The time when you had to give your irreplaceable party pictures to some guy at the pharmacy who might ruin the best shot has come to an end. The digital age of photography is upon us. We’ve weeded out the wannabes, to make sure your investment – which will still be sizable in this market – is worth that empty feeling in your wallet. All these cameras have a minimum resolution of 3 million pixels, capable of supplying picture perfect shots.
Canon EOS D30
Quite simply put, Canon’s newest digital is head and shoulders above the rest, but you’ll have to pay for the quality. Both the smallest and lightest of the 3 million pixel digitals, the list of the EOS D30’s features reads like the components of a futuristic spy plane.
* 36-bit RBG digital capture.
* Supports Type I and II CompactFlash memory.
* Compatable with EF lenses and EX-series Speedlites.
* Comes with Adobe Photoshop, allowing users to tweak pictures to any size or shape.
What does all this all mean? It means you’re getting the highest quality and most advanced system available in digital cameras.
Rating: * * * *
List Price: $3,499
Fuji FinePix 4700 Zoom
Taking a step back in time, the Fuji FinePix reminds many photo-hounds of the old-fashioned cameras of yesteryear.
Designed in a vertical fashion (holding the camera upright is a bit of a task) with an aluminum alloy finish, this digital may look clunky, but has the punch inside to compete with the heavy hitters of the digital age. Featuring a hefty 4.3 million pixel resolution, 3x zoom technology and “next-generation CCD,” the Fuji is worth considering.
Rating: * * *
List Price: $999.95
Olympus C-3030 Zoom
Olympus provides the look of a point-and-shoot camera, while taking advantage of all the technology available. Amenities include a 6-mode built-in flash, 3x zoom capability and 3.34 million pixels. While these can be matched by many cameras in the market, the Olympus boasts extras that distinguish it from the field.
An ergonomic grip, wide-view screen, long life lithium batteries and a Quicktime recording mode, which comes complete with sound, rounds out an already ample package.
Rating: * * * 1/2
List Price: $999
Yes, a lot of the photography world’s going digital, but that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck if you’re an old school photog who prefers to drive the camera instead of the camera driving you.
Below you’ll find five old-fashioned film cameras – rated on a four-star system – driving the market against the digital age.
Nikon N-65 (SLR)
For true old-schoolers only, this Nikon looks like it’s straight out of the ’70s, but is impressively light compared to the cameras made in that decade. Other perks – besides looking like you’ve been snapping shots for over 20 years – include five pre-programmed shooting modes, a High Eyepoint View Window so you don’t bang your chin into the back of the camera, and a listing of operation information given through an exterior LCD display.
Welcome back to the future, with a price tag that rolls back the clock as well.
Rating: * * * 1/2
List Price: $360
Canon EOS Rebel 2000 (SLR)
From the camera that brought you tennis champ Andre Agassi with and without hair, comes their latest single-lens reflex entry. More lightweight than previous Canons like the Rebel G, this version is durable enough to take anywhere from mountain trails to the sidelines of sporting events.
New amenities include a 7-point auto-focus dial, 35-zone AE metering and 11 different shot-modes. This wide range of modes allow the snapper to get quality pictures of both grand landscapes and single feature portraits.
Rating: * * 1/2
List Price: $429
Minolta Vectis 25
(Point and Shoot)
Once upon a time, point and shoot cameras would be solely summer items – use ’em for a couple of months and trash ’em.
Not any more.
The Vectis 25 was designed by Minolta for users in any weather – snow, sleet, hail or any other weather condition inscribed on the Farley Post Office.
It’s splash-proof (usable in rain and light snow), mistake-proof (drop-in loading guarantees no frying of your film) and “expose-proof” (contains a safety lock that disallows accidental opening of the film chamber.) Small enough to fit in your pocket, this silver-colored camera has big benefits for such a small item, but a big price tag for a point and shoot as well.
Rating: * *
List Price: $402
Canon ELPH LT 260
(Point and Shoot)
Small, sleek and stylish, the only thing difficult about this point and shoot is the pronunciation of its name.
This Canon measures a mere 1.2 inches in width, and easily fits into the tightest of jeans pockets.
Features include a 2X Advanced Photo System, 4 shot-modes including a red-eye reduction option, and three print-size availability – perfect for both panoramic shots as well as portraits.
Rating: * * *
List Price: $200