i'm looking to buy a digital camera....i would like it to be 4-5 mp, compact, and hopefully, under $350. Got any suggestions?

 

Try sites like bensbargains.net. You'll periodically find Dell coupons and discounts to get some of the best pricing on the 'net... I'd also hit up sites like cnet.com to see both site and customer reviews on a myriad of digi cams. Good luck

 

I just got a Sony DSC-P200. It's a little above your limit of $350, but not by much. Compact, but with 7.2 mp!

Hey it's worth taking a quick look anyway.

 

Sorry, forgot to include an example (link) of how the discounts may typically be... this one happened to expire very early this morning, but they come around fairly periodically.

http://www.bensbargains.net/ktalk/11...8,94505,.shtml

 

check out www.cnet.com for reviews and a list of the best prices. I just bought the canon SD400. Its my second canon. A little over your price at $400, but you can find it for less. Its really small, takes great pics, 5.0 megapixels, plenty of features, plus it powers up quickly and there is very little lag between pics. Owned it for 3 weeks and cracked the 2" LCD screen, but I blame that on being in Afghanistan, not because its a weak camera. Just ordered another, this time from a bargain online place for $330.

 

Canon A95
5.0 megapixels, and can be had for under $300.

I have used a few of Canon's digitals, and they are very nice, and very popular. Great quality and value. I think many people will agree.

 

I have the Sony T1, the new one is T7, slim, compact, point and shoot. You should be able to find it for your range on eBay, Craigslist, or OverStock.com.

 

I have used a couple of Canon digi cams and I'm very impressed. My first digi cam was a Nikon, and I was far from impressed when I compared image quality between the two popular digi cam makers... this includes build quality.

Have a Canon DSLR on the way... can't wait!

 

Canon S60. It's been a thread about digitals every month here. Do search.

 

What did you get? 20D?

 

After some real soul-searching and some recommendations from photography friends based upon my lack of experience and purposes for the camera at this point in time, I decided upon the Digital Rebel XT (350D outside the US). I think the 20D might be a bit much for me at this time, but I'm sure after a few years of getting used to manual focus, knowledge about the different lenses, and broadening my eye for more specialized photography, I'll definitely be in the market for something more professional (like the 20D or whatever is equivalent at that time)

I really can't wait to take some real quality shots (as opposed to those subpar ones that I've taken with point-and-shoot digi cams ).

 

we've got a Canon Digital Elph....it's really small, metal case, 4 megapixel, and takes fantastic shots. Got it for right around $300 or so.

 

The Digital Elph series takes excellent shots and has a much sturdier build over the Nikon Coolpix series IMO. I've used both and the Elph is a superior product... but YMMV. One caveat on the Elph that I have is that my computers cannot read the camera as a removable hard drive (my Coolpix has no problem with this). I have to remove the card and put it in a card reader in order to bypass the Canon d/l'ing software (and drivers) that seems rather cruddy and inefficient IMO.

 

yobri,

Rebel is a good camera, but having a choise I'd get used 10D for the same money. A lot of photographers now upgrade to 20D, so there are a lot of perfectly good 10Ds on ebay.

But if you already got Rebel... no biggie - good lenses is the key to good pictures. If your camera comes with kit lens, throw it away (sell on ebay) immediatelly. Get good lenses (L zooms, or 50 and 85 primes) and you'll have amazing pictures. It's gonna cost you, but otherwise it's just pointless to have SLR. Use the kit lens and you'll keep wondering why you pictures aren't sharp and colorful. Kit lens are build with only one goal in mind - be cheap to produce. It's so funny to see people spending $1K on a body and keep using $50 lens that comes with it.

 

Very good point, Vlad. Thanks. I need to do some serious research in order to determine which lenses will benefit me most (especially since my budget is rather limited as this point in time). Could you recommend to me one good lens (and I'll have to foot out the pricing research) that I can use for general shooting purposes (that I would normally do with a point-and-shoot) but for superior quality over the kit lens?

I know for a fact that I'd like to get a macro lens one day as well, since I'm always so impressed with up-close shots that come out so darned clear and crisp! But a macro lens won't really be of much use for me for general pictures (such as Z meets, nature shots, and random self-deemed artistic shots) at this point in time.

Thanks

edit: one of buddies gets all technical on me about all his lenses, gets to bragging and I still don't come out with any useful knowledge about lens choices for an amateur seeking professional-like photos...

 

If you want just one, universla lens, it should be either
Canon EF 17-40 f/4 L or
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L.

Those two are most useful zooms for everyday life. You have to deside for yourself what range you need most. 17-40 allows you to fit more in your frame (and shoot closer), and 24-70, make things closer (shoot from further away). L series is canon word for "pro", i.e. performance oriented. It's about $1K new and you can find used on ebay, or photoforums. I know, it's a lot of cash... but there are no alternatives to L zooms.

For artistic side, you can get Canon EF 85mm f/1.8. Stunning portraits and nice background blur. It's "only" $300 new

 

Thanks Vlad One more question... these lenses will be able to be used with the Rebel XT as well as, say a 20D, also? Basically, in the future, I'm hoping that I won't have to buy a whole set of new lenses for another Canon DSLR camera...

 

Yes, that's the good thing about SLRs. You can upgrade and exchange bodies and lenses according to your needs. Also good Canon lenses hold their walue extremely well. So you can use it for years and then sell it for the same money

 

Thanks again Vlad. Man, I guess I've got to save-up for a new lens (I was hoping the kit lens would get me by)... this after paying for a brand new camera (my first "expensive" camera)

I really appreciate all of your help

 

If you were planning on using kit-lens... just get yourself a $300 Canon point&shoot. It'll give you the same quality, at 1/10th of the weight and 1/3 of money. Seriously.

Also, you can sell your brand new camera on Ebay (or return it) and get 10D cheaper (I saw it as low as $650), so to save some money. 10D and 20D has minimal differences, non-essential for 99% of people. Exploit other people's weaknesses - They want "all new" 20D, means you can get cheap 10D. They build strong, for years of use.