Which compact digital camera?

[Ed P]

I need help finding a compact digital camera with good picture quality that even a Neandrethal like me can use. As close to a point-and-shoot as I can get. Seriously, I have severe ADD and bells and whistles just confuse the heck out of me. Any suggestions? We've got an event coming up Saturday that we would like to take pictures of.

Max budget = $150

 

[Buckocaster51]

If I was looking for a p&s camera today, I would start with Canon Powershots

 

[mrbdxmpl]

What Buck-O said - the Canon point and shoots can't be beat - I've tried lots of higher end p&s cameras, and keep coming back to Canon - consistently best exposure, good lenses, easiest to use, and great image quality.

 

[blue metalflake]

I'm another Canon fan. If you stick with Canon, Nikon or Olympus, their bottom end models will give top class results.

Just switch on, point, click.

 

[still_fiddlin]

Canon. SD ("Elph") are the most compact, but you might not find one in your price range. Power Shot models are a bit bigger, but nice cameras. 2MP A20 was my first venture into digital - great camera.

 

[DavidP]

+1 on Canon

I've had a few Powershots over the years, and prefer them over similar Lumix and Nikon; what I really like is the rotating screen that is on some models.

 

[KevinB]

I don't often agree with Ken Rockwell, but in this case...

http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/compacts/sd780.htm

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Canon+SD780+IS&N=0&InitialSearch=yes

Can you stretch your budget by another $20?

 

[Stubee]

Canon's are nice, as are others. Another option: Sony Cybershot. I'm on my 2nd after my wife crashed & burned the first one running through a parking lot to get a picture of a big buck. She wrecked it but it survived three years of her dropping it etc. before that.

I like 'em because the picture quality is good. They have a Zeiss lens. They are also simple enough to operate that my wife can handle it...and that means "turn on and press the shutter button". Only downside I know of is that they use a Sony card vs. generic card. No big deal to me.

Mine now is a DSC-T10 Steadyshot 7.2 mp that I think I paid $130 for out the door, including a long-term "crash & burn" insurance thing. It was on close-out as they upgrade models about every three days.

Lots of nice choices these days.

 

[middy]

I don't often agree with Ken Rockwell, but in this case...

http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/compacts/sd780.htm

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Canon+SD780+IS&N=0&InitialSearch=yes

Can you stretch your budget by another $20?

I almost always agree with Ken, but yeah, that's your best buy right there.

 

[musicalmartin]

+1 on Canons .Also some still have a proper viewfinder which not only gives you a view in bright sunlight but also steadies the camera agaist your face ,My wifes A590 IS was very cheap at Amazon and although a bit plasticky compared to some more expensive cameras does the job very well .I still love my very old Canon G5 .built like a brick ,slow but a great lens .Dont buy an old digital though ,they seem to have a short shelf life as they are so complicated.We have got through about 5 since year 2000 including high end SLR's .I also like Fuji film and their F200 is superb and reasonable now its been superceded .

 

[RCinMempho]

I just got the little Canon pictured above. It was on closeout at Costco.

I am very happy with it. It is very small and the pictures are great.

 

[dconeill]

I need help finding a compact digital camera with good picture quality that even a Neandrethal like me can use. ...
Max budget = $150

Any major brand in your price range will do well enough. I STRONGLY suggest that you take your money to a camera store if you have one nearby, as the personnel there generally know their stuff and can help you find the camera that will work for you. The people at Best Buy and WalMart and similar stores typically don't know enough to be of much use.

Nikon, Canon, Kodak EasyShare, Fujifilm, Panasonic, Samsung all have cameras in your price range.

My 15-yr-old daughter, who wanted a point-and-shoot and is no gadget freak, uses a Nikon Coolpix with pretty good results.

 

[KC]

all good choices, I'm sure -- but if you're into outdoor stuff, consider something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-FinePix-Z33WP-Waterproof-Green/dp/B001QENO6Q

I've had a water-resistant / shock-resistant Olympus for a couple of years and it's handy as heck, I've dropped it on rocks, taken it in the hot springs, put it in my fishing vest on a rainy day without a second thought. You pay a small price in picture quality but you'll have the thing with you when you need it.

 

[boomboomba]

++ on the Canon particularly the 780, and as a bonus it is even smaller than the photo above shows. Those Sony Zeiss lens only mean Sony bought and paid for the right to use the name. There's no fine german craftsmanship in there to go along with the name. The Canon's your better choice ( and this coming from a Nikon DSLR shooter!)

 

[Prison Rodeo]

Another vote for Canon. Be sure to look at TigerDirect, NewEgg, etc. for recently-discontinued models; you can often get a *lot* of camera for a little coin that way.

 

[Omiewise65]

I gave a Nikon CoolPix 5570 to my wife . No problems until this day .
Mine is a Fuji FinePix J27 also easy to handle

 

[Stubee]

Those Sony Zeiss lens only mean Sony bought and paid for the right to use the name. There's no fine german craftsmanship in there to go along with the name.

Of course. You think I'd be fooled by a little company like Sony? The fine craftsmanship is supplied via my skill as a photographer, a must in order to get anything vaguely resembling a picture from a camera--well, it kinda looks like a camera--that nobody else has heard of.

Odd, really. I went SLR-->early Pentax digital-->absolute conviction I needed an ELPH...but ended up with the Sonys. And Sony makes electronics/toys, not cameras. And I don't remember why I didn't grab the Canon.

I'm gonna go polish my fine Zeiss glass.

 

[Bill]

One quick piece of advice for newbies like I was with my first point and shoot. Don't just click the picture button down to take the photo. It will probably end up blurry and you won't know why.

Press the button part way until you feel resistance. The camera will now focus on the subject. Then press the rest of the way until it clicks. The camera now takes the picture.

If you just click the button in one motion you will probably take the picture without focussing or be jiggling the camera as it takes the pic.

 

[markbt73]

I got a Fuji FinePix Z33 for Xmas and I've been very happy with it. 10MP, simple to use, nice big screen on the back, and waterproof to 10 feet. Uses SD memory cards and runs forever on a battery charge. I highly recommend it.

Takes nice photos, too...
image removed

 

[jimd]

Canon makes good stuff. Another suggestion is Panasonic. Their point and shoots are very very good. And they do some amazing video too. We have a DMC-ZS3. The only downside is it won't take a non-panasonic battery, so you are forced to buy theirs. I think our model is out of your price range, but you can probably a similar one close to what you are looking to pay.