Hello:
I am in the market for a digital camera so please help me out.
My husband is a photo freak who takes about 5-10 rolls a day. He already broke the Canon and Nikon on our most recent trip due to overused and I checked the website on several topics under http://www.dpreview and cnet but so confused already which one is ideal for traveling. We don't need to print 8x10 size but usually 4x6 or 5x7 to fit in the photo album. Do you have any recommendation? aside from the camera any specs on battery charger, memory card, etc. to take to Europe?
I appreciate your help.

Did he really break those fine cameras by overuse? 5-10 rolls a day sounds heavy but not abusive.

In any case, it sounds like a 3 megapixel camera will meet your needs. There are a whole bunch of them out there. Go to:

http://www.megapixel.net />
for excellent reviews of what's out there. You can get summary reviews of all cameras in that class (3-3.5 megapixels) and then view the details of those that seem interesting.

As for memory cards, compact flash comes in sizes up to 1 gigabyte and so does the IBM microdrive. These are still relatively expensive on a $/megabyte basis so you will probably want to get 512 megabyte card(s). 10 rolls a day for 10 days is 3600 frames using 36 frame rolls works out to 11 gigabytes at a full 3 megapixel. Most "fine" resolution schemes will cut this by 60% so you will need 4-5 gigabytes of storage. To keep this all on memory cards will cost you $400-500. You can get a portable storage device (psd)-essentially a portable hard drive for less than half that the will hold 20 gigabytes of storage.

Only Compact flash and microdrives come this big-secure digital are limited to 256 and memory sticks and secure digital are limited to 128. I took 800 photos during 2 weeks in Italy using 128 megapixel memory sticks-I had 4 sticks and off loaded to the psd every night.

Some cameras do not take rechargeable batteries-avoid them like the plague. Most digitals will let you charge in the camera-find out before buying-but I prefer a separate charger (they are lighter and smaller than that the big transformer feeding your camera while charging).

You will want to get a card reader (cheap at $20 to $35): they plug into the USB port of your computer and are much faster at downloading than your camera.

Get at least one extra rechargeable battery-you don't ever want to run out while shooting and you can recharge at night.

Hope this helps.

Glenn

GSRUNYON, I have a problem as my expensive rechargable batteries don't seem to hold a lot of charge. I now have 4 of them to get through one or two days of shoting (most outdoors with flash forget it). This includes some batteries I just got last Christmas. That's why when I bought cameras for my son-in-laws this last Christmas I bought cameras that used AA batteries as you can get them anywhere fairly easily and cheaply. If you still wanted rechargables, you could go for AA rechargables. With my camera I don't have that option so I have to plan well in advance. (mine is a Fuji digital). I love the camera, but I'm not happy with the battery situation.

Nuke,

I don't know Fuji (I shoot with Sony) but have you inquired with Fuji as to what to expect from your battery in terms of expected usage? Are they NiCads that develop a "memory" and may not fully recharge because they were not fully depleted first? (Nickel Hydride, NiH, batteries don't have this problem. Maybe the battery is defective and should be returned to the manufacturer. There are also a number of battery manufacturers on the web who might have a replacement with more staying power.

While AA's are widely available, they are expensive as the dickens in Europe. Take 2 sets of AA NiH batteries and a light-weight charger when traveling.

Glenn

No, Nicads are a lot cheaper these are the lithium type. Manufactured to be unique so you can only buy similar. One of the originals I purchased, quit within 2 years. Other than the batteries, I love the Fuji. I bought inexpensive Cannons for my son-in-laws for Christmas as they use the same type memory, so trading pictures at their houses is much simpler.

gsrunyan:
Thanks for the input, yes will check the website and go from there.