My
Digital Quest
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It'll be a long time, if ever, before digital replaces or supersedes my SLR film photography, but it has become a part of my photographic profile. I know digital is here to stay, and as time goes by buying film and having it processed will become more expensive and more illusive.
My first digital was not the Konica Q-M200, but some piece of junk that was quickly tossed out and forgotten, however the Q-M200, pictured above, was my first real digital camera.
The Konica Q-M200 is a good two megapixel camera, and in fact has the destinction of being the first two megapixel camera. I purchased the Q-M200 in 2000, as the 20th Century was ending. However, as the 21st Century got under way, and digital quickly developed and improved, I began considering moving up to better quality digital, including eventually moving to digital SLR photography. Already having Nikon mount lenses, it was only natural to stay with Nikon digital SLR's or those cameras which take Nikon lenses, but I also considered some Olympus, Fujifilm, and Nikon, non-interchangeable lens, advanced digital models while SLR cameras were improving.
In my quest for an advanced digital, non-interchangeable lens, medium priced camera, and an SLR still being the primary goal, those being seriously considered were as follow.
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This Fujifilm FinePix S602 was the first to catch my eye. It has a great zoom range of 35mm equivalent 35-210mm and has had great reviews. It's Super CCD system gives an effective 3.1 million pixels, but an output of 6 million pixels through their Pixel Data Coupling Technology. Shutter speeds range from 15 seconds to 1/2000th second. ISO modes include 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600. Aperture range is f/2.8 to f/11. Dual media slots support SmartMedia, Compact Flash Type I and Type II, and IBM Microdrive. Weight is 17.6 ounces. |
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The Fuji S602's strongest competition was this Olympus C-5050. Its reviews were just as impressive. It has a 5 Megapixel CCD, but the zoom range is less (35-105mm) than the Fuji. Manual shutter speeds range from 16 seconds to 1/2000th second. ISO modes include 64, 100, 200, and 400. Aperture range is f/1.8 to f/8. It supports xD Picture Card, SmartMedia, Compact Flash Type I and Type II, and IBM Microdrive (512MB and 1GB only). Weight is 13.4 ounces. |
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The Nikon Coolpix 5700 was the third major contender as my next digital camera. Great name, great zoom range (35-280mm equivalent), and compatible with owned Nikon flash units, but much higher in price. It was also a 5-Mexapixel camera and had Nikon's great Matrix Metering system. Weight: 16.9 ounces |
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The fourth major contender was also a Nikon, the Coolpix 5400. The 5400 would probably have been the strongest contender if the price had been slightly less and the camera more easily available when I made my purchase. The 5400 also is a 5-Mexapixel camera, with a zoom range of 28-116mm (35mm equivalent). I liked that its lens was slightly of a wider angle, with a decent telephoto length. Weight: 11.3 ounces |
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