Best Digital Camera??

Question

I am looking to buy a digital camera within the next three weeks. What do you have, and how do you like it? What is your suggestion?

Answer 1

If you’re looking for a point & shoot, user friendly digital camera, I have to say, I like Canon. Nothing against other brands. I’ve just a long history of personal experience and preference with Canon with 35mm, digital and video. They have an awesome line of cameras that can fit any kind of budget.

When shopping for a point & shoot digital camera, consider this: 1) 5 mp this is best for most users 2) OPTICAL zoom with at least 4X. (Digital zoom shouldn’t be high priority in a digital camera). 3) Should have a viewfinder. Some models are doing away with the viewfinder. It is very helpful to have, when your the subject is difficult to see in the LCD/display screen on a very bright day, or to conserve battery life. (Continuous screen use, suck up battery life). 4) Uses AA regular or rechargeable batteries. Some models have specialized lithium ion batteries, where you charge it while in the camera. With AA, you can always pick up if you find yourself caught with low batteries and are not able to charge the camera/lithium ion battery quickly. 5)And a PLUS, can take video/movie mode. (Which most do!)

Canon has an awesome line that can fit the bill. Consider the PowerShot models, the A460, A550/A560 and A630/A640. Or check out the SD models. Here is a link to Canon’s cameras: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=113
These models have helpful pre-set shooting modes that you choose for the particular picture moment you are about to shoot. Like: auto(matic), portrait, nighttime, landscape, indoor, snow, beach, kids & pets (subjects that won’t keep still)… Some models have more modes than others, and the option to set your own manual setting, so check the specifications. You should bear in mind, with physical size of the camera, (subcompact/slim/flat vs. compact), you compromise features available on the slightly larger models.

I own the Canon PowerShot A620 which I LOVE, and purchased new online last Spring. My favorite feature of this model is the vari-angle display/LCD screen. It protects the screen when not in use, and helpful for odd angle shots. Picture taking is instant! I have found lag time is not an issue, with this camera, compared to my first digital camera. They now have an updated version of my A620… the A630 and A640. Here is a review and its features (keep scrolling to see the vari-angle screen), up close and personal:
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_a630_a640-review/index.shtml

Here is where I go to shop on-line for the best price for digital cameras. (Which I found to have considerable better prices than going locally to your nearest digital camera dealer). Just type in your camera model in the ‘search keyword’: http://lowpricedigital.com/category.asp?master_category_Id=1000 Buy soon or check daily, for prices changes daily amongst merchants. Also check if the camera is being sold ‘new’ or ‘refurbished’.

If you’d rather buy from the store, check the usual places, Best Buy, Circuit City, Wal-Mart, Target, and camera stores. Even consider Office Max, Office Depot, CostCo/Sam’s Club---any store with a camera department.

Good luck with your new camera...whatever you choose!

Answer 2

I don't have the best digital camera by a long shot, but I have an affordable Olympus digital camera with 5.1 megapixels of resolution. Actually, when I bought it it cost a lot more than what you would pay for the same camera now.

"Best" if you go by resolution is something in the 11 megapixel range. That is a magazine cover quality photo.

Another thing to look for is a good optical zoom. Digital zoom is worthless since it severely degrades the picture quality.

Also, how many still pictures the camera will snap in rapid succession is also a mark of a good digital camera. If you can take 7 to 8 high quality still pictures without the camera stopping to save them, that's pretty good.

Of course most digital cameras will also take short video clips. These are fun for posting on YouTube, but they are of poor quality. A 3-chip digital video camera using Mini-DVs or Mini-DVDs would be best for motion picture.

Affordability wise, you can get a pretty good 6 megapixel camera for under $300.00. If you pay less, probably the trade off is in the quality lens you are buying. The lens is one of the most important parts of the camera and the better the glass there, the more you pay for it. With a high resolution digital camera, the lens ought to be pretty good. Look at the size of the actual glass -- the bigger the better. Even small-lensed digital cameras will take some amazing pictures, but if you took the same shot with a better lens, you could see the difference.

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

Personally, I have a Ricoh RDC-7, (purchased in 2001, still taking fantastic pics) and recently purchased a Canon Powershot S3 IS. The Canon doesn't touch the Ricoh as far as clear crisp photo's and low light shooting, but the Canon is still an excellent camera, and I love it.

If you are not an experienced photographer, I would recommend the Canon Powershot A640. According to my research it is an excellent camera, and more of a point and shoot, though you can also program it to some degree. One of the selling points is the swivel LCD screen, which I much prefer on cameras.

Here you can compare models:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/

Answer 4

I have a Canon Powershot, it has excellent battery life, with rechargeables, unlike Kodak and HP, which I returned before settleling with the Canon. Excellent pics. I hear Sony makes good cameras too. But seriously Canon is GREAT

Answer 5

I have a Canon SD630, love it, and recommend it.

Digital camera preferences vary greatly from person to person. For that reason, I suggest you read up on a few models before making your final decision. I have always used the following site - it's very informative!

http://www.dcresource.com/

Answer 6

I have a Fugi Funpix...I absolutely LOVE it!..Great quality ..it has 3x zoom...easy to use..video recording..durable and you can do tons of stuff to the pictures with the software that comes with it. The other great camera that I know of is anything that is a sony!..They are so nice!..Goodluck with your choice..Oh yeah and my camera was affordable..but not cheap either!..Hope this helped.

Answer 7

Do some homework. The best Digital cameras sell for well over 20,000 US dollars. Is that the price range you are considering?

Answer 8

The Nikon Coolpix S9 is a nice very compact camera, If you want it I saw it at Ritz Camera, they also got some promos at http://www.prioritycodes.com/Electronics/RitzCamera.com-Priority-Codes/index.html for a discount

Answer 9

I bought a Canon Rebel two years ago. And, then pawned it last year to make rent one month. =(
All I remember about it was that it cost me just over a grand and I ******* loved it. Beautiful shots. Of course, that truly depends upon the photographer.
~Kat

Answer 10

Hasselblad I believe they are calling it their H3D camera body can have up to a 39 megapixel back. Its only costs $29,000. =) Nothing like medium format resolution