Which Digital Camera Do you Recommend?

star-phoenix · Post by **star-phoenix** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 8:04 pm

I am in need of a new digital camera. I want one with great picture quality and resolution, especially for close-up shots. But also am on a tight budget.

One person recommended this Fujifilm camera on Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004HO58NO/ref ... B004HO58NO

Anyone else recommend a good digital camera at the $150-300 price range?

Post by **sensei** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 10:01 pm

I have a Sony Cybershot DSC-S750 that came well recommended by Consumer Reports. It's been simple and unproblematic for me. I like its movie capability, which is a nice plus at family occasions. It seems to run in the $120 range online, with used ones available for even less.

The macro mode is quite good. I've taken nice close-up shots of moths and caterpillars to post up on BugGuide using it.

Sat Mar 12, 2011 9:49 am

I am late on this but the Canon Powershot SD 1300

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!! On Amazon for $103 at the moment if I am not mistaken.

star-phoenix · Post by **star-phoenix** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 10:21 am

Hey guys! Thank you for your help. I was also recommended this camera:

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-SX30IS-Digi ... 037&sr=8-9

I seem to be a bit bias towards a Canon. My sister-in-law loaned me her older Canon digital that she paid about $1400 for it a couple years ago (STILL goes for $700 on Amazon), and I got really spoiled.

I am basically trying to find a digital camera I could take high magnification close-up photos of not only landscape, but of small objects. Thsi one seems to have a 35X optical zoom and 14.1 MP.

The camera I REALLY liked was $7,000 though.

pixie_princess · Post by **pixie_princess** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 11:12 am

Well actually, you could do that with a close-up filter set or with a macro lens. They have some fairly nice Canon dslrs out and the ef lens mount has been around for a very long time.

http://photography.timtrott.co.uk/close ... acro-lens/

You can pick up a used Canon Rebel XT for around $350(with lens) to $216 body only on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Digital-Reb ... 487&sr=8-7

Then again, I'm very biased in Canon's favor myself. I've owned our families' Ae-1 programable slr since 1995 (it was purchased originally around 83). I purchased a Canon digital Elph and loved it's size and reliability. I gave that to my folks after I received a Canon dslr Rebel XT for my birthday a few years back. It's awesome

Shampoo · Post by **Shampoo** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 11:30 am

I literally just bought a digital camera about
2 weeks ago. So I am right there with you on
how many choices there are and how daunting it is
to get reviews on them all and then pick one.

Ended up buying the Nikon s8100 for its fast
shutter speed and hi-quality hd recording.
I used to own a Sony Cybershot that was a totally
memory hog and slow as molasses when processing
pictures. A lemon from the start, so I can't personally
recommend it.
I get extremeeeely annoyed when it takes
longer than 3 secs for my picture to come up to
screen. lol! The Nikon I just bought supports my
impatient nature to a tee. Its fast and reacts quick to
natural vibrations and auto-adjust. I love it!

If I were you, I'd narrow your list of cameras down
to three and see if you can find them at a local electronics store
and test it out yourself. Then I'd buy it online for best price
or see if the store can do a match price (saves you
shipping fee from having to order on internet.)
With electronic items, I like seeing,touching, and fiddling
with it 1st before committing to buy it online w/o
knowing the product.

Angelic-Lair · Post by **Angelic-Lair** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 11:45 am

pixie_princess wrote: You can pick up a used Canon Rebel XT for around $350(with lens) to $216 body only on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Digital-Reb ... 487&sr=8-7

Pair up the Canon XT that Pixie Princess recommended with an EF 50 f1.8 II and you're in business for less than $400.

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-50mm-Standa ... 650&sr=8-3

Here are a couple close-up pictures I took with an EF 50 f1.8 II:

http://www.joelkern.net/leaves/photo1_eng.htm

http://www.joelkern.net/nature/photo9_eng.htm

Sky Rat · Post by **Sky Rat** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 12:20 pm

I personally have a Sony Cybershot (I don't remember the exact model, it's about 3 years old.) It has taken some really amazing pictures but it also often gives me grainy ones and I have yet to figure out what is causing the inconsistency. It also has a really terrible battery life. I have to recharge it's battery after almost every time i use it.

Last year I bought my fiancÃ©e a camera and I had a very difficult time deciding what to get in my price range (which was around $200). I ended up getting a Canon Powershot (my second choice was getting a newer model of the Soney Cybershot.)

Comparing the 2, I think the Canon has been taking more consistently clear pictures. On the other hand it seems to have some issues with the color red. Sometimes there is a weird glow around close-ups of red objects.

Both cameras have been pretty good, I wouldn't say I regret buying either of them. Overall I think the Canon might be slightly nicer (on the other hand it's also newer so that might be the reason). But both have some minor issues and both have taken some really good pictures.

I don't know anything about models other than those two I have experience with, but I recall Nikon being highly recommended by Consumer Reports when I was researching. The most recommended models were a bit higher than I could afford however.