I need a great digital camera. HELP!

[BlondieK143]

So I'm in the market for a digital camera. And I completely clueless as to the kind that I should get. The only experience I've had with one is the Kodak Easy Share which was very easy to use, and uploading pictures to the computer was a breeze. I've been looking at the Sony Cyber Shot camera, but haven't seen that many reviews on it. Basically I just need something for personal use, something easy to use, plenty of memory storage, and easy to upload pics to the computer. I'm looking to stay in the $100-$250 price range. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!!

[alarimer]

1. Try this website

He reviews all kinds of cameras. http://www.steves-digicams.com/

I am partial to Canon's myself. I have a Canon Powershot S3. It takes very good pictures but it is probably about $300 right now (prices will drop since Canon is introducing a new model soon). Any of the Powershot cameras are probably pretty good though, as are Nikons.

[RushIsRot]

2. You can get all the reviews you need from

Steve's Digicams. I love my Sony H1 and now there's an H9, but those are out of your price range.

[BlondieK143]

3. THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE LINK!

I appreciate it! :)

[ghostsofgiants]

4. Another good site for reviews...

www.dpreview.com

Also: Where the hell have you been?

[BlondieK143]

5. Hey there!

:hug: How the hell are ya? Things have been crazy for me the past few months so I've been trying to work on life. lol

[ghostsofgiants]

6. Things have been the complete opposite for me, haha...

Extremely dull and uneventful. Woo! :) Nice to see you around.

[BlondieK143]

7. LOL!

Well that's always a plus! And it's good to see you too! How are the dreads? Still have them?

And thanks for the link too!

[ghostsofgiants]

9. The dreads are holding up nicely, haha.

Though I need to trim them up a little, I hate when they get down to my shoulders. It's annoying, haha.

And no problem!

[DS1]

8. anything by Canon

[Maddy McCall]

12. I agree.

[Ptah]

10. I really enjoy my Kodak Z612

The 12X optical zoom is a treat.
It cost me around $200 with extra memory.

[Matsubara]

20. Thirded. I just got the Canon A710IS

It's great and reasonably priced, easy to use and easy to upload.

[bullwinkle428]

11. Here's another good site for info on cameras including reviews...

http://www.kenrockwell.com/

[Zoigal]

13. Saw a nice variety at

the local COSTCO this week. Good prices, too.
We have had good luck with both Kodac and
Olympus.

[Liberal In Texas]

14. Canon (as up post said) can't go wrong.

Well priced for what they are.

[hibbing]

15. go big

Hi,
Just realized this recently, smaller is not better, much more difficult to keep the camera still. I was trying to take some pictures at an event and a lot turned out blurry even with the ant-shake thing or whatever they call it on. I took some with someone else's big honker and it was much better. That one may have been an slr one though. I love all the features on mine, just hard sometimes to get it to stay still when clicking.

Mine is an Olympus 7100 no complaints just my shaky hands when I am clicking I guess.

peace

[BlondieK143]

16. you guys are great!

I knew I could count on DU! :) Thanks a bunch for all the links and tips!

[BrotherBuzz]

17. We snagged last years Panasonic DMC LZ3...

a used demo model for $45. Lots of bells and whistles that I haven't quite figured out yet, but it take nice photos. Look at the newer model Panasonic DMC LZ5, it appears to do everything include sound video and is under two hundred dollars. Many memory sizes of memory cards are available to increase memory to your need.

I'm waiting to win the lottery before I purchase a Nikon system that uses all my wonderful old SLR lenses.

[TreasonousBastard]

18. Canon, Kodak, or Nikon...

anything they have in that price range.

Kodak seems to give the largest optical zoom trange for the money, but all three give superb results. No doubt others, too, but I own a Canon and have some experience with Nikon and Kodak, so can vouch for them. All come with any essential cables and software to upload the pix, and Windows (XP and Vista) and Macs already have stuff built in to recognize cameras.

In that price range, though, don't go for the highest number of megapixels. Pay for optical zoom range, not megapixels. Five or six give perfectly good results up to at least 11x14 prints and they cut corners in the cheaper cameras to get higher pixel counts. This means the images have little things wrong with them that have to be fixed, and it can take longer between shots.

All of them use memory cards, but you can avoid the gigabyte cards unless the camera is many, many megapixels. 128 and 256Mb cards are big enough to hold a good days shooting with these cameras. Depending on the camera, it may take longer to load the picture on to the bigger cards, and with a 2 gig card the lag could be noticable.

Oh, one thing I like about my Canon that some other makers and models fall down on is it takes lithium, rechargable, or just plain ol' AA batteries, meaning it's easier to make sure you have fresh batteries at a critical picture-taking time.

[B3Nut]

19. For pocket/compact, I heartily recommend Canon

hard to go wrong with any of their line, from pocketable Elphs to the EOS SLR system. I shoot Nikon SLR gear these days, but I'd pick Canon's compacts for a toss-in-the-pocket digicam option over almost anything.

Also, in pocket cameras, try not to go above 6 megapixels, even that resolution on the tiny sensors used in small digicams is prone to noise, especially at the higher sensitivities you'd use in lower light. 10 megapixel pocket cameras are, IMHO, absurd. You lose far more image quality to noise than you'd gain by cramming in more ever-shrinking pixels.

Canons seem to put out some of the cleanest files I've seen, and they're bombproof...I still use my first digital (a Canon Powershot A20, 2.1MP) for odd office jobs. I bought it in 2002, and despite being dropped onto concrete and other mishaps it still works perfectly. It's out of date, but I can't bear to toss it out because it still works well. Ditto my wife's old digital Elph, and original 2MP camera. Despite abuse, it just keeps on ticking.

Also, the value of www.dpreview.com and www.steves-digicams.com cannot be overstated, especially dpreview...fantastic in-depth tests and LOTS of sample images. Look at samples, and go play with the cameras at the store.

Todd in Cheesecurdistan