Help! Which camera?

[Sparkle]

I have been looking at different cameras for a few months now and thought I had come up with something that would suite me - the Olympus C60. However, I have just found out that the "start-up time" is aprox 7secs, which is WAY too long for me!
So, can anyone recommend a similar camera that doesn't have such a slow start-up? I would like at least 4 megapixels, 3x optical zoom, quite small and compact and with an option to have different exposure times. My budget is between £200 - £300.
I should just add that I don't know very much about cameras and am still very much feeling my way around!
Cheers
S
xx

[Digideb]

I just bought an Olympus C-60 & after about a week of use, I'm loving it! When I read this, I thought that start up time seemed a bit long. I don't know how you got the info. on the slow time, but I just turned my camera on & it was ready to go in 2 secs.
I have read the larger film cards may cause the camera to run slower. I'm using a 256MB card now. At 175 exposures, it'll take me awhile to fill it up. I'm just a "newbie" with cameras,also.

[Geoff Chandler]

The Minolta G400 is 4P and extreemly fast starting up. Not a bad image either - though as with a lot of them it seems a bit too red! The Fuji E550/ F810 are fast start up as well.
But I'd probably still get the Oly!

Geoff

[gary_hendricks]

I have been looking at different cameras for a few months now and thought I had come up with something that would suite me - the Olympus C60. However, I have just found out that the "start-up time" is aprox 7secs, which is WAY too long for me!
So, can anyone recommend a similar camera that doesn't have such a slow start-up? I would like at least 4 megapixels, 3x optical zoom, quite small and compact and with an option to have different exposure times. My budget is between £200 - £300.
I should just add that I don't know very much about cameras and am still very much feeling my way around!
Cheers
S
xx

If you need a good camera, I recommend the Sony DSC-W1. The reasons:
1) It has a huge LCD screen.
2) It has 5 megapixels, 3x optical zoom, is small and compact (which meets your criteria)
3) It can take optional lens fittings.

The start up time is certainly way less than 7 secs too.

[Digideb]

I chose the Olympus C-60 over the Sony W-1 because of user complaints I read about the Sony having poor picture quality. Now, I see there's a member on this forum wanting to return his Sony for the same reason. (It's just a few threads down from this one.)
So, I'm feeling even more confident about my choice. By the way, the Oly has 3x optical zoom & is small & compact, like the Sony,plus it has 6 MP. The LCD isn't exactly "huge" but certainly adequate.
As a "newbie", I don't expect to bother with extra lenses,etc. for quite some time. If I do, it seems like I might as well upgrade an SLR- type camera.

[gary_hendricks]

I chose the Olympus C-60 over the Sony W-1 because of user complaints I read about the Sony having poor picture quality. Now, I see there's a member on this forum wanting to return his Sony for the same reason. (It's just a few threads down from this one.)
So, I'm feeling even more confident about my choice. By the way, the Oly has 3x optical zoom & is small & compact, like the Sony,plus it has 6 MP. The LCD isn't exactly "huge" but certainly adequate.
As a "newbie", I don't expect to bother with extra lenses,etc. for quite some time. If I do, it seems like I might as well upgrade an SLR- type camera.


Hey the 'Oly' C-60 is a good camera too. I guess if you're just starting out, then a basic camera will be ok. When you're ready to move to SLRs, then your headache about which model to buy will really begin ... :)

[Digideb]

Hey the 'Oly' C-60 is a good camera too. I guess if you're just starting out, then a basic camera will be ok. When you're ready to move to SLRs, then your headache about which model to buy will really begin ... :)
My 1st digicam was an Oly D-380. My little C-60 has been a great little upgrade & plenty of camera for a newbie like myself ("sparkle" sounds new,too)
As far as "moving to an SLR", I'm really hoping to avoid the "keep up with the Jones'es" camera buying obsession that seems very common in this hobby. I couldn't imagine hauling a larger, more delicate camera through the forest where some of my favorite subjects reside. Aside from quality images, it's the handy compactness of digicams that most appeals to me.
Fortunately, I discovered Ken Rockwell's site & I would recommend it highly to all newbies, like me. It's very encouraging to learn you don't need to spend several thousand $ to take pix as nice or better than the "pros". The only folks who disagree seem to be those who've already spent tons of money on cameras,etc. (which is common human nature)
Even my "basic, beginner's" model D-360 took a pic. good enough to be used on the front page of my local newspaper. My new, "fancy" little C-60 takes noticably nicer pix that some feel are "suitable for framing" so I'm quite excited about this whole "picture-making thing". :D