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Question

Being forced into digital camera - help!

Feb 10, 2012 8:05AM PST

After having 4 of the same film camera, which produced colors that pop, true film quality that enlarged to 8x10 perfectly, I am now having to make a difficult change.
My requirements: colors that pop, film quality images/pictures, sharp in 8x10, possibly panoramic capability, and a video.

I do a lot of hiking. My pictures are very important to me. What I have been getting are so great that I sell them in 8x10 and get many compliments.

Here is the problem - finances. I need to find a used one, no more than $50. Is there such a thing that someone can recommend?

Also, I was told that, inside a circle on an SD card is a number. If the number is lower than 10, the reproduction is poor in color and clarity. The person who told me this has tried it & says it's true. Does anyone know anything about this?

Another problem - the terminology is very different from using film, so please keep things in simplest terms. I understand relationships, so if you can relate to film, I will be able to relate to digital.

Many, many thanks. This is the very best site for help & information.

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Sorry.
Feb 10, 2012 8:17AM PST

I spent 50 bucks on film and processing too many times. Why isn't you budget about what you spent on film in say "six months" since you won't be doing that anymore?

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Answer
Re: SD Cards
Feb 10, 2012 8:45AM PST

The number on an SD card is its class rating. There are four classes: 2, 4, 6, and 10. The higher the number (class), the faster information can be written to the card. A card with a slower class rating can have a detrimental effect on video, but a slower card is never a problem for still photography, at least not in terms of color or clarity.

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Answer
Digital
Feb 10, 2012 9:20AM PST

Most people who talk about digital images that pop are looking for a way to adjust "saturation".

I suggest you download a free software program called Irfanview (www.irfanview.com).
Open a picture with Irfanview.
Click the "Image Menu" and then click "Color Corrections".
Then use the "Saturation" slider to increase/decrease saturation.

Regarding SD memory card:

That circle (actually it is a "C" not a circle) with the number inside is the speed rating for that card.
A card with a 10 or higher is needed for High Definition Video.
A lower speed card can be used for still camera photography.
It has nothing to do with color and clarity.
A memory card does not affect color or clarity, it is just a digital storage device.

Don't go looking for a $50 camera, you will find one and it will likely be disappointing.
I suggest you go to www.canonusa.com and look for one of their cameras that has a model number that starts with the letter "A".
That is Canon's entry level cameras.

You are off to a new adventure in photography.
You will like digital photography.

..

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Digital & SD cards
Feb 10, 2012 7:30PM PST

Thanks, snapshot.
I have Irfanview. Because I come from a film camera background, there are editing features that are not necessary - saturation being one of them. It sounds as if I would have to saturate every image.
I was looking at a professional review of some digital camera. There was an image of a forest in fall *color*; then there was the same image using a Vivid setting. The camera could not deliver color in its default setting - only in Vivid. Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel if a camera's setting has to be over-ridden, then it's not doing its job. Bottom line: should one need to be using the saturation edit for all images??
As far as the SD card - I was merely pointing out another person's experience - not based upon my knowledge or experience. Even I know it's only for storage but to know that 10 is needed for HiDef video is good to know. Thanks.
When I say $50 is all I can spend, that is for a used camera that may have cost several hundred when new. Finances are what they are - I cannot change them. So, if you are able to suggest something that is, perhaps, several years old, where I have a better chance of finding one in the $50 range, that would be appreciated very much.

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Vivid
Feb 10, 2012 11:21PM PST

The camera companies try to make their picture results normal (true colors).
Vivid is not considered as true colors.
But some people prefer their photos that way.

Kodak seems to set most of their digital cameras more toward vivid.
Since Kodak has announce that they are bankrupt and will not make any more digital cameras, I can't recommend you buy a Kodak camera.
However you just might get a Kodak camera for a bargain price right now.
They have announced that they will continue to honor their warranties.

So that means you need a camera with a vivid setting or you will have to use software and boost the saturation on all photos.

Buying a used camera has many variables and there is always to chance of getting a junk camera.
I suggest you go to a camera store (not a department store, but a store that sells only camera equipment).
They usually have used cameras and they usually guarantee them.

..

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This looks like something I should have
Feb 13, 2012 12:04AM PST

snapshot2 - what do you think about this??????

The following is a Sony DSC W290 for $46 from ebay.
It has 12MP, 28mm-140mm, 3" LCD screen, video. Rated to have: very good
image quality (images sharp) colors - vibrant, sharp photos in auto
mode, 5x optical zoom, rechargeable Li-ion
battery.

http://www.ebay.com/ctg/Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-W290-12-1-MP-Digital-Camera-Silver-/100157527?LH_ItemCondition=3000&_dmpt=Digital_Cameras&_pcategid=31388&_pcatid=782&_refkw=Sony+DSC+W290+camera

I am not at entry level for photography. If my film 8x10s are salable, that means I have a great eye and HAD a camera that delivered.
A photographer friend pointed me in the right direction, and I just happened upon someone's suggestion for the above camera in another camera's reviews.
I would look for an SD card with a rating of 10. They, too, may be found on ebay.

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Sony W290
Feb 13, 2012 5:46AM PST