I'm just starting to look for a digital camera. looking in the $4 or $500 range. I just played with the cannon s1 for a couple minutes and it looked good. I just want a good overall camera. Good zoom (8 or 10x). Manual focus. Size doesn't matter (at least thats what she said<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/wink.gif" border=0>) <BR>I saw the post below but it seemed to jump around alot. <BR>Just lookin for some help. Thanks

Take a look at the Nikon 5700 <a href="http://radioactivedeals.com/products.asp?product_id=10155&amp;engine=Google" target="_blank">http://radioactivedeals.com/products.asp?product_id=10155&amp;engine=Google</a> I bought one and love it.

That's definatly one of the contenders. I like the 3 fps and love the way it looks. Where did you get yours and how much? How much memory did you get?

<a href="http://www.dbuys.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=dby.home" target="_blank">http://www.dbuys.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=dby.home</a> I think it was 491.00 when I bought it. I only have one 256 card right now.

I think you already made a good decission -> Canon S1 with IS. I'm gonna order this week a digital camera (below $500,-) and I think this one is perhaps the best choice for wakeboarding pictures. <BR>1. The optical image stabilizer should be great <BR>2. The 10x zoom is still usefull because the IS <BR>3. Great video recording (with the use of zoom) 640x480 at 30fps <BR>4. Every can be set manual (focus, zoom, white balans, shutter) <BR>5. It only has 3mp (but that's enough for me) <BR>6. It has no hot-shoe for extern flash <BR> <BR>If I have this camera I'll post some wakeboarding pics. <BR> <BR>Cheers Tom

Tommy, I just got the Canon S1 IS last week and have been playing with the camera a lot. Here are my reviews so far <BR>Amazing pic quality. The manual settings are fantastic but can be a little confusing for the novice camera buff. Pretty easy interface after playing around with the camera for a while. The video quality is amazing, but eats the memory card up FAST. If you want to use the video feature, I suggest a 1 gig card. The image stabalizer function works great. The 10x zoom is fast to zoom in and out, but sometimes does not focus clearly on the subject when done zooming. It will however, focus perfectly when you are taking the pic. Just looks blurry when you are looking while zooming fast. The shutter lag time seems to be normal as compared to other cameras. Slower then some and faster then others. The only problem I have had with the camera is the fact that when it is locking in the focus, the screen or viewfinder freezes and you loose your sight of the subject being focused on. This makes the burst mode very tricky because you are pretty much guessing where you are pointing the camera. I think this is a very common issue with digital cameras that have the viewers going directly thru the lense instead of a seperate window in the camera. I also got the underwater housing for the camera ($160 off ebay.) Much much better quality then I was expecting. Made by canon and you can use every button and feature the camera with it in the housing. I really only got it to protect the camera while taking pics in the boat. Don't want any of my friends or me fumbling the camera into the lake. It is a true scuba quality housing rated to 140ft below the surface. In a nutshell, I tested all the 10x optical zoom cameras on the market side by side at the camera store. After an hour I picked the Canon for its quality, features and ease of use. The salesman also favored the Canon even though it was not the highest priced in the 10x field. Have fun!!

Andrew, do you already have some wakeboarding pics with this camera? <BR>If so, can you send some of them to <a href="mailto:tvhoek@planet.nl">tvhoek@planet.nl</a> ? <BR>About the locking of focus in screen or viewfinder is normal in the digital camera world. Or you must spend $1000,- on a canon 300 rebel.

Andrew, could You post a few pics from the Canon ? I would like to see how it compares to the Nikon.

Here are a few with the Nikon 5700. Keep in mind I dont know what I'm doing yet.<a href="http://www.wakepics.com/view_single.php?medid=10416" target="_blank">http://www.wakepics.com/view_single.php?medid=10416</a> <BR><a href="http://www.wakepics.com/view_single.php?medid=10411" target="_blank">http://www.wakepics.com/view_single.php?medid=10411</a> <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.wakepics.com/view_single.php?medid=10346" target="_blank">http://www.wakepics.com/view_single.php?medid=10346</a> <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.wakepics.com/view_single.php?medid=10344" target="_blank">http://www.wakepics.com/view_single.php?medid=10344</a> <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.wakepics.com/view_single.php?medid=10343" target="_blank">http://www.wakepics.com/view_single.php?medid=10343</a> <BR> <BR>This one is a little grainy I think I might of had the ISO set to high ?<a href="http://www.wakepics.com/view_single.php?medid=10116" target="_blank">http://www.wakepics.com/view_single.php?medid=10116</a> <BR>

I don't have any boarding pics yet because our lake just opened on saturday and ... well... there was snow on the ground we we opted to skip the lake. I will be getting some this week for sure though. I will post them too. I will try and post some pics I have taken, as I have to figure out how to resize them. I lost my old editing software in a computer crash and am learning all over again with new stuff.

I am still learning how to use the camera and am pretty much clueless on how to use the advanced features. This pic was taken using the auto setting. Point and shoot style. Had to get it down to the right size to post, and lost a lot of detail. <BR> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/87667/168611.jpg" alt="">

<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/87667/168621.jpg" alt=""> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/87667/168622.jpg" alt="">

Jeremy, Here is a site that has lots of great info and reviews. <a href="http://dpreview.com/" target="_blank">http://dpreview.com/</a>

Minolta DiMAGE 7i, 7Hi, A1 are also good options. I don't have any good wakeboarding photos yet but here are some pet photos. <BR> <BR><a href="http://home.austin.rr.com/superj/" target="_blank">Photo Link</a> <BR> <BR>Note: The bad quality on the sequence is due to bad lighting and extreme underexposure. I just put it to show the 7fps. <BR> <BR>P.S. Is there any way to post images that are hosted somewhere else? I couldn't figure it out. If there is not, that's stupid. <BR>

The Minolta has a focus ring that is really nice.

Focus ring is a great feature. Using buttons to manually focus takes some getting used to and I think using the buttons is slower then a ring would be.

The manual focus on the Nikon 5700 is the only thing about it that I dont like so far. <BR>A friend of mine has the minolta and the focus ring is the way to go for sure.

This is a good example of what the image stabalizer can do for you. This was taken at 13x zoom (10x optical and 3x digital) boat was rolling up and down. I was about 30 yards away from the birds. <BR> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/87667/168720.jpg" alt="">

Thanks for the pics! <BR>I also like the 5700, but that camera is still e700+ in Europe (same for the 7hi). And I want to stay under the "magic" e500 . <BR>I ordered the Canon S1 today. Hope to get it before the weekend.

You can get the Nikon 5700 for 490.00 in the states if You know where to look.

I was checking out the cannon S1 again today and i do like it. They have it at staples for $499. I need to find somewhere that caries the Nikon 5700 so i can check it out first hand. <BR> <BR>Thanks for all the input guys. <BR>Hey Walt. Do you like the 5700 better and if so what do you think are it's best features? <BR> <BR>Also, as far as iv'e seen, the 7i, 7hi and A1 are a little to expensive?

Jeremy, I think You get more and better features on the 5700 than the S1 for the same money. <BR>The 5700 usually sells for 700.00 to 900.00 but like I said You can get it for under 500.00 if You know where to look. <BR>Read both of the reviews at dpreveiw.com <BR> <BR>Take a look at all the specs like shutter speed, ISO ect, <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.dpreview.com/articles/canons1is/default.asp" target="_blank">http://www.dpreview.com/articles/canons1is/default.asp</a> <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikoncp5700/" target="_blank">http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikoncp5700/</a>

I got my new 7i on Ebay for $385. I think $400-450 is more typical. The 7Hi goes for about $100 more. <BR> <BR>I just checked the completed auctions and most of the ones I saw were reconditioned w/ 6-month warranties. I guess they're running out of new ones now that they're out of production. There's probably nothing wrong with a factory reconditioned one though. Reconditioned (as opposed to refurbished) should be in new condition.

Alright Walt. I think you got me pulled into 5700 land. :-) You said "if you know where to look" So where do i look? I think i'm gettin close to figuring it out. But i am still checking out the minoltas.

Here ya go....479.00 after rebate. <BR><a href="http://www.dbuys.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=dby.proPage&amp;product_id=13 83" target="_blank">http://www.dbuys.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=dby.proPage&amp;product_id=13 83</a>

I would buy the card some were else though. I think there was a post here on WW about a 1 GB card for 200.00

Here is another one 395.00 after rebate <a href="http://radioactivedeals.com/products.asp?product_id=10155&amp;engine=Google" target="_blank">http://radioactivedeals.com/products.asp?product_id=10155&amp;engine=Google</a>

Your right walt here is a <BR>Sandisk Ultra II 1 GB for $199.99 <BR><a href="http://http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10354253&amp;loc=101&amp;sp=1" target="_blank">http://http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10354253&amp;loc=101&amp;sp=1</a> <BR> <BR>or a Sandisk Ultra II 256 MB for $49.99 <BR><a href="http://http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10354911&amp;loc=1935" target="_blank">http://http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10354911&amp;loc=1935</a>

Here is an action pic with the s1 is canon. Taken from the observers seat, rider 70 ft behind the boat. <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/87667/169322.jpg" alt="">

Hey walt. Would you actually recomend those sites to buy from? Where did you get yours?

Jeremy, I bought mine at dbuys and My Dad just bought one from Radioactivedeals and We had good luck with both<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/smile.gif" border=0>

The one from radioactivedeals, was it not including things? Like batteries or something?

Andres, can you send me the original pic to <a href="mailto:tvhoek@planet.nl">tvhoek@planet.nl</a> ?? Thanks, I should have the S1 today at home, but the weather is so bad that there is no wakeboarding this weekend :-(

Jeremy, Call them to verify but it should come with a battery, charger, software and a small card.

Thanks alot for all your help walt.

No problem.

Jeremy, Did You decide on a camera ?

Here my first photo's of the Canon S1. Just Auto and point&amp;shoot. Nothing special. <BR> <BR> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/87667/170006.jpg" alt="Canon S1"> <BR> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/87667/170007.jpg" alt="Canon S1 II">

That looks pretty good for auto.

<BR>WALT CALL ME ASAP @ MY OFFICE 800-858-7088

I've had good luck with my Olympus, it does not have the zoom, but enough for decent boarding shots. In my profile is a downsized pic that it too. The Olympus Stylus 400... figured it might be intriguing to all you boarders because it is supposed to be weatherproof. I've gotten mine a lil wet and no damage, had it in and out of the freezing cold with condensation and all... just piece of mind when your dealing with electronics, and it is a strong camera too. <BR>+'s Pocket sized <BR>affordable <BR>water resistant <BR>strong <BR>-'s <BR>zoom <BR>sequence

Here is a pic I took with my canon s1 inside the Canon underwater housing. I held the camera just above the waterline off the swim platform and just estimated the shooting position. Housing works GREAT and is supurb for storing the camera while on the boat. <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/87667/170974.jpg" alt="">

Well.... About 4 hours before i left for vacation i broke down and just bought the cannon at Staples. I haven't had much time to check it out yet(I worked, the family vacationed. Go figure) But so far it seems like a great camera.

Here's a couple. <BR> <BR>The baby girl <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/87667/170996.jpg" alt=""> <BR> <BR>The 6 year old. <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/87667/170997.jpg" alt="">

Jeremy, now break down and get the underwater housing for the camera. It really is cool and makes having the camera on the boat more relaxing. You don't have to worry about dropping it in the water or getting it wet. Also protects the camera if you happen to drop it on a solid surface. Plus, you can get pics of the kiddies from under water.

I wish i could! My wife would ring my neck.