Choosing a Camera

[JoAnne]

OK all you digital camera buffs. Any suggestions of what camera would be a good kind of point and shoot type? Going on a trip this summer and thinking I need a new camera. All suggestions are welcome. Would like to keep the price in the $200-250 range.

[rip]

Hi Joann ! I am also thinking of getting a better camera than my Sony Mavica.I dont think it will be a Sony,only because,i had my camera less than 3 months when it broke down on me and i had a huge hassle trying to get it fixed.It ended up costing me another $150 on top of the $300-400 that i paid for it !My Dad just bought a very nice camera on ebay for $150...he was lucky and got a very good deal ! Buying used is always a risk,but sometimes you do get lucky.best of luck and hope to see some photo's of them huge gems you'll be finding this summer !

[pris]

In my opinion, buying a camera is much like buying a metal detector. I usually will do a whole bunch of research and THE ONE will normally keep showing up time and again. There are constantly new models coming out, but these things I have learned; you probably won't really utilize the higher megapixel cameras unless you're going to print HUGE pictures. I have a 7.2 Sony Cybershot and love it, but don't utilize the larger size very often. Read, read, read current reviews and make sure that the model you're reading about is being sold currently. I researched and the model I ended up liking had just been discontinued.
A friend of mine has a Kodak easyshare or whatever and she likes it because she doesn't know much about cameras. It seems very point and shoot, so that might be a good place to start looking?

Whatever you get, good luck

[bbqcook]

You will probably want one with a "macro" option for taking close ups of them finds

[cchughs]

I have been in the market for a easy to use small digital that I can put in my coat pocket in about your price range. So I did like pris says and started reading all the reviews and to be honest I think I was more confused after my research than when I started. So then I says to myself, self lets look at the photos that the folks have been sending into the contests here on TQ. So there are a lot of nice photos but some of the cameras were way out of my price range. I am looking at Indy's and I think that Kodak dx7630 takes a nice picture. If you go on the camera review sites most have sample photos. Again the Kodak dx7630 photos look good there also. So I decided to buy the Kodak and start looking, seems hard to find for under 300.00. I went on ebay and started looking. Several used ones up for auctions but I watched for a while and there have been a few new in the box ones come up on Buy It Now. Well yesterday one came along for 129.99, with shipping and insurance I got it for 150.55. From the photos I have seen and the reviews I have read I think it will fit my needs. Maybe some of my tactics can help in your search.
Good luck in your search.

[warsawdaddy]

I told my son that I wanted to learn to post pics and needed a simple to use camera.He is really camera and computer smart.He says come on and down to WalMart we went.He looked at several and finally buys me Kodak Easyshare C433.About a $100.He says this one is easy to learn and can make movies w/sound,zoom and I don't know whatall but it's nice.

[Nitro 54]

JoAnne, you didn't say how much you wanted to spend. I really like the Canon Rebel XTI 400 that I got for Christmas. Its probably a lot more camera than most people will ever need, but you have lots of options as to the type of photo you want to take. This is pretty much a point and shoot if in the auto mode. OH, it will set you back around $900.00.

[cchughs]

Couldn't believe it, purchased the Kodak DX7630 on Thursday afternoon and the mailman brought it today. I am doing the happy dance. Had to charge the battery for about 3 hours so I read the book a little while waiting on the battery. So I put the camera on Auto and took a few shots, not bad. Now I am messing with all the different settings. I am not a photographer so I haven't got a clue what all the shutter speeds and stuff like that do, maybe I'll figure it out. Only a few hours messing around with the new camera so far but I am very pleased so far.
One of my first photos with the new camera

[rip]

Originally Posted by cchughs

Couldn't believe it, purchased the Kodak DX7630 on Thursday afternoon and the mailman brought it today. I am doing the happy dance. Had to charge the battery for about 3 hours so I read the book a little while waiting on the battery. So I put the camera on Auto and took a few shots, not bad. Now I am messing with all the different settings. I am not a photographer so I haven't got a clue what all the shutter speeds and stuff like that do, maybe I'll figure it out. Only a few hours messing around with the new camera so far but I am very pleased so far.
Attachment 9550 One of my first photos with the new camera

Nice CC ! looks like a tifull harvest from Mother nature

[TwoDogsBob]

Read the reviews then go to the store and play. Find one that "FEELS" good to you, easy to find buttons that kind of thing. How much attention you pay to the person at the photography shop is up to you. I've been helped by photographers and I also had one guy tell me "Buy the pink one, she'll love it" when I told them I was just looking for a camera for the wife. Good thing I didn't have my wife along or he would have become a smoking hole on the floor.
Remember a camera is nothing more than a tool. You have to get to know it to the point of where IT doesn't get in the way of YOU and YOUR creativity.
Also photography is the person taking the photo not the camera. Give the the most expensive camera out there to someone without an EYE and they will turn out very good snapshots. Give a grocery store disposable to someone with an eye and they will blow you away with what they turn out.
Personally I've been shooting Nikons for some 30 years now and have never been disappointed in quailty or ease of use, but then like mentioned above, I know them like an old love.
Hope this helps. Bob

There is nothing worse than a sharp photograph of a fuzzy idea.. Ansel Adams