I already searched and found the other thread from '06 but they were looking for a much higher end camera.

I'm looking for recommendations for digital cameras in the $200 dollar range. Nothing too fancy, just something to take pictures of me and my friends. I have had 2 Sony's which up and broke and just got a 12 mp Kodak last week that broke as soon as I turned it on. My electronic luck has not been so good lately.

I have heard that Nikon, Canon, and Olympus are the best. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks

2/4/2008 11:17:51 AM

Did you search in Tech Talk?

2/4/2008 11:21:25 AM

stupid me. thanks.

2/4/2008 11:24:14 AM

What do you mean "up and broke"?
I've had a sony cybershot for several years and been quite pleased. They have several in your price range.

http://tinyurl.com/yws3yh

2/4/2008 11:24:18 AM

with your luck, whichever camera you decide on, i'd buy an extended warranty

2/4/2008 11:24:46 AM

I had a Cybershot DSCW55

2/4/2008 11:36:07 AM

I had the first one for almost two years and then the lens started going in and out when I tried to turn it off and eventually just got stuck out and said "turn power on and off again." So I bought the same camera again because I really liked it and then about two months into having this one it started doing that same thing but I talked my way into returning it before it completely broke.

2/4/2008 11:38:20 AM

You might do better in Tech Talk, but I for one have had very good luck with Canon products. I've had three (Powershot A50, Powershot S400, and Powershot S3 IS) and would buy another without any hesitation whatsoever.

Are you looking for a compact, pocketable design, or something with a little more zoom/features? For a compact at the $200 or so price point, I've heard a lot of good things about the Powershot SD1000. Personally I'd like to pick up an SD870 IS in the near future (wide-angle zoom FTW) but I think it's around $300. If you're looking for a slightly more full-featured design and it doesn't have to be tiny, the SX100 IS seems to be a farily interesting new model with a 10x zoom lens; kind of the "little brother" to the S5 IS superzoom. But again more like $250-$275.

A very good review site, btw, is http://www.dpreview.com. Might wanna check that out before you go shopping.

2/4/2008 12:18:21 PM

Quote :

"I had a Cybershot DSCW55"

The "W" cameras from Sony are great. I'd buy a W90 above anything else if I were looking in the sub $200 range. I can understand why you would want to try a different brand from your experience though.

2/4/2008 1:02:16 PM

pm cddweller

2/4/2008 1:22:40 PM

i really love the leica panasonics...the tz3 is pretty close to your price range ($225-$250) and is feature-packed for the price...items of note:

- leica optics
- 8.5mp (7.2 eff)
- 10x (28-280mm) optical zoom (very different, and much more important than total or digital zoom)
- optical image stabilization
- ISO 3200 max (for low light, though you do sacrifice clarity)
- supports SD/SDHC cards (cheapest and most easily found storage available)

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonictz3/

i've yet to find image stabilization that beats canon, but i would sacrifice the marginally better OIS for better glass in the panasonic

2/4/2008 2:45:41 PM

What exactly is image stabilization?

2/4/2008 3:04:31 PM

a method by which a mechanism within the camera lens corrects for jitters or shakes of the user so as to minimize blurry images

this is especially useful in low-light situations, as the aperture must remain open longer...in high-light situations (like being outside during the day), it's not all that useful (at least, in my experience)

because of that, it depends on what type of pictures you're going to take - if you're going to be taking a lot of low-light shots (inside or at night), a high(er) ISO level and OIS can be beneficial (within reason)...i turn it off on my lumix when i'm shooting outside because it's unnecessary

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_stabilization#Optical_Image_Stabilization

[Edited on February 4, 2008 at 3:27 PM. Reason : link]

2/4/2008 3:26:24 PM

quagmire02 meant to say "as the shutter must remain open longer"

2/4/2008 5:23:48 PM

d'oh...i know better than that

2/4/2008 6:44:22 PM