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View Full Version : Lost because there are to many choises. I need help.



Flutje
03-07-2008, 02:23 PM
Hello all.

I am totally lost. I want to buy, for the first time in my life, a digital compact camera. But there are so many to choose from that I am totally at a loss. So I need help.

I went through the questionnaire and here are my results:-).

# My budget is up to 400 US dollar.

# I want a compact camera, prefferably as small as possible.

# As far as mega pixels are concearned 7 and up.

# Standard optical zoom (3x-4x).

# Image queality is important and I gave it a nine.

# I like to have some control over the options but not to the extent that it is overwhelming.

# The camera is for personal use and nature photography.

# I won't be making huge prints.

# I won't be making many indoor shots but low light shots will be often occuring seeing as I take most of my pictures outdoors and most of the time it is dark, bad weather here.

# I will hardly ever shoot sports and/or action photo's.

# I prefer the well known brands like Canon, Samsung, Olympus etcetera only because of their availabillity.

The features that are important to me are:

> Most important is a good macro function.
> It needs a fast shutterspeed (not to much lag).
> Fast continuing photographing (burst mode).
> Image stabilizer.
> Built-in flash.
> Flip and twist LCD (not most important obviously is there is an optical view finder:-)).
> Optical view finder.
> I don't like QuickTime as a digital video format (but seeing as I won't be using it to much for making videos this whole part is not of main interest to me).

Because of the fact that I am often outdoors and will be making many pictures in nature of people and nature and also want to take a lot of macro shots, the lighting seems to be important (due to the bad weather), the macro options and the fact that the camera is compact seem to be of particulary importance.

I hope some folks here can give me some clues as to what to buy.

Regards,

Martin

griptape
03-07-2008, 02:48 PM
Well you won't get a rotating LCD on any camera that's jeans pocket size, but the new Canon SD1100 fulfills the rest of your wish list pretty well.

btuner
03-07-2008, 05:47 PM
yeah you deff wont need to spend anywhere close to $400 to get all that, pretty much any canon p&s will fulfill all those requests

SpecialK
03-07-2008, 06:38 PM
I suggest the buyer's guide at the top of this page for a start. Read the last paragraphs at least of a few cameras that interest you. Then you can ask meaningful specific questions if needed.

KCook
03-07-2008, 08:53 PM
Flash can be tricky in macro situations. So I would want a slow sync mode, which is a fairly common feature. Plus flash adjustment +/- 2 stops. And that feature is more rare in the ultracompacts.

Viewfinders are nice for fast action, or bright sunlight, or very long telephoto. But it doesn't sound like you will be doing a lot of any of those. Take away the viewfinder requirement and your point-and-shoot choices will really open up.

Kelly Cook