Looking for a digital camera 200 - 300

[hrcollectibles]

I am looking to purchase a digital camera between 200 - 300 any suggestions

 

[mousefan1972]

Love my Sony Cybershot 7.2 megapixel... very small and easy to point/shoot. Takes great pics. Got it for XMas when it cost around $300, I think now it's about $250-275..

 

[Master Yoda]

The Canon PowerShot S3 You will need to tack on a memory card and some rechargeable batteries which will put you in about the $325-$350 range.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I'll endorse the Canon Powershot series. Much easier to use than a Sony. And i'm still not 100% happy with nikon anymore.

 

[mattjs]

Wow! That S3IS is an absolute steal right now. Great camera. Can't go wrong with a Powershot.

For a little less money (and if a little smaller size were important) there's also the A710IS -- http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/457545-REG/Canon_1286B001_PowerShot_A710_IS_Digital.html

And...

the A570IS -- http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/484783-REG/Canon_1773B001_PowerShot_A570_IS_Digital.html

All really nice cameras but, if you can swing it, the S3 is the best value right now. Not long ago ago, that camera was selling for $400+ (it's replacement - the S5 - just came out which is why it's such a great deal. Perfect timing for you). I think they're all great little cameras though. Can't go wrong with any of em. Reviews at dpreview (just don't get lost in the minutiae )

S3 --http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons3is

A710 -- http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canona710is

A570: Canon's release on it -- http://www.dpreview.com/news/0702/07022201canonsa560a570is.asp

 

[Master Yoda]

I'll endorse the Canon Powershot series. Much easier to use than a Sony. And i'm still not 100% happy with nikon anymore.

If they would only adopt some more professional style controls like the Panasonic FZ-30 and FZ-50 I would replace my FZ-30 with the S5 in a second.

 

[mattjs]

It'll be interesting to see how how the S5 does. They packed another 2MP onto that same S3 sensor, but people who have it don't seem to be complaining. If nothing else, it's gotta be better than the two Sony's in that class. I just noticed the Sony H7 and H9 reviews at dpreview.........ouch! What where they thinkin???

H9 - http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonyh9/page19.asp

H7 - http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonyh7/page14.asp

S5 has same # of megapixels on the same exact sensor. Be interesting to see how DIGICIII stacks up to Sony's processing on this. From what little I've read, S5 seems better. Can't wait to see the dpreview-review though.

 

[Deadmanwalking]

I am looking to purchase a digital camera between 200 - 300 any suggestions

One major suggestion is ignore folks that claim Canon or Sony or Nikon or Whatever is the best camera.

The fact is most major manufacturers of camera make perfectly good cameras so banter about which one is best really comes down to your own personal choice and what you need and want in a camera.

The only things you should worry about are:

1. Do I already have lots of memory from my old camera. If you do then you might start by limiting your choices to cameras that can use that memory. If your using SD cards then you have lots of choices if your using Sony sticks then your stuck with Sony and if your using XD cards your stuck with Fuji and Olympus. No reason to switch cameras once your committed unless you want to invest in new memory.

2. What do you plan on shooting... if you like taking shots at night time or inside then start by looking at cameras with faster flash cycle times. Nothing is more annoying than a camera that is slow to recycle and you have to wait 10-15 seconds between pictures (some Canons are horrible about this). If you plan on using a zoom then look for camera with image stabilization.

3. Honestly ask yourself how technically savy you are when it comes to taking pictures. If you don't have a clue about f-stops or ISO then don't bother trying to find a camera that has lots of manual controls. Taking pictures on a vacation shouldn't be a hassle and the last thing you will want to do is try and use a lot of manual controls that can give you really bad results if you don't know what your doing. Getting artistic and experimenting isn't a good idea on a once in a lifetime vacation.

4. See if it uses batteries or a special rechargable. Some camera manufacturers are very proud of their rechargable batteries and charge a lot for them. You should always plan on having a backup battery whether its an extra set of AAs or an extra rechargable made for that camera. Nothing will spoil your fun more than realizing half way through a parade that your low battery light is on and you don't have any backup.

and last of all see how the camera feels in your hands. Some cameras look oh so cool and have every thing you want but may be too small for your hands to comfortably use or they may be so large that you will never be able to keep it in your purse or pocket.

In the end its hard to find a new digital camera that wont take decent pictures so worry about the things that will make your experience with it fun.

 

[PhotoDave219]

One major suggestion is ignore folks that claim Canon or Sony or Nikon or Whatever is the best camera.

I was merely recommending something i think people would be happy using and is pretty easy to use right out of the box. But all in all youre right, you should go to a store and play with one or two before actually buying something.

 

[Deadmanwalking]

I was merely recommending something i think people would be happy using and is pretty easy to use right out of the box. But all in all youre right, you should go to a store and play with one or two before actually buying something.

I wasn't trying to pick or single anyone out. I know everyone that has had a digital camera for a while also has a favorite. The only problem is most people tend to forget that everyone has different tastes and preferences and our own favorite is not always going to be the best choice for someone else.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I wasn't trying to pick or single anyone out. I know everyone that has had a digital camera for a while also has a favorite. The only problem is most people tend to forget that everyone has different tastes and preferences and our own favorite is not always going to be the best choice for someone else.

Well said. I used to work with a Canon snob..... thankfully she left for the world of freelance and living in mommy's basement.

A great resource for comparing these cameras is www.dpreview.com .... from there you can figure out what you want to try out in the stores.

 

[dhcalva]

The Sony H5 is a decent camera, but the slow recharge time on the flash is limiting for night photos.

I just bought a Canon S5 to replace it though, and it seems a great camera so far. However, it's running at about $450. The S3 is much cheaper now though, so is a good choice as the image quality between the two seems to be pretty much the same.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

having been trained by them I tend to favour Nikon, it is the brand of choice for camera snobs and many of the worlds professionals, or in my case ex professional.

As for lenses I stick to Nikkor or Sigma, Metz for flash and Manferroto for tripods.

 

[dhcalva]

If I was going with a D-SLR, I'd probably go Nikon too. The fact is that Nikon doesn't make an Ultra-Zoom camera (12x optical zoom on both the Sony H5 and Canon S3 & S5 with equals about 430mm lens)

 

[Deadmanwalking]

having been trained by them I tend to favour Nikon, it is the brand of choice for camera snobs and many of the worlds professionals, or in my case ex professional.

As for lenses I stick to Nikkor or Sigma, Metz for flash and Manferroto for tripods.

When you have a thick wallet, I tend to agree. However, the original poster had a budget of between 200-300... I don't think I could get a Metz flash for that let alone the camera or lens to go with it. I think the poster is constrained to a point and shoot. And in that department Nikon's point and shoot is at best equal to the other majors, certainly not way above them by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

When you have a thick wallet, .

Or an Ebay fixation