Digital Camera Recommendations

[1stborn2nd]

So, my Kodak digital camera just croaked and I'm off to the archives in two weeks. I took a trip to the store and there were no less than 10 options all with high resolution and a text setting

Comments

[fuukaba]

I don't do archive work or anything, but I got a Sony Cybershot a few months back. With the macro setting I can take clear pictures of text and other small things, and it has a pretty good shutter speed and anti-blur (Which helps in low light or flash-less settings). It's also a small-ish camera, which is good for throwing in my bag when I need to take it with me.

[etinterrapax]

Second. I have the same, and I like it very much, though I'm still fiddling with the settings. I took a lot of text pictures with it for a school project a few weeks ago and they came out great.

[vlion]

I know Jack Diddlysqua about archival work, but I borrowed a Cybershot for a trip I took and I liked it a LOT.

[crysania4]

I use both a Canon SD600 and a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18. I REALLY love the Panasonic. Great image quality (though I use it mostly for photographs, rather than archiving things). The nice thing about the Canon, though, is its size. It's tiny and easily transportable.

I would definitely look for professional reviews of the cameras you're thinking about buying. I checked out the ones I was thinking of getting on cnet.com. It veered me away from a few options that turned out not to be as good as they looked.

Also, be CAREFUL of where you order (if you order online). There are a lot of scam places. Check any place out at www.resellerratings.com before buying. They saved my neck.

[1stborn2nd]

I love the Lumix, but the one i looked at was $400. that's a bit out my price range.

[crysania4]

I got mine for $300 at Vann's (www.vanns.com) -- a good reliable site with decent deals. It's still a bit pricey, but I knew I wanted something that would last awhile. And still not as pricey as the Nikon D80 my partner got for over $1000! I really want a DSLR but I just can't justify $1000+ for a camera.

[painkillereyes]

You can get the Nikon D40 DSLR for under $600. Not the exact same specs, but they're pretty close.

[gramarye1971]

I used to spend entire days in the reading rooms at Kew, and carried a Kodak Easyshare Z612 for a while, but the size and the bulk of it made it a pain to work with (not to mention that it eats batteries at a ridiculous rate). I don't have any specific recommendations on cameras, but I do have a few tips for looking

[crysania4]

One of the most important things I've found in an archive-friendly camera is the ability to turn off the flash and have it STAY off until you switch it back on again, but a lot of cameras don't make that easy to do. Playing around with the camera and testing the flash is important for me, as a result.

I've found cameras with a flash that you have to flip up work best for this. Then you never have to worry. Flash down = no flash ever. Though those are never tiny.

[1stborn2nd]

I am looking at a Kodak Z. I tried out a few and I loved the quality it gave me, but the bulk is a bit of a turn off. thanks.

[senecasaurus]

i have been nothing but happy with my HP Photosmart R827. I cost less then $120, it's small, easy-to-use, zooms good, takes video, has a big viewfinder, all the awesome bells and whistles, and at 7.2 megapixels it is heaven when photographing documents. and since it's rechargeable i don't have to deal with the expense of AAs. i loves it.

[snowflakelike]

My brother just got a new Kodak with Easyshare software - not sure on the model - and it looks great as well as wowed everyone he's showed it to. I've never actually owned a digital camera not attached to my cell phone, so I have no clue personally.