Help me spend money on techie stuff!

May 5, 2009 1:41 PM

Scanners, cameras, DVC conversion, oh my! Need your wisdom, Mefites! Budgets & descriptions inside!

I have the following budget for some items that we need to order at work and I am in charge of ordering them. Yipes! Here's what we need, what we need it to do, and the approximate budget available:

1. Scanner (around $400): We need to be able to scan photographs, documents, possibly negatives into high quality digital files. The scanner will be used by two people and rather moderately (around a few times a month).

2. Digital camera (around $500): We need especially to be able to take pictures in relatively low light. It needs to be relatively user-friendly as well, since non-photogs might be using it occasionally. It will be mainly used to take pictures of school groups and interviews in a small auditorium with crappy lighting that seats 164, although we'll also be using it for other shindigs. I was looking at a Panasonic Lumix, but I am completely open.

3. DVC conversion (around $1200): We need to be able to quickly and easily import mini dvcs to digital formats that can then be edited (on iMovie or FinalCut Pro, etc.) and turned into DVDs. We will have a DVD burner, etc. I was looking at this one.

Wisdom? Advice?

posted by cachondeo45 to technology (4 answers total)

For the scanner, I believe that there is little on the market at that budget point other than something from Epson and, in particular, the Epson Perfection V700. I have two, well, the other is the $700 V750, and I like them both.

I own the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 and, although I think it is a fine pocket camera, its low light abilities are... well... crummy, noisy. You'd do better with a used DSLR and especially a recent Rebel from Canon as they offer the least noise for the dollar. Small sensor point and shoots are just going to disappoint you with their horrendous noise, Lumix included. Nikon's recent DSLRs with beautiful low light performance aren't really available your budget level.

I don't know much about the DVC transport/tape drives thing other than I have friends who have been vexed beyond belief by their operation.

(Apologies for the exclusive linking out to Amazon but, it's the easiest.)
posted by bz at 2:03 PM on May 5, 2009

Here's a few past posts on low-light camera AskMes, the first on cameras and lenses, the second on how to shoot in low light. And in a random search on DPReview for low-light cameras (and seeing no category for that), I stumbled across Fujifilm Finepix F200 EXR, which is near your pricepoint. Read through their in-depth review, and you can see if any of those settings might apply to you, and if they matter.

As for scanners: it seems like there really aren't that many out there. Or at least NewEgg doesn't stock them. Pricewatch shows a lot of non-flatbed scanners, which I didn't realize were all that common (I often forget about the business markets). Both sites lists products by price, though NewEgg tells you a lot more.
posted by filthy light thief at 4:15 PM on May 5, 2009

Sounds like a Pentax k200d might fit the bill for number 2 as according to reviews it has:

Very easy-to-use interface
DSLR-sized sensor (much better than compact re. low light noise)
Image stabilization built in (should help with low light)
ISO up to 3200 (should help with low light)
User-controllable High ISO noise reduction

The body+lens kit is about £350 here - I'd be surprised if you couldn't pick one up new for $500
posted by primer_dimer at 4:28 AM on May 6, 2009

Looks like $500 would just get you the body in most shops. If you find a good local shop, you could see about getting a deal on body + lens.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:46 AM on May 6, 2009