$300 budget - mostly outdoor shooting

[Ravicai]

My budget is more or less $300. Although if you have a recommendation that's slightly higher, I'll consider it.

My wants:
Megapixels: 5mp or better
Optical Zoom: 5x or better
Video: 640x480 @ 30fps (would prefer higher res, but not picky)
Viewfinder: YES!!! I take pictures mostly outdoors
Memory: SD card ONLY
Battery: Lithium Ion (no AAs)

These specs sound simple enough, but I've looked through 100 cameras already and have not found anything that has all these options. My last camera was an older Exilim. I was just going to get another one but it appears Casio has done away with the viewfinders... grrrr...

Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

[TheWengler]

Why don't you want AA batteries?

[Ravicai]

Why don't you want AA batteries?

If you can recommend some rechargeable batteries that last a long time and a good charger that will keep the budget near $300, I'm open to whatever you have in mind.

[DeputyMoniker]

Good AA's:
http://www.energizer.com/products/hi...y-charger.aspx
Get some of those 2500 mAh AA's and the 15 minute charger. I've used those batteries for years and they're always good to me.

[Ken.]

My budget is more or less $300. Although if you have a recommendation that's slightly higher, I'll consider it.

My wants:
Megapixels: 5mp or better
Optical Zoom: 5x or better
Video: 640x480 @ 30fps (would prefer higher res, but not picky)
Viewfinder: YES!!! I take pictures mostly outdoors
Memory: SD card ONLY
Battery: Lithium Ion (no AAs)

These specs sound simple enough, but I've looked through 100 cameras already and have not found anything that has all these options. My last camera was an older Exilim. I was just going to get another one but it appears Casio has done away with the viewfinders... grrrr...

Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Panasonic FZ8 or FZ18 has an EVF, an excellent lens and it falls within your price range. For still shots, the RAW output is excellent. You may have enough left over for a spare battery.

[KCook]

Most of my photography is outdoors too. And for a long time I was convinced that a viewfinder was a must-have. But the LCD on my new Fuji really is bright enough for easy use in bright sunlight. This level of performance is not true for all LCD cameras, and the reviews don't do a very good job of grading cameras on this point. But some LCD cameras will work, I have taken the viewfinder off my must-have list. Never, never thought I'd say that either.

Kelly Cook

[TheWengler]

I didn't double check your requirements but I think the Canon S3 meets them (but uses AA batteries). It's $270 at buydig.com

[AndyfromVA]

If you can recommend some rechargeable batteries that last a long time and a good charger that will keep the budget near $300, I'm open to whatever you have in mind.

Sanyo Eneloops and a Sanyo charger.

[Ravicai]

I read the reviews on the rechargeable AA and they were extremely mixed. They quickly discharge even while not in use, and they loose their max capacity quickly (which I understand to be a problem with all NiMH batteries). AA Lithium Ion batteries don't exist. All that being said I decided AA weren't for me.

Based on KCook's comment about the viewfinder I decided to take a leap of faith and I ended up going with a Panasonic TZ5 and I bought a extra hi-capacity Li-ion (1200mAh).

Thanks for all your recommendations!

[AndyfromVA]

I read the reviews on the rechargeable AA and they were extremely mixed. They quickly discharge even while not in use, and they loose their max capacity quickly (which I understand to be a problem with all NiMH batteries). AA Lithium Ion batteries don't exist. All that being said I decided AA weren't for me.

Based on KCook's comment about the viewfinder I decided to take a leap of faith and I ended up going with a Panasonic TZ5 and I bought a extra hi-capacity Li-ion (1200mAh).

Thanks for all your recommendations!

You bought a good camera but you are wrong in your statements about AA batteries. Sanyo Eneloops are hybrid AA batteries that DO NOT lose their charge when not in use. That's why they are getting more and more popular. Also AA lithium ion batteries DO exist. Energizer makes the E2 lithium AA batteries that last 7 times longer than an AA alkaline.