Budget 10mp cameras

[tali1]

I am quite tempted by one of these 2 cameras - must admit i'm trying to get as much megapixel per £ as i can although i am wary as to what they may lack to make up for the headline grabbing MPixels-
It is for basic home use only - nothing flash or fancy- which one is better?Are they a false economy?

Samsung S1075 10MP Digital -link not working?
http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=1500001801&productId=1500529459&langId=-1&engine=froogle&keyword=Samsung+S1075+10MP+Digital+Camera+-+Graphite+Grey&_$ja=tsid:11527

http://www.cbmstore.co.uk/contentitempage.aspx?con...

Edited by tali1 on Wednesday 16th September 20:02

Edited by tali1 on Wednesday 16th September 20:03

[Simpo Two]

tali1 said:

must admit i'm trying to get as much megapixel per £ as i can

I have to ask - why?



ETA: However you're doing well for a bloke who died in 1995!

Edited by Simpo Two on Wednesday 16th September 20:26

[uncinqsix]

tali1 said:

must admit i'm trying to get as much megapixel per £ as i can

I'm trying to to the opposite - as few megapixels as possible. Although it seems that I can only buy compacts with more megapixels than my DSLR (D40)...

[tali1]

Simpo Two said:

tali1 said:

must admit i'm trying to get as much megapixel per £ as i can

I have to ask - why?



ETA: However you're doing well for a bloke who died in 1995!

Edited by Simpo Two on Wednesday 16th September 20:26

More megapixels = better image quality, i assume?
Anyway, are the cameras any good?
Ah ,Bob Ross, legend!

[Nick M]

tali1 said:

More megapixels = better image quality, i assume?

Anyway, are the cameras any good?

Not necessarily - depends on a number of factors to determine the quality of the sensor.

Check out www.dpreview.com and see if the cameras have been reviewed or if there are any comments from users.

[Simpo Two]

tali1 said:

More megapixels = better image quality, i assume?

Well, that's what they'd like you to believe but unfortunately more megapixels = microscopic pixels = low light sensivity = low shutter speeds OR high signal/noise amplification = camera shake OR high noise - and files the size of Bolivia.

Work it backwards. Think of the largest print you're likely to make. If the answer is 'A4' then 5Mp is all you need; any more is simply counter-productive.

tali1 said:

Anyway, are the cameras any good?

The Samsung link isn't working but I wouldn't even use a Vivitar as ranging ammo for my trebuchet. That's 'cos I tried one once and the results were so truly horrible I sent it back very quickly! It's a pity because once Vivitar was a respected independent manufacturer (like Sigma are now) - but then they went cheap and spoiled their brand.

I think it's unfortunate that most compacts are now in the 10-12Mp range; quality-wise it's counter-productive, but it's what the public want...

For simple home use I really think you'd be better off (a) staying with a reputable brand (b) steering clear of £50 10Mp cameras. If something is cheap it's cheap for a reason!

[tali1]

Simpo Two said:

tali1 said:

More megapixels = better image quality, i assume?

Well, that's what they'd like you to believe but unfortunately more megapixels = microscopic pixels = low light sensivity = low shutter speeds OR high signal/noise amplification = camera shake OR high noise - and files the size of Bolivia.

Work it backwards. Think of the largest print you're likely to make. If the answer is 'A4' then 5Mp is all you need; any more is simply counter-productive.

tali1 said:

Anyway, are the cameras any good?

The Samsung link isn't working but I wouldn't even use a Vivitar as ranging ammo for my trebuchet. That's 'cos I tried one once and the results were so truly horrible I sent it back very quickly! It's a pity because once Vivitar was a respected independent manufacturer (like Sigma are now) - but then they went cheap and spoiled their brand.

I think it's unfortunate that most compacts are now in the 10-12Mp range; quality-wise it's counter-productive, but it's what the public want...

For simple home use I really think you'd be better off (a) staying with a reputable brand (b) steering clear of £50 10Mp cameras. If something is cheap it's cheap for a reason!

Yep you are right about Vivitar.I bought a 3MP one last year - and image quality was v poor - in fact my 1Mp Nokia camera phone was better
Samsung S1075 is consistently higly rated by Argos buyers.

Edited by tali1 on Wednesday 16th September 23:07

[clonmult]

tali1 said:

Simpo Two said:

tali1 said:

More megapixels = better image quality, i assume?

Well, that's what they'd like you to believe but unfortunately more megapixels = microscopic pixels = low light sensivity = low shutter speeds OR high signal/noise amplification = camera shake OR high noise - and files the size of Bolivia.

Work it backwards. Think of the largest print you're likely to make. If the answer is 'A4' then 5Mp is all you need; any more is simply counter-productive.

tali1 said:

Anyway, are the cameras any good?

The Samsung link isn't working but I wouldn't even use a Vivitar as ranging ammo for my trebuchet. That's 'cos I tried one once and the results were so truly horrible I sent it back very quickly! It's a pity because once Vivitar was a respected independent manufacturer (like Sigma are now) - but then they went cheap and spoiled their brand.

I think it's unfortunate that most compacts are now in the 10-12Mp range; quality-wise it's counter-productive, but it's what the public want...

For simple home use I really think you'd be better off (a) staying with a reputable brand (b) steering clear of £50 10Mp cameras. If something is cheap it's cheap for a reason!

Yep you are right about Vivitar.I bought a 3MP one last year - and image quality was v poor - in fact my 1Mp Nokia camera phone was better
Samsung S1075 is consistently higly rated by Argos buyers.

Edited by tali1 on Wednesday 16th September 23:07

The MP race is getting mildly stupid.

It was even on the cards years ago - comparing a 3mp Canon A75 to a 6mp Casio EX-Z600 and a 3mp Nokia N73 - the Canon was by far and away the best on image quality, with even the Nokia beating the Casio on image quality.

Try to find something with the largest aperture possible, although all seem to now be around F2.8, which is something that has always got me thinking "WHY????".

[Simpo Two]

clonmult said:

Try to find something with the largest aperture possible, although all seem to now be around F2.8, which is something that has always got me thinking "WHY????".

Three possible ideas:
1) buyers are not interested in max aperture so it's not provided
2) compacts are generally made to a price, and faster lenses cost more
3) focus/other visual issues might start to appear

Dunno, just guesses!

[mcflurry]

The Samsung Pixon 12 and Nikon D90 both have 12 megapixels.
Obviously the phone takes piccies as good as the D90. Not

http://www.samsungmobile.co.uk/mobile-phones/samsu...

[clonmult]

mcflurry said:

The Samsung Pixon 12 and Nikon D90 both have 12 megapixels.
Obviously the phone takes piccies as good as the D90. Not

http://www.samsungmobile.co.uk/mobile-phones/samsu...

The problem is that Joe Public believes that pixels are all that counts, therefore the Pixon12 will take pictures as good as the D90. Marketing is winning.

[BigAlinEmbra]

Go with a decent brand, pick the one you like the interface of the best, and sod the pixel count.

If it was my cash I'd go for an ixus or a lumix.

[Roop]

Back in 2004 or so I bought two digital cameras. A Canon Ixus i5 - Tiny 5MP shirt-pocket camera and a Fuji FinePix S7000 "bridge" style camera. The Canon knocks the Fuji into a cocked hat. Just because it looks big and flashy doesn't mean it necessarily cuts the mustard.

Edited by Roop on Thursday 17th September 21:58

[Stevenj214]

In a similar vein, can anyone recommend a good pocket sized, budget camera?

[uncinqsix]

Here's a question.

Would a 10Mp, small sensor compact with the resolution turned down to 5 or 6Mp produce images with similar amounts of overall noise to one with a native 6Mp sensor? Does it work like that?

I have no need for 10Mp, but there aren't any 6 or 7 or even 8Mp jobbies that a) I can actually buy, and b) meet my other requirements (i.e. very small, wideish-angle lens).

I don't print bigger than about A4, so will 10Mp be a problem for me?

Ta.

[andy-xr]

Lumicron, by Tesco