Digital Camera Which to buy?

[swallace]

Ok, I am buying a camera for Beth's parents. I want to get something nice. Meaning below $500! What do you guys recomend? I want the most bang for the buck. It can be $300... Help me out!

[Feedman]

Ok, I am buying a camera for Beth's parents. I want to get something nice. Meaning below $500! What do you guys recomend? I want the most bang for the buck. It can be $300... Help me out!

Look into Fuji and Kodak, Easiest to use and best bang for your buck.

You can pull a 10x optical with a 4 or 5mp camera....

Good luck.... 8)

[RobbieNelson]

I've owned two Olympus'. My wife likes them and they seem to take great pictures.

I'd own a Canon or a Nikon if I wasn't hooked on Olympus.

Get one with at least 3X optical zoom... the digital zoom is worthless IMO. Anything over 3 megapixels and you'd have to look closely at an 8X10 to tell it was digital.

I like this one:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDe ... 128&depa=7 (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=30-111-128&depa=7)

[Feedman]

I've owned two Olympus'. My wife likes them and they seem to take great pictures.

I'd own a Canon or a Nikon if I wasn't hooked on Olympus.

Get one with at least 3X optical zoom... the digital zoom is worthless IMO. Anything over 3 megapixels and you'd have to look closely at an 8X10 to tell it was digital.

I like this one:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDe ... 128&depa=7 (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=30-111-128&depa=7)

I would agree with Robbie, except for the zoom. 3x is nothing. I wouldn't buy a camera in today's market w/o a zoom of @ least 8x. The prices have come down tremendously not to consider one.

Do your homework and head out to your local Best buy and see for yourself.... 8)

[RobbieNelson]

I would agree with Robbie, except for the zoom. 3x is nothing. I wouldn't buy a camera in today's market w/o a zoom of @ least 8x. The prices have come down tremendously not to consider one.

While this is true the ones with the long zooms tend to be bulkier and just a little more expensive. They also tend to have too many features for your average "point and shoot" kinda person. Just depends on what she wants. My mother owns an Olympus with a 10X optical zoom, but she wanted to be able to take close ups of Dale E Jr from the grandstands.

[Zerocool_Designs]

I've got a Kodak, all I know is its 5 mega pixel, and it was about $300. My sister spent like $120 for a fujifilm 3 mega pixel, and I can't tell a difference between the two. If I were you i'd buy a cheaper camera, then invest in the photo printer and maybe some removable memory.

[narfdanarf]

imo i can definitely tell the difference between a 3.x and a 5 mp camera...especially on 8x10's

[Davis Silver Sti]

I use Canon. I have 2 G2 Canon digital cameras (4MP) and a Canon Optura digial video camera. I use my cameras about every other day and rely on them for personal and business use. They make great stuff IMHO.

Any of the Powershot S series would be good. They are small yet powerful enough to get crisp pics. Other than the great pic quality, all of my Canon cameras also have EXCELLENT battery life.

Don't pay attention to digital zoom in any digi camera. Its just smoke. Full digital zoom is way too pixelated and I have NOT seen a good picture at full zoom on any low/medium price range digi camera. (not DSLR's)
Plus its very hard to shoot at full zoom even with a steady free hand.

Check em out here!
http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/contro ... goryid=113 (http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=113)

If you want to be a real hero, allow some budget for the portable photo printer also listed on this site. They take beautiful 4x6's. Especially good if your in-laws are not computer savy and have only a basic home printer. (may still have rebates)

Once you find the model camera you want (Canon or otherwise) got to http://www.pricegrabber.com and just put camera model in the search. You will magically get the best price anywhere on the net.

Cheers,

Davis

[Feedman]

Canon is great as far as quality goes, but not for the novice user.

I would stick with the afermentioned Fuji or Kodak.

8)