Digital camera recomendations

[gugie]

My best advise is to find one that is just on the other side of not being made anymore. 6 months ago I did my research online and thought I had selected the best camera for my needs, then found out that all the local retailers didn't have them, but would gladly sell me the replacement model. Went online and found the camera I originally was looking at for nearly half off.

[Knottscott]

I don't have alot of experience with other digital cameras, but we've been really pleased with our Kodak Z740.

[scorrpio]

Well the LCD on the back should only be used to review your photo's. Not to compose and take the shot. Imagine a rifle with a video screen. You are still going to hold it tight to your shoulder and get a good stable shooting position...When you hold a camera out in front of you you do not have a stable shooting position.....I have seen some cameras without a view finder....

I dunno, comparing a rifle (which produces recoil when you shoot it) to a 5oz camera is a bit off-kilter. Heck, when you shoot a pistol, you don't press it against your cheekbone or shoulder, do you? Why would a two-hand grip on a say, 2lb Beretta92 (which also got recoil) be considered stable, and a 2-hand grip on a 5oz camera not? Not to mention that viewfinder on most P&S cameras is a very simple affair, virtually useless to determine what's in the picture and what's not - especially if using zoom or in macro mode (viewfinder messes up closeups due to parallax). I find myself using viewfinder on a P&S camera only when the sun is so bright that is 'drowns' the LCD.

On an SLR, where you have a rather massive lens that needs support, and the viewfinder 'sees' through the main lens, it's a whole different story - here, you use viewfinder for picture composition, no argument.

[Popeye]

Thanks for all the replies folks. I'm headed to Jacksonville this afternoon so I plan on taking the recomendations with me to do some shopping. Pat

[LCHIEN]

Consumer reports quick picks are...

FWIW, here's what Consumer Reports says:

Quick Picks
Best value for most people; a CR Best Buy:

• Canon PowerShot A620 , $220
• Kodak EasyShare Z700 , $250


Though relatively heavy, these compacts have excellent print quality and manual controls. The 7-megapixel Canon PowerShot A620 has 4x optical zoom, excellent battery life, a flip-out movable 2-inch LCD, and manual focus. (Also available: the newer, 10-megapixel A640, $399.) The 4-megapixel Kodak EasyShare Z700 has 5x optical zoom, very good battery life, is very easy to use, and comes with a charger, but it has a small, 1.5-inch LCD. The Hewlett-Packard Photosmart R817 and Canon PowerShot A520 are also good values but have been discontinued and may have limited availability.

Quick Picks

[rockjaw]

If you have a Staples near by, they have these two cameras on clearance:

597439 Canon SD500 $149.50
604619 Canon S2 IS digital camera $148.50

If you can find the Canon S2 IS for $148 - BUY IT!!!!!
This camera will do WAY more than you want and at $148, I would consider it the deal of the year. I have it and paid double that and thought I got it for a steal.

[onedash]

Well the LCD on the back should only be used to review your photo's. Not to compose and take the shot. Imagine a rifle with a video screen. You are still going to hold it tight to your shoulder and get a good stable shooting position...When you hold a camera out in front of you you do not have a stable shooting position.....I have seen some cameras without a view finder....
Anyhow I bought an open box Fuji 5MP. I to use it mostly for ww pics and various stuff around the house (pretty slow but good quality images). I have a couple Nikon SLR's for good pics.
I want to get a D80 now but have not convinced my wife yet. The D200 would be even better but thats a little more $$ yet....
If I bought another Point and SHoot it would probably be a Nikon CoolPix.

[bfrikken]

If you have a Staples near by, they have these two cameras on clearance:

597439 Canon SD500 $149.50
604619 Canon S2 IS digital camera $148.50

[Joe Lyddon]

A few years ago, I got a Canon Power Shot A310... for about $140

It does everything I want to do and some stuff that I haven't tried yet.

It has 3.1 mega pixels... not super good for the pro, but sure looks nice to me...

I like to be able to turn the flash off (saves batteries) and, to me, the pics look more natural... as a general rule, I hate the flash & keep it off whenever I can (which is most of the time).

I like to be able to get that super close-up... of that joint or wood grain.

It's very easy to use...

I would buy another one... I could probably get more MP's now for the same $$ I paid before.

[jessrice]

i would add my vote for the canon line as well. i have bought 4 of the canon a530 this last year for family (mother in law, son, and daughter) plus a canon s2 for the wife and like all the pictures that they take.

I have also bought about 15 other canon a6xx and a700's this year for the police department and code enforcement wiht out any problems. these are a bit out of the range your were looking, but are based on the same footprint as the 5xx line and take a lot of abuse form the knuckle heads!

one of my favorite places to buy is Abes of maine, and they currently have the 530's for 135.00 and do free shipping normally. they are fast and reliable, and have bought almost 20 cameras and and a pioneer plasma (for the squadroom, not my house!) from them this year alone wiht out problem. they are in maine, and i am in washington, and the stuff comes quick.

Do try to avoid adding any of there memory cards, batteries or kits cause they are the money makers for them. Sometimes, they do call to confirm an order and will try to get you to add extra stuff, normally the first order. I just tell them i am replacing a camera and using the old card and batts, and they give up!

here's the link

http://www.abesofmaine.com/viewproduct~id~cnpsa530.htm

for memory cards and battereis i normally hit up amazon, and have found thier frices tobe cheaper, and dont have to worry about the rebate gimmicks that the box stores make you go through!

good luck

Jesse

[Whaler]

Pat

I have a good one for sale. I just stepped up to a Nikon D-70 and no longer have a need for my Nikon CoolPix 950.
$100.00 shipping included.
www.steves-digicams.com/nikon950.html

[scorrpio]

It does not look like you'll be making extended trips into wilderness, so really, battery should not concern you much. My Canon can take pictures all day on one battery (heavy use during vacation), and then it takes about an hour to get it recharged. With occasional home use, it can take several weeks between recharges.

I suggest checking ebay - you can get some great deals on 'scratch an dent' used cameras that have minor body damage but otherwise work fine.

[jziegler]

I'll put in another vote for the Canon Axxx line. I just bought the A540, and so far am very impressed. As mentioned before, it's higer than your range (about $200), the the A530 is very similar for less money.

Loring got it right on the AA batteries. My old camera uses a fancy lithium battery. Sometimes it holds a charge, sometimes it doesn't. A replacement would cost about $50. After the experience of having it on a trip overseas and finding out there that the battery was a problem, I won't buy something that doesn't take AA for a long time.

In the Canon A series, you might also look for the A610 or A620, which are slightly larger and heavier, but better cameras. Looking to save money, many sites really like the A430 for a budget camera.

Jim

[germdoc]

I have a canon powershot 95 that's 2 years old that I really like. Any new canon model in the $150-200 price range should be pretty good. For my daughter's overseas trip I got a Sony for ~$150 at BestBuy. Both of these us standard or rechargeable AA batteries, which is often a benefit when you're travelling and can't recharge right away.

Quality--hey, look at my icon picture--can't knock that, can ya??

[DUD]

Pat I'm no camera expert, but I bought a Fuji F450 last year at Sam's for about $180.00. It is no bigger than a pack of cigarettes, and takes great pictures. It recharges and downloads from it's little station. On vacation I carry the charger with me. It is a lithium battery and takes a lot of pictures. It is 5.2 megapixels, printed out they are indeed photo quality. The price should be cheaper now. Bill