I have a birthday coming up and a hankering for a good digital camera.

I'd prefer something relatively small and portable, with a zoom lens, USB connectivity, and sharp, clear pictures.

I've seen some digital cameras that don't have viewers (the thing you put up to your eye) and just have a little screen. I'd prefer NOT to have one of those. I like the camera-to-eye thing because that's how I learned how to take pictures.

The price point I have in mind is about $400ish.

Any recommendations or comments would be most helpful! Thanks so much!

I have a Pentax Optio. Can't remember the exact model number. But it is small, lightweight, has a viewfinder as well as a screen, and it is 3.2 pixels. It works great!

Kim-

When my hubby gets home from work I will have him post his suggestions....while he is completing his MBA he works part time selling digital cameras and video and DVD cameras.....I will show hime your specs and I know he will give you some specific models to go look at.

My newest camera love is the Cannon Sureshot S50.....but the price on that baby is about $600....a little out of my price range at the momment.....but one sweet digital camera with 5 megapixels :roll:

Will post info from hubby later tonight!

[quote:a7dbf73fff="TheLusciousHellcat"]I have a birthday coming up and a hankering for a good digital camera.

I'd prefer something relatively small and portable, with a zoom lens, USB connectivity, and sharp, clear pictures.

I've seen some digital cameras that don't have viewers (the thing you put up to your eye) and just have a little screen. I'd prefer NOT to have one of those. I like the camera-to-eye thing because that's how I learned how to take pictures.

The price point I have in mind is about $400ish.

Any recommendations or comments would be most helpful! Thanks so much![/quote:a7dbf73fff]

I would recommend you go with a Kodak LS443. It is a 4.0 Megapixel camera with a 3.0x optical and 3.3x digital zoom. Basically, you will be able to print 4x6, 5x7, and 8x10 pictures with great quality. I do not know about other retailers, but Circuit City sells them for $399.00. I believe there is also a promotion that gives you a free 64 SD Memory card. With this card, you will be able to take 32 pictures before you need to download. Speaking of downloading, this camera also comes with a docking station that (1) makes downloading very easy and (2) charges your camera's rechargeable battery. Additionally, the camera has a great indoor/outdoor LCD.

There are also a couple of really great Sony digital cameras in that price ranges as well as Olympus's Stylus 300, which is an all weather, 3.0 Megapixel camera.

Let my little penguin know if you have any more questions.

Oooooo, diane,,, can hubbie get a discount on a cannon 3.0 or 4.0 megapix camera..??????... :mrgreen:

Ummmm yeah.....it's the only good thing about being a retail slave. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

My advice, Kim, is... size matters. :twisted:

Our first digicam was a Sony Mavica, a.k.a. "The Brick." It was fun to use, but large and clunky enough to require a carrying bag. The size (and weight) made it a hassle and it didn't get used as often as a result.

Our second digicam is a 2-megapixel Canon Digital Elph. It literally is the width and height of a credit card. In other words, it fits easily in a shirt pocket and goes everywhere with us. It also uses a proprietary lithium ion battery that just kicks ass. We thought we'd need a backup battery so we splurged the extra $35 - but we rarely even use the second battery unless we're out of town for a week or more.

My second piece of advice is regarding memory type. Avoid Smart Media like the plague. It is low-capacity and obsolete. Compact Flash is just about perfect because it is cheap and volumous and will likely work in other digital goodies you have like MP3 players or PDAs. Go ahead and splurge $20 on a SanDisk CF reader if you haven't already done so. Much faster for pulling the images off of your camera's memory than transfering directly from the camera.

My third piece of advice - go to Steve's Digicams and read, read, read:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/

And PC Photo Review is handy too:

http://www.pcphotoreview.com/

Among other things I teach digital photography. My first digital camera was a Ricoh 5300, 2.3 meg pixels and at the time a very good camera (still is). However I recently bought a Cannon G2. It a great camera. 4.0 million pixels, great quality and even does QuickTime movies with sound. It has many features that I like with my SLR cameras. It's more than you may want to spend but worth it.

I have to reccomend a Sony digital camera.

I've got the S75 and its an awsome camera, but maybe something a
little smaller would be what your looking for.

The primary reason is the battery technology -- its the best (longest lasting) and rechargable from within the camera -- makes its very easy to use.

I've got 3 family members with Sony digital cameras -- and nothing but
good reviews and experiences.

Try the Sony Cybershot DSC-P8. Its also got USB 2.0 connectivity.

See this review:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/P8/P8A.HTM

Good price here:
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/skusearch.hmx?UID=PG-1407098&SCriteria=1018860&bop=and

Also get a bigger memory stick (at least 128, or 256 if you take over
110 pictures without a download, or take long extended trips).
link: http://www.mwave.com/mwave/doSearch.hmx?bop=and&scriteria=memory+stick&UID=PG%2D1407098&CID=&Back=ProdCAM-SON.hmx?&n=1

I have an extra battery, but haven't used it yet. Might be worth getting if you take long trips where you can't charge easily.

Good luck.
Scott

i've been doing digital photog for awhile now.

in 1994 i got my first digital camera.
an Apple Quicktake 100 (http://www.applebytes.net/cgi-bin/MasterFrameReunion.cgi?http%3A//www.applebytes.net/a_quicktake100.shtml), the first digital camera targeted at consumers.
no removable media and very low resolution.
i could only store about 6 pix before having to plug into the computer to download them.
http://www.applebytes.net/arcimgs/quicktake100_150.jpg

next i went to the Apple Quicktake 200 (http://www.applebytes.net/cgi-bin/MasterFrameReunion.cgi?http%3A//www.applebytes.net/a_quicktake100.shtml).
great advancements in this model.
built in flash, removable media and an lcd.
http://www.applebytes.net/arcimgs/quicktake_200.jpg

i then sat out for a few years and jumped back in about a year ago with a kodak 4900 (4.1megapixel). i was very happy (i thought) with this camera and it's quality.

then i finally saw the light.
my most recent purchase, a canon s230 (http://www.powershot.com/powershot2/s230/index.html)(3.2 megapixel) is the greatest one yet.
it is the world's smallest 3+ mp camera.
i find that i carry it everywhere with me now, due to it's minimal size.
it takes great pix and the prints look super all the way to 8x10 and above.
http://www.powershot.com/powershot2/s230/images/prod_img.jpg

the biggest thing to me at this time is the size of the unit.
i have found that i take alot more pix, since it can be in my shirt pocket.

that's my .02

:D

Weehumm, can you edit? You post looks like a spam because the site you are linking to has placed what looks like an ad in place of the picture.

[quote:20cecf43a1="ERider"]Among other things I teach digital photography. My first digital camera was a Ricoh 5300, 2.3 meg pixels and at the time a very good camera (still is). However I recently bought a Cannon G2. It a great camera. 4.0 million pixels, great quality and even does QuickTime movies with sound. It has many features that I like with my SLR cameras. It's more than you may want to spend but worth it.[/quote:20cecf43a1]
I concur, my G2 is the best. Unbelievable battery life as well

Compaired to My Ricoh the battery life on the G2 is a blessing.

There is nothing more frustrating that setting up a good shot and then having the battery die.

Great information here!

I so very much appreciate everyone offering advice and wisdom. You guys are great.

I've got some more research and thinking to do, but everything here is something I've noted and gives me a way to refine my research and narrow my choices.

Just to note some Camera Synchronicity, my father just gave me his Nikon SLR - he thinks it's a bit much for him to carry around and use these days, as he's almost 82 and unwell. It's a great camera. I want to shoot black-and-white with it.

Bottom line - expect lots of photography from me. And I wonder what will be my main subject. Could it be.....an orange Element? :wink:

then i finally saw the light.
my most recent purchase, a canon s230 (http://www.powershot.com/powershot2/s230/index.html)(3.2 megapixel) is the greatest one yet.
it is the world's smallest 3+ mp camera.


This isn't actually true anymore; the Pentax Optio S is small enough to put into an altoids tin and shut it! If size is more important, go with the Optio S, but the sharpness of the s230 is unbeatable for the size.