Shaz - I'm one of those digital freaks who loves gadgets. I've used digital cameras since they first came out. In fact, my first digital camera was B&W because they didn't have color imagers at that time.
Hi Mike ,
When was that? B&W digital. Never would have occured to me, a digital B&W. What did you do with the photos, how far along was the computer?
Since then, I've gone through a number of digital cameras topping out with a Nikon D100 package - couple of lenses and good flash. While it was a good camera, my wife hated it because of the size and weight. 35mm cameras are a certain size because that was what was needed to contain the film. And in their time, 35mm cameras were considered small.
But today, there's no reason to stick with the 35mm sized camera. With a digital imager, the camera can be made quite small, which also reduces the size of the lens, which reduces the cost of the camera.
Since my wife hated the Nikon so much, I eventually sold it (taking a bath on it in the process) and bought a Kodak Z740 (12x zoom). Although the Nikon had some capabilities and features that the Kodak doesn't, I don't really miss anything major when I shoot with the Kodak (except the flash won't carry across a room).
It is nice to know that your Kodak is a satisfactory replacement... even after the bath! ......S
This is not to say that I think the Kodak is the best - I think that's a moving target. Canon (I think) has a digital camera out with image stabilization and a feature that recognizes faces and focuses on them. When you're shooting two people, you often frame them so that the center of the picture is between them, often giving you great focus on the background and fuzzy faces, if you're not careful to compensate. The Canon feature of recognizing the faces and focusing on them avoids that problem.
Sounds like an important feature, as fuzzy faces are best only when they are intended..
If you get fixed on Kodak, maybe I can sell you mine so I can buy one with all the latest features and functions (I'm goofy that way).
(another Kodak?)
Mike
[added note] One more comment. Whatever camera you buy, you have to think of it as a throwaway in a few years. They're making such great progress in digital cameras that no matter what camera you choose, yours will be well obsolete in that time.
Hey Mike, this P.S. is a most valuable piece of information. Thank you for your input, I believe it is that piece of information that will help me when it comes time for me to "take that bath"...........