Digital Cameras

[revchris]

I just ordered a new camera.

I had been thinking about a Canon Digital Rebel, but decided instead to save some money for power tools, and ordered a CoolPix 5700 instead (5.1MP instead of 6, but also $450 instead of $900).

I can't really say I needed a new camera, but it's been stuck in my brain for a while, and, for some reason, today was a good day to buy one. Also, I really couldn't justify the cost of the Rebel, even to myself - I just don't take that many pictures.

I ordered it from Butterfly Photo (they had good ratings from BizRate, and were listed as an affiliated store with DPReview). I also ordered it with Butterfly's recommended accessory package, which includes a second battery and a 340MB microdrive (the camera comes with a 16MB CF card also, which holds ~5-10 pictures).

Comments

[misteropinion.livejournal.com]

Silly bunny. Microdrives are trouble. Actually, for a long time the 300MB microdrives weren't certified on Nikon cameras.

[revchris.livejournal.com]

I wasn't sure if it'd be a good pick in he long run or not, as it is also a little slower than most of the other options, but in the package they were offering, it was about $75 for the drive, so I thought I'd try it as a 'starter' storage device. If I decide it sucks, I can always buy something else and save it as the backup storage device

[revchris.livejournal.com]

From further research, the 340MB microdrives still aren't certified, so I'm going to cancel that part of the order and find somewhere else to get another battery and a big CF card.

[misteropinion.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. Next time ask me about your Nikon choice first, eh? It's a good camera though.

[revchris.livejournal.com]

I found Lexar 1GB 40x CF cards for $229. Is that an acceptable storage media and price?

I also just ordered 2 extra batteries ($30 for two, including shipping) for it, since the revices say it's kind of a battery pig.

[misteropinion.livejournal.com]

You should definitely go with faster cards. Let me look at that price for a minute... You know, you might go with 2x512 or 3x256. I can get about 120 3:2 5MP pix on one 256. Yes, that's a good price for that 1GB though. Oh, and stick with name brands: Lexar, Sandisk, Viking, Dane.
The reason I'd go for more than one is the "eggs in one basket" thingy, of course.
Those are OEM batteries, I'd imagine. Those don't work as well, but they're *so* much less expensive.
I have an external battery pack. Lasts incredibly forever. Here. You might need the 7.2V version instead, I didn't look. Well worth the money, IMO.