The best digital camera for the best price?

[meloneyb21]

I'm looking into buying a digital camera but I'm clueless as to which one to get. What is the best digital camera for a reasonable price? Below $400....even better if below $250.

 

[Johnfish]

I'm looking into buying a digital camera but I'm clueless as to which one to get. What is the best digital camera for a reasonable price? Below $400....even better if below $250.

Hi meloney!

I just posted this on your other thread and I see some one already directed you here so here is the info from my other post!

I just recently went through this before our trip. I wanted to keep it under 500 but opted to go a little higher and got the sony HC96 for 629. There is a lot of really good info and reviews of all the cameras at this website http://camcorderinfo.com If this website is alittle indepth for you they have a sister web site called http://www.easycamcorders.com/ This site is real good for the novice just starting out.

The big factor you want to take into account is the type of media you want to use DVD or tape or hard drive. You wont find hard drive at your price point. Of the other 2 I highly recomend DV tape. It gives a far superior picture to DVD but requires a little more work and a computer if you want to create a dvd. Other wise you can just play the tapes back directly from your camcorder into your tv. One of the big draw backs of the camcorders that record to DVD is if the camcorder has a glitch while recording it ruins the entire DVD and you will lose any videos recorded earlier. With DV tape only the section recorded during the glitch will be affected.


Good luck and if you have any questions feel free to PM me!

John

 

[meloneyb21]

I'm sorry, not a camcorder, a digital camera. I already have a DV camcorder. Thanks!

 

[bicker]

My current recommendation is the Canon PowerShot A620. My wife has a predecessor, and they just keep making it better and better. Easy to use, if you want it to be, but also with room for you to grown into as a photographer, if you wish. 4x zoom (which could be better), but 7.1 megapixels gives you a lot of room to make the best photo after-the-fact.

 

[Jeanne B]

The A620 is listed on officemax.com right now for $180, free shipping - GREAT price for a great camera (I have the A610) but the website says they have limited availability so it's something you would probably have to jump on fast. Amazon has been having pretty good prices on it also but not this good.

The prices on the Canon S2 and S3 are also coming down quite a bit (I have the S3 which I love for the 12x zoom). I've seen them in the $250-$350 range.

www.dealsofamerica.com is a good place to watch for camera deals.

 

[bicker]

Is the S3 an SLR camera?

 

[Laura]

bicker, the S3 and S2 are not SLRs, I think they're called "bridge" cameras or "SLR-like". Lots of people on this board have them and love them. If I were buying another point-and-shoot, I'd get one for DH. His pics come out blurry because he doesn't hold the camera steady, so the IS and bigger size would be great for him.

meloneyb21, I have an A620, and I love it. Definitely check it out.

Here's a site with lots of good reviews and sample pics:
http://dcresource.com/reviews/cameraList.php

 

[meloneyb21]

Is the Olympus Stylus any good? I just like the way it looks, but if it's not worth it forget it.

 

[Charade]

Is the Olympus Stylus any good? I just like the way it looks, but if it's not worth it forget it.

I used to really like the pocket series of the Olympus years ago but I think their image quality had dropped below others especially Canon.

I have the Canon A620 and it's a great little camera. I paid $214 a month or so ago which was a good price then. Since Officemax now has it for $180 (if you can find it OR get some other store to price match it), it's a STEAL! I would highly recommend the A620.

 

[Jeanne B]

Is the S3 an SLR camera?

No, it's a P&S. I'd love to move to an SLR but I'd be giving up the IS and 12x zoom unless I wanted to spend a LOT of money on an SLR zoom lens with IS.

 

[toocooltobeMom]

We have just bought a Canon SD630 for $297.00(no tax + free shipping) with a free 512 mb flash memory w/150X speed from Newegg.com. I believe it is still the cheapest. The camera has a 3" viewing screen. NICE and HANDSOME.

 

[manning]

Take a look at the Sony H5 for $499.00. It is a 7.2 MP 12x zoom (36-432mm) I think I saw somewhere that Best Buy has a sale this weekend for around $359.00. There is also a sister camera, H2, for 399.99. It is 6MP.

 

[disneysnowflake]

Wow! I really like the A620.
I like that it has a viewfinder.
I almost bought an Olympus, but it didn't have a viewfinder, only a screen.
It was fine inside. The screen was nice and bright inside, but what about outside? I've never had a digital that had a bright lcd screen. The guy trying to sell it to me told me to buy it and try the Olympus, but there was a 35% restocking fee.

I think this Cannon might be the one I'm looking for.

ETA.. Crud. The Office Max offer on the Cannon looked great, but it wasn't available in my zip code. I even tried zip codes for all family in other states and such. No availability for them either. Hmm. Maybe they'll have a special on something good on Black Friday.

 

[Anewman]

UNDER $400

I would say the Canon S3 IS if zoom is most important to you.
I wouls say the Canon SD700 if compact size is most important to you.
Both have Image stabilization

S3 IS $359 @ beachcamera

SD700 $367 @ Beach Camera

Under $250

I would say Panasonic LZ3(or LZ5 for $30 more) if Zoom is most important to you.
I would say the Panasonic FX01 if compact size is most important to you.
Both have image stabilization.

Panasonic LZ3 $175 @ beachcamera
Panasonic FX01 $246 @ beachcamera

 

[Anewman]

Is the Olympus Stylus any good? I just like the way it looks, but if it's not worth it forget it.

Olympus has very many Stylus models, do you have a model number. Some could be very good...

 

[meloneyb21]

Wow! I don't know what to choose! I like the Canon A620, Canon SD700, and the Panasonic LZ3....

Olympus has very many Stylus models, do you have a model number. Some could be very good...

I was talking about the Olympus Stylus 1000....

 

[Johnfish]

I'm sorry, not a camcorder, a digital camera. I already have a DV camcorder. Thanks!

DUH! Im sorry thats what I get for reading these things a 5 in the morning after working the night shift.

I have to agree with what others have said here!! The A620 is a great camera. If you want a long optical zoom the S3 or the panasonic fz series are great. I dont knwo about the s3 but the panasonic has a really good image stabilization system so the long shots dont come out blurry!

Here is a good site for camera reviews http://www.steves-digicams.com/

Again sorry for the confusion!

John

 

[manning]

There's the Panasonic TZ1 10x zoom (35-350mm) for just over 300.00. I have that one as a travel P&S. Nice small size for a 10x zoom. Leica lens

The New camera for the Panasonic FZ series is the FZ50 that took the place of the FZ30. It is a 12x zoom (35-420mm). It has an external flash hot shoe and leica lens.

 

[allyn]

i always recommend canon cameras. the obvious choices are SD600 if you like tiny and don't need manual control, A620 if you like bigger or need manual control, and S3 IS if you want super zoom. the first two are right around $250, the S3 IS is $350.

 

[Jeninpa]

If you're not buying an Olympus for over $250 then they are not a good camera. I don't know why but my old Olympus camera with 1mp was better than my sisters new one!

I have a panasonic LZ2 and for the price it is a really good camera. If you like to take a lot of portraits and close-ups but isn't good at say indoor basketball games! Way too much noise in the photo. They may have improved on that with the newer models and if so they are worth looking into. It is a very simple camera with a lot of preset modes and colors. (fireworks, night scenery, sepia, b&w,ect) Mine also has a 6x zoom with image stabilization and that is a VERY hard thing to find on a camera under $200. Here's a link for examples incase you'd like to see the photo quality:

Check out this thread with a lot of my photo's on all taken with the panasonic LZ2
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1212628