buying a digital camera?

Question

i'm looking into buying a digital camera. my price limit is around $250... but i want the highest picture quality and zoom i can get for my money. i was looking at an olympus, but i was wondering what others thought would be the best bang for their buck... any suggestions?

I just want high quality picture and zoom... closest to professional quality as possible...

Answer 1

I think best the camera in your price range is the Canon Powershot A540. You can find it "everywhere" for about $170. I've recommended this camera within my own family, so I'll be living with the results of this recommendation right along with you. You can use the rest of your budget to buy a decent memory card.

Go here and read an extensive review:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/a540.html

Check the sample images, too.

This will blow your mind. The A530 is now discontinued, but it was the "little brother" to the A540.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/150-vs-5000-dollar-camera.htm

Canon just introduced the A550, which has more pixels, but offers less user control. I'd be happy with the A540.

A550 review: http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/a550.html

You will need to add a memory card and I suggest the Sandisk or Lexar brand in any speed. You will spend from about $20 for a 512 KB card, which is perfectly adequate, to about $40 for a Sandisk Ultra II, which is as good as you'd ever want for this or many other cameras.

If your budget allows a little over $250, look at the Canon Powershot A630, which my son has owned for close to year now. It's a great camera.

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/a630.html

Answer 2

Keep in mind that you don't need a whole lot of camera for basic printing and internet use. A 3.2 camera is fine for 90% of what you'll use it for. An example is that a 4.0 mpg camera will blow up a 16 x 20 in 35mm quality..... and you'd need special printers and paper.....

SO...... of you're not going to blow up pictures - why spend the money? A typical 3.2 mp camera will make great 4x6 photos and most likely an 8x10 (I'd have to research that).

As far as 5.0 mp - it's overkill unless you're making posters and doing graphic stuff. More is only good to a point.....and if it's for printing 4x6 and internet pictures - you're just wasting $$.

Answer 3

i might propose amazon, they do great bargins and on maximum of them this is loose transport, ebay do not provide that lots off and this is not loose delivery as nicely. i've got been given a 9megapixel digicam from there basically for£a hundred thirty and in shops it somewhat is around £4 hundred unusual.

Answer 4

I know it's more than you're looking for but here:
http://www.dpreview.com/
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/stats.asp

FYI- Canon is typically the gold standard.

Answer 5

i'm not sure...but make sure it has a large display screen...that is the one thing I would change about my camera