[Tech] *8* Megapixel Cameras...........please help - Digital Imaging and Photography (2024)

blazed7x
join:2004-01-11

blazed7x

Member

2004-Mar-31 10:03 pm

Do any of you know of any *8* megapixel camera (that is coming out soon) which is fairly LIGHT and SMALL?

I can't stand having a big, bold bulky camera that eats your arms when you hold it. My ideal camera is that of a high resolution one yet very light/compact and has ALL The features which it should have, regardless of its size (movie mode, iso speed, portrait settings, etc., etc., etc - you know, all the juicy stuff).

Does anyone know of any camera out there that matches this criteria?

Ohhhh, how pleased I would be to find a camera that is LIGHT-WEIGHT and has all the good stuff like a super-size camera would have (like the upcoming Canon Pro1), etc.

?

· actions · 2004-Mar-31 10:03 pm ·

Mauricio9

Premium Member

2004-Mar-31 10:14 pm

· actions · 2004-Mar-31 10:14 pm ·

biohazard to blazed7x

Premium Member

2004-Mar-31 10:54 pm

· actions · 2004-Mar-31 10:54 pm ·

n8crwlr to blazed7x

Premium Member

2004-Apr-1 12:47 am

I just purchased the Minolta A2 with an 8M sensor. I originally was going to hold out for the Minolta SLR but by the time I purchased all the lenses, flash, memory, and filters, I know I would have been in the $2.5K to $3K+ range easily.

The only reason I bring this up is because of the user reviews on the 8MP cameras talking of noise in the photos found in the sensor used on Minolta, Fuji, Sony, and Canon. (Might not be the exact same sensor in all, but real close) I do not care what camera you are using, if you look at 100% crop, you are going to see noise from any of these small sensors. If you print standard size photos, 3x5 or 4x6, you will not see the noise. 98% of the pictures I print are in this mentioned size, the other 2% might be wallet or 8x10. Guess what, noise is still no issue in the prints.... The only thing that separates these cameras is the glass, and functions of the camera. I chose the Minolta because of the anti-shake sensor and most settings can be changed without entering the tedious menus. I downloaded several test pattern pictures of these cameras and chose the camera that best fit my needs.

My 35mm SLR has a 28mm wide angle lens, a 50mm standard and a 70-200mm zoom lens. I chose a digital camera that has these capabilities hoping the learning curve would not be that drastic for the lens range.

With all that said, I love this camera, even though the weather has been so ugly I can not go outside and shoot but one day, I have a couple nice photos of my wife and kids and can not wait till the weather changes so I can get out and shoot more to start learning the camera.

I would suggest going out and testing all the brands with this 8MP sensor, find out which one is more fitting to your hands and needs, yea some have more noise than others, some have awkward controls, colors might not be to your liking on auto mode, or (insert your own problem here), but you are the one that has to live with the purchase you just made and if you can learn the capabilities and push the limits of that camera, you will not be unhappy and have many albums with great photos.....

My Minolta A2 is not nearly as bulky as my 35mm, designed a lot better for my hands than my Minolta S414, pictures out of the camera look a lot better at a setting about equal to my S414 at full resolution but not quite as good as my Minolta 35mm SLR until they are processed with software and printed. Like others said, look to see what brands are available with the sensor size you prefer, then go for a test drive for it is only you that can decide which shutter you want to stand behind while you are shooting away.

· actions · 2004-Apr-1 12:47 am ·

climbers

Premium Member

2004-Apr-1 12:39 pm

said by n8crwlr:I just purchased the Minolta A2 with an 8M sensor....

Welcome to the Minolta club! I think you are going to love the A2. Post tonnes of photos!

· actions · 2004-Apr-1 12:39 pm ·

ShinyTop8 to blazed7x

Premium Member

2004-Apr-1 1:46 pm

· actions · 2004-Apr-1 1:46 pm ·

shercando to blazed7x

Premium Member

2004-Apr-1 2:04 pm

· actions · 2004-Apr-1 2:04 pm ·

blazed7x
join:2004-01-11

blazed7x

Member

2004-Apr-1 3:41 pm

n8, hey there, I just read that the Minolta A-2 digicam has movie mode recordings of up to *15* minutes?! That is amazing! Most cams only have a 3 min. maximum. Is that true?

How are the photos you've shot so far with this sweety?

Did you prefer this over the Nikon Coolpix 8700?

much thanks...

· actions · 2004-Apr-1 3:41 pm ·

Mauricio9

Premium Member

2004-Apr-1 3:59 pm

My A1 has 15 minutes of movie recording as well.

I wonder why is it limited to 15 minutes. Buffer overflow is obviously not the problem when it gets that long. I also have a 512 MB Sandisk Ultra II, so write speed is not a problem either. An 11:37 minute movie I have on my HD is 242 MB. By that measure, a 15 minute movie should take 313 MB, way below the 512 MB available space in the card.

· actions · 2004-Apr-1 3:59 pm ·

climbers to shercando

Premium Member

2004-Apr-1 4:37 pm

Another Minolta Club member!!!

· actions · 2004-Apr-1 4:37 pm ·

n8crwlr to blazed7x

Premium Member

2004-Apr-1 6:03 pm

quote: How are the photos you've shot so far with this sweety?

So far all pictures I have taken are sweet. I mostly have shots of my wife and kids and will refrain from boring everyone with family photos. I do have one photo of my wife and son that has good potential, while the same setting I had another with them two and my daughter, she was making fun of me with the new camera..... The anti shake seems to work well and I can drop the shutter down a stop or two.

The focus is fast, it scared ma a couple of times when it locked and I was not ready for the lock tones.....

quote: Did you prefer this over the Nikon Coolpix 8700?

Yes, I went to a local camera shop and played with the Coolpix, I like the controls on the A2 better, I like the way it sets in my hands, it just felt right.

I have not been able to shoot as much as I would like due to the fog, rain, and snow we have had since I received the camera a week ago. You can bet as soon as the weather breaks and I have some time off work and no work around the house, I will be out shooting.

· actions · 2004-Apr-1 6:03 pm ·

n8crwlr to blazed7x

Premium Member

2004-Apr-1 7:10 pm

quote: No tether for lens cap.

I think that will be my next big purchase since I have misplaced my cap twice already.... And welcome to the A club.....

My family and I went to a museum this week end, I had planned on taking some photos there. Our weather has been so bad that everyone in town was there I think. Parking lot was full along with 2 others that are about a half mile away so that was a bust.... I have to work this Saturday so that is a no go.....

· actions · 2004-Apr-1 7:10 pm ·

shercando

Premium Member

2004-Apr-1 10:11 pm

· actions · 2004-Apr-1 10:11 pm ·

Whasup
@netrox.net

Whasup to Mauricio9

Anon

2004-Apr-5 3:08 am

quote: I wonder why is it limited to 15 minutes. Buffer overflow is obviously not the problem when it gets that long. I also have a 512 MB Sandisk Ultra II, so write speed is not a problem either. An 11:37 minute movie I have on my HD is 242 MB. By that measure, a 15 minute movie should take 313 MB, way below the 512 MB available space in the card.

Depends on res and frame rate.

On the Fuji 602 & 7000 full screen 640x480 video at 30fps w/audio is about 1MB/sec, so 15min is 1GB... biggest cards most have or many cameras will accept

· actions · 2004-Apr-5 3:08 am ·

Gemologist to blazed7x

Premium Member

2004-Apr-5 7:00 am

· actions · 2004-Apr-5 7:00 am ·

Mauricio9 to Whasup

Premium Member

2004-Apr-5 11:09 am

said by Whasup: On the Fuji 602 & 7000 full screen 640x480 video at 30fps w/audio is about 1MB/sec, so 15min is 1GB... biggest cards most have or many cameras will accept

Yes, but what I was saying is that on the A1 15 minutes is 313 MB, and it still doesn't let you record any longer.

· actions · 2004-Apr-5 11:09 am ·