Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have the sony cybershot 3.2 mega pixel and 3X zoom. I like the size and ease of use. Also uses a memory stick..
I am interested in getting the sony mvccd250. It's a 6X zoom , 2.0 mega pixel, and larger than the one above. The feature i like is it uses mini cd-r disks and hold a lare number of prints.
My question is will a lose alot pic quality by going with the 2.0? I will be using it to take pics of my reptiles and every day type shots. It's not for work or serious pic taking. Anyone with ideas soley relating to the pic quality please give feedback.. Thanx in advance for any input.

Depends on what your using the camera for. 2.0 will be fine for smaller prints (4x5 or 5x7) and web usage but I would go with the 3.2 if you planning on printing bigger (8x10 +) pictures. This was taken with a 2.1 set on its lower resolution..JP

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Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas

I took back the camera that used cd's (circuit city) and bought the sony cybershot. I have been pleaed with it and the pics it takes. Thanx for all the input.. Below is a pic i took with it in the dark..

I personally would not buy it. I checked online and the average price was $450. At bestbuy.com, the average price for a 2.0 megapixel camera using memory cards is $200. To me, cd-based media is not worth 2x the price.

Is the appeal of the cd-r because you run out of space while away from your computer, or you want something permanent to back up the data, or both? I would buy a couple of memory sticks instead of getting a new and lesser camera.

BTW, the mvc-cd250 has a 3x optical and 2x digital zoom. Companies love to advertise the total combined zoom, but I would focus soley on the optical. Digital zoom degrades the image.
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-audri
Webpage/Pics

I don't know all of the issues about your choice of camera, but I think 2 mp pictures are great quality. I have a HP 2mp camera, and also a 3mp Fuji s602. You can't see the difference in picture quality, although the Fuji has more features. Actually, when I shoot high ISO or multi-exposure pics with the Fuji it drops down to 1 mp and those pictues are pretty good, too. If you're not going to be doing large enlargements, I'm not sure all these 3-5 MP cameras are worth it.

LOL
I've been shooting for years on a pre-megapixel camera (Agfa ePhoto; highest resolution is 1024x768) that, for a long time, served me just fine for everyday snapshots. 'Course, I bought it when the blasted thing wholesaled for about $300 or so... Now, it still works for snapshots and other images. It is even suitable for some macro work, if it is a nice sunny day.
This camera does not compare to the more modern digicams out there, It is fairly stupid when left in fully auto mode, and usually seems to focus on the wrong thing. When I choose the exposure settings, I get some pretty decent pictures. Got some incredible sunrises/sunsets from a kayaking trip in SC; got some great pics of the reptiles with it.
The three biggest issues I have with it, at this point are:
1- it gobbles batteries like Pez. NiMH's last an hour.
2- in anything but bright light, I really need to use a tripod.
3- you can't easily find flash cards 16MB and under, anymore! 32MB is the lowest that most stores carry, and those are being phased out, too.

End advice: Get the camera you like, stock up on memory as much as you can, and know that, in 6 years or less, it will be more obsolete than the discamera or the Instamatic was.
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Justin, Julie and the meangerie...
(Bobbing igs, snapping macklots, exploring ball, hungry kings, hyper grey rat, quacking tribs, hissing roaches, wriggling worms & chirping crickets)
Vermont Herpetological Society Online
www.vermontherps.org