digital camera help

[tim rome]

i am thinking of buying a digital camera, now i know that the more pixels i have then the better quality the picture, but can someone tell me what is the difference between optical zoom and digital zoom, some cameras have both, and some only seem to have optical. also any reccomendations as to what is the best make would be appreciated

cheers

tim

[Phil L]

Optical zoom is when the camera lens moves backwards/forwards for zoom. The 'quality' remains the same.

Digital is when the software takes the image and 'zooms' in like when you zoom into a picture with photoshop. It gets very pixelized at high zooms this way.

Suggest not getting a digital camera less than 2 megapixels, especially with prices so low these days.

[tim rome]

many thanks:thumbs:

[mickstreet]

If you are intending to use the camera to make prints as well as use on the computer then I would say go for at least a 3megapixel. This you give you pretty good 6"x4" prints and they aren't too much more than the 2 megapixel. One thing I was told to watch out for was the batteries. They absoultely eat them so I was told to get one that use a standard size AA (use rechargeable Nickel metal hydride or dry cells) as other sizes can cost you a fortune over time. :)

[voodoo_melon]

I got a digital camera recently, it's only .1Mpixel but it measures about 1cmx3cmx5cm or so. Plus it's called a lesbian (http://www.firebox.com/index.html?dir=firebox&action=product&pid=335) :) . Got it off ebay for £15.

[Kanes]

the best palce i found for cameras was www.internetcamerasdirect.co.uk for price/service and accessories. Personally what budget are you on? fuji do a good 3.2 as do Kodak

[voodoo_melon]

I had a kodak dx3700 which I sold not long ago, it was very slow (it took about 4 seconds to save a pic in high res), and the biggest picuters weren't very good quality. Smaller ones (still around 1024x768) were good quality and it'd fit loads on the 32mb card. It didn't record movies which would've been nice, but it was cheap for a 3.3mpixel camera. It'd prolly be better to get a good 2mpixel than spend the same and get a bottom end 3+mpixel.

[Ant]

I was looking at the Canon Powershot A70 - thinking about getting one soon.

[tim rome]

just got one its a fuji finepix f401, are they any good. just gotta learn how to attach photos now :D :D