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People often ask me which camera they should purchase. Here's what I tell them.
To begin with, all the cameras described below have been reviewed on Digital Photography Review, the best site on the Internet for digital camera reviews and news.
I used the following three variables to help my friends determine what camera they should purchase:
If the size of the camera is the overriding factor in your camera decision, you have a few options. The Canon PowerShot S110 is the digital equivalent to the Canon Elph APS camera. The S110 is small and pocketable. It doesn't take the best pictures (the flash is not very powerful), but it's one of the smallest around. I used to carry an S100 (the version before the S110) before giving it to a relative at the end of 2001. The S110 has since been superceded by the Canon PowerShot S200 and the S230.
You might also want to consider the Canon PowerShot A20, A30 and A40 line of digital cameras. They are only a little bit larger than the S100/110. If you prefer Nikon, the CoolPix 885 is a good camera. Avoid the CoolPix 775, however; I don't think the image quality on that camera is all that great.
The Canon PowerShot S30 and S40 are pretty small as well and produce great quality images. They are also the most expensive of the portable cameras. Canon recently released the S45, an incremental upgrade to the PowerShot S40.
If quality is your primary reason for getting a digital camera, the best ones out there are digital equivalents of 35mm film cameras. Nikon, Fuji, Canon, and a few other manufacturers produce digital SLRs. They are expensive, but if quality is important to you, they are the only game in town.
If you already have a lot invested in a film Canon EOS system, you might want to look at the Canon EOS-D30 or the Canon EOS-D60. The D60 was recently announced (Feb, 2002) as the replacement to the D30. If you can find a used D30 for around $1500, that's a great deal at the time of this article. Canon's other digital SLR is the EOS-1D, which is the camera that I currently shoot with. It's a wonderful camera, despite its quirks, but is very expensive and hard to find these days.
If you are in the Nikon camp, you might want to look at the D100 or the D1X or D1H of digital SLRs. I haven't had much experience with those cameras, so you should rely on DPReview's analysis of those cameras.
If you don't want to spend thousands upon thousands of dollars on a digital SLR or if you don't want to lug around a tank of a camera, take a look at the Nikon Coolpix 5000 or the Canon PowerShot G2. The CoolPix 5000 is also a very small camera that's about the same size as the CoolPix 885, whereas the G2 is much more bulky. The aforementioned Canon PowerShot S30 and S40 also should be considered if quality (and portability) is important to you. Canon recently released the PowerShot G3, and Nikon has the CoolPix 5700 or 4500.
If you're looking to spend under $300, the best camera to get is the Canon PowerShot A20 or A40. If money is no object, choose between portability and quality.
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Let me ask an even more iportant criterium:
What does the person want to do with it's camer.
Examples:
You want to photograph birds. You then probably need a Nikon/Canon digital SLR or better stay with film.
You want a small camera you have with you most of the time. Don't get an SLR. I bought a G2 for just that purpose.
Does the person like to work with a computer and Photoshop. If no, digital is not for this person.
Here is a 2 year old write-up about it:
http://www.photodotcom.com/legacy/digitalguide/guide.html
Would it be worth to write a new version?
Uwe
-- posted by Uwe Steinmueller @ Saturday, March 9 2002, 12:35 pm
If you''re not a photographic snob you could save yourself some money and check out the Sony Cyber-shot DSCF707.
-- posted by Alan @ Thursday, April 4 2002, 11:47 am CST
Yes, the CyberShot 707 is a good camera. I have a couple of friends who are happy with their 707''s.
-- posted by Adam Tow @ Thursday, April 4 2002, 11:51 am CST
Asam, which camera do you use now?
-- posted by Jason @ Saturday, July 27 2002, 18:48 pm EDT
Adam,
If your looking for a pocketable "snapshot" camera to always have with you check out the new Logitech PocketDigital,...
Small, inexpensive, simple,...only 1.2MP but great to have on hand to catch the moment,..
-Northway
-- posted by David Northway @ Thursday, August 1 2002, 23:12 pm EDT
i owned a nikon coolpix 880. i like it for its small size. However it is too battery power consuming. WIll get a Digital SLR once the price is less steep. :)
-- posted by CQ @ Sunday, September 15 2002, 23:28 pm EDT
Hello there
I've just been looking at magazines in the hope of finding the right camera for my needs.
I'm a complete beginner to photography of any "toughtful nature"!
I would like to move away from just "snapping" and develop my creative skills. These are my requirements:
I need a camera that can take good quality shots of Landscapes and Weather, Sporting events ie: fast moving objects, and portraits.
I've read about which SLR would be best to start with, and spotted an article about the Canon EOS 300V.
For someone that doesn't have much knowledge yet about photography, is that the way I should go, bearing in mind my requirements?
I would appreciate some expert advice!
Many thanks for your help
Derek Walker
Colchester
Essex
England--posted by Derek Walker @ Saturday, November 23 2002, 20:27 pm EST
I would like to buy a digital camera but have no experience once so ever in what kind. Maybe you can help? I am looking for something in the dollar range of no more than $400 and I do want excellent picture quality. The size doesn't really matter, but I would prefer a not so bulky camera. I am would like to use my camera for family, vacation and moving object pictures. Please help...
--posted by Erica Marquez @ Sunday, December 22 2002, 14:13 pm EST
Erica:
The article goes into a number of cameras that will fit your needs. Check out the Canon PowerShot S230 or the A40.
-adam
--posted by Adam @ Sunday, December 22 2002, 17:05 pm EST
I happened to pick up a Canon PowerShot S230 in the Boxing Week mayhem. I'm loving it - it's nice and small, 3.2 megapixel is great. Portability was my overriding factor in choosing it - I was tired of my old, huge, crappy Kodak DC200. I also wanted something that used CompactFlash, as I'm not about to replace all of my CF cards and USB adapter. And the new picture processor is really nice when I don't want to, or don't have time to think about settings.
Notice how all of the cameras Adam suggests are made by companies that specialize in cameras? That's because buying a digital is just like buying any other camera: the most important part of it is the lens. Experienced camera companies know how to make good lenses, which is why Canon and Nikon get so highly recommended for digicams all the time. Cameras from other companies (Kodak, HP) just don't have the optics.--posted by Victor Rehorst @ Wednesday, January 8 2003, 10:21 am EST
I have a Logitech Cliicksmart 150. this little fellow takes grest photos and Video I can e-mail them with ease. and the price is right aroind $150.00.
--posted by dennis counley @ Sunday, January 12 2003, 8:22 am EST
would you please advise which digital camera should I purchase for the following objective:
"I intend to preserve old manuscripts, mostly in shape of books, or photographs (Cepia) which may be of value for national institutions (libraries and recors etc)"
If I may be able to have one such instrument, it will not be for commercial purposes.
SMH
--- please opt for good low:
--posted by S. M. AL-Husainy @ Saturday, January 3 2004, 14:09 pm EST
In continuation of my previous mail on the subject, I would like to inform you that presently my knowledge about cameras and their accessories is practically nill. I want to get a copy of some rare books and prserve the same in my computer for getting it printed as and when I may be able to afford financially.
SMH--posted by S. M. Al-Husainy @ Saturday, January 3 2004, 14:16 pm EST
Just got a Sony F717 and am impressed with it. Was using a Sony DSC-S30.
But for something just to point and shoot with and can be used by anyone, look at the Concord Eye-Q 4060AF 4MP camera for--posted by Ted Williamson @ Monday, January 26 2004, 18:49 pm EST
Continuation: This Concord Eye-Q cost
--posted by Ted Williamson @ Monday, January 26 2004, 18:55 pm EST
I have both a Fuji s5000 and an S2 Pro. The s5000 is great for almost anything except sports shot as the shutter lag is too great. The S2 Pro is now obsolete bt is a fabulous piece of kit. It allows me to do way more than I am capable of and isn't too hungry on batteries either. I can happily recommend both.
--posted by Alastair Bell @ Wednesday, December 29 2004, 17:30 pm PST
I have certainly increased my knowledge with regard to numerous camera's...I was very intimated by digital photography when my Father introduced me to his Canon...I explained that I would stick with what I know and have formal trainning in....Film.....
he let me do this for a few weeks and then as we were Photographing a wedding he ask me to use "the digital" for just a few shots and I fell in love...yeah. Killed me to admit it but I have had a blast with the digital!
I have so much more to learn with regards to digital but so far it's been fun and rewarding!
I feel the digital is Great! Still though I can't help myself but to reach for my film camera (Nikon) from time to time.
I have been told that digital photographs are not allow in terms of showing pictures of something in a Court setting...I have been called twice, but not recently to take pictures of 'damaged goods' with a film camera because the digital camera that this particular company had would not hold up in their court case?!? Has anyone else heard of this?
I thank you for your time in reading this.
Tike Franklin
--posted by Ms. Michael Tike Franklin @ Sunday, May 22 2005, 8:15 am PDT
Hi everybody, I'd like to fully recommend the Nikon, coolpix 7600, 7.1 megapixels. It costs under $350, very portable, and high quality of digital photos.
I've taken great photos, specially nature and great close ups. The zoom is really powerful.
The only problem I've found, is that the lens mechanism is a little bit weak, so be careful when manipulate the camera. It's easy to break it up. The majority of retail stores offer an extension of the warranty, so if you can, do it.
Greeatings.
--posted by Javier España @ Wednesday, June 29 2005, 12:12 pm PDT
I love to turn digital pictures into framed art. I am now on my second exhibition. I discovered the Konica Minolta A200 from a site in the UK. The stabilization saves many a picture from being blurry and the manual
28 - 200mm (equiv.) zoom is a joy to use. Eight megapixels allows much cropping and enhancements without losing quality. I added a 2x converter for 400mm sport action and a Vivitar DF200 flash for more flash power and bounce flash portraits. Your photographs are impressive!--posted by Kenneth Hoffman @ Sunday, September 11 2005, 8:12 am PDT
what do you think of the sony cybershot t20
--posted by anynomous @ Monday, June 25 2007, 22:10 pm PDT
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