 9:41 AM

Here is a low-light hand-held shot, ISO 800, shutter 1/10, resized and a little post-processing:

flippedgazelle · Dec 26, 2006, 9:42 AM

And here is an unadulterated crop from that scene:

Morag2 · Dec 26, 2006, 7:12 PM

I am seriously looking at the C875, I'm a bit turned off by the lack of a viewfinder... but thats something I'll have to deal with on just about any compact right now.

I'll probably just wait for a sale on it, because I don't want to spend a huge amount on a secondary camera when I could just put it towards a new main camera (or perhaps towards an eventually SLR upgrade)

Thanks all.

Dec 26, 2006, 9:41 AM	#4
flippedgazelle Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 930	Here is a low-light hand-held shot, ISO 800, shutter 1/10, resized and a little post-processing: Attached Images

Dec 26, 2006, 9:42 AM	#5
flippedgazelle Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 930	And here is an unadulterated crop from that scene: Attached Images

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Dec 25, 2006, 10:46 PM	#1
Morag2 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 820	Hey all, recently I have had my motivation for photography resurrected by somebody else with an interest in it, and so I went out today for the first time in months to shoot a few pictures. I would like to purchase a new compact camera to compliment my current prosumer model (Kodak P850). Awhile ago I was looking for the best ultra-compact around and just couldn't find anything that I wanted. So now I am less worried about size and would just like a good consumer camera. Here is what I've looking for. 1)ISO performance would be nice, usuable ISO 800 at least. 2)Something suitable for taking pictures inside a school, so that ISO would come in handy, I could use flash I guess, but it would be awesome if I didn't have to. 3)Something using SD cards would be preferred as I have a few of those lying around, and I also like AA batteries as opposed to Lithium cells. 4)Zoom, I would like 4x (140mm) or better if possible. Thats basically it, the catch is that I want a really cheap camera seeing as it is a second camera. About $150 would be nice ($100 would be wonderful, but I can't see that happening) This would mainly be a backup camera, or one to always have in my car. (My Kodak P850 is too bulky for everyday use)

Dec 26, 2006, 1:17 AM	#2
mongrelchild Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 116	Some older casios are pretty good for a nice price, but hisgh iso and low-light performance is generally awful. Pentax has some very modern cameras for very attractive prices.... Don't know how they do with high iso though. Fuji was meh. had a z2 that did up to iso1600. Anything above 64 was unusable. Noisy as all hell, probably due to processing.

Dec 26, 2006, 9:24 AM	#3
flippedgazelle Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 930	Maybe the Kodak C875? I wound up getting mine 2 weeks ago from Staples for $126 w/free 512mb SD card, after a 12% customer appreciation coupon and a price match. It's a pretty decent little camera, and fits in my pants pocket. Jeff at DCResource.com likes it, as does our own mtclimber. I posted a non-flash, ISO 800 sample here: http://www.stevesforums.com/forums/v...mp;forum_id=18 Battery life is not so hot with AA, but seems better since I switched to Kodak's nimh pack a few days ago. I managed to get the Easyshare 3 camera dock - which comes with the nimh rechargeable battery pack - and an extra battery pack from Buy.com for $35/shipped.

Dec 26, 2006, 7:12 PM	#6
Morag2 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 820	I am seriously looking at the C875, I'm a bit turned off by the lack of a viewfinder... but thats something I'll have to deal with on just about any compact right now. I'll probably just wait for a sale on it, because I don't want to spend a huge amount on a secondary camera when I could just put it towards a new main camera (or perhaps towards an eventually SLR upgrade) Thanks all.