Hi everyone.

I need a new camera. Quick. I need something that can zoom onto something from about 10-12 feet away. Something that shows detail. Something for someone such as myself with limited patience and very easy to use. An artist has agreed to do a portrait of my cat, but he needs a close up shot of her face with great detail. The camera I have now I need to be several inches away for detail.

What does the collective recommend?

Thanks in advance everyone.

 

Were you looking to borrow/rent a camera (from a store or friend) Terry, or are you looking to purchase one?

I'll let the experts answer your question, but the above question sprung to mind.

 

what's the budget? I'm thinking just about any late model p&s digital camera can do what you're asking. Is the camera you have now, kinda old?

 

Actually, that's a good idea. Judging by the age of my current camera, however, it may be time to upgrade anyway.

Thanks again for the suggestion.

 

I have an seven year old 3.2 Olympus Stylus 300. It's been a great camera, but I guess it's now limited in it's functionality.

Do the new p&s cameras have zoom lenses? Cameras are one of those things that I see everywhere, but I've never really looked at them closely.

I don't know, what's a reasonable amount to spend? Can I get something decent for a few hundred dollars?

 

for what you're asking? You can get something for under $200. And yes, they ALL zoom. I can tell you this tho... chances are, you'll have to buy a lot more memory (SD card). I don't even think you can find anything under 10 mega pixels these days.


just a random search on Costco.com, they have something starting @$99.99 and it comes with a 4gb sd card (and will also do 720p HD video). It's nothing fancy, but it'll do what you need.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...-Cat83&topnav=

 

Thanks for the link, I'll definitely check it out. My current camera has a 3X zoom lens. The one in the link above has a 5X zoom. Will 5X zoom suffice to get a close up from about 10-12 feet away? Or should I get something with a higher zoom lens.

 

how about a dslr?

 

it should be enough, but if you're concerned that it might not be, for a little more, you can go something like this: http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...87151*&topnav=
it's 7x optical zoom, and should do it... It also does 720p HD video and has a pretty cool in-camera "Sweep Panorama Mode"...

from there, it's just a matter of how much you want to spend on a p&s. There's the Luxix with 16x optical zoom, with 1080i HD video @60fps... but it's more than double the price. http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...87151*&topnav=

There are some in between. Some p&s, call "superzooms" or "megazooms" have a HUGE optical zoom like this @ 26x! : http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...87151*&topnav= But they are bulky and are NOT pocket friendly. I always say... if you're gonna go megazoom, you might as well just go dSLR

There are two ways to look at this Terry, if you're not really into photography, and just need something to get by... then don't spend too much... but just have something decent to have when you need it.

OR

since you don't seem to upgrade very often... then get something good... and be done with it for another 7 years


...and btw, you don't necessarily need to buy from Costco... I just happened to randomly pull them up. But the one thing cool about Costco is, you have 90 days to return if you're not happy with the purchase (for ANY reason). And it goes with the online stuff too. If, suppose you buy online... you can return it AT any Costco.

 

I'm definitely the type that doesn't like to buy the same type of anything every couple of years. I'd rather get something good and have it serve me for an extended period.

The Panasonic that you listed seems quite good and well received. When you mention an SD card, are you referring to the card that allows you to store more photographs?

 

yes, it comes with a 4gb... but a 4gb sd card these days aren't really that expensive anyways.

 

before you make up your mind, You might want to just browse through these reviews too

the Canon Powershots are well liked

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/

 

i saw this and thought it was a good deal.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-30179403-L01A

 

you want a shot showing "great detail" of a cat's face. cats are very detailed creatures. and, you are OK with a few hundred dollars.

I'm looking at some cameras now, checking sample photos, specs, etc. will be back after I get more info.

 

Nikon L120 seems nice, good price too. check the image gallery, there are a couple of cat photos in there.
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-COOLPIX-...cmu_pg__header

if you are OK with spending more than that, I would suggest Canon G12, it has Image Stabilization and thats a nice touch.
http://www.adorama.com/ICAG12.html

There are many cameras out there that would fit your needs, it would be good to go to a store and see all the options for yourself, first-hand, to see how they look and feel to you. Image quality is important but the camera should also be comfortable to hold and use.

 

Check out the detail... its pretty good.

 

UA7_chick, you're a cat?

 

I just may be!

 

what camera is that cat pic with?

 

Canon Rebel T1i. Best Buy had a really good package deal. Worth it.

 

you got it recently? how much?

 

its a little expensive for my taste. I got it in january. But i got two lenses, the camera, a camera book bag thing cuz I don't like camera fanny pack lookin things, a wifi memory card, a three year service plan... $1100.

 

Im guessing thats more than the OP wants to spend but we will see.

 

yea... it was expensive... but worth it. I mean, it takes great pics. My cat looks ugly as hell in that picture too but the detail is nice.

 

Thanks for the recommendations srika! I'll check them out.

Are you familiar with the Canon SX line specifically the 220 or 230? They seem like a pretty good camera.

 

Awwwwww........

He's pretty cute. I love the way his front feet curl around.

 

Terry,

As other have said, once you pick one or two out from reading online, see if you can put them in your hands at Best Buy or some other store. My dad loves point and shoot cameras, but always complains about how some of them feel like a bar of wet soap in his hands. Granted, he is old, and sometimes we just give him a bar of wet soap to take pictures with, but none the less, it's good to see how the thing feels in your hand.

 

I've tried the SX series and I like them. Good image quality too. They get my seal of approval.

actually I was originally going to recommend the 230 to you but after writing my post I felt I had suggested too many cameras so I trimmed that one off.

 

Thanks Terry... When he lays like that I tell him he's got his "chicken wings" on. LOL

 

Thanks for the input everyone. Much appreciated. I went with a Canon SX210. Seems like a decent camera, and is probably a much better camera than I am as a photographer.

 

nice Terry! any questions you have, please ask us!

 

Nice pic...
IMO, cannont go wrong with Canon.
I just picked up a DSLR from Deltaboxxx on here for a great deal. Older model, but simple enough for someone starting off.

Let us see how the pictures come out once you take them.

About the front paws...my younger dog "Anisette", I've gotten her used to me teasing her and putting my finger between her toes so she'll hop around and eventually drop down and hide her paws like that...that, along with the "froggy" when she drops her rear paws back...are my absolute favorite. I'd be nothing without those girls to come home to after the craziness of life all day.