camera decision making help ;?

Question

aight - hey everyone; I need some help trying to figure out which camera I want to get. I am mad interested in the sony dsc-p73 cybershot camera. I just love it. but i have no clue where to find a website that sells a brand new one so i could order it - I am also still not really so sure if I wanna get it ; but if i don't REGUARDLESS * i want to get a SONY CYBERSHOT DSC - (insert whatever model here - but preferably i want it to be some type of P model)

I need some input and help on which type of sony dsc-p (preferably P models) cybershot cameras to get. And also I am trying to stay within a logical budget, cause I'm not paying; it's a gift for me. So with that being said, give me some input on good sony models that are dsc-p and where to order them and some back up information on the product.

please & thanks in advanced.

Answer 1

If you're a first time buyer I urge you to buy from a local camera store. The employees in a camera store are trained to know the features and benefits of every camera they sell. Plus you then have access to someone who can answer your questions, help solve problems and offer intelligent advice. *

If you ask a clerk at Wal-Mart a camera question most likely you'll get a blank stare. Try explaining a problem over the phone to a CSR in India or Taiwan. Good luck!

Once you've made your purchase, study the Owner's Manual.

Register your camera and save the receipt.

If the camera store offers an in-house (extra cost) warranty at least listen to the salesperson. Some stores offer a 30 day replacement policy unless it obvious that you ran over it with your car or dropped it several feet.

* Please do not take up a salesperson's time and then buy elsewhere. The salesperson may be on commission so its unfair to "stiff" them by wasting their time. Just remember to "Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you."

Answer 2

Personally ... I don't think much about Sony products at all. I had a Sony P&S camera for two and a half years when it burned out on me after only about ten thousand images.

Sony is in the electronics business, not in the camera business. They do not understand how photographers work, they only understand electonics. As a result they do build relatively good, innovative electronics but the packaging in terms of cameras leaves a lot to be desired. I had to go to a menu to do almost anything. There were no buttons I could press to engage different camera functions instantly. So I lost a lot of pictures messing around with the menu instead of taking them as they happened.

Sony also likes to be proprietary. They are the only ones who use the memory stick. As a result of that you're paying quite a premium for their memory cards when compared to Secure Digital (SD) and Compact Flash (CF), the two memory card standards you can get just about anywhere and frequently on sale. I knew a guy who had a Sony SLR, he wanted to borrow my flash and discovered it doesn't even have a standard flash shoe, it would accept only Sony flashes. This kind of thing doesn't impress me at all especially when there are often better products around other than Sony.

When you burn out your Sony you have to buy another one if you want to continue using the memory cards you bought for it. No other brand will accept them. On the other hand if you go for a brand that uses CF or SD cards you aren't forced to buy another camera from the same manufacturer, you have a large range of choices available from all kinds of sources.

On the positive side they do build relatively solid products some of which are relatively functional. Their cameras also take average pictures and a few models slightly above average.

Would you go to a lumber yard to buy your television? Why go to an electronics manufacturer when you want to buy a camera? That doesn't make sense to me.

After my experience with Sony I learned my lesson and replaced their camera with a Canon PowerShot, a G7 which is probably too functional and expensive for you. That switch cost me dearly, I had about $400 in their memory cards which I now can't use. I also considered the Nikon Coolpix models too.

Both Nikon and Canon have been in the camera business longer than Sony has existed as a company. They're both experienced in building products that meet the needs of photographers. They both build durable products. I use a Nikon SLR (a D200) as my primary camera, the P&S Canon is only for those moments when I don't want to carry my gear around.

My recommendation is to stay away from Sony and go with Nikon or Canon products, they're more reliable, they're usually easier to use, and they're designed for photographers. They also take excellent pictures.

I hope that helps a little. Good Luck!

Answer 3

I really believe buying a camera is an individual choice.
The person needs to read alot of reviews on cameras and learn as much as they can from the internet.
Go to the store and hold them and try them to see what they feel like and how they take pictures.
I can only give a suggestion of what to look for in a new digital camera.
Good Luck

my suggestion
go to yahoo shopping
digital cameras
digital camera GUIDE
be sure to check titles on the left side
the guide should answer your questions

Answer 4

staples.com,or bestbuy.com,circuitcity.com e-bay might have them too