Need suggestions for a digital camera....please help!!!

[allaboutaprincess]

I would like to buy a new compact digital camera for my upcoming disney trip. I have a canon rebel, but it is a little too bulky for me to carry all day! I would like one that takes fast pics and good pics and less than $250. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated!

 

[gulf breeze]

I also have a Rebel and I agree, to bulky to lug around all day. I got a Canon Powershot A720 IS 2 years ago and while it does good it's slow taking 2 pictures in a row. My DH wanted a camera and he bought a Panasonic DMC-ZS3 for aroung 230.00 It does an awsome job!! Fast on the retake and it does great indoor shots. It takes better pictues than my Rebel of the kids on the stage with the red velvet curtain. They do have a new model out now, his is a 12x zoom and the new one has 16x. My little canon only has 6x. Amazing what they can do in 2 years . Hope this helps, Breeze

 

[wbarkhur]

you might check out the photography boards, they are very helpful with this type of thing, and can answer alot of questions.

 

[Minniemouse07]

Try the Canon "SD" line over the "A" line... SD uses lithium ion batteries (we bought a back up for our WDW trip so one was always charged) and the A use traditional batteries.

The SD cameras are slimmer and, I read somewhere faster, than the A cameras (for transitions, between pictures, etc.). Our bonus is that it takes great short videos as well so we can leave the video camera at home!

 

[imthatgirl]

I would go to a store and try a couple. Personally I am a fan of Cannon. If it were me I would probably get a power shot. they're great easy to use cameras.

 

[bigkid@disney]

I agree on checking out website reviews.

But, I'm a bit of a camera junky and have experimented with many others, from the big bulky digital SLR's with a 600 mm zoom to my point & shoot.

My favorite camera that I always carry with me and wouldn't go on vacation or any event without it is my Canon Powershot SD960IS. It's fast on the first picture, does multiple shots quickly, takes many pictures on one battery charge. I did a quick check and it's at Wal-Mart for under $200. It uses a lithium battery, SD card, 12.1 pixels with lots of little features and extras.

Good Luck!!!!

 

[ajjollie23]

I love my camera, but it was a little more than you are asking. I have seen it online for $275, but is usually around $325.

Canon poweshot sx200is... It has a 12x zoom, big viewfinder, night pictures are much better than my first canon and it is compact enough to fit into my jeans pocket, although there is a definite bulge.
One drawback that doesn't bother me at all is that it only has the 3" LCD for viewing no "eye piece" or whatever it is called

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I just picked up an Olympus Stylus Tough 6020. All the fun colors were backordered though so I got the black.

I'm still playing with it but it is easy to use.

The shutter speed is still a little bit slow for me but I did just discover a higher speed so I'll be testing it out later.

I really like that it can go in water and if it's accidently dropped from 5 ft or less, it's supposed to survive.

I've used a Canon Power shot SD50 Digital Elph prior to this and liked that as well.
This camera is a little smaller.

 

[alloyd1170]

I have the Canon G11 (yes more $$ than what youre looking at) and love it. It's my go-everywhere-camera when the EOS 7D is too much to haul.

 

[badblackpug]

I bought my mother the Canon SD780IS for her birthday. It's tiny and very easy to use and the picture quality is great!

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-SD780IS-Stabilized-Black/dp/B001SER47Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s

 

[labdogs42]

Hmmm...I can't recommend a different camera. I have the Canon 20D (big brother of the Rebel series) and i carry it around all day, every day at Disney. That camera has been to Disney 8 times now and I don't leave the hotel room without it. I'm not a pro photographer, but I'm a pretty serious hobbiest and scrapbooker. I have to have those fast shutter speeds and adjustable ISO settings. I just can't get the shutter speeds I want in a Point and shoot. I own two point and shoots and they do have their uses, but every time I try to use one at Disney, I'm disappointed and I go back to the dSLR. I really don't find it bothersome to carry it all day. I don't even take the case, I just sling it over my shoulder and carry it that way all day! That way I don't miss any shots fumbling with the camera bag, either!

 

[MommyPoppins]

I will never buy anything but a Panasonic again. I had one a few years ago and one of my children broke it. I bought a canon and hated it every second that I owned it. Slow, blurry and the flash was so over the top bright that you had to be 5+ feet away from the person or it would be nothing but white.

I got my new panasonic after trying out all the cameras at best buy, everyone of them took a blurry picture of my always moving 2 year old.

I got the new 14mp, 8x zoom panasonic lumix at beachcamera.com for $200. I used my sisters samsung and the buttons were all plastic and I really noticed the difference in construction between hers and mine. Mine is all metal. Really nice.

Always a perfect picture. And it takes HD video.

 

[LovetheTink]

I love my Cannon digital SLR but I can't see carrying them around the parks, I'm afraid i'll bang it up so I'm looking as well. I bough a Cannon PowerShot A1100 and I hate it...it is so slow. I'm disappointed that I didn't research it as well...This one uses batteries so there must be some truth to the lithium batteries being faster. I'm going to check out the other boards and the cameras recommended here. I'd like to stick with cannon since I've always had good luck with them.

 

[jdvm]

I have a small Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX3 that I keep in my pocket most of the time.
john