topic Re: NEED CAMERA RECOMMENDATIONS in Electronics

NEED CAMERA RECOMMENDATIONS

Tinkrbl44 — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 18:04:12 GMT

I've had a Pentax Optio E10 camera for ages and never really mastered the functions. It's always frustrating to use. Well, it's on its last leg and I'm now looking for a new camera ..... something simple, but good.

I'm an Ebay seller and close ups are important on many things.

I don't want a state of the art, high tech camera. I want something easy to use. Am I asking too much?

Any suggestions ..... or recommendations? TIA!

Re: NEED CAMERA RECOMMENDATIONS

Moonchilde — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 18:36:10 GMT

@Tinkrbl44, my very first digital camera was a Pentax Optio, though not the one you have. It took very good pictures when compared to all my later cameras.

Some questions:

Do you care very much about zoom? Most of the inexpensive cameras go up to 5-8X zoom - beyond that, they start to cost more.

Do you plan to print out any of your photos? If you do, even 4x6 or 5x7, the camera should be at least 12MP. I think it would be difficult to find one much below that anyway.

Do you have a max budget in mind?

Most cameras can be as complicated or as simple as you want them to be. You can put a full-featured camera on "Auto" and not have to fiddle with anything.

I've had digital point-and-shoots of just about every brand. Some of the biggest "names" for quality were the ones I thought took the lousiest photos (Sony).

My last three cameras have been Canons. I buy the long zoom variety, which is probably more than you want to spend, but their Powershot ELPH series are great mid-zoom and small (literally pocket-sized) and the base model is $120 on Amazon.

I'd recommend going into a Best Buy if you have one around you and playing with several p&s cameras to see which one you like to hold, etc.

Re: NEED CAMERA RECOMMENDATIONS

Tinkrbl44 — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 01:38:52 GMT

@Moonchilde

Great food for thought ... thank you.

Re: NEED CAMERA RECOMMENDATIONS

violann — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 09:18:17 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
I've had a Pentax Optio E10 camera for ages and never really mastered the functions. It's always frustrating to use. Well, it's on its last leg and I'm now looking for a new camera ..... something simple, but good.

I'm an Ebay seller and close ups are important on many things.

I don't want a state of the art, high tech camera. I want something easy to use. Am I asking too much?

Any suggestions ..... or recommendations? TIA!

Hi @Tinkrbl44- if you have any enthusiasm for iPhones, the cameras in them are super, and since the phones are pretty easy to use, you have all kinds of other good stuff in a pocket sized gizmo.

I've taken some very satisfying shots with mine. Good luck with your search. I love photography!

Re: NEED CAMERA RECOMMENDATIONS

Moonchilde — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 21:18:03 GMT

@violann wrote:
@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
I've had a Pentax Optio E10 camera for ages and never really mastered the functions. It's always frustrating to use. Well, it's on its last leg and I'm now looking for a new camera ..... something simple, but good.

I'm an Ebay seller and close ups are important on many things.

I don't want a state of the art, high tech camera. I want something easy to use. Am I asking too much?

Any suggestions ..... or recommendations? TIA!
Hi @Tinkrbl44- if you have any enthusiasm for iPhones, the cameras in them are super, and since the phones are pretty easy to use, you have all kinds of other good stuff in a pocket sized gizmo.
I've taken some very satisfying shots with mine. Good luck with your search. I love photography!

iPhone cameras are good - I still use mine often. But there are two things to think about - the most expensive current iPhone has a 2X zoom; that's nothing. You can't take a good, as in printable-good, closer-in photo with that. The other things to at least consider re having an iPhone for camera use is cost (the iPhones with the best cameras are the most expensive, and the next iPhone is predicted to cost $1000), and the fact that starting with iPhone 6, 6S, 7 and 7S, a sizable number of the phones are having dropped calls and weak signals - more on some networks than others, worse in the country than in the city.

I love my 6S and take pictures with it a lot - BUT - where I have moved to, it's literally useless as a PHONE. I (and Verizon) have tried everything and ALL my calls drop at home (where I need it the most). So, my next phone, when I can afford it, will not be an iPhone, much as I have liked mine (5S and 6S). Just things to think about, IF you were contemplating using an iPhone as your sole camera.

Re: NEED CAMERA RECOMMENDATIONS

Elbelle — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 02:24:33 GMT

Add my vote for the Canon Elph series.

Re: NEED CAMERA RECOMMENDATIONS

Ainhisg — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 14:00:07 GMT

If you have a local camera shop, go there and tell them what you're wanting/needing. We have a chain store here called Bedford's. My point and shoot was on its last legs. I have a blog and take pics for it but didn't want a bridge camera or anything too difficult to figure out or anything too big or blocky to hold. The salesperson was very helpful and started showing me the least expensive cameras first. Yes, you read that right. He determined that I probably just wanted another point and shoot but for it to be feature-loaded. I ultimate bought this one:

Sony DSCHX80/B High Zoom Point & Shoot Camera

You can type this in the search bar on Amazon and read about it. It has a viewfinder, a screen that moves so you can take selfies or photos of things that are sitting low on the ground without having to actually get onto the ground to take the photo. It has a 30x zoom.

Bedford's offered a three-year extended warranty for $50. It included all sorts of freebies including a beginning camera class, which would normally cost $25. They will also check and clean your camera for the first three years. I took the class, and it was worth my time. The warranty package also included discounts on future classes.

In all, I was very satisfied with the whole experience and recommend getting advice from a professional business vs. Best Buy or somewhere like that. You may pay a little more, but you will get what you need and want.

Re: NEED CAMERA RECOMMENDATIONS

Tinkrbl44 — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 17:17:04 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
@violann wrote:
@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
I've had a Pentax Optio E10 camera for ages and never really mastered the functions. It's always frustrating to use. Well, it's on its last leg and I'm now looking for a new camera ..... something simple, but good.

I'm an Ebay seller and close ups are important on many things.

I don't want a state of the art, high tech camera. I want something easy to use. Am I asking too much?

Any suggestions ..... or recommendations? TIA!
Hi @Tinkrbl44- if you have any enthusiasm for iPhones, the cameras in them are super, and since the phones are pretty easy to use, you have all kinds of other good stuff in a pocket sized gizmo.
I've taken some very satisfying shots with mine. Good luck with your search. I love photography!

iPhone cameras are good - I still use mine often. But there are two things to think about - the most expensive current iPhone has a 2X zoom; that's nothing. You can't take a good, as in printable-good, closer-in photo with that. The other things to at least consider re having an iPhone for camera use is cost (the iPhones with the best cameras are the most expensive, and the next iPhone is predicted to cost $1000), and the fact that starting with iPhone 6, 6S, 7 and 7S, a sizable number of the phones are having dropped calls and weak signals - more on some networks than others, worse in the country than in the city.

I love my 6S and take pictures with it a lot - BUT - where I have moved to, it's literally useless as a PHONE. I (and Verizon) have tried everything and ALL my calls drop at home (where I need it the most). So, my next phone, when I can afford it, will not be an iPhone, much as I have liked mine (5S and 6S). Just things to think about, IF you were contemplating using an iPhone as your sole camera.

@Moonchilde

Wow, thanks for the insights. You're obviously very knowledgeable!

Since I don't have (or want) a smart phone, no need to go down that rabbit hole.

I'm curious, though ..... how were you able to determine the problem was actually the phone, and not Verizon?

Re: NEED CAMERA RECOMMENDATIONS

Tinkrbl44 — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 17:18:15 GMT

@Ainhisg

Great suggestion .... thanks!

Re: NEED CAMERA RECOMMENDATIONS

tbearski — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 18:05:15 GMT

I actually bought a Galaxy S7 Edge for my camera needs! I wanted a new camera but didn't feel like forking out $3-500 for a new one! So I sat down and figured out what I wanted! One of my biggest problems was never having it when I needed it! I have a handicapped daughter and loved the burst features on a camera and I can get 2 or 3 pictures of her looking at me out of 60 or so I decided on the S7 and love the convenience of always having it with me! When I said goodbye to Verizon and bought a un-smartphone I was gonna sell my S7 BUT I forgot about the camera feature and now whenever I go somewhere I take my free dataless S7 and my cheap-o phone. Pain in the butt sometimes but no biggy! So look at your options and decide for yourself! I also use Google Photo's so my pics are easy to crop, print and share and most important store! Just some info to share with ya! Good luck in you choice!

Re: NEED CAMERA RECOMMENDATIONS

Moonchilde — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 18:54:12 GMT

@Tinkrbl44, I live now (didn't when I bought the phone) in almost a dead zone for both cell signal and wifi. It's where our specific house sits, geographically. In addition, the whole area of CA's Central Coast doesn't have enough cell towers, period, from any carrier. None of them want to spend the $$ on more sparsely populated areas. Plus, I think people don't want towers on their property :-(

Still - my niece has an iPhone 5S and she both makes and receives calls at home 90% of the time. She has drops, but not every call, all the time. With my 6S (which I love, sadly) literally every incoming call drops at the house. I cannot get a call! I have to tell people trying to reach me to text me or leave a voicemail!

I started doing some online reading, because I knew I'd heard that iPhone 7's were having issues with Verizon (the ONLY carrier that has halfway decent service here). The more I read, the more I found out that this issue started with the 6's, has been an issue for many, and across ALL carriers, and that years later, Apple has never said a word about it or acknowledged there is a problem.

It's believed to be an internal antenna issue on some phones, or something else (?) with others. I have been given a new SIM card and that didn't help. My phone is 14 months old and bought in LA; I highly doubt I have any recourse at this late date for a new phone :-(

I've never expected great reception at the house, but since my niece's 5S functions at least acceptably, there has to be something wrong with my newer, theoretically better phone (as there is with many other 6 and 7 iPhones). And at this point, neither Verizon nor Apple will be inclined to do diddly, especially when Apple doesn't even acknowledge there's an issue.

I "got by" in the city, and anyone who lives in a large urban area would too, but it starts to stand out like a sore thumb in areas with few towers and sparcer coverage.

Re: NEED CAMERA RECOMMENDATIONS

Tinkrbl44 — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 22:51:06 GMT

@Moonchilde

Interesting .... I bet a LOT of people in your area have land lines.

Re: NEED CAMERA RECOMMENDATIONS

Moonchilde — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 23:03:59 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
@Moonchilde

Interesting .... I bet a LOT of people in your area have land lines.

Probably so, if they're smart. Our "landline" is VoIP, and I think it has kwap sound quality compared to a true land line. But I'm not paying that bill, so.... ;-(

Re: NEED CAMERA RECOMMENDATIONS

jackthebear — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 23:09:00 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
@violann wrote:
@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
I've had a Pentax Optio E10 camera for ages and never really mastered the functions. It's always frustrating to use. Well, it's on its last leg and I'm now looking for a new camera ..... something simple, but good.

I'm an Ebay seller and close ups are important on many things.

I don't want a state of the art, high tech camera. I want something easy to use. Am I asking too much?

Any suggestions ..... or recommendations? TIA!
Hi @Tinkrbl44- if you have any enthusiasm for iPhones, the cameras in them are super, and since the phones are pretty easy to use, you have all kinds of other good stuff in a pocket sized gizmo.
I've taken some very satisfying shots with mine. Good luck with your search. I love photography!

iPhone cameras are good - I still use mine often. But there are two things to think about - the most expensive current iPhone has a 2X zoom; that's nothing. You can't take a good, as in printable-good, closer-in photo with that. The other things to at least consider re having an iPhone for camera use is cost (the iPhones with the best cameras are the most expensive, and the next iPhone is predicted to cost $1000), and the fact that starting with iPhone 6, 6S, 7 and 7S, a sizable number of the phones are having dropped calls and weak signals - more on some networks than others, worse in the country than in the city.

I love my 6S and take pictures with it a lot - BUT - where I have moved to, it's literally useless as a PHONE. I (and Verizon) have tried everything and ALL my calls drop at home (where I need it the most). So, my next phone, when I can afford it, will not be an iPhone, much as I have liked mine (5S and 6S). Just things to think about, IF you were contemplating using an iPhone as your sole camera.

we have always had lousy cell phone reception in the house, since we had cellphones, IMO I don't think it's the phone it's more the house and it's configuration. in our case anyway.

we have a land line that we use as well.

Re: NEED CAMERA RECOMMENDATIONS

Moonchilde — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 23:33:39 GMT

@jackthebear wrote:
@Moonchilde wrote:
@violann wrote:
@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
I've had a Pentax Optio E10 camera for ages and never really mastered the functions. It's always frustrating to use. Well, it's on its last leg and I'm now looking for a new camera ..... something simple, but good.

I'm an Ebay seller and close ups are important on many things.

I don't want a state of the art, high tech camera. I want something easy to use. Am I asking too much?

Any suggestions ..... or recommendations? TIA!
Hi @Tinkrbl44- if you have any enthusiasm for iPhones, the cameras in them are super, and since the phones are pretty easy to use, you have all kinds of other good stuff in a pocket sized gizmo.
I've taken some very satisfying shots with mine. Good luck with your search. I love photography!

iPhone cameras are good - I still use mine often. But there are two things to think about - the most expensive current iPhone has a 2X zoom; that's nothing. You can't take a good, as in printable-good, closer-in photo with that. The other things to at least consider re having an iPhone for camera use is cost (the iPhones with the best cameras are the most expensive, and the next iPhone is predicted to cost $1000), and the fact that starting with iPhone 6, 6S, 7 and 7S, a sizable number of the phones are having dropped calls and weak signals - more on some networks than others, worse in the country than in the city.

I love my 6S and take pictures with it a lot - BUT - where I have moved to, it's literally useless as a PHONE. I (and Verizon) have tried everything and ALL my calls drop at home (where I need it the most). So, my next phone, when I can afford it, will not be an iPhone, much as I have liked mine (5S and 6S). Just things to think about, IF you were contemplating using an iPhone as your sole camera.
we have always had lousy cell phone reception in the house, since we had cellphones, IMO I don't think it's the phone it's more the house and it's configuration. in our case anyway.
we have a land line that we use as well.

If it's ONLY "the house", then how to you explain that an older phone from the same company (Apple) functions adequately anywhere inside the house and rarely drops calls, while my "newer, improved" model (also from Apple) pretty much doesn't function at all for voice?