[DigiCam] advice? 4-5 megapixel choices

[Steve Kane]

On Feb 12, 2004, at 4:45 PM, rjn wrote:

> I am looking to buy a 4 or 5 Megapixel camera and have narrowed it 
> down (i think) to the Nikon Coolpix 5700. the Sony DSC-f707, Minolta 
> 7i for 5 Megapixels and the Minolta s414 for the 4 megapixel category.

Tangential to your request for opinions, I have both the Minolta Dimage 
7i and the A1. The A1 focus and operation is quicker and the anti-shake 
feature is cool. I would recommend the A1 over the 7i.

The 28 wide on the 7i and A1 is well worth considering. The extra angle 
of view beyond the normal 35ish of most zoom cameras is great for group 
shots, interiors and scenics. I find the manual zoom ring easier to use 
than the see-saw electrical rocker switch on most zoom cameras, and 
there is a manual focus ring option. I've shot mostly with Nikon SLR 
cameras (most recently with an N90 with SB-25 flash) and for me it is 
as if Minolta took the features I found most important and squeezed 
them into a smaller lighter self contained digital camera package. What 
I miss most is my 20mm wide angle Nikon lens. Minolta has not yet 
provided a wide angle converter lens for this line though there are 
rumors.