I'm thinking about a new camera. Help, please!

[waughzee]

Right now I have a Nikon Coolpix 3200 (3.2 megapixels, 3x zoom, 15 easy-to-use scene modes and internal memory). I love the camera for it's ease of operation, and it takes great daylight photos, but I'd like to upgrade. These are the qualities I am looking for:

Greater megapixels
Easy to use
Small in size
I'd like it to "come back to life" after taking a picture (I know there is a term for that, but I can't think of it now!)
Better/clearer night time/low light photos-what I get now is kind of grainy.
Zoom

Any recommendations? I would rather not spend more than $300.

Thank you for any help you can give me!

 

[wkrider]

I just ordered this camera from B&H. I have not had the chance to use it yet but the numbers are in the area of what you are looking for. The link has some replies from some people that have the camera.

Link to DIS thread about camera

 

[lilyv]

I've decided to order a Canon SD870IS from B&H Photo. I added a 2GB card, the total including shipping came to about $330. That's pretty close to your budget.

You're list of preferences is very close to mine. This camera seemed to fit the bill. Good luck with your shopping!

 

[mike_r]

The Canon 870is is a great camera. I bought one for my last trip in January to use in Disney and also in Sea World, well most of Sea World, I used a Canon 30D for the shows, those dolphins and whales are fast.

 

[Groucho]

Right now I have a Nikon Coolpix 3200 (3.2 megapixels, 3x zoom, 15 easy-to-use scene modes and internal memory). I love the camera for it's ease of operation, and it takes great daylight photos, but I'd like to upgrade. These are the qualities I am looking for:

Greater megapixels
Easy to use
Small in size
I'd like it to "come back to life" after taking a picture (I know there is a term for that, but I can't think of it now!)
Better/clearer night time/low light photos-what I get now is kind of grainy.
Zoom

Any recommendations? I would rather not spend more than $300.

Thank you for any help you can give me!

FWIW, by and large, the smaller the camera, the less the zoom; and all point-n-shoot cameras will struggle in low light due to the tiny sensors necessary to make the cameras so small. Higher megapixels also make the low-light situation worse as they attempt to squeeze more picture out of a small sensor. (Megapixels really nearly as important as the companies want you to think!)

So, you probably will be best to weigh your priorities... a slightly larger camera will get you more zoom, and if you want better low-light performance, you will almost certainly have to go with a camera with a somewhat larger sensor, the champs usually being the Fuji models that have a SuperCCD HR sensor, though there are a few others with larger-than-usual (but smaller than Fuji's HR) sensor.

The good news is that most all cameras nowadays will probably be much faster than yours in terms on responsiveness, including how long it's ready to take another photo after taking one. Good luck with your decision.