I bought a new digital camera (purse sized) last year and absolutely dislike it! So, I was looking for recommendations on a camera that you have, that you love! I would like to stay around the $200 range and prefer something that is easy to use......point and shoot. Thanks in advance for your advice!
Thanks for the responses. I was hoping that you could give a specific model, if you have one, that you liked. If anyone can re-post to me on a model that you love, that would be fabulous!
OK, so to answer those who asked what I don't love about my current model.....did we go too cheaply....the current one is a Nikon Coolpix L20 and I'm ready to give it to my 7 year old daughter to play with. One of the reasons we went cheaper was because I didn't really want a ton of bells and whistles. I just wanted a camera that took nice pictures like my Canon (R.I.P.) did. To start, the zoom is very jerky and you have to press the botton many times to have it actually work. The pictures are sometimes dark, out of focus, etc. You could take the same stationary photo several times and have all different outcomes. Then, most of all, when I just want to snap a picture, sometimes it freezes up and is focusing on something that I could care less about.
I've heard good things about the Panasonic Lumix (sp?).
We've owned the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 for about 8 months now and I love it! I did TONS of research and read reviews all over the place and I'm really happy with it.
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-ZS7-Digital-Stabilize...
What don't you like about your current camera? Certainly there is bad product out there, but have you changed all the settings for best results? Share was you don't like and maybe you can make what you have work and save some $$$$, especially before the holidays.
Update/Edit: Nikon is a great camera. As for the zoom, maybe you should send it in if it is under warranty still. It should be.
So the cameras sensor need light in order to focus, as does the light. So if it is focusing on the backgrounds, perhaps your subject is not lit well enough. So if there is beautiful lights in the background and you don't want to zoom in closer to the subject, you can turn on your flash, but your camera has to see them. You can use a keychain light, open a window and get window light, or even a flash light, but you do need light.
Are you dialing in on what type picture you are taking? You can place the setting on program, however that is a generic setting and the camera can only do so much for that setting. So if you are taking daylight photos, use the sunshine on the dial, if you will be using flash, change it to the lightening bolts.
Are you on the proper ISO? Daylight: 100, 200 Dusk/Indoors: 400, 600 Dark as night: 800 or higher.
Try that before paying for a new camera. Happy shooting!
Both my hubby and I have Olympus. I was kind of hesitant but it outbeat my daughter's and mom's Cybershot. If anything go with a camera that is 12 megapixels and up. My hubby purchased his later than mine and his takes way better pics and videos. His digital zoom is even better! Sorry..not sure what model tho
I use a DSLR, but my son has a Nikon CoolPix (about 200-250 that we got on sale during amazon's black friday/monday/whatever for about $50). http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Products/Compact-Digital-Ca...
Typically Nikon & Cannon are the 2 best brands of cameras. Sure, one can drop a mint on a Leica... but Nikon & Cannon are the backbone of the camera industry.
Strong 2nd for taking your current camera into the shop to make sure the settings aren't what are making you hate your current camera!
My husband said that Olympus and Canon are known for really great lenses. All my friends seem to have Olympus. I'd give you a recommend, but ours is 9 years old :(
I have a Nikon Coolpix and absolutely love it. I have recommended it to a friend who bought it and also loves it. It is easy to use. Good Luck.
I want a new camera too. Which one do you have now that you 'absolutely dislike' ?? Why do you hate it so?
I currently have a Canon and what I do like about it is that where you hold it on the right, it's thicker than the rest of the camera, so easier to grab and keep hold of.
I too am wondering why you don't like your camera....... I had a friend that had the same problem........she just didn't know how to use it. There are a number of shooting options on most cameras. I am a member of a photography club and we have a lot of members that are in your same boat........... There are Photo Clubs on line..... that you could join for free. Try Yahoo Groups or "Meet Up.com" groups.
Before you go and spend the money on a new one..... take it to a camera shop or where you purchased it and ask someone if you are doing something wrong or if it's just a bad camera....:) Good Luck
I have a Nikon Cool Pix S230 and it can't focus indoors. I should have taken it back right away, but there are so many adjustments to be made on the camera I thought the problem was me and not the camera. Instead, I use an older Nikon point and shoot digital camera that works much better. My advice is to buy one, take it home and play around with it and make sure it focuses correctly. My kids now the S230 to goof around with their friends. There are lots of Cool Pix on the market so maybe they're better now. I wouldn't buy another.
I LOVE the Casio Exilim's (sp?). I am on my 2nd one and just love them.
I have the same question as you, so I'm sorry I can't recommend a camera for you, but I would warn you not to buy any Nikon CoolPix. We're on our second one and really dislike it. The older model that we first owned had random white spots here and there on our photos (each spot looks like the white ball that drops in Times Square on New Year's Eve), but since we liked certain features of the camera and were used to it, we foolishly bought a newer model thinking it would take better pictures. We were wrong - the white spots still appear more often than not. Also, any use of the zoom feature makes the photos blurry, and indoor photos from any distance (e.g., my kids performing with their class on a stage in a school or church program), come out too dark to be of any value.
I have a Panasonic Luminex. Love it. It has an IA (intelligent auto) setting that works great if you don't have the time to read the manual and experiment with all the settings. There are different models, mine cost about $250.
We were shopping last weekend for a camera last weekend for my daughter, so I was looking in the $150 - $175 range. The sales person said Panasonic was one of the best, and was upset that the store didn't carry them. I had a Sony a few years back that I really liked. The bad thing about a Sony is they use a memory stick, not the standard disc/chip.
I have a Canon Power Shot SD1000 Digital Elph. I love this little camera. I take it everywhere and never miss a photo or movie opportunity. My battery life is extremely long, the pictures are the best I have ever had and the movies are good too. I know nothing about the menu and all it can do but I know how to point and click and I can do the same to get a quick movie clip. The uploading to my computer is super easy too. I bought another brand for my daughter and they just made it way to complicated. I did go out and buy an 8G memory card that I have never changed. I have pics and movies for about 2 years on it. Worth the investment. I don't my model is around anymore but when I bought it, it was under $200. Now you can get one around $150 with even greater memory and picture clarity.
Also, Canon backs their cameras. I took this camera on a snorkeling trip. I had also purchased the water proof case for it. Something happened and the case leaked. I took the camera to Canon for repair and they ended up replacing it free of charge. They are wonderful.
Good luck and happy memory collecting.
