Digital Camera Recommendations...?

[Captain Highwind]

Background info: I'm looking for a digital camera that will let me take high-resolution shots of my artwork (2D, ceramic, stained glass, etc.), as well as something that will just let me take images of my surroundings for reference material in painting.

So far, I'm judging the difference between a Nikon D40 and a Vivitar ViviCam VC8625 8MP Digital Camera, which is much cheaper ($200) and has these specs, which, with some basic searching, seems to offer me higher resolution.

Vivitar specs
8-megapixel CCD
6X optical/4X digital zoom
3264 x 2448 max. resolution
2.5" LCD
20 shooting modes
Movie mode with audio
32MB internal memory

Nikon specs

High-performance 6.1-megapixel Nikon DX format CCD imaging sensor
Easy operation w/ intuitive controls
Rapid-action shooting up to 2.5fps
2.5" color LCD w/ 3 display options
In-camera image editing
Advanced HELP menu system with Assist Images
Advanced 3-area autofocus system
Image optimization options
Built-in speedlight with i-TTL automatic flash control
SLR viewfinder
Automatic exposure w/ 8 Digital-Vari program modes
3D Color Matrix Metering II
Uses SD memory card, not includedThe question is, what makes the Nikon so special that it has to be $300-some bucks more?

Does anyone have any other suggestions for cameras?

[Zubby]

Background info:
The question is, what makes the Nikon so special that it has to be $300-some bucks more?


Well, one thing it has is the Nikon name. Nikon has a long-time reputation for quality cameras, so it's not all (but is probably largely) a price based on the brand name.

As someone who teaches photography for a living, I always give a gouple of pieces of advice when asked about cameras:

1. know what you want to use it for. You'vr already got that taken care of.

2. Don't buy into the megapixel myth. I've made high quality 16X20 prints from a 5 megapixel pocked sized camera. Huge megapixel cameras are unneseccary in most cases.

3. Watch the lens. A good quality lens will effect your images more than any other feature the camera has. The smaller the lens, the more likely there are to be errors-the physical properties of glass has it's limits that often are met in small pocket sized cameras.

For shooting artwork, you'll want to make sure the lens is distortion-free (a problem with smaller cameras). Small lenses tend to bend straight lines. That isn't as important when taking reference photos, you won't notice those errors in landscape images.

Check out this website
http://www.dpreview.com/
It's a British site, and has the most detailed digital camera reviews I've seen. It's very likely that both cameras you are looking at have reviews there.

[Captain Highwind]

Much better!

Yeah, I couldn't find the Vivitar model, but after what you've said about small lenses I think I'll lean toward the Nikon (which looks like it's gotten good reviews (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40/). It's also pretty popular on the ordering site that I found it on.)

I'll keep looking though. Thanks!