In Reply to: Digital camera - advice please posted by Bokhara on Tuesday, 22. March 2005 at 15:17 Bali Time:
and loved it! It's a Pentax Optio S5i (I think they may have a newer version out now with more zoom but it costs around $700) but mine had a 3 x optical zoom, 5 megapixals, heaps of selections (nighttime, sunset, movie mode, surf and snow, self photo, food!, flowers etc etc. options for optimal shots as well as super macro for very close up shots) as well as a continuous shooting (essential option for taking photos of processions etc.) It has a larger screen (1.8 inch) which I used all the time instead of the viewfinder. I took 2 x 256 memory cards plus a spare battery (lithim rechareable) and it came with a small charger that you could charge up the camera as well as the spare battery without removing the battery from the camera - just need a 2 prong power adaptor. I found my batteries lasted as they said they would - about 160 shots using the LCD screen and half shots being flash. The cost was about $540 and I got back around 64 on the GST tax system (in Australia) you present receipt and show camera on departure from Australia and they refund into your credit card. I purchased just under the 30 days requirement before I travelled so had a bit of time to become familiar with it before going. I did put a sachet of moisture drying crystals in the small camera case. Size of the camera is 84mm x 52 x 20 - lovely and small and weight with battery and memory card 120g. Photos taken: approx. 600. Girlfriend also bought a new camera digital SLR with large lenses, she took around 20 shots in 3 weeks, said it was too heavy and large to lug around. Next time I would get larger memory cards as movie shots take up a bit of space.
The balinese people loved seeing their photo back on the screen and in fact a few of them learnt how to use it in 5 minutes! and had heaps of fun with it. They also loved seeing a 'slideshow' of the places we had been in Bali. Hope this helps ... from an ex-luddite ..