Posted: 8/4/2007 5:18:26 PM EDT
| My girlfriend is looking for a new camera with the following criteria: small, rechargeable batteries (not AA or the like), at least 5x optical zoom, at least 7 mega pixels, takes pictures quickly (no lame slow auto-focus before you can snap something in action), and under $400. Any suggestions? She mostly takes pictures of friends and things like that, your common facebook type stuff. Any help is appreciated. |
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www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare.asp Edited to add My favorite compact camera choice. www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Olympus/oly_stylus770sw.asp |
Try the small Sony cameras.
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Does it have to be 5x zoom? www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16830120208 |
Here's my 2 cents" 1.) Figure out your price point, add at least 20 percent and buy whatever Canon* brand camera hits just above that figure. If you've got some beef against Canon, get an Olympus. (This advice coming from a 25+ year NIKON user). 2.) When considering zooms, don't be impressed by either zoom ranges (4x, 5x, etc.) or longer telephoto specs. The wide angle end is MUCH more important. I would rather have a wider lens than a longer lens. None of these cameras are worth a damn for sports/wildlife or other uses where a telephoto is important. They are people cameras and that happens up close and personal. Again, wide angle is more important than telephoto. Also, completely disregard any "digital zoom" specs. You can't make up for lack of optics digitally. 3.) Lens speed is more important than any other lens specification. Faster is better. * Given the choice between a "normal" size camera and a slim, super compact one, I'm picking the normal camera for its faster lens, better flash. etc. |
With the exception of the AA batteries (which I can't understand?) this is what I have and recommend. www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/LZ7/LZ7A.HTM I have had a couple Nikon Coolshots and my wife has a Canon A540? and this Panasonic is the shiznitz.  It isn't a Canon EOS 30D but it is small enough for me to carry everywhere and with 4, 6 or 8 extra Energizer AA 2500 mAH batteries it will shoot for hours.  BigDozer66 |