first I confess I still haven't bought mine yet. I've used an older 2mp hp,
no zoom. the focus lag/ half depress thing is weird. otherwise OK for day
shots. USB worked fine on win me, win98se.

also I know people happy with Sony
Sony w floppy, using the stick adapter.
and a Sony that writes to mini CD-r.


I like Keller at www.dcresource.com. he has a more 'hands on' writing style.
He has sample shots of what I care/worry about. Fringing, distortion (for
me, I want good quality at wide angles).

Preset Google:
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=site:www%2Edcresource%2Ecom+quality+fringing

I don't understand photography, but lower F is 'faster' (=better)
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&as_qdr=y&q=lens++f2-8+OR+f3-0+f3-7+OR+%22f2+0+%22+site%3Awww.dcresource.com&as_qdr=y&btnG=Google+Search


http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&as_qdr=y&q=%22photo+quality%22+2003+good+%7C+fair%7C+poor+%7C+very+site%3Awww.dcresource.com+-intitle%3Aprinter&as_qdr=y

also check recent Usenet comments about "trouble" "problem" broke" [camera
model or brand]

those special search words  :-)

rechargeable Li-ion against NiMH. They are in battle for consumers' favor.

I think both Steve's and Keller have info or links to chargers and NiMH, if
you buy an AA using camera. PPS, except tiny ones.

Some cameras have nonrechargeable/unrechargeable lithium (why?).

CompactFlash has long time best media. Smartmedia cards are still common,
but dead future. You won't buy media often, but I see some Usenet complaints
about cards killed by readers or unknown reasons.

Some of these sites must have a 'primer'.
--------

If you have a working SLR, use that for nit picking good shots. And buy a
reliable digital p&s for photo quality. You can buy older, originally
expensive, PPS models if you want features and optics, but older digicams
tend to be slow, etc.

reading recent pcmag
http://www.pcmag.com/print_article/0,3048,a=45971,00.asp

cursor down past the namby pamby sales fluff to the charts (gifs)

survey brand
reasons for tech
reasons for repair.

My overall impression:
canon
Olympus

then closely followed by Sony or Nikon or Fuji

Minolta

then Kodak. Hp

then crappier.   :_)


Consumer Reports seemed about similar.
==========
I've seen reviews suggesting that Fuji and Minolta have made some models
with 'quirky' advantages and disadvantages. They sound like products that
are savored by certain niche fetishists. :-)
====
Closeout, clearance and remainders add to the  confusion.

=============

go to stores and tryout, try the feel of lots of models.






"Coleman E. Howard" <cehowardgsxr1k@aol.com> wrote in message
news:bo0599$jj$1@bob.news.rcn.net...
>
> "Name withheld by request" <none@none.com> wrote in message
> news:nqmopvcic03j9ui3uklld22b85udhn8i9i@4ax.com...
> > Here's two great one stop places for comparisions, reviews, user
> > opinions etc
> > http://www.dpreview.com/
> > http://www.steves-digicams.com/
> > Personally, I'm using a Fuji Finepix S5000, which replaced my Finepix
> > 3800.  I loved both, the reason I upgraded is the 5000 has a few more
> > options to play with, along with a fantastic 10X optical 2.2X digital
> > zoom.  Fast, dosen't eat rechargable batteries, great pictures for
> > printing, and if I feel the need for optimum picture quality, it
> > shoots in RAW mode.
> >
>
> Same here, I dropped my trusty Kodak  290(my first digital camera), and
just
> got lucky and picked the Finepix S5000.  Riding sportbikes is my hobby,
but
> after having this Finepix S5000 for about a week, I find myself wanted to
> take picture rather than ride my sporbike! :)  That's bad. Don't have
money
> enough for another hobby.
>
> Get the Finepix 3800,S5000 or the S7000, IMO, you can't go wrong, either
> being a novice like me, or a expert.
>
> ceh
> Finepix S5000
>
>