Ugh... Need a new Digital Camera any Recs?

[m 'n c]

I think my Canon finally bit the dust. I had some issues with it last year and was able to breathe new life into it. Today I had a different issue and think its time to retire it. So anyone have any recs? I'd prefer Canon or maybe Nikon. I'm not too fond of Kodak based on some of the pictures my friends have sent me off of theirs.

Also any good deals going on out there? I'm going to scour SR merchants after the play this afternoon to check for coupons. Good thing I just got a spot bonus at work.

[askomsky]

Mine is 18 mos old, but I love my Sony Cyber Shot. I did a ton of research and I'm a huge camera person / picture taker. I liked the Canon that was equal to it, but I was going with a mid range model basically one step below a digital SLR so we were willing to spend a little more. the Canon was just bigger and slightly more bulky to hold/handle. Amazon had the best deal going at the time we bought ours. Once I narrowed my choices down I went into Fuji and Best Buy to play around with them before I made my decision.

I agree Kodak cameras are nice for the point and shoot users, not serious but want a decent camera.

You should get at least a min. 6 mega pixels, any lower and it's not worth it.
Mine is 6 which is fine bc I always take all of my pics at the highest resolution but I also opted for the 12x optical zoom. Of course since I got mine they've come out with much better cameras. My next camera will be a SLR, probably an Olympus, their excellent higher end models.

I would compare prices to Amazon, I know there's no % back but they were cheaper by almost $100 when I bought mine.

[Hedy]

I love my Canon SD1000-it's slim, has 7.1MP and modes for fireworks and nighttime. However, my nephew and DSIL both just got A720 IS and like it a lot. It uses AA batteries, rather than the proprietary battery mine uses-which might be something to consider in terms of use (you'd HAVE to pack a charger/adapter for England with mine, theirs they can just use normal AA batteries).
I got mine in August, and founds new egg's camera with free memory card deal to work well for me.

[jl8595]

I have a Canon Powershot A530 and love it. My DH is a camera buff and has a fancy digital SLR, so I wanted an inexpensive point and shoot that was small enough to stick in my purse but still used AA batteries (I can't be bothered with camera specific rechargables because I'm FAMOUS for forgetting to recharge and it's always easy to find AA's anywhere I am) - I do use rechargable AA's with it, but love having the option of using regular AA's if need be...battery life is pretty decent, extremely decent with the display off. I liked the super slim Canon's, but decided against them because of the red eye they tend to elicit (because the flash is so close to the lens), so this one ended up being a happy medium. It takes beautiful pictures as well and is super fast to advance to turn on and advance to the next picture (another thing I wanted - my old camera was soooo slow in between pics). Good luck with your search!!!! Doesn't it just figure that your camera would die RIGHT before your big trip to London, LOL! So frustrating!!!

[m 'n c]

The one I have now is a powershot A95 and uses 4 AA batteries which I agree is awesome when you forget to charge. I do hate how it is bulky but it does a great job taking pictures so I'd trade the slimness for the bulky any day. I'm just wondering if 4-5 years is the average lifespan on digital cameras or if maybe there is a better lasting brand out there. Nikon's just cost about $100 more for the same exact thing. Not sure if its worth it. I think this one is ~4 years old. I know my brother's first Sony lasted 2-3 years which was disappointing for him as well.

[mollyeilis]

I don't know what style you like, but if you like a camera that looks like a "camera", I absolutely adore my Canon S3. It's not one of the square skinny put-it-in-your-wallet kind of cameras, it has heft, but it's really terrific, IMO.

I wish you better luck than I had in making the purchase a sunshiney one! I tried for a month to make the best total price a sunshine price, but I couldn't. :(

[jl8595]

The one I have now is a powershot A95 and uses 4 AA batteries which I agree is awesome when you forget to charge. I do hate how it is bulky but it does a great job taking pictures so I'd trade the slimness for the bulky any day.

My A530 uses 2 AA's, so much less bulk...and the battery compartment is tucked into the hand/grip of the camera (albeit small grip). Honestly, not a lot of bulk. Definitely not as thin as the Canon SD's, but not much heavier from a weight perspective. I can easily tuck it into my inside jacket pocket or even the pocket of my stretchy jeans (not my hoochie jeans though...nothing gets into those pockets, LOL!).

[spring]

I have a Canon SD600 Digital ELPH which I bought last year specifically because I wanted something very small for traveling. The plus side is it takes very nice vacation shots and weighs so little that I almost always carry it in my purse. It also fits easily into a shirt or pants pocket. The down side, as Lori mentioned, is the red eye in the close up shots of people (and pets). It does have a red eye position for the flash which helps, but I frequently forget to use it. Other than this snafu, it takes wonderful pictures of scenery and even non close-ups of people. It also has a special battery that needs a small charger for it. The charger would not be a good idea for your London trip, however I do go a long time between charges. On our 16 night Alaskan trip last year, I only recharged once. I took well over 1000 pictures on that trip, if that gives you a point of reference. I definitely would not try to recharge in London, even with a converter. I have a battery charger for another piece of equipment that died during a European trip a few years ago, even though I was using the proper converter. I ended up having to replace it when I came home. That being said, depending on the amount of pictures you might be planning on taking, I'd go with a camera that takes easily purchased batteries.

[m 'n c]

Ok I've found a couple of possibilities so far. Just not sure which one to go with for the price:

1. Canon 8MP camera 6x Optical Zoom
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16830120226

2. Canon 8MP camera 4x Optical Zoom
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16830120256

I thought about Nikon as well but didn't like where the zoom is placed on the cameras so think it'll be Canon again.

[askomsky]

Hey Catherine here are the websites, (I thought I better check before I went to bed or I knew I would forget!)

The first one is the main one I used, I thought it was the best. The others kinda just re-enforced everything else. (Not sure if all are valid, this is from an email over a year ago!)

HTH!
April

www.dpreview.com

http://reviews.cnet.com/Digital_cameras/

www.megapixel.net/html/cover.php

www.digitalcamerasource.info/

www.digitalreview.ca/index011.shtml

[m 'n c]

Thanks that first website is awesome. I actually found my old camera available at amazon but I'm going to upgrade since its the same price as that black camera I have listed.

That first camera has mixed reviews and the second hasn't been out long enough to get many. hmm... will continue to research I guess.

[Mom2aPrincess]

Good luck with finding a new camera. I'm a HUGE Sony fan. I've had my first Sony for 6 years now and I've bought 2 since then. My first one is still good and kicking, it is just larger and I wanted a small one I could carry around with me all the time. So I bought one of the smaller Sony models. Then last year, my dad bought me a new one out of the blue so now I have three. :rotfl: My camcorder is also a Sony so I guess I'm pretty brand loyal.

I got Becka a Canon S3 for Christmas as I found it for a GREAT price during Christmas sales and I REALLY like it too. It takes some great pictures.

Acutally though, I'm getting ready to upgrade into the SLR cameras though and I think I'll be going with a pentax. There's a photography forum on the DISboards and they are REALLY helpful. You might want to check them out. That's where I've learned that I want the pentax camera.

[~Kathie]

Hey Catherine here are the websites, (I thought I better check before I went to bed or I knew I would forget!)

The first one is the main one I used, I thought it was the best. The others kinda just re-enforced everything else. (Not sure if all are valid, this is from an email over a year ago!)

HTH!
April

www.dpreview.com

http://reviews.cnet.com/Digital_cameras/

www.megapixel.net/html/cover.php

www.digitalcamerasource.info/

www.digitalreview.ca/index011.shtml


Thanks so much for posting these links!!

My Nikon Coolpix 7900 bit the dust a few weeks ago. It's been in the shop and they have pretty much told me it's hopeless. I loved that camera. So easy to use and no red-eye. I figured I would just buy another one the same but it's not being made anymore. :( There are still some out there, but I thought I should upgrade.

I've been looking online for camera's all day. I really want a Nikon because I love the red-eye feature. My pictures always came out great. So far I think I am getting the Nikon Coolpix S510 or the Nikon Coolpix S550. I am going to look at the websites posted and see if I find something I like better.

[m 'n c]

I think I'll check those cameras out as well Kathie. I don't know anyone with a Nikon so I don't have too much experience with them but I know they are good camera makers. I think I might venture out to best buy next weekend too to see what some of these cameras actually look like. I've been reading that some are made out of plastic now not metal which worries me. I tend to be very rough on things.

[askomsky]

Glad they could help, the first one (dpreview) was really the most helpful to me.

I'm not really loyal to anyone brand, but I do love my Sony and it really takes awesome pics. I just finished helping out with the yearbook for my son's school and his hockey team and everyone who saw my pics vs the others really could tell the difference.

We just bought a new digital camcorder with a 8gig harddrive, AWESOME!! In this case the panasonic was actually rated better then the Sony, it also had better lighting features so that's the one we went with.

I do know there are just certain brands that aren't meant to be good digital cameras. Canon, Nikon, Sony and Olympus are probably the top ones.

I will get a digital SLR eventually, but it'll be when I convince DH I need to upgrade! lol

[arob414]

Huge Sony fan, here, too. I just bought my second one. The other was only a 3.2 and I have had it for 4+ yrs. Wanted a new one for Disney. I saw one I liked, wanted to research it. (That is why I am such a slllooowww shopper, research everything) My sister came for a visit and she had a new camera...mine. She is just as bad, or good, as I am about researching plus she minored in photography, majored in computers, had a digital company for awhile, so I trusted her. Not that Sony is better than others but at least every bit a good. I found mine in the outlet and got it for $130, it sells elsewhere for $200. I have never bought outlet Sony stuff but all my Dells are and they have been great. Also, I went thru SR and got credit.

I am sure whatever you get you will enjoy taking lots of pictures in UK.

[~Kathie]

I went to look at camera's today and ended up buying the Nikon Coolpix S500.
I bought it at a local camera store since they had the best prices.

Come to find out the S550 is very new so they didn't have one in stock. I did look at the other 2 on my list as they had both of those. Luckily, the 2 they had were the low end and high end as far as pricing went for the level of Coolpix I wanted. The S550 is in the middle. The S600 was $70 more than the S550.

S550
2.5 LCD screen
5X Optical Zoom
Digital Zoom 4X
10.0 Megapixels

S600
2.7 LCD Screen
4X Optical
Digital Zoom 4X
10.0 Megapixels

The S510 and the S600 were both pretty small.....a lot smaller than my 7900. According to the comparison printout I did, the S550 is about the same size.
All have image stabalization and have the automatic red-eye reduction. I love that about Nikon. The Coolpix are very simple to use.

I think going to to store to look at them and actually try them is important. I needed to see how it would fit in my hand and how easy it was to use. I did find that the on/off button for the S510 was really small.

It's going to take me a bit to get used to it being smaller but it works the same way and has a lot of the same features as my old camera so that's a plus for me.

You can get the specs from Nikon's website and they have a store location as to where you can find a particular model.

I did a printed comparison from Best Buy between the S550 and the S600. They don't carry the S510.

DH is a photography nut....he used to work for a photographer taking wedding pictures. He searched for a new camera for himself for months and finally settled on a Nikon D80. Too fancy for me but he is thrilled with it.

Oh....and the Nikon S550......comes in a few colors. I ordered BLUE!!!! :cooldance:

It did come with a charger and USB cable and software.

Good luck finding a camera. I can't wait to get mine.

[m 'n c]

April - what do you understand about ISOs and noise/grain? I have been reading reviews and now I'm confused. I thought you wanted to take pictures at high ISO but it sounds like that is not the case.

I went to best buy to hold cameras and take in-store pictures. They didn't have a good selection so I'm going to try circuit city out as well.

Anyways I had the cameras all set at L, Superfine, and the highest ISO and they were looking a tad blury and/or grainy. My current camera I keep at L and superfine (not sure the ISO) and it works out well - no issues. So I'm thinking maybe I had the ISO part wrong on these cameras.

So today what I found was - I like the ease of using a Canon since its what I am use to, I didn't like the Nikons button positions/layout so those are off my list, Sony - didn't pay too much attention to. The one I did pick up did take nice pictures. Will try again at CC this week.
Canon's - the black one on my first or second post was there. It was easy to hold and use. Didn't like the new buttons on it but I can adapt. but...
I found the Canon SD1100 IS and fell in love. Took nice looking in-store pictures and was easy to use. Buttons similar to old camera, etc.
but... its more than I was wanting to pay ($250 vs. $160), it uses that special battery, and didn't have a working memory card so I couldn't really look back at the pictures I was taking. It is also too new to have any user reviews.

[~Kathie]

Good that you are trying it out....holding it. So important and not every camera works for everyone.

I can't answer your question about ISO. DH hasn't showed me all of that yet.

Mine is a lot smaller than my previous Nikon Coolpix 7900. The buttons are very small and someone with big fingers couldn't use this camera.

Good luck..........I'm sure you will find something you will be happy with.

[askomsky]

April - what do you understand about ISOs and noise/grain? I have been reading reviews and now I'm confused. I thought you wanted to take pictures at high ISO but it sounds like that is not the case.

I went to best buy to hold cameras and take in-store pictures. They didn't have a good selection so I'm going to try circuit city out as well.

Anyways I had the cameras all set at L, Superfine, and the highest ISO and they were looking a tad blury and/or grainy. My current camera I keep at L and superfine (not sure the ISO) and it works out well - no issues. So I'm thinking maybe I had the ISO part wrong on these cameras.

So today what I found was - I like the ease of using a Canon since its what I am use to, I didn't like the Nikons button positions/layout so those are off my list, Sony - didn't pay too much attention to. The one I did pick up did take nice pictures. Will try again at CC this week.
Canon's - the black one on my first or second post was there. It was easy to hold and use. Didn't like the new buttons on it but I can adapt. but...
I found the Canon SD1100 IS and fell in love. Took nice looking in-store pictures and was easy to use. Buttons similar to old camera, etc.
but... its more than I was wanting to pay ($250 vs. $160), it uses that special battery, and didn't have a working memory card so I couldn't really look back at the pictures I was taking. It is also too new to have any user reviews.


Ok going to have to look at my camera settings to answer your first question, but I did want to add that The Camera Shop, most malls have them are the best place for testing out the cameras. Their always (99% of the time) charged have memory to test out etc. So if CC doesn't help you narrow it down I would go to the camera shop to at least hold and figure it out. That's where I went the last time to hold Canon and Sony cybershot.

also I know it's more then you wanted to pay for, but again you get what you pay for and IMHO $250 for a good camera that could last you potenitally 5-6 yrs is a good price. Of course unless the $160 one is only temp. and you'll be looking to upgrade past 5 yrs. That's just my "expert" lol opinion.

[m 'n c]

Yeah I think I might suck up the extra cost and get the more expensive one because I could tell a picture quality difference on the camera. I think I'll give them both another look because I want something that I'll be happy with.

If you figure out the ISO thing let me know. If I can get my old camera back on I'll look at its settings too as someone on a photography group told me how to do my settings for the best pictures and they were definitely right.

[askomsky]

Yeah I think I might suck up the extra cost and get the more expensive one because I could tell a picture quality difference on the camera. I think I'll give them both another look because I want something that I'll be happy with.

If you figure out the ISO thing let me know. If I can get my old camera back on I'll look at its settings too as someone on a photography group told me how to do my settings for the best pictures and they were definitely right.

Exactly, you definetly will be able to tell the difference.

I have my camera now, trying to find the settings! lol That's my problem I played with it when I first got it, getting it to the setting I liked/worked the best and left it, I tried others, but whatever I have is working. If I remember correctly and could look it up real quick is higher ISO is for dark lighting and or fast moving pictures. I have a seperate setting on my camera for that and tried to do that during DS's hockey games but it wasn't working as well as I liked, so i went back to my regular manual setting and just keep clicking and usually end up with some good ones depending on the shot.

[nicholfamily5]

The one I have now is a powershot A95 and uses 4 AA batteries which I agree is awesome when you forget to charge. I do hate how it is bulky but it does a great job taking pictures so I'd trade the slimness for the bulky any day. I'm just wondering if 4-5 years is the average lifespan on digital cameras or if maybe there is a better lasting brand out there. Nikon's just cost about $100 more for the same exact thing. Not sure if its worth it. I think this one is ~4 years old. I know my brother's first Sony lasted 2-3 years which was disappointing for him as well.

In my experiance 4-5 years has been the case for digitals. My dh and I purchased a digital camera on our honeymoon, and at the time got the best one we could afford. (Olympus ...sp?) That camera took really great pictures until we hit the 5 year mark, and then got really slow, and then just pretty much died. We bought a Nikon last year and it's okay, I was really wanting the Canon Rebel so I think I set myself up for disappointment. I'd research online, then go to the stores and actually try the cameras out. It is really hard to tell from the web the different features of a camera. If you can find a smaller, single store (not a big box store) you will get much better service and they will know what they are talking about. We bought ours at Best Buy and the kid was pretty much just reading off the info card. Hope this helps!

[m 'n c]

Thanks Kristin. I was actually trying to think if I've ever seen a real camera store over here. I know of some back home but won't be going home for a long time. I'll have to do a web search or something.

[luvdisney00]

Another fan of Sony Cybershot here. I've had it for a little over a year and it takes great pics and is very small and easy to carry in my purse. It has a rechargeable battery, and the charge seems to last a long time. The video clips are great too. I have the 7.2 megapixel one.

[m 'n c]

Update!

I am a member of a few canon yahoo groups for when my camera dies on me. Apparently there was an advisory in 2006 about this new issue I have and Canon will take a look at it and fix it for free if this is what is causing my camera to die right now. I think I'm going to give them a call about it after work.

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=PgComSmModDisplayAct&keycode=2112&fcategoryid=221&modelid=8776


This one is my backup plan if the above doesn't work. After reading and seeing recs on the groups for this one I think I'll just use my spot bonus I've been holding in my drawer since August for this.
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=183&modelid=15658

[Hedy]

Update!

I am a member of a few canon yahoo groups for when my camera dies on me. Apparently there was an advisory in 2006 about this new issue I have and Canon will take a look at it and fix it for free if this is what is causing my camera to die right now. I think I'm going to give them a call about it after work.

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=PgComSmModDisplayAct&keycode=2112&fcategoryid=221&modelid=8776


This one is my backup plan if the above doesn't work. After reading and seeing recs on the groups for this one I think I'll just use my spot bonus I've been holding in my drawer since August for this.
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=183&modelid=15658


:cooldance::cooldance:

[DisGal71]

Hello

I just picked up my new Canon last week and am still trying to figure out the settings. My old one was a Canon and like the previous messages I had figured out the best setting (it had an action shot setting)...with 3 kids, including a baby I need the quick shots! Now I have the A590 and it does not have the action shot, it has a kids &pets.. most of my pics so far are blurs! So if anyone can suggest a site that helps with figuring out settings that would be great!!

Thanks! :)

[m 'n c]

Hello

I just picked up my new Canon last week and am still trying to figure out the settings. My old one was a Canon and like the previous messages I had figured out the best setting (it had an action shot setting)...with 3 kids, including a baby I need the quick shots! Now I have the A590 and it does not have the action shot, it has a kids &pets.. most of my pics so far are blurs! So if anyone can suggest a site that helps with figuring out settings that would be great!!

Thanks! :)

Yahoo has a bunch of canon groups. If you search Canon A590 you might find a group just for that camera or the one right below or above it in megapixels. They would be a good resource to tap any time you had questions.

I always used Auto -> Superfine, and Low for my old camera settings and had great results. I never really tried all the special settings so I'm not much help. Maybe April will pop back in and can help.