In Market for First Digital Camera About This Page:

[Tonichelle]

my old Canon Powershot has the viewfinder, not sure about the newer models.

[Pax]

My Fujifilm FinePix S5700 has an electronic viewfinder, as well as the big LCD screen. ^_^

[Magistar]

My old camera is a Sony Cybershot DSC-S60, which works great for almost everything. I took this camera to Greece last year, and I got some very professional looking pictures, however, it's not good in dim light. I'm not very photography savvy, but you have to hold extremely still to get anything decent in dim light, so if you're planning on taking alot of nighttime pics, this is something to research. Get something with alot of ISO options, and research the settings. Most of the settings that come with the consumer-driven point and shoot cameras, most people will never even learn how to use, let alone need. My BF just got me a camera for my birthday, and I love it. It's another Cybershot, DSC-W120, very fast shutter. Plus it's cute and it's pink and I love it, but that's not a good reason to buy a camera. The performance is key, and it's great. I love Cybershots, they're very easy to use, logical menus and buttons, you don't have to go digging for what you need. Just hit the menu button and it's all there. Another brand I can recommend is the Casio Exilim. That's the one I got my BF, EX-Z1050. My old camera was 4.1 megapixels, my new one is 7.2 megapixels, my BF's is 10.1. If you're going to want to edit your pics when you get home and blow stuff up, or zoom in on a pic, you're going to want higher megapixels definitely. As cameras keep improving in quality, it's a good investment to get a higher resolution. The Exilims are cool, they have a bunch of settings they call "Best Shot", each camera has a different number of settings that automatically changes things like flash and exposure, but it also changes the file size and type depending on what you want to do with the pic once you get home. When I was looking for that camera, the casio website was very helpful. Another website you can use as a resource is amazon.com. There are reviews you can read to see what other people have to say about a particular camera you might be interested in. I always consider the battery type too, if it takes alkaline batteries, you always have the option of picking up a pack of regular batteries when you're in a pinch (even though they will lose charge alot quicker than rechargable batteries), than if you have one that comes with a special lithium rechargable, not only can you NOT just pick one up at a stand in the park, but you also have to charge it for hours before you can even use it. My new camera has one of these, so I'm just going to get another battery.

Unfortunately cost is a concern, so these cameras would be good options, since they are relatively inexpensive compared to some of the other recommendations. The bigger professional looking cameras with interchangable lenses are very expensive, sometimes more than $1000. My cameras were all around 200-300. Keep in mind the memory cards too, although they have come down in price. I also love the video function, although if you have a video camera you won't need your still camera to also take video. Whichever one you go with, you're making a smart decision buying digital. No more bulky film canisters to carry around, no processing fees (if you have a photo printer) and waiting for pics, and the best feature of all, preview your pictures!!! You can get rid of the blurry ones from the kids not holding still, the ones of the inside of your pocket or someone in midsentence, but you can also see how wonderful the good ones look, instant gratification!

[ilovejack72]

Do your self a favor and dont buy Kodak there really not that good go with Nikon or Cannon you may pay a litter more but there much better and the pictures came way better too!!! Hope this helps

[Magistar]

Some info from wikipedia just for reference

The single-lens reflex (SLR) camera uses an automatic moving mirror system which permits the photographer to see exactly what will be captured by the film or digital imaging system, as opposed to non-SLR cameras where the view through the viewfinder could be significantly different from what was captured on film.
Prior to the development of SLR, all cameras with viewfinders had two optical light paths: one path through the lens to the film, and another path positioned slightly off to the side seen by the photographer. Because the viewfinder and the film lens cannot share the same optical path, the viewfinder is aimed to intersect with the film lens at a fixed point somewhere in front of the camera. This is more or less helpful for pictures taken at a middle or longer distance but a close-up shot framed in the viewfinder will not look the same as the film image. Moreover, focusing the lens of a non-SLR camera when it is opened to wider apertures (such as in low light or while using low-speed film) is not easy.

[Griffin]

I was thinking about getting that Fuji FinePix camera, you can pick from a few cool colors...though it's not a Kodak. Check Circuit City for a better price then Best Buy and the likes (It was a surprise to me that they are cheaper then most big name places)

[scmiller777]

I have several cameras. I have a Canon Digital SLR. It is great, but if you want something simple and have never used a SLR camera of any kind you may just want a point and shoot.

I also have a Samsung S1050 point & shoot. I don't see many people who have used Samsung cameras because they can be a little difficult to find. I had a friend who told me about them. The one I have has a terrific zoom and the picture quality may even be better than my Cannon. It is a pretty compact size just right for long days. It also has many manual settings. Meaning you can set both your aperture and shutter speed (at the same time or one or the other) It is very easy to use and you don't have to use the manual settings to get wonderful pictures, but the options are there as you become a more advanced user.

My DD9 bought herself a Samsung it was on the lower end and didn't have all of the features of more advanced cameras but it takes great pictures.

I did months of research before purchasing this camera and I am so glad that I bought it. I would recommend Samsung to anyone. I've dropped it and it is very durable. (a few scratches but still works great)

Everyone that I know who owns one has been more than satisfied with it.

Good luck and take lots of pictures.

[Pax]

My DGF has decided to, 99% likely, take the plunge and buy herself her own digital camera. She's very eagerly anticipating doing a lot of post-trip scrapbooking, and right now ... three people, two cameras, planning at least one day of going our separate ways.

She's not interested in an SLR, nor a Point and Shoot with an SLR-style frame. She's been using a Canon Powershot SD500 (owned by the third member of our band of wierdos ).

So last night we went looking - and case style was the primary consideration, with comparable features being the secondary selling point. She's pretty much settled on the Nikon Coolpix L18, an 8MP camera with 3x Optical zoom.

^_^ Does anyone know of any especial issues to be aware of, before comitting to the purchase?

(We already know it hasn't a viewfinder - that's fine though, she takes pictures using the LCD display anyway.)

[LizardCop]

Nikon's are reliable and good cameras. If that's her choice after looking at all that's out there, then I saw get it.... every review I've seen on it has been good.

She'll enjoy it!!

[thewuf]

As a professional photog, I'm asked this question a lot! Here's my standard answer - tried and true.

dSLR or Point and Shoot?
If dSLR...
Do you own any lenses? If so, buy that brand of camera. The lenses are the more expensive investment, so stick with that.
If no lenses...
In order of preference (Point and Shoot or dSLR)
1) Buy the one you like best (fits your hand, size, function, color, smell, etc) from a known CAMERA maker (i.e. Canon, Nikon, Olympus, etc.)
2) Buy from a FILM maker (i.e. Fuji, Kodak, Polaroid, etc.)
3) Buy from a ELECTRONICS maker (Sony, HP, etc.)

Now, what size images are you going to shoot 99% of the time?
If all you're likely to shoot is 4x6 prints, then don't get caught up in the Megapixel war. Find a camera you like based on the above, and then put your extra money into accessories or your pocket! You don't need Eleventy-Billion megapixels to have nice crisp beautiful images. In other words, buy an extra lens, or get a better zoom - but don't add $300 to your price because the sales person tells you this model is the latest version with XXX Megapixels. 5mp on a 4x6 print is still throwing away pixels, so why pay more for them?

*Also whenever possible get one that uses rechargeable type batteries! And I'm not talking about Energizer type rechargeable either. You'll thank me for this one tip alone!

[Alaine]

I love my HP photosmart 735 camera. It has 3.2 MP and 15X zoom. At the time I bought it 3.2 was the highest MP you could get. I bought my daughter a 5 MP a few years later & to tell you the truth, mine takes better pictures. The "TODAY SHOW" did reports on cameras & said there's no difference between the 5MP & the new ones that have over 10MP. They said you are just paying more $. I use the cheaper SD cards. In fact, I bought one in Walgreens (some weird brand) and it holds 2000 pictures at only $10. And the pictures came out perfect. My camera is very simple & easy easy to use. My daughter's is more confusing. I just bought my mother one for her b-day in Januray. I got her the Kodak Easy Share because it didn't have alot of buttons & the screen was HUGE so she can see it easier. She was going on a 6 wk cruise with a 35mm camera. I wanted her to have something better & something that she could and would actually use. She loved it! It's only about $150.00 in BJ.'s. Mines about $450.00 but worth every penny to me. I dropped it & loved it so much I had it repaired for like $90.00

[Pax]

Thewuf, have you by any chance published any digital photography books? Because you sound an AWFUL lot like the pro-photographer-turned-author of two of the three such books I've bought so far ... and that is exactly the same answer he gives in those books.

[dmpyron]

Our first digital was a Sony DSC7P. A nice 4 MPix camera. But it only takes Sony MS, which are pretty small compared to others. Last year I bought a Sony Alpha A100 as a move up from my Minolta HTSi. I had been avoiding the move to digital because I have a monsterous investment in lenses for the Minolta (5 figures). And Sony bought the Minolta camera business two years ago and the Alpha is basically an upgrade of the M7d. I like it, but when I look at my large prints (in excess of 15 inches), the difference in quality between even a 10 Mpix digital and a film camera shooting 64 ASA is astonishing. I was told by the guy I buy my film from (in bulk) that 64 is about the equivalent of 32 MPix in concentration. But I now carry two cameras to races, one with film and one digital. The film camera gets the 500 mm lens and something like 800 film, while the digital stays at 400 or less.

[thewuf]

Pax -

No, but I bet your talking about a good friend of mine.

I've been asked to write some books (more on Photoshop than photography) but to date one hasn't made print.

[cmhand30]

We are on our 3rd and 4th digital cameras. Only b/c of DS's fighting over them.

We spend lots of time at Best Buy talking to specialist there. And my sister and BIL are photographers. They have super huge pro cameras and the pocket digitals also. Their budgets and ours are two different things.

Currently have a Kodak about $100 for the DS to carry around. And he takes it to school almost daily. He says never know when he'll need it. After they trashed the first two we are not spend more than that.

Our camera is a Sony. (about $300) Couldn't tell you what model. Just that very user friendly for me and technical for DH. it has pop up bubble descriptions on the screen when you turn the dial. Great for me. Does video also, important for football games.

Both these cameras do more/work better than the first two we owned and were better priced.

Good Luck.