Digital camera advice needed.

[wallyb]

Can anyone advise me on a great,
(don't need all the bells and whistles)
easy, reliable digital camera to buy?

Any one have the Consumer Reports issue reviewing them?
Who came out on top?
I can’t find our copy

Thanks for any help.

 

[Anewman]

Price range for the camera(set aside at least $40 for media)?

 

[Judge Fudge]

Lots to consider there.

Do you want any manual controls?
Price?
Size?
Optical Zoom?

I could recommend the one I have as taking nice pictures, selling at a decent price (better than the $450 I paid ), having manual controls, but it's NOT a small camera.

 

[wallyb]

Well -

Small - for my wdw trips mostly

Easy to deal with -
not to many setting to tinker with.

Easy to understand -
instructions not written as if I was trying to split an atom

Basic zoom capability

Some kind of stability control

250 to 400?
Does that sound right?

sharp - great color - easy to download into my Mac

 

[Anewman]

Well -

Small - for my wdw trips mostly

Easy to deal with -
not to many setting to tinker with.

Easy to understand -
instructions not written as if I was trying to split an atom

Basic zoom capability

Some kind of stability control

250 to 400?
Does that sound right?

sharp - great color - easy to download into my Mac

http://www.buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=CNPSSD700

 

[Judge Fudge]

I second the Canon. I have 2 cameras, a Pentax Optio 5Si, and a Canon S3 IS. The optio is nice because it fits in an altiod tin, and I can take it everywhere if I want. It takes nice pictures, though not as nice as the Canon. But the Canon is a pain to lug around with me sometimes.

So if small with a great picture is what you are looking for, that Canon linked above is a pretty sweet camera. If I may make another suggestion, get at least a 2gb SD card for it.

Easy to use with your Mac? Isn't EVERYTHING easy to use with our Macs? .. I'm a Network admin by day, and I won't touch windows anymore by night. Just plug it in, it just works.

 

[mhutchinson]

I have found this link to provide some level headed advice and will weigh pros and cons with the top picks as they see it.

http://www.dcresource.com/buyersguide/

Also take a look at the sample pics provided under each review, they can give a lot of insight in to a camera's capabilities.

Mike

 

[wallyb]

So we're all liking the-
Canon Powershot SD700 IS Digital ELPH Camera
for me?

I'm going to order it in the next day or 2-
so I'm relying on your knowledge - "for I am but a babe in the woods" here-
It'll be my first digital camera.

 

[Barb D]

I'm in a similar situation, but want to spend <$200, including memory. My 3 megapixel (but huge) camera took fine pictures, so I'm sure I'll be happy with 5ish. I want something small. (My old camera has a "haze" now, and plus it's bigger than I want.)

I'm open for suggestions.

 

[Judge Fudge]

I'm in a similar situation, but want to spend <$200, including memory. My 3 megapixel (but huge) camera took fine pictures, so I'm sure I'll be happy with 5ish. I want something small. (My old camera has a "haze" now, and plus it's bigger than I want.)

I'm open for suggestions.

I don't know if that's an absolute budget for you, but I would try to increase it like $50. That way you can use $200 straight on the camera. In any event, here are 2 I saw on Newegg (great site, honestly better than any photo sites for reliability) Check out the links for good pictures of them.

Canon A530 5MP - $175 with a 512mb card
4x Optical Zoom
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16830120040

Panasonic DMC-LZ2 - $199 no card included
6x Optical Zoom
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16830134026

BTW These are small but NOT ultra compact. Oh and avoid HP like the plague, they are some horrible cameras.

One more camera, which is an ultra compact.
Casio EX-Z60 6MP - $199 no card included
3x Optical & Antishake
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16830124131

 

[Anewman]

So we're all liking the-
Canon Powershot SD700 IS Digital ELPH Camera
for me?

I'm going to order it in the next day or 2-
so I'm relying on your knowledge - "for I am but a babe in the woods" here-
It'll be my first digital camera.

Wow you just saved $22 by waiting a day, it is now $379 at buydig.com(no tax, Free shipping).

 

[Anewman]

I'm in a similar situation, but want to spend <$200, including memory. My 3 megapixel (but huge) camera took fine pictures, so I'm sure I'll be happy with 5ish. I want something small. (My old camera has a "haze" now, and plus it's bigger than I want.)

I'm open for suggestions.

IMO best VALUE in that price range is the Panasonic LZ3
5 megapixel
6x optical zoom*
Opitical(not digital) Image stabilization*

*It is very difficult to find either of these features in any camera under $200, this one has both.

Not exactly a compact here is an example of the size.

If size is REALLY REALLY important the only uber compact cameras under $200 would be PENTAX and they are not exactly GREAT cameras IMO. The S5z is the best of their sub $200 compacts but it really lacks in comparison with the Panasonic.
here is the size example

Click here, Panasonic LZ3 $179

Click here: Pentax Optio S5z $169

All prices are from Buydig/Beach camera and there is no TAX(there is $7 shipping on the pentax) and free shipping on most cameras.

 

[wallyb]

Hey guys (Anewman, Judge Fudge, mhutchinson) before I forget..
Thanks so much for your guidance!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I thought I would share what I thought was a good buy for anyone looking for a basic point and shoot digital camera. I've used an HP 3.1 MP digital camera for over 4 years now and have been very happy with it. However, I take so many pictures it's gotten beat up a bit. I also wanted something a little smaller since I always have it with me.

I decided recently to add a 4X6 photo printer and was just going to buy one by itself. This morning after reading this thread, I checked my favorite place to buy electronics (to check out the Canon) and found this deal (which was too good to resist - basically getting a printer and decent camera for what I was expecting to pay for the printer alone). I checked out other sites' prices for the HP M517 and the price of the camera alone is usually much higher. Reviews are respectable.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4183648 ETA Looks like if you shop around you can find this same bundle even cheaper - $129 on Amazon.com with free shipping.

Taken with my old HP from atop a trash can at MGM.

 

[wallyb]

Any one heard of bestpricecameras
they have the Canon Powershot SD700 for $299
Does this sound right? Am I missing somthing?

 

[sphmaz]

Any one heard of bestpricecameras
they have the Canon Powershot SD700 for $299
Does this sound right? Am I missing somthing?

Check out www.resellerratings.com to learn about online stores.

 

[Judge Fudge]

Any one heard of bestpricecameras
they have the Canon Powershot SD700 for $299
Does this sound right? Am I missing somthing?

Don't do it. Almost every camera store except buydig and maybe 2 or 3 others are ripoff scams. They'll try to force accessory packages, they won't send items, they send you grey market goods(european versions). You'll be really sorry.
http://thomashawk.com/2005/11/priceritephoto-abusive-bait-and-switch.html

Heed that as a great example.

 

[Judge Fudge]

Taken with my old HP from atop a trash can at MGM.

It all depends what you are looking for. To me, that picture wouldn't meet the quality I was looking for. (Though it is an interesting picture )

Also when I worked for Staples, all we had was return after return on HP camera's. Hence the reason I won't recommend them.

 

[jann1033]

don't know what the sensor is in the elph but have you checked out the canon A610?600 they are 5, 7 mp. have a bigger, swiveling lcd and take great pictures( same sensor as in the S2IS)...also about $200-220 last time i looked.

i have IS in my one lens and love it but truthfully, unless you have a problem with shaking/tremors( i do)I don't know you'd really need it in a point and shoot with 4x zoom( daughter has the a 610, slight tremors from meds and her shots are sharp as can be) i mean if you don't move, how much sharper are your pics going to be? I kind of think IS is the new hype, on a big zoom like the s2/3 i think it helps but on 4x ..imo it's getting to be like 10 mp how many average people really need that?

pea n me...the only problem i heard of was HP cameras had a big recall( fire maybe) but the pic above is very nice and certainly quality good enough for most people ( not maybe some of us fanatics on here but i mean the average vacation snapshot user who buys a p&s camera)

 

[Anewman]

don't know what the sensor is in the elph

If you are talking about the SD700 IS, I think it is exactly the same sensor as in the S3 IS.