Easy,quick camera

[ljcooper]

I am looking to buy a digital camera for the first time. The only real reasons I want a digital camera is because I'm tired of constantly dropping off and picking up film and paying for terrible pictures. I don't need ANYTHING fancy. I would probably rarely, if ever, use manual controls. I just want a camera that will consistenly take excellent pictures!

I went to the store to try out a bunch of different cameras and it seems like most cameras take so long from the time you press the button until it actually takes the picture. Why is that? Is there a digital camera out there that doesn't do that or that does that the least?

Please make reccommendations! I need a quick, easy camera that takes excellent pictures! I do crop and enlarge my pictures a lot so I was looking in the 5 megapixel range. Most of my picture-taking is of my family, especially my kids, so I need a camera mainly just for that. Picture quality is very important.
I am willing to spend up to around $350 (give or take) on the camera itself with the understanding that extras such as memory and batteries will cost me more. Any suggestions, please!

[Newbie]

The Sony W1 seems like a good candidate for you. Its 5mp, has a few manual controls, but not much, so just enough for you ?
Sony cameras are usually pretty fast to focus and do it well in low light. The picture quality is interesting and it has a nice movie mode if you want to use it.

It has a large LCD screen which is rather convenient. Just so you can see the results of pictures taken with that camera, I suggest you go there http://www.pbase.com/cameras and find the camera you are willing to buy to see the kind of shots it can make.

[ljcooper]

The Sony W1 seems like a good candidate for you. Its 5mp, has a few manual controls, but not much, so just enough for you ?
Sony cameras are usually pretty fast to focus and do it well in low light. The picture quality is interesting and it has a nice movie mode if you want to use it.

It has a large LCD screen which is rather convenient. Just so you can see the results of pictures taken with that camera, I suggest you go there http://www.pbase.com/cameras and find the camera you are willing to buy to see the kind of shots it can make.

What do you mean by picture quality being "interesting"?

[Newbie]

Its interesting meaning that its likely that it will please you. Generally the problems I hear about that camera is that Sony uses too much Noise Reduction and that tends to make the images a little too soft, but its not really noticeable for me, so I suggest you try to watch for it and if you can't find it, just forget about it. Its possible to see it, but its really not easy at all...

[ljcooper]

Its interesting meaning that its likely that it will please you. Generally the problems I hear about that camera is that Sony uses too much Noise Reduction and that tends to make the images a little too soft, but its not really noticeable for me, so I suggest you try to watch for it and if you can't find it, just forget about it. Its possible to see it, but its really not easy at all...


I am really an idiot when it comes to cameras. I'm not quite sure what noise is. How does that affect picture quality? I like when pictures look crisp and vivid. Will I be able to get that from the Sony? Are there any other cameras I should also look at and compare the Sony to that will also fit all of my criteria for a camera? Thanks a lot for your responses.

[Newbie]

There's no need to call you an idiot... A few months ago I had no clue what noise was, didn't knew what ISO did, nor what aperture did or what shutter speed did... You are here to learn and that is great!

Noise will truly affect picture quality and that is why it is recommended to keep the ISO as low as possible since there is less noise at lower ISO.

Here is an example of noise for the W1 at ISO 400: http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/sony/dsc_w1-review/nightshot400.jpg

As you can see its pretty bad, and that is why you try to never use that mode unless you have no other choice, here is an example for the W1 at ISO 100: http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/sony/dsc_w1-review/nightshot.jpg

Those 2 pictures were taken at a few minutes interval...

As for comparison, well there are always the A95 or S60 which are great cameras with many manual features that's why I did not suggested them... I personally bought myself the A95 and am very pleased with it and during my research I looked at both the W1 and S60. The S60 offers slightly better image quality, but its hardly noticeable. Another thing is the colors, Sony and Canon don't give the exact same colors, some people prefer Sony colors, some others prefer Canon colors... Anyway, with pbase, you can compare the A95 and W1... good luck in noticing the excessive noise reduction, its very very hard to see.

here is something to give you an idea of both the colors and the noise reduction...
W1: http://www.photo-forums.com/WebX?233@147.HRakbdhxtiG.4@.ee99a2d/14!enclosure=.ee99c6d
A95: http://www.photo-forums.com/WebX?233@147.HRakbdhxtiG.4@.ee99a2d/27!enclosure=.ee9a054

Keep in mind that the picture is of the same thing at a totally different time of the day... I don't know if the settings are identical for both pictures...

[ljcooper]

Will the noise reduction on the Sony be noticeable if I crop and then enlarge a picture? I looked at sample photos of the W1 and a95 and I might like the a95 pictures a little bit better. The problem with the sample photos is that it doesn't tell you if they were taken in the fully automatic mode (which is what I mainly care about) or if they were manually adjusted. Is the Canon really good in auto?
One of the reviews that I read on the W1 said that there were "white balance" problems when taken indoors with incandescent lighting, which is probably where I will be taking most of the pitctures that I take. However, I read a thread by someone who has the a95 and seems to be using it for the same purpose that I plan to (pics of the kids) and said that all of the pictures in auto were looking washed out, like there was a floodlight on the person's face. Almost all of my picture-taking is of my kids, and mainly indoors. The a95 and w1 pretty much cost the same for the camera, and price is not my main concern. I just want the best auto pictures! (This is getting more and more confusing!)

[Newbie]

I am unsure of the problems of the W1 with incadescent light but with auto white balance, the A95 also has some problems as it can be seen here: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canona95/page5.asp

The advantage with the A95 is that you can manually set the white balance.

Also, I don't advise to take pictures in Auto mode... At least go into P or Program mode, what that mode does is virtually the same as auto mode, but you can choose the ISO that you desire instead than relying on the camera to boost the ISO.

Also, for information about the W1, I suggest you go to these boards : http://www.photo-forums.com/WebX?14@147.HRakbdhxtiG.3@.ee99a2d/13

There is many pictures which will enable u to know what the camera can do. As for the noise reduction question, I doubt it would show up more than any other cameras if u edit, crop, save.... Its very minimal IMHO... And for the 2 boat pictures I showed you, I believe there was sun for the shot with the W1 and it was cloudy for the A95.

[natsuki]

How about Canon Ixus i5 and Casio Exilim Ex-Z55? I read reviews from many websites and I'm deciding between these 2 models. Both are quick, easy and style as ultra-slim camera at 5mp. btw, I saw a special offer for Casio qv-r61 and picked it to my comparing list also but it's 6mp.

:)

[speaklightly]

I honestly believe that you would be better served by something that is very straight forward and convention. Keep in mind there are some good very small digital cameras out there. However, a good number of them are "compromise" digital cameras.

The suggestions of a Sony W-1, a Canon A-95, or a Nikon 5200 or 5400 are excellent mainstream digital cameras and the Nikon currently have sizable reabtes on them that are worth investigating.

Sarah Joyce