Hello all, I'm new here and have a couple question's

[keller]

I've pretty much have narrowed down my search to three camera's:

#1- The Canon SD400 $339.99
#2- The Casio EX-Z57 $289.99
#3- The Kodak V550 $369.99
All prices from Costco.

I'm actually buying this for my wife for her Birthday and she's always hinted that she wanted a SMALL camera that's VERY easy to use and that has a large viewing screen.
Of the three mentioned above, the Casio seems to have the largest screen and seems to be very easy to use.
BUT, I've read a lot of good reveiws about the Canon.
So, if I could get some opinion's from you folks on these camera's, or camera's that I've overlooked, I'd greatly appreciate it.
I'd REALLY like to stay under $350.00.

Thank you,

Keith

[timmciglobal]

Not interested in F10 from fuji? performance of that camera for flash and natural light is great.

Tim

[Donato777]

I agree with timmciglobal about the the Fuji F10. It has a 2.5 inch LCD and great image quality, although it is a bit larger than the cameras you listed.
Among those cameras, the Kodak v550 has a bright and beautiful LCD (2.5 in.) with 230,000 pixels, which is much higher than most. If you go to pbase.com you can compare photos taken with each of these cameras.
The Canon SD400 is smaller than the Kodak and is also a great choice. None of the cameras you listed have an optical viewfinder, except the SD400, so that is something you should consider since some people prefer to have one. (And there are definite advantages to having one, for sure, i.e., greater control over the camera and therefore, greater stability, which generally means fewer blurry photos!) Follow this link and you can compare each camera's strengths and weaknesses:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_sd400%2Ckodak_v550%2Ccasio_exz57%2Cf uji_finepixf10&show=all

All the best with your choice. Please let us know what you decide, and Happy Birthday to your wife! :)

[keller]

Hmm, Fuji, interesting, never considered it, but I will have a look.
Thanks Tim.

Also Thanks to Donato777 for your reply, very helpful info.

I went to the local Ritz camera place today and inquired about the Casio Exilim EX-Z57, the woman working there grabbed it for me and asked a couple question's about what I was looking for in a camera and then asked me if I've seen the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX7.
I said, why no, do you have it?
She brought it out and it looks like a nice camera as well and it's in the same price range as the others.
But I have to say, after actually holding the Casio in my hand, I really like the camera (I as well as my wife, like the big 2.7 LCD screen) but I know Casio for it's watches and calculator's, not camera's, so I have to rely on other's experiences.

So help me out everyone, I'm know camera guy, I myself own an Olympus
C-4000 and I've been quite happy with it.
The wife, she wants something small and petite, that you just point and shoot and it's REALLY important to have a large screen, she says she doesn't even want a view-finder, because she can't see thru it anyway.

Thanks again and oh, on behalf of the wife,thanks for the Birthday wish Donato777 :) ,

Keith

[keller]

WOW, 110 views and really no help (except for Donato777, THANKS again) I thought this was the place FOR help.
Sorry for bothering you all and I'll move on now. :(

[speaklightly]

Mr. Keller-

Just an observation if I might. The cameras you have listed are very similiar. To really go further we would have to a good deal more about your proposed use of this proposed birthday gift digital camera.

For example, if one of your proposed uses was to take low light level or existing light digital photos, then the logical conclusion might indeed be a recommendation to take a good look at the Fuji F-10 (as has been suggested earlier in this thread). If you were giving a priority to video clip/movie segments, then you should be looking more closely perhaps, at the Kodak V-550. I could offer more examples, but I think you most probably see my logic.

So please indulge us a bit, won't you. Tell us a bit more about the proposed usage for this digital camera, then we too, could perhaps be more specific and helpful to you.

Sarah Joyce

[keller]

[QUOTE]The wife, she wants something small and petite, that you just point and shoot and it's REALLY important to have a large screen, she says she doesn't even want a view-finder, because she can't see thru it anyway.

Thank you for your support and as I said above, just point and shoot, no video needed here.
Example being, let's say, walking around Disneyland and you decide to whip out the camera and take a picture (daytime) and put it away again.
I/we usually don't even mess with the factory settings, just take it out, turn it on and shoot, that's it.
Bring it home, hook up the USB Cable and download our pictures.
Yes I realize that's pretty pathetic, but's that's as simple as we/she gets.
I have plenty of pictures I've taken with MY camera for our car club and they look just fine to me, but I want my wife to have something SHE can enjoy without being a rocket scientist.
I apologize for not being specific enough, but I thought by at least giving a few examples of what I've looked at, that would help with the decision process.


Thanks again and I hope this new info helps you help me,

Keith :cool: