Let's all go digital

[Cam the Man]

I'm interested in buying a digital camera for happy snaps ($600 approx.) and photo printer ($250 approx.)

Could those who've recently made a purchase share with me their choice and why?

Thanks

[Canon Ball]

I use a Canon Digital Ixus V camera, A Canon S200SP printer and a Canon N670U scanner.

If you shop around you should be able to get the same camera within your budget and you will be able to buy a better printer than mine, which I didn't choose for photo quality although it claims to have a "Vivid Photo" function.

A couple of years ago I had a scanner and a printer from two different vendors and experienced some driver conflicts. Both manufacturers pointed the finger at each other and refused to help.

So I decided to get all my Digital imaging equipment from one vendor, and having chosen the camera first, that decided the vendor for the other items.

[SARC]

I've just switched from trusty old 35mm to digital and will never go back.

I spent a bit more on the camera than you want to, so I won't talk about that, but I can recommend this website for good, unbiased camera reviews.
http://www.dpreview.com/

As far as the printer is concerned, I looked at getting one, but found out the the photo quality paper was VERY expensive. Couple this with the purchase price of the printer, and the inevitable cartridge replacements, and I abaondoned the idea.

I then found out there are 2 services in Singapore where you can upload your digital pictures over the internet, have them printed and then mailed to you, all within 3 days. The price is 50 cents for a 4x6 photo, so works out cheaper than buying the special paper !

I have tried them both. They are the same price, and give exactly the same service (Which is very good)
http://www.fujifilm.com.sg

or
http://www.singnet.com.sg  and select "Photo Sprint"

So, in summary, have a look at the first website. Don't buy the printer, and use the printer money to buy a better camera !

[Island Boy]

Hi, you should check out cnet.com I find it usful to look up information about electronic and read the reviews by users.

[Freddy]

Nikon Coolpix 3500  

or the Canon IXUS

(after weeks of research)

Shop at Cathay Phpto either in Peninsula Plaza or in Marina Square.

Their service is impecable and I have been given full exchanges no questions asked. Their average employee tenure is about 16 years...

[Fred the Pixel]

I got a very good price on a Canon Digital Ixus in the photoshop on the Ground Floor of Funan Centre.

[Pacific Paddler]

Kyocera FinePix S3 offers 3.3 megapixels and takes short movies.  It uses Secure Digital (not the old Compact Flash format still in use by Canon) so you can view images on your handheld immediately.  Of course it helps if your handheld has a SD slot...!

It is cheap and very compact - but the downside is woeful battery life.

Or you could check out that really cool slim little thing that has been popping up everywhere of late - looks great, is cheap and very portable, and takes reasonable photos.

For "real" photo work (e.g. when travelling) I believe film camera still has a lot going for it - no batteries to charge or images to download.  Just keep shooting (with a wider aperture and faster cycle time too).

[Digi Fan]

The great thing about digital is that you take 20 shots of something, then decide which one you like most and delete the other 19. If you use the same technique with film, that's more than half a roll used up. Most film cameras also have batteries, which let you down at the most inconvenient times.
No risk of getting home and finding all your shots were hopeless because your were sold old film stock.

[Danny Details]

Let's talk actual prices. I looked at the Kyocera 3.2 megapixel and seems like a great camera. Best offer I've found is $550 in lucky plaza.  Does anyone else have info they could share? Particularly for the coolpix or ixus?

[want_to_believe]

by the way, if someone is intrested, I'm selling my Canon 8200 photo printer for 250$. Prints in professional photo quality on A4, only selling it becaus  I upgraded to A3 printer. Comes with new set of ink and latest upgrade for the printer software. I can also proviede a customized ICC provile for the printer.

[want_to_believe]

Oh, and my experience on digital cameras. The best camer for you is the one that fits your needs.
I'm using a Coolpix 9500 for work because it has the best macro mode in the market and it can take a series of 10 pictures in 2 second in high speed mode. For private use I have a very small kodak ...just because it is small and easy to bring around . 2 meg pixels for taking fun shots and make small print outs or post it on the internet. For bigger prints I'm using a Olympus E20 , 5 meg pixl , great built in APO zoom lens and an real optical viewfinder. Was also using a Fuji S1 last year , but the problem with this camera is that it almost impossible to keep the image sensor dust free. Most universal choice at the moment is the Nikon D100 , specially since the price dropped from 4500 to 3300. But of cours this is only for the more serious photographers. But the picture qualety on an A3 fb printout is amazing.
If you want to spent around a 1000 $ , Olympus has a 5 meg pixl camera with built in 10 times optical zoom ! Absolutly great. And the camera accept Smart Media carrds, Microdrive and the new SD cards. This is one of the best non professional cameras in the market at this time