posted on December 6, 2003 07:23:56 AM new
My Olympus D 460 was just damaged, the repair estimate is almost the price of a new camera. Any recommendations? Read some reviews, but I would like to know from people who use their camera mainly for Ebay purposes.
posted on December 6, 2003 07:28:05 AM new
I bought an Olympus D520 last year. Extremely happy with it. Saw it on sale at Costco 2 days ago for $129.00. Great Camera at a super price!
posted on December 6, 2003 09:24:56 AM new
One camera that I would definately not buy again is the Sony Cybershot. Shutter stopped working before I had even taken 64mb worth of pics. Of course, it broke right after the warranty ran out. Sony wants $176.00 to repair. I'd send it in, but it would probably break again and they'd want another $176.00.
One company I can vouch for is Vivitar. I dropped the my Vivitar, and asked them how much to repair it. They sent me a refurbished one for a very reasonable fee. That was back in 1999, though. Don't know if things have changed.
posted on December 6, 2003 09:53:46 AM new
I have a Sony Mavica 73 which is just fine for my Ebay use, but my husband doesn't like the weight of it.
In his usual thorough fashion, he's researched for days, consulted our daughter in the computer industry in Silicon Valley and her husband, a professional photographer. They both told him to get a Cannon. I don't know the model number, but with an extra bell or whistle it's going to be about $400.
For what it's worth! Details on request.
___________________________________
"In order to avoid poverty, just do three things: finish high school, marry before having a child, and don't have that child until you're at least 20 years old. Only 8% of people who do all three of these things wind up poor, but a staggering 79% of those who fail to do them wind up in poverty." ~William Galston
posted on December 6, 2003 10:31:46 AM new
I have an OLYMPUS D450 that I have had for at least 4 yrs. Works great. I just bought my sweetie an Olympus Stylus 300 at Circuit City, comes with rechargeable batteries & charger for about $300.00 + tax. I am paying for it on a 12 month no interest payment plan. Except I will have it paid down in about 3 months. Didn't want to lay out all that cash just before Xmas.
posted on December 6, 2003 12:36:39 PM new
Thank you all for your response. I'm going camera shopping tomorrow. Will keep watching this board for all these good comments. I was really happy with my Olympus D460 and would like to have another if I knew where there was some new old stock. I'm not daring enough to buy a used or refurbished one. Will jot down all these responses and take them along to the camera store. Thanks again!
posted on December 6, 2003 01:01:06 PM new
I have a Sony Mavica FD83 and I love it for eBay. It's ok for other pictures but I'm just not that skilled for "people" type photos. I like it because of the floppy disc format. I can just insert into my tower and load the pictures. No cords or hassles. It is heavy but doesn't bother me. Plus the buttons are large enough to be easy to work; some of the other cameras have tiny little buttons .... I know, guess I'm just an old-fashioned gal. A friend just bought a new model and with all the extras, including 2 batteries, etc. at WalMart for $400.
posted on December 6, 2003 01:16:17 PM new
I have a Sony Mavica that has served me well, but is now starting to get cranky.
I was just out looking at the newer cameras that are available, and I feel like I've been driving a Model T. (For you younger folks, thats an old, old car) I'm leaning toward an Olympus C750. I require a good macro for small items, and would like a large zoom also. The Olympus has all that, and is a 4 Mega Pixel camera. That will allow me to print great 8x10's. Any comments, good or bad would be appreciated.
posted on December 6, 2003 02:10:12 PM new
Max; That is the Cadillac of the Olympus line. Would love to have one, but my old D450 works great for me & I love the software that came with it.
posted on December 6, 2003 03:20:10 PM new
I have the Olympus camedia 3000 and love it. I drool over the new Olympus with the 10X - that will be my next one. I LOVE Endicia! You will too – Click here!
posted on December 6, 2003 06:51:37 PM new
Hello all -
I had my Sony Mavica 73 for quite a while, and it did a fine job. Very simple to use. It finally started getting cranky on me, so I had to upgrade...and decided on the Nikon Coolpix 3100. It's a great camera, takes very nice pictures, and is very small and light.
"Who's tending the bar? Sniping works up a thirst"
posted on December 6, 2003 07:30:33 PM new
I've had my Sony Mavica FD73 for four years now, using it almost constantly, and even dropped it a couple of times--and it's still going strong. 10x zoom is great for auctions. Use it at work, too, to take pictures of the programs we put on for the kids. My favorite thing about it is its use of floppy disks.
I've considered "upgrading" to a new camera, but haven't seen any that appeal to me as much as this one. Yeah, it is heavier than the newer cameras, but it's larger size is an asset--buttons easy to see & use, tripod friendly, nice-size display... Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; but unlike charity, it should end there --Clare Booth Luce
posted on December 6, 2003 07:42:15 PM new
Bunnicula: I could have written your first paragraph about the Mavica 73! I too have dropped my camera a couple of times. Still love it. I'm going to "drive" it until it dies.
I wanted to add here that the camera my husband was advised to buy is the Canon 400.
The only thing I don't like about my Mavica 73 is that if I'm in the sunlight, taking a picture, I can't see into the viewer! Maybe all cameras have the same problem?. . . .
___________________________________
"In order to avoid poverty, just do three things: finish high school, marry before having a child, and don't have that child until you're at least 20 years old. Only 8% of people who do all three of these things wind up poor, but a staggering 79% of those who fail to do them wind up in poverty." ~William Galston
posted on December 6, 2003 08:14:27 PM new
I saw one auction with some amazing photos, so I emailed the seller, he used a Mavica.
Headspinningly good photos...and all of them, all 9(!) of them were sooo great!
So, if my ol' battery burner kicks the bucket ("that's bouquet!" I will look at sony's products for sure.
J
posted on December 7, 2003 12:02:13 AM new
Sony Mavica FD 83 here as well, had it for years, it works as well today as the day I got it. Seems to be popular, I love being able to use floppys - I have my eye on the more advance model now, that uses CD-R mini CD's - I will never run out of space! My last toy was a portable dvd player, so I may wait a while to get that, but if mine wears out, that is the model I will buy
posted on December 7, 2003 11:49:21 AM new
I bought one of Sony's DCS-45's last year and love everything about it. I'm a photographer, and prefer a larger camera with the grip of a SLR. It helps stabalize the camera, and keeps me from dropping it. I find that the smaller and lighter the camera, the more likely you are to drop it and break it.
Here are three things I recommend for you in your search.
1) If you are using the camera exclusively for Ebay, it does not matter if you have 1.3 Megapixel or 5.0 megapixels. You can only use 640 x 480 to upload photos quickly. Ebay will downsize all photos to this anyways, so don't waste your money on larger megapixels if you don't need them. If you are going to use the camera to also take family photos, etc. then go for the larger megapixels. This is standard, and DO NOT let a salesman tell you otherwise.
2) Not all Lenses are the same!!! Glass lenses are the best. I've had two plastic lens cameras and I used to spend too much time cleaning up photos from flash rings or flare spots. Glass doesn't get scratched easily either. My Sony has a Carl Zeiss lens, who makes some of the best lenses in the world.
3) White Balance Feature: There is nothing more frustrating than seeing a photo of an auction for something you want that is green, only to get it and it be blue, or it looks red, but in reality it is orange. White balance measures the temperature of the light in the room, and will balance the white so that you get true colors to what the item actually looks like.
By the way, I do have an Olympus C-3000 at my store that I am interested in selling if anyone is interested. Nothing is wrong with it, and it works perfectly. It comes with a 128MB Smart Media Card, and a USB port card reader. I don't have the book or any of the USB wires that plug directly in it, but you don't really need it and those only waste your battery life anyways. The story behind it is that some girl came into my store needing some money, and sold it to me. I don't need it, since I have the other camera, but I felt sorry for her. Unfortunately, I didn't think to look at the serial number, and later discovered the sticker was removed. I would ask $200 for it. Any takers, email me at [email protected]. I may also consider trades for a good quality Sony or Pioneer 5 disc DVD player that plays all formats (MP3, etc.)
posted on December 7, 2003 12:16:50 PM new
Thanks for the info!
It has taken me a while to master digital photography in tungston lighting. I finally color corrected and have ENOUGH light.
Also, a tripod for macro work is a must.
J
posted on December 7, 2003 02:05:32 PM new
I get away with not using a tri-pod with macro b/c my Sony has a 2.8 aperature on it, which is a huge difference than a 3.5 or 5.6 aperature. Alot more light travels through the lens, and keeps things bright and in focus.
I had to pay $700 just for a lens for my 35mm to get a 2.8 aperature for my concert photography. Then I went out and got this Sony digital that takes magnificant photos with 2.8 from 35mm to 105mm. Nothing better than a constant aperature through the entire zoom range.
posted on December 7, 2003 06:29:17 PM new
I have 4 megapixel Kodak Easyshare and it is very easy to use and recharge on it's dock. Which only takes 2 hrs. I love it and I would buy another.
posted on December 8, 2003 09:18:14 AM new
My years of research led me to one conclusion: Toshiba. They have always beat the competition on value. Toshiba has the PDR-4300 which is a 4 megapixel zoom camera for under $250. No one else comes close. As a Toshiba owner since the M4 about 3 years ago and having upgraded to the M5, M70, M81 and now the 4300, I have never been disappointed. My previous cameras were all sold to family and friends and are all working. Two M5's are being used in my daughter's school and despite having been handled by hundreds of students, are still chugging along just fine.
posted on December 9, 2003 04:35:07 AM new
Greetings! I'm the one that started this thread asking advice on a camera purchase. Just thought you would like to know the end of the story.... I did buy an Olympus 750. Now I need to learn how to use it.
Thank you all for taking the time to respond to my question!
posted on December 9, 2003 09:28:00 AM new
Congratulations,
That camera seems to have great features. Please keep us informed as to it's ease of use and reliability. I haven't poped for mine yet. Still nursing my Mavica.
posted on December 9, 2003 09:36:06 PM new
For listing on eBay, certainly the megapixels make little difference. A 1.3 will do nicely online. I set all of my pics at 96 dpi, which is a slight overkill.
The optics (lens) in a digital do make a difference, even online. Must have a quality glass lens, especially if you are shooting macro. And, I would take a good look a the flash specs of any camera you are considering, if you plan to shoot anything indoors or even outside on an overcast day.
I just upgraded from my older Fuji to a Fuji S7000. Awesome camera, which I will use far, far beyond eBay pics. Color saturation is incredible. White balance is a non issue. Now the Fuji S7000 is a 6.3 megapixel, and can up that with the CCD to 12. Certainly wouldn't recommend it, at all, unless you have other uses for it, outside of eBay shots. And, there is a learning curve on it.
I am convinced on Fuji digital. As a 35mm photographer for more than 20 years, I would own nothing other than a Nikon. But, Nikon's digtal repair record at Consumer Reports is poor. Fuji is among the best. And, from my experience, I agree. And ya know, Fuji uses Nikon bodies and Nikor lenses.
Sniping works up a thirst"
I will look at sony's products for sure.
