i'm a newbie help!

[Ch1fool]

hi. i'm looking to buy a new digital camera. i've been looking at the coolpix 4100 4200 4300 and 5200. basicly i'm looking for something that is pretty simple but will allow me some manual controls for when i grow into photography *if i do*. size definately matters. i'm looking for something SMALL! 3x zoom, some manual controls, good picture quailty (macro and night shots interests me the most so far). HELP!

[Talens]

Go for the coolpix 5200, it's small and definitely a lot sleaker then the other camera's you mentioned.
Plus much more varied functions.

The Coolpix 4300 would be good to, but it's more bulky then the 5200!

[PhilR.]

hi. i'm looking to buy a new digital camera. i've been looking at the coolpix 4100 4200 4300 and 5200. basicly i'm looking for something that is pretty simple but will allow me some manual controls for when i grow into photography *if i do*.

I'm not sure why you would be looking at those cameras, when you want a camera that allows some manual control. If I remember correctly, none of those selections have either aperture/shutter priority or full manual modes (if they do, they are buried in the menus). Nice as those cameras are, I think you should look elsewhere. Sure, you might decide not to ever use manual modes, but with those cameras, you will never have the ability to choose.

PhilR.

[John_Reed]

I'm not sure why you would be looking at those cameras, when you want a camera that allows some manual control. If I remember correctly, none of those selections have either aperture/shutter priority or full manual modes (if they do, they are buried in the menus). Nice as those cameras are, I think you should look elsewhere. Sure, you might decide not to ever use manual modes, but with those cameras, you will never have the ability to choose.

PhilR.I agree with Phil, and I'd suggest you look at a small, versatile camera like the Canon PowerShot A75 for starters. You can find its review on this site and elsewhere. It does indeed have enough manual controls to satisfy you, when and if you need them, and it's inexpensive as well.