What is a good Point & shoot digital camera for arount $300-$350?

[bcinohio]

I have an old Sony digital camera that is at least 15yrs old and I would like to get a new one. I would like to stay in the $300-$350 range. I'm looking for a compact one, mine is really bulky, and one that shoots faster with a bigger view area on the back, mine is really small. What do you suggest?

Thanks

[havoc315]

Originally Posted by bcinohio

I have an old Sony digital camera that is at least 15yrs old and I would like to get a new one. I would like to stay in the $300-$350 range. I'm looking for a compact one, mine is really bulky, and one that shoots faster with a bigger view area on the back, mine is really small. What do you suggest?

Thanks

Lots of good compacts in that price range... but your digital camera is 15 years old??? I didn't know that Sony (or anyone else) was even making consumer digital cameras circa 1997. Okay... had to look it up out of curiosity, the first Sony Powershot was released in 1996. It has 0.3 megapixels. Didn't support memory cards, just an internal 4mb of memory.... Is this the camera you have been using?

Amazing. Feels like it should be a collector's item. The cheapest worst current digital cameras all will significantly out-perform a 15-year-old digital camera. It would be like comparing a 1987 laptop computer to a current laptop computer.

You're about to take quite a giant leap forward.


Anyway, some high quality options in your price range include the Sony HX20/30, the Canon Powershot S100/110, the Canon SX260, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20

[MolonLabe]

Wow, I can't believe it's worked this long!

Havoc is right, you are about to take a major leap forward. Wow.

If you were willing to step up to $450 a G1x series camera will rival many DSLR's under optimum conditions. I've got a G11 and it's amazing what it will do.

Beyond that all the research I've done this past year has been DSLR based so I can't help much other than a solid recommendation for the G1x series.

[hakepb]

This is a good starting point and includes a camera from most "categories"
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/669...ompact-cameras

[SplashMo]

Canon S95/S100/S110

If you dont mind more bulk the panasonic LX5 now on sale for $250.

[choco_latae]

Panasonic Lumix is fantastic. It has a 14 +mega pixel and has a 20 zoom which is hard to find. I love this camera. Here is a link to it.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Panasoni...&skuId=5666455

[luvthemouse71]

Originally Posted by SplashMo

Canon S95/S100/S110

If you dont mind more bulk the panasonic LX5 now on sale for $250.

I agree, I am still using my s95..that little camera does a lot!

[ShadeRF]

Originally Posted by SplashMo

Canon S95/S100/S110

If you dont mind more bulk the panasonic LX5 now on sale for $250.

I second the Canon S95/S100/S110. Simply can't be beat in this price range.

[photo_chick]

As far as the timeline.... the Sony Mavica line started in the early 80's. They bear little resemblance to digital cameras today and some models actually recoded to floppies. They had one at DH's work in the early 90's for catalog work and it was a beastly looking thing. Personally I got my first digital camera in 1998. A 1.3 MP Fuji and it still actually works very well.

OP.. there are so many models out. Go to dpreview.com and explore the options available on cameras now. Decide what kind of features you'd like. Video, RAW, proprietary battery... etc. That will help narrow things down because there are a lot of great cameras in your price range.