I've searched high and low and asked just about everyone I can think who would have some knowledge about this subject and I'm still greatly confused.

I'm searching for a digital camera. I know my price range isn't very high at $250-$400, but I think I can get a decent camera for that amount.

I've been told I should go non-digital and get an SLR (whatever that is) or get a digital SLR (again..whatever that is) with X number DPI (is 6billion really that different than 3billion?) and frankly I'm quite confused by all the mumbo-jumbo.

If anyone has a suggestion on a decent digital camera I could get it would be much appreciated. I'm looking to take mostly still shots if that makes a difference.

Thanks in advance.

Canon PowerShot A70. I have it and am very satisfied, price is great (in your range), 3.2 megapixels, comes with a 16MB CompactFlash card which sucks (so I bought a 512MB one) and get some NiMH batteries (maybe 2100mAh ones, long lasting) and a recharger for the batteries. After that you should still be in your budget and with a great camera!

Take it up a step to the A80. I bought one recently in the higher end of your price range.
4 megapixels and absolutely amazing quality.

Cool, thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll check those out.

i'd take a look at the "Gateway DC-T50 "

5.25 megapixel CCD
3X optical/4x digital zoom

under 300 dollars.

Canon Powershots are the best budget cameras in the market today. Get a A70, or spend alittle more and get a A80.

SLR stands for Single-Lens Reflex :)

SLR means that when u look through the viewport ull see exactly what ull get on your picture because it goes through a bunch of lenses. I have the A70 and its great, recently the A80 came out and if i didnt get the A70 id definatly get that one. Seeing as your budget isnt that big, not big enough for a digital SLR, a normal SLR that isnt digital would be cheaper, but it runs on film. Anyway... most of the lower end camera's dont have any manual features, like manual shutter speed, etc. they're just point and shoot. But the Powershot A70 has tons of them, and im sure the A80 has even more.

Does anyone use the new FujiFilm FinePix S7000?

I believe it has 6.1 effective Megapixels which is just insane for its price (around 600-700 I think)

like everyone else says, go for the A70 or A80.

the extra megapixel that the A80 offers is not really nescessary unless you plan on doing prints larger than 8x10.

you can spend the money you save by buying the A70 on a nice big memory card, a case, and some good rechargable batteries.

Originally posted by N9ne
Canon PowerShot A70. I have it and am very satisfied, price is great (in your range), 3.2 megapixels, comes with a 16MB CompactFlash card which sucks (so I bought a 512MB one) and get some NiMH batteries (maybe 2100mAh ones, long lasting) and a recharger for the batteries. After that you should still be in your budget and with a great camera!
If you like this, consider the Powershot S230 or SD100 (under$300):

http://steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/sd100.html
http://steves-digicams.com/2002_reviews/s230.html

I have an older version of this. It's small, slips in a pocket easily.

Therre's a picture of the size comparisons between similar models on this page: http://steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/s400.html (towards to bottom-ish of the page)

I am thinking about the A70 or A80.
I would like to do prints at 8x10.
Will the A70 get them done clearly ?
or should I spend extra and opt for the A80 ?

Thanks

the A70 will do very clear 8x10 prints, depending on the type of printer.

the A80 will do perfect 8x10 prints. the difference is barely noticable. if a little bit of difference is worth it to to, go for the A80 (it also has a flip ou LCD scren)

What do you guys think about the Olympus C-750? It has 10x Optical zoom.


http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_product_lobbypage.asp?l=1&p=16&bc=2&product=910

the 8x10 will most likely be printed at a photo store .. I am leaning towards the A70 as long as the prints are just like normal photos ..

if its done at a photo store the print will be almost indistinguishable from a regular photograph.


I don't have any experience with the 10x zoom Olympus. I'd imagine that one would want to use a tripod at high zoom levels. It'd be pretty hard to hold still. It's probably an excellent camera if its anything like other Olymus cameras.

just bought myself a Canon Digital Rebel (EOS 300D) with 6.3 Megapixels. Now, this is a great digital camera! Everybody should get this one :D

Originally posted by FHDave
just bought myself a Canon Digital Rebel (EOS 300D) with 6.3 Megapixels. Now, this is a great digital camera! Everybody should get this one :D

those cameras rule. I sold one of those last week; it made my day :)

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I think I'm going with the Canon Powershot A80; once I get it I'll be sure to post an update :).

Can anyone recommend me a nice & cheap one? I'm on a very low budget. I don't really know much about digital cameras and will be buying this one to send as gift. How is a Canon Powershot A300 compared to A70? Btw, Anyone has ever used a toshiba PDR-M21? How is it? The Canon Powershot A300 is around $170, and the toshiba PDR-M21 is for $130.

Nice choice :)

I have a A70 since two months and I love it! :)

Just bought a Kodak 5 megapixel for $270... 10x better than that Gateway. Check out reviews on the internet at places like imaging-resource.com and even folks at photo.net, etc. before ever thinking of actually making a purchase. It's very hit-or-miss as to the quality you'll get even within a range of cameras all offering about the same megapixels for about the same price.

:popcorn:

I recently bought a Canon SD100... I LOVE it. Highly recommended for those of you who want something really portable.

Here are some pictures I've taken with it. (http://www.simpli.biz/personal/erica/pictures/San%20Francisco%2012132003/)

Any DigiCam sellers on WHT?

Originally posted by Simpli-Erica
Here are some pictures I've taken with it. (http://www.simpli.biz/personal/erica/pictures/San%20Francisco%2012132003/)

hmm... access to server is forbidden?

I just got the Canon A70 for christmas. Was going to get the A80 but I really didn't need the extra megapixels and I was afraid I'd end up busting the flip out lcd :)

so I saved the 100 bucks so I could buy a good photo printer later.

I've only had it a few days but I love the thing. The picture quality is very good. The fact it has very good manual control but still works just fine as an idiot point-n-shoot camera is what sold me on it.

I wouldn't buy a camera simply because of the number of megapixels... There are other factors involved in image quality.

Originally posted by phision.com
I wouldn't buy a camera simply because of the number of megapixels... There are other factors involved in image quality.

like?

F-stop rating, white balance, hot or cold color balance, lens quality (and number of pieces), about 10-15 other things.

hmm... i don't seem to know enough about cameras to know what you're talking about :stickout:

Just go to imaging-resource.com and look at the photos taken with the models you are considering. And no, I don't own the site (and have never talked to those who do). ;)

Also, Philip Greenspun and Photo.Net are pretty much the authority on amateur photography.

cool... i think photography is sweet

anyone hear of Noah Grey? (www.noahgrey.com)

i think his photos are simply fantastic... btw he is the person who scripted GreyMatter if anyone knows wut that is

Originally posted by JYC
hmm... access to server is forbidden?

Sorry... fixed! :D

Originally posted by champion
Can anyone recommend me a nice & cheap one? I'm on a very low budget. I don't really know much about digital cameras and will be buying this one to send as gift. How is a Canon Powershot A300 compared to A70? Btw, Anyone has ever used a toshiba PDR-M21? How is it? The Canon Powershot A300 is around $170, and the toshiba PDR-M21 is for $130.

The Fuji Finepix A210 (http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/fuji/finepix_a210-review/index.shtml) is one of the best sub $200 digicams out there.

If you can find a Hot Deal on this digicam, I've seen it around $169.99 with free shipping.

the SLR's are definetely the way to go.
However they are way out of your specified price range
i checked out the canon Rebel.. and it feels kind of cheap.. too much plastic
im thinking about the Canon 10D
the pictures are amazing
6.3 megapixel for the rebel
these run between 800 and 2g's depending on optional equipment

the true beauty of the Digital SLR's is that you can use your own lenses with them

i own a [non digital] SLR [Canon EOS]
and a few lenses.
Some of which include an image stabilizing one [if you shake your hand while taking the picture, the lense will auto-stabilize and the photo will be still (amazing technology)]

Turned out I didn't get the Canon, but instead the Olympus C-5000

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_product_lobbypage.asp?l=1&p=16&bc=2&product=934

I believe it's a better camera. There's lots of awesome features I'm still learning about. I personally think the litium-ion battery is awesome.

Santa Clause was nice to me :)

Originally posted by JYC
cool... i think photography is sweet

anyone hear of Noah Grey? (www.noahgrey.com)

i think his photos are simply fantastic... btw he is the person who scripted GreyMatter if anyone knows wut that is


Wow, those are amazing. *wonders why his don't turn out like that*

I have a Nikon Coolpix 3700 and i am very happy with it. It has lots of options for taking pics and is very durable.

has anyone ever tried or head of Umax Digi Cameras?

http://www.americancomputech.com/pmoreinfo.asp?iid=1553

or

http://www.americancomputech.com/pmoreinfo.asp?iid=1369

Gotta love the price but i must be missing somthing?

I am thinking of getting one too. What do you guys think of this:

http://www.circuitcity.com/detail.jsp?c=1&b=g&catoid=-8025&qp=033433344&bookmark=bookmark_3&oid=79245

HP isn't a great camera brand. I'd spent $20 more at http://www.beachcamera.com/ and get a 3MP Canon or Fujifilm with 3X optical zoom.