DIGITAL CAMERA ADVICE - help needed!

DeactiveCarib · Post by **DeactiveCarib** » August 3, 2005 4:57 pm

I am having a very tough time deciding which of these two cameras to buy. Currently I use a boring old Olympus, 2 megapixel pocket cam and as my hobby of digital photography grows, i feel the need to get a better camera.

The two cameras that I am deciding between are the Kodak DX6490 and the Kodak Z740.

The DX6490 is 4.0 Megapixel, has a slower shot to shot speed than the Z740 (which is one of the things i didn't like about my Olympus), and has a 10x optical zoom and a 3x digital zoom

The Z740 is 5.0 megapixel, has a 10x optical and a 5x digital zoom, has lots of cool artistic features and scene modes that the DX6490 doesn't have.

Here's the dillema:

the Z740 is $50 more than the DX6490, but it obviously has more features and it might be a better quality camera. I need to know if it is worth the extra 50 bucks.

the real advantage about the Z740 is the combined 50x zoom compared to the other's 30x zoom, because i would like to get good pics on my upcomming trip to alaska, using a good zoom.

thanks for your advice!

-Dan

ZeroDuval · Post by **ZeroDuval** » August 3, 2005 4:59 pm

Which train was headed west?

East Texas Parrothead · Post by **East Texas Parrothead** » August 3, 2005 5:04 pm

ZeroDuval wrote:Which train was headed west?

Stoppit.

ToplessRideFL · Post by **ToplessRideFL** » August 3, 2005 5:05 pm

ZeroDuval wrote:Which train was headed west?

The one carrying the survivors.

Out of my league..but I am sure you will get some great information!

dawgfan · Post by **dawgfan** » August 3, 2005 5:05 pm

I have a Z740, I love this camera,the shots are extremely clear & crisp
yet the camera is still easy to use

CaptainP · Post by **CaptainP** » August 3, 2005 5:08 pm

DsilCaribe wrote:I am having a very tough time deciding which of these two cameras to buy. Currently I use a boring old Olympus, 2 megapixel pocket cam and as my hobby of digital photography grows, i feel the need to get a better camera.

The two cameras that I am deciding between are the Kodak DX6490 and the Kodak Z740.

The DX6490 is 4.0 Megapixel, has a slower shot to shot speed than the Z740 (which is one of the things i didn't like about my Olympus), and has a 10x optical zoom and a 3x digital zoom

The Z740 is 5.0 megapixel, has a 10x optical and a 5x digital zoom, has lots of cool artistic features and scene modes that the DX6490 doesn't have.

Here's the dillema:

the Z740 is $50 more than the DX6490, but it obviously has more features and it might be a better quality camera. I need to know if it is worth the extra 50 bucks.

the real advantage about the Z740 is the combined 50x zoom compared to the other's 30x zoom, because i would like to get good pics on my upcomming trip to alaska, using a good zoom.

thanks for your advice!

-Dan

I'll get back to you shortly. I'm expecting a call from my wife, who is a professional photographer, and I'll see what she thinks. She's the real expert.

mommar · Post by **mommar** » August 3, 2005 5:10 pm

I'm thinking if it's only a $50 difference go for the Z740

I don't have that camera, I've had my digital for only 2 years and wish I had a better zoom, I couldn't even get Jimmy at GW

never mind some of the scenery you'll see in Alaska. Have Fun!!!!!!

Sidew13 · Post by **Sidew13** » August 3, 2005 5:15 pm

I say pay the extra $50

I also say wait on Capt. P's wife's responce. She is well informed

AlbatrossFlyer · Post by **AlbatrossFlyer** » August 3, 2005 5:40 pm

forget about the digital zoom function.... optical zoom is the only one to use.

i shy away from using artsy functions on the camera. they usually are permanent. that's what photoshop is for.

if the 50 bucks isn't gonna break your bank spend it. but the 50 bucks could go towards a second battery pack, more/bigger memory cards etc....

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » August 3, 2005 5:49 pm

AlbatrossFlyer wrote:forget about the digital zoom function.... optical zoom is the only one to use.

i shy away from using artsy functions on the camera. they usually are permanent. that's what photoshop is for.

if the 50 bucks isn't gonna break your bank spend it. but the 50 bucks could go towards a second battery pack, more/bigger memory cards etc....

best investment I made for my A80 Canon was more memory. 1 gig of CF cards now, and a bunch of rechargeable NiH AAs is a close second.

CaptainP · Post by **CaptainP** » August 3, 2005 5:56 pm

RinglingRingling wrote:
AlbatrossFlyer wrote:forget about the digital zoom function.... optical zoom is the only one to use.

i shy away from using artsy functions on the camera. they usually are permanent. that's what photoshop is for.

if the 50 bucks isn't gonna break your bank spend it. but the 50 bucks could go towards a second battery pack, more/bigger memory cards etc....
best investment I made for my A80 Canon was more memory. 1 gig of CF cards now, and a bunch of rechargeable NiH AAs is a close second.

That was Peggy's biggest problem, too. She's bought a lot of extra memory since she's gone digital.

Also, I know she much prefers the Optical Zoom to digital. But the higher resolution is nice.

Still waiting for her call....

AlbatrossFlyer · Post by **AlbatrossFlyer** » August 3, 2005 6:01 pm

CaptainP wrote:But the higher resolution is nice.

Still waiting for her call....

technically it's lower resolution.... digital zoom will reduce the quality of any photos printed.

CaptainP · Post by **CaptainP** » August 3, 2005 6:07 pm

AlbatrossFlyer wrote:
CaptainP wrote:But the higher resolution is nice.

Still waiting for her call....
technically it's lower resolution.... digital zoom will reduce the quality of any photos printed.

What I meant was that the camera with the better digital zoom also has a higher resolution. Wasn't equating one to the other....

DeactiveCarib · Post by **DeactiveCarib** » August 3, 2005 6:10 pm

AlbatrossFlyer wrote:forget about the digital zoom function.... optical zoom is the only one to use.

I know that you can combine the two, which gives it a bit of an extra boost. I went to Circuit City and was playing around with the DX6490 and noticed that you can combine both digital and optical which gives you a stronger zoom than just optical. Therefore, would the 50x really make a huge difference compared to the 30x?

AlbatrossFlyer wrote:if the 50 bucks isn't gonna break your bank spend it. but the 50 bucks could go towards a second battery pack, more/bigger memory cards etc....

It won't break my bank but exactly as you said, i could spend the 50 on an extra battery or a larger SD card or an extended warranty, which is something to consider

Basically, if the Z740 is a much better camera then i'd spend the xtra money. If it's not that much better, than i'll spend the 50 on more memory or battery

DeactiveCarib · Post by **DeactiveCarib** » August 3, 2005 6:12 pm

i went to the website www.digitalcamerainfo.com and they rated the Z740 the 5th best overall digital camera, compared to the DX6490's 26th place. . . that makes me think that the Z740 is "that" much better, but i just hope the site is a decent, reliable site

CaptainP · Post by **CaptainP** » August 3, 2005 6:15 pm

DsilCaribe wrote: I know that you can combine the two, which gives it a bit of an extra boost.

I'm sure you can, but it's not a matter of what you can see, it's a matter of how it looks when printed. Digital zoom makes it pixelated and grainy.

DeactiveCarib · Post by **DeactiveCarib** » August 3, 2005 6:16 pm

CaptainP wrote:
DsilCaribe wrote: I know that you can combine the two, which gives it a bit of an extra boost.
I'm sure you can, but it's not a matter of what you can see, it's a matter of how it looks when printed. Digital zoom makes it pixelated and grainy.

i'll take your word for it, i wouldn't really know because the camera i have now only has a 2.5x zoom, which is tiny comapred to these cameras.

shakerofsalt · Post by **shakerofsalt** » August 3, 2005 6:19 pm

I have the Z7590 and LOVE IT!! The features are similar if not the same as the Z740. It is very user friendly and takes excellent photos. We just got back from vacation and had 3 different cameras. When we put all of the photos together, you can easliy pick which ones were taken with my camera. There was no comparison in quality. One of the other cameras was a DX model and the other a different high dollar brand (can't remember right now). I played around a lot with the different scenes and modes. Hubby tried to talk me out off the more expensive camera, but I'm glad I didn't let him! If you want to see some of the photos to check quality, Pm me. The optical zoom is great. That was the main reason that I upgraded! I only had 3x zoom before.

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » August 3, 2005 6:26 pm

CaptainP wrote:
RinglingRingling wrote:
AlbatrossFlyer wrote:forget about the digital zoom function.... optical zoom is the only one to use.

i shy away from using artsy functions on the camera. they usually are permanent. that's what photoshop is for.

if the 50 bucks isn't gonna break your bank spend it. but the 50 bucks could go towards a second battery pack, more/bigger memory cards etc....
best investment I made for my A80 Canon was more memory. 1 gig of CF cards now, and a bunch of rechargeable NiH AAs is a close second.

That was Peggy's biggest problem, too. She's bought a lot of extra memory since she's gone digital.

Also, I know she much prefers the Optical Zoom to digital. But the higher resolution is nice.

Still waiting for her call....

I won't even mention the $200 combo card-reader and mp3 player box that lets me dump all my memory cards about 10 times...

Yeah, I got a little caught up. Seems like I always find the $50 memory cards too, no matter what the size. Fortunately, now 512s are going for that, so I just have to find uses for my 128 and 256s..

CaptainP · Post by **CaptainP** » August 3, 2005 6:33 pm

OK, she finally called.

First, she says that Digital Zoom is junk. Don't even let that be part of your decision. The extra "artsy" features are all things you can find on Photoshop, if you have it. SO that should come into your decision.

For her, the difference between 4 MP and 5 MP IS worth the extra $50.00, and she'd go with the Z740. But she's a pro. I guess it depends on how clear you want your photos.

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