What Digital Camera do I buy?

[glewis1123]

Hi all

Need recommendations as to what Digital to purchase.

I bought an inexpensive Digital 2 years ago - wanted to test drive one before investing in a better quality camera.

I not only will be using the camera for vacation photos but also for taking pictures of old photos and letters as opposed to copying them - I'm a genealogy fanatic as well and have lots of old letters and documents that I just don't want to chance ruining them.

I want probably a 4.0 mp

I want an easy to operate zoom lens - don't want to have to flip through a menu to change the zoom - would prefer a manual zoom or buttom - like my SLR's have

Hate flipping through a menu to change zoom or flash or other items that will frequently change when taking photos like I have to do now with the Olympus I have. Don;t mind initial settings like picture quality etc but hate to have to go back and forth for flash etc.

A friend who is a professional photographer recommended the Cannon G3 that just came out $699. Don't mind the money but wouldn't want to spend more than that.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Where's a good and reliable place to get a good deal?

thanks everyone!!!!

 

[helenabear]

Most digital camreas out there now have a button on the camera just for zoom as well as a button that would turn off/on the flash. Both of my Canons have them and all other I have played with do as well. I do have the G3 and it is an excellent digital camera, but it is one of the upper level cameras out there that isn't a digital SLR. The cheapest I think I've seen for a 4 MP camers is abuot $400-500 or so, so they aren't the cheapest out there. You might really want to go play with cameras and see how much they have changed since the one you bought.

http://www.steves-digicams.com/ is a great site for reviews on cameras.

Check out www.buy.com and www.ecost.com for a few good starts on the camera prices. I think you will find that the G3 can even be found for about $100 less right now since it has been out for a few months. Good luck and I hope I gave you a place to start from.