What is the best digital camera for a traveler with at least 6.0MP and around $500-$1000? Awesome pictures?

Answer 1

You've left yourself rather wide open with this question. First, I'd say to get a couple of memory cards for the trip so you don't run out of storage space. ALWAYS shoot at full resolution so you won't find that you have not taken advantage of the "awesome" capabilities of your camera. I'd get at least a 1GB Sandisk Ultra II or Extreme III. I mean, get TWO of them.

For the $1,000 budget, for awesome pictures, I'd buy a Nikon D50. It has a few "consumer friendly" automatic modes that make it very easy to use, but still offers total photographic control when you are ready to take charge. Get a "decent" lens, such as their Nikkor AF-S 18-70 f/3.5-4.5G ED DX lens and not the "kit" lens. This pair will cost you less than $1,000 and you will be very happy with it. If you want more lenses for the same money, you can get this camera with two "kit" lenses that are decent, but not as good for the long haul as the one I mentioned. When you are ready to add lenses, the sky is the limit with Nikon. Get a 1 GB memory card, such as the Sandisk "Ultra" for decent write speed. You can get these in the $30 range. An "Extreme" is faster, but I doubt anyone would notice the difference except a pro.

Someone else wil undoubtedly recommend a similar Canon camera and I will not dispute that choice. I know Nikons and someone else knows Canons. Both are excellent cameras and you will never outgrow their system offerings.

If you don't want the bulk of a DSLR, although the D50 is one of the smallest, there are a couple of steps down.

One is the Canon S3 IS. It's not that much smaller, but it has a great 12X zoom lens that will take you from (equiv) 36mm to 432 mm. You would never wish you decided not to pack your long lens with this camera. With a 2 GB Sandisk Ultra II SD card, you will be well within your budget. Heck, you could buy one for you and one for your wife, too.

For a smaller camera that is proven for giving quality images, consider a Canon Powershot A640. Consumer Reports for November 2006 has ranked the Canon Powershot A620 as the best compact digital camera. It is becoming almost a legend for longevity at the top of various consumer lists. It looks like this model has been replaced by the A630, which I would expect to be just as popular. The A640 appears quite similar and shares the "600" series numbering, so I guess it's just another upgraded version of the now-classic A620. It looks pretty much the same except for baing a 10 MP camera. The continuous drive is a little slower, but the files are larger, so that's no surprise. I own a few Nikon DSLR's and I'd buy the Canon A630 or A640 for myself.

With this camera, you will find the memory card is a cute little token of thanks from Canon, but not much more. Buy a couple 1 GB Sandisk Ultra II or Extreme III card. You will NEED the increased capacity and write speed to fully realize the benefits of your camera.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_...

Answer 2

Awesome pictures depend more on the photographer than the equipment.
However, you should probably consider a digital SLR. The major camera folks (Nikon, Canon & Olympus) all have a nice dslr in your price range. You can use them basically as a point and shoot, but should you wish, they have the capability to take you as far in photography as you want to go.
BTW, it's ok to look like a tourist if you are! I travel with 2 or 3 cameras (film & digital) and usually a tripod! IOf course, I usually don't carry all at once. Nowadays, many people have a nice camera and it really doesn't attract much attention.
Good luck in your search!

Answer 3

I'd get either a dSLR set-up for maximum image quality and the ability to get every shot (incredible responsiveness and low light performance), or a slim point & shoot for maximum convenience. I'd avoid all 10x zoom point & shoots models - in my opinion they combine the worst of both worlds (they're bulky and sluggish).
I personally don't mind lugging around a dSLR where ever I go, so for just under $1000 I would get a Nikon D50 with a Nikon 18-70mm zoom, a used Nikon 50mm f/1.8, and a 2GB SanDisk Extreme lll memory card.
The D50 is an inexpensive but very decent 6 mega-pixel camera. The 18-70mm lens has great image quality with a good range for street photography and landscapes, and the 50mm lens is a fantastic addition for low light situations (inside museums, night time street photography, etc.)
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added:
I just saw that Dr. Sam beat me to the Send button . It's scary how often we agree :-)
I wouldn't sweat it too much about the memory cards however. 2GB will go a long way, and there's always the option to transfer your card to CD's at just about every camera shop in the world.

Answer 4

I think the first question is about fuctionality, if you want a camera that you can always have in your pocket and never miss a shot, look at the Cyber-shot® DSC-T10 Digital Camera
DSC-T10/W. I have this one for awhile and the picture quality is amazing and it is so light and portable. It's easy to always have it with you. It keeps you light and ready to travel so you can have funn and not look like a tourist.

Answer 5

I have the canon s3 is . You can get them for as low as 400 to 450 now. they are 6 meg pix too with a 12x zoom. cant go wrong there.
Stay away from SLR . there not worth the money.In fact the pics from a good compact are better by far. I have done a side by side test and the SLR loses every time.

Answer 6

Kodak EasyShare Z612; http://www.kodak.com/go/z612

Kodak EasyShare P712' http://www.kodak.com/go/p712