Need Digital Camera Recommendations

Kodak EasyShare
We have it and love it, a bunch of friends have it too and love it (that is how we heard about it). I think we paid around $100 at Best Buy.
Take care.
M.

I am a pro photographer and also owned a photo lab for 6 years plus managed a lab for about 8 so I hope my advise is helpful.
I highly recommend that you go to a store and test out the cameras before you buy. You might get a good deal online but you need to hold it and snap some shots to see what the response time is. The digi cameras have come a long way in a few years so you should have a lot to choose from. I have always like the canon line. Most will have a rechargable battery. Keep in mind that you will also need to buy a memory card when deciding on how much to spend. Don't get persuaded to buy a super large megabite camera. 8mb is more than sufficient unless you plan on blowing up images to more than 20x30. Be concerned with speed from the time you press the shutter button til the time the camera actually snaps the shot especially with kids, you only have a split second to get the "perfect" shot.
Good luck and have fun!

I have a kodak easyshare and love it.

I'm hoping you get some great answers because i would like a new digital camera.
I too resisted the change for a long time, and i still don't love the quality of the digital pictures as much as Real film, but the ability to take gazillions of picts and check them out before printing and easily share them over the computer is hard to beat.

Here is what i have a Nikon Coolpix L11 we got it on sale two christmases ago for something around $100. maybe a bit more but not $150.
I don't know off hand how much zoom or what ever i have, but it is not enough.( is 3 a possiblity???)
The only thing i really love about it is that i can stick it in my jeans pocket and have it close but not have something heavy hanging around my neck while trying to deal with two kids.
It takes normal AA batteries, i've been trying to use regular energizer rechargables and i can get maybe two picture taking sessions out of them like say a bday party and a graduation or something like that. I might look to see if they have rechargables just for cameras and try that.
My BIL just told me today that taking the scan disk memory chip out and insertign that into the computer would be a better way of transfering photos to my computer than using the cord to attach the camera to the computer and then down load.
He also said that if you get one with a view finder ( mine doesn't have one) if you are getting low on batteries you can turn the big lcd display off and just use the view finder and finish taking your pictures and save on battery power. His is lots fancier though.

I also prefer to upload my picts to my computer, then use Walgreen's photo dept on line to edit, and choose the quantity and size of picture Then order them on line BUT pick them up and pay for them at the store. Walgreens seems to give me the closes to real film quatity and they offer good deals quite often like ten cent prints if you order 50 or more. I was spending $5 on a roll of regular film before anyways.

sorry for the book, I hope you find something you like that gives you good quality. I love taking pictures and know that i can never ever capture these moments again, so i want them to be the best they can be.

most digital cameras these days will take great photos, and most are easier to use than you would think.

cnet.com is a great resource that compares cameras, gives prices, and tells you both pros and cons for each model.

either that, or just head to any of the big box stores - they are bound to have several cameras that satisfy your criteria! have fun with your new camera!

my two cents: canon and nikon are fantastic brands.

Hi, I have a Polaroid t1031 10.0MegaPixels. I love it. Take great shots, has a very large viewing screen, all kinds of features. My hubby got it for me for Christmas, because of the type of person I am I demanded to know how much he spent, it was under $200. The battery is rechargeable, and lasts a very long time.

I have just upgrade my camare for the sec time in a few years. And i just love this one it is the Fujifilm Finepix S1000 10.0 mega pixles.

Walmart has it. And i had to play with the camera's and play with them and it took me a couple of mnths to pick the one that i wanted. I knew what i wanted but wasn't sure about size.

So go look at camera stores and walmart and stores like that and play with them. And just play with the camera's u want to be comfortable with it.

Have fun with the many snaps to come.

Hi BD. I bought my daughter a great 8megapixle camera at Wal*Mart for about $150 encluding an SD card for Christmas. The more pixles you have the better the picture. I can't remember the brand, but it came with a rechargable battery (much better than the digital I bought for my hubby a year ago that needs AA batteries). I started my search on line comparing camera's and offers...then I went to the store because you never know what specials they may have! The best part of digital cameras is being able to save/print only the pic's you actually like and want! Have fun!

Go to Best Buy and ask someone on the geek squad.

If you are really into photography, you will probably also want a manual setting, where YOU can decide the F-stops, and things like that. We have a kodak camera that was more like 400 - 500.00 and it does a great job. We've had it for 6 years or more, so I'm sure prices have come down some by now and the technology of cheaper cameras has increased. . . . but when you take a pic that is too dark, you can download it to your pc and CHANGE it !! You can delete red-eye on the pc, change the exposure, etc. It's pretty cool if you are into playing. My daughter has lots of fun with the photos, and it's been fun to let her play, let her see them on the pc, and never have the cost of printing them ! (She's 15) (The kids DO print some of theirs on regular paper, not photo quality stuff, but that's all they need -- and we only get the ones we like best printed. I don't print at home because it's more expensive than going to WAl-Mart to print the pics we want.)

But definately check with a member of the geek squad. Someone at Best Buy (maybe even the salesperson ??, but definately one or two of the geeks) will know about cameras and digital quality printing. Frankly, other than being able to do cool things with a manual 35 mm, the quality of the everyday shots are better when digital.

We also REALLY like the display feature, where you can see the photo on the back BEFORE you shoot -- we often use that instead of the eye-hole; and we like to be able to see them, and delete them and try again if we don't like the results in the little screen on the camera !

I like "Canon" cameras. They are really well rated by ConsumerReports and are VERY simple to use. My elderly parents have one and have no problem with them.

Hi! I have a FinePix S700 from Fujifilm. Has a 10x optical zoom, takes basic video too. I love it, esp. since it has quite a nice display screen. (My first digital camera was much smaller, could fit in a pocket, but I dislilked the display screen. You couldn't tell whether you had taken a good pic or not!) You might like this one too since it looks like a regular SLR. Uses rechargable batteries. I don't think it cost more than $200. Good luck with your purchase!

I am definitely no pro, but I love to take pictures, especially scenic views. I have had great success with a little HP digital camera, and more recently a Kodak. These cameras have dials that allow you to adjust to your setting( provided you read the manual to know what the symbols are for ;-) ). The beauty of digital, is in that you can download your shots to your computer and zoom in, out, crop and adjust lighting and color depth. Don't be afraid of digital, embrace it! It makes all of us better photographers!
If you send me your email address, I can send you some shots I took, to show you what I have managed to do with my digitals. ____@____.com

Hi There,

There is never the "perfect" camera for anyone as everyone thinks they know what they want, and until they try them out and use them, you don't know what's important to you. I agree with going to a place where you can touch them and talk to someone about them (Best Buy), but you'll probably get a better deal through Amazon (I bought my last two this way). Here are a few tips:

1. Battery life - most batteries have quick chargers now and cameras drain the life out of those batteries pretty well. Be prepared, if you take lots of photos, to go through a fresh set about every 2 years. Buy the best you can, try to get a camera that takes AA batteries, and buy the ones with 2500 marked on them.

2. If you narrow down the search at Best Buy, then go onto www.dpreview.com and look at the features. You have to buy what is right for you! My first camera I just wanted zooming ability and 10 Megapixels, but I used that for 4 years, had a daughter, and my "wants" went up. I wanted faster recovery, the ability to take video (with stereo sound), manual settings, and a more "fun" settings (snow, aquarium, etc.). We paid $400 for a full kit (camera, tripod, bag, batteries, lenses, etc.) on Amazon and got a great Canon PowerShot DSi5 and we love it! That might be more than you need at first, so go with your gut and your budget!

GOOD LUCK - Photography is fun! I also met a photog that does weddings and children's portraits and she's willing to talk to moms that need help in purchasing a camera. Contact http://www.millachappellphotography.com and ask her!

Go to walmart. they have an array of digital cameras at a good price. if you want one with a rechargeable battery you will need to spend about $200. I have the casio exlim. I have a 4 megapixal camera and it is outdated but takes great pics. I have the original battery also. good luck.

HI B D,

I have a fujifilm finepix z20fd. It is very user friendly, takes great pics (10 megapix and 3x optical zoom which is really good), has great battery life and also does an ok job taking videos (as long as the lighting is good.) I paid around $160 for it on newegg.com and it came w/a camera bag, tripod, and a 2gig sd memory card. It comes in 3 really vibrant, cool colors, green, blue, and pink! Do your research, if you find one you like, shop around online, you'll get a good deal! Good luck!

Hello BD,

I just bought a Samsung TL34HD I was in Best Buy looking at camera's saw this one and was using it and just fell in love. It is HD for videos n Pics it is also the biggest screen I have seen 3' and it is also a touch sreen that is one of my favorite parts. I was so impressed at how fast it snaps picture because we all know kids can't hold a good pose for long haha. I paid $200 for it 4months ago so it should be down in price alittle by now. Here is a website for you to check it out. 14.7 MP digital camera TL34HD - TL series - digital cameras | SAMSUNG

14.7 MP digital camera
The possibilities are endless with the TL34HD digital camera. The large 3.0” LCD touch screen lets you take pictures or shoot video in high definition. You’ll also get amazing close-ups with the high-quality optics in the 28 mm wide angle lens. It delivers crystal-clear images with every shot. The SAMSUNG TL34HD has all the advanced features you want, in one compact digital camera.

Good luck

I just pruchased the canon a1000 is and I love it. it has a child mode which is great and takes video. it was the right price for me too. I was able to get it at dell when they had a coupon and the total w/ shipping and handling was $116. it has a viewfinder which is nice when the sun is shining and you can't see the lcd screen.