Looking for a new camera...any suggestions?

[Razzmatazz]

I'm in the market to buy a new camera, but I really don't know anything about different types, so I was wondering if someone could give me some suggestions?

Here's what I'm looking for:

-Moderately priced (under 500)
-High-quality photos (both indoors and outdoors)
-Video capability
-SD memory card compatible

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[ACooper]

Well the nikon d40 or d40x is recommended here alot, it's the reason I bought mine..........but no video capability, so that is probably out.

 

[Fran27]

Yeah the nikon d40 is next on my to-buy list... one day!

 

[Razzmatazz]

Yea, I do really want/need one with video...

 

[Razzmatazz]

Ok...here's one that my friend found...does it look any good?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...=product&tab=2&id=1186007546740#productdetail

 

[ACooper]

I have a kodak easy share, not that EXACT model though. It's easy to use and takes ok pictures, it does video as well.

It's what I upgraded to the Nikon from One thing I will warn against with the Kodak ES. If you are trying to take pictures inside in funky light, lets just say a school play (my biggest headache) and you are NOT in the front row and need to zoom.........FORGET IT. Ain't gonna happen. They will be black, or a VERY bad shade of black where you can hardly make out the subjects.

 

[Island dog]

I have the Canon Powershot S3 IS. It is a great camera and fun to use. Has wonderful video and the reason I bought it was for the 12 X optical zoom. I use it mostly outside. It also has the same drawback as the previous poster - not good for inside pictures which is really a disappointment because other powershot models can be relied upon to take great pictures outside and indoors.

If you're serious about photography buy an SLR otherwise you will be limited and disappointed with the quality of photos and the shutter lag.

 

[Dekka]

I am pretty happy with our Nikon cool pics. It had the best video of all those I tried out. The zoom is only 3X optical. I like it due to very very low shutter lag. (you can see the pics it takes in the myriad of threads I have made with pics )

Really though, I want an SLR (maybe for Xmas....)

 

[Zoom]

A Nikon Coolpix might suit your needs: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...=product&tab=2&id=1184768166301#productdetail

I'm considering one of these for myself to have a small "night-out" camera and something with video...I've got a Nikon D50 for my "real" camera.

 

[Saje]

Check out the www.kenrockwell.com site for recommendations. He has some good advice for both point and shoot cameras and dslr. He does recommend the Nikon D40, which is one of my cameras, but it doesn't sound like what you are looking for. Although if you want a dslr camera it's one of the few that would be in your price range. Keep in mind that it's very limited in which lenses you can use on it though. Depending on what you want to do with it that might be a problem.

 

[Renee750il]

I've got access to the Nikon Coolpix we just got for the store. It's okay . . . the shutter lag drives me insane though, being used to virtually NO shutter lag on my 35mm Nikon. You're going to find shutter lag on just about any of the non SLRs though, and it seems to have the least. Even so, I can't say I have any desire to shoot pics with it, really. All it's made me want to do is get out my REAL camera and burn film that I can't afford.

I don't like the lack of control either . . . guess I am just a lens junkie, lol.

 

[RD]

Honestly, if you want a P&S that gives you a bit more control and still lets you take video, I'd go with the Canon Powershot S5 IS.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0705/07050703canons5is.asp

I hate point and shoot cameras now that I've been spoiled with a digital SLR, but the s5 IS is still a really nice camera. I have the earliest model in that series, the S1 IS and I am pleased with the video quality and the pictures aren't too bad - with some tweaking of the priorities and the shutter speed, you actually can avoid some shutter lag - though not entirely.

 

[Island dog]

Honestly, if you want a P&S that gives you a bit more control and still lets you take video, I'd go with the Canon Powershot S5 IS.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0705/07050703canons5is.asp

I hate point and shoot cameras now that I've been spoiled with a digital SLR, but the s5 IS is still a really nice camera. I have the earliest model in that series, the S1 IS and I am pleased with the video quality and the pictures aren't too bad - with some tweaking of the priorities and the shutter speed, you actually can avoid some shutter lag - though not entirely.

How's the S5 IS on inside photos? I originally had the S2 IS and then upgraded to the S3 IS but it wasn't worth it - really nothing to speak of in difference.