Cost is not an Issue

[Showe]

Ok can you spare yet another "which camera" question?

I am in desperate need of a new digital and I have read on this board several reviews and such. I have an older Canon (A10)and I know Canons are a good way to go. I have been in the market now for something around $300. Basically I am illiterate when it comes to what I need and don't need. I know I want something with at least5 megapixels - I want modes to be able shoot at night (especially a fireworks mode) and action modes etc. I want good clear pix when I print. Now I know the camera is only as good as the person using it but I still want some quality.

I have been looking at the Canon Power shot A610. This one seems to have basically what I wanted. So now here's the kicker....DH and I get AmEx rewards and with our reward points we have enough to get a new camera - no cost to us. So the following are my cameras to choose from:

1.) Canon PowerShot Digital Elph 5.0 megapixel. (love the red and purple)
2.) Sony Cyber shot 6.0 megapixel
3.) Canon Powershot either 8.0 mp (S80) or 5.0 mp (not sure which one this is for sure. It is just listed as a 5.0 mp camera and shows picture of the S80).
4.) Panasonic Lumix 6 mp

I guess in our case size does matter. We want something compact. We don't necessarily need the "credit card" sized camera but compact size is good. I don't know much about sony's or panasonics.

So what do you experts think. Given these four choices which would you pick ?

 

[geetey]

Not an expert here by any means, but I did have a thought. Would you be open to getting something else with your reward points and purchasing the camera you actually want?

Before I decided on the Rebel Xt, I was looking closely at the Canon A620 and Canon S2-IS (I would wait for the S3-IS now). I was so unhappy with my last digital camera... I wouldn't want to have to settle again.

Just a thought! I am sure an expert will be stopping by soon!

 

[Laurajean1014]

Easy rule of thumb: Canon make the best digital cameras and Nikon makes the best film cameras.

Get the Canon Rebel SLR - it's a fantastic camera. The lens are getting more realistically priced and it takes photography quality shots.

 

[Showe]

Yes, in fact getting something else has crossed my mind. (they have some awesome TVs that DH would love). I guess I was just of the mind set that here were these four or so cameras sitting here for the taking so to speak. I was like a kid in a candy store. Do i get the candy bar with nuts or caramel ? Know what I mean ?

anyway, I probably already know the answer to my own questions - I think I truly want a Canon....just wanted to hear what others thought ...

 

[YEKCIM]

I have a suggestion for you. First, take mental (or written!) notes of what is important to you in the digicam purchase. Things like size/weight, zoom range, ISO range, image stabilization, price, memory type, resolution (megapixels), and so on. Then hop on over to http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sidebyside.asp and select several of the Canon models (assuming you are not considering any other makes) that you are thinking about (and maybe a couple you haven't...). Compare the ones you select, based on the criteria you have in mind, and from that list, choose the one that best meets those criteria. You may find the exact "fit" or you may find that none is "it", but one may emerge as the closest match. Some models you might want to consider are the S2-IS, S3-IS (not on the market yet, I don't think), A610, A620, A700, for starters. This assumes that you are not interested in a dSLR, at this point. Once you narrow it down to one or two, read a couple of online reviews, just to be sure you haven't missed anything important.

Good luck!

~YEKCIM

 

[manning]

YEKCEM has some good advice. If you have a camera store like Ritz or Wolf Camera (by the way owned by the same person) go in and handle them.

www.dpreview.com does a very good job reviewing cameras.