Important considerations besides megapixels?

External Since: Feb 14, 2008 Posts: 7

I'm looking for a first digital still camera. My experience with
digital so far is a Sony Digital8 Handycam and a lower end Canon Pro
mini-dv cam but no experience with digital still cams. My immediate
intended purpose is to take pics of some large print items that are
too large to fit on a scanner and want some decent quality for
archiving. My digital camcorder takes stills after a fashion but the
quality is marginal at best.

I get that megapixels is supposed to be an indicator of quality, but
what else is there to consider? Is an older but higher quality for
it's day cam with a lower megapixel spec better than a newer, but low-
end cam with a higher mp spec?

Features I *think* I want are manual focus ability and ability to
do .bmp or .tiff, not just jpeg unless someone convinces me it's not
important. I've got software to convert to .jpg if needed. I don't
have any need for video capabilities.

Like everyone else, I'm looking to get some decent bang for as little
buck as possible. I'm not too proud to go the used on eBay route. I
don't have any plans to do it professionally. It would be great if I
could stay under $150 - $200. I'd be ecstatic if I could stay under
$100.

All input including specific brand/model suggestions are appreciated,
including any "surprisingly good for a cheapo camera" models.

Thanks

External Since: Feb 14, 2008 Posts: 7

On Feb 14, 9:35 pm, tony cooper <tony_cooper... RemoveThis @earthlink.net> wrote:

> What would rule out using a 35mm film SLR? You can have film
> developed direct to CD in .jpg format and convert the .jpgs to .psd or
> .tiff before making any editing changes.

Time, convenience, long-term expense, ability to hook up directly to
the computer. Though it might be fun to learn something about 35 mm
before it becomes utterly obsolete.

> However, you've not given any reason that manual focus should be a
> requirement. I don't think that a basic digital P&S, used with a
> tripod or copy stand, would cause a problem because of lack of focus
> ability. The key is to shoot straight at the page - vertically or
> horizontally - from the same distance for each page. The tripod or
> copy stand would allow this.

Well...

> When asking for this type of advice, you need to state what you will
> be doing, A more detailed description of the
> project is really necessary to know to give good advice.

Given the previous, I assume you read in my original post:

"My immediate intended purpose is to take pics of some large print
items that are too large to fit on a scanner and want some decent
quality for archiving."

Don't know how much more detail I can provide. Beyond that, once I
have one I'll probably find other reasons to use it.

> what features you think you want, and *why* you think those
> features will be important to you.

Well, having no experience with still photography other than 110 and
disposable 35mm, I don't know enough to know what would be useful, and
asking in here is part of the process of research. I want higher data
rate like .tiff because it's higher data rate, for higher quality
archiving. Manual focus because I like the option of having more
control - I find the option useful with video I've done.

I appreciate the input, the more the better.