Please help me pick a digital camera

[ViriiGuy]

Hello and Merry Christmas everyone,

Well with my christmas bonus, I think it is time to retire my old sony mavica FD71.
So I am in need of help picking a new camera.

This is what I have to work with. The price should be less than 300 Canadian which is about 275 USD I think. I would like it to take REALLY nice pictures, inside and outside. I would like it as well if it has a macro mode. A nice optical and digital zoom is also wanted. And of coarse the ability to use flash cards, which I believe most do now anyway. I would like it to have an lcd screen for viewing as well. Also let me add that shutter lag is a big problem for me. I borrowed a digicam from a co-worker and it must have been a 1-2 second shutter lag on this thing!!

Rechargeable batteries are not as important, as I can always use rechargeable AA's or whatever.

The one I am looking at right now is the Kodak z740 as I have heard alot of good about it. But what are your opinions? Is there a better camera for the money, or even less money?

Thank you,
Randy

 

[ray4389]

I have a Nikon D50 and I hear Nikon P&S cameras are good too.

http://www.ritzcamera.com/webapp/wc...&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&productId=13245958

I personally would look at something like that.

Kodak makes decent P&S cams too.

 

[TheDoucheMan]

What you are looking at looks pretty nice, but you should realize that its 10x zoom will be practically useless without very bright light, or a tripod.

Check out Steves-digicams.comSteve's Digicams

Tons and tons of info.

 

[Joves]

I have the Nikon D50 and, a Nikon CoolPix4600 which I am getting to like. As usual the Nikons are great at macro shots. 10x as said you really need a tripod. Unless the camera has image stabilization. But that only reduces shake so much. You can also look at dpreview.com . What I like to do is look at the cameras and, reader the readers comments. It helps to see how the camera actually works in normal peoples hands.

 

[ViriiGuy]

I have been going thru that site and reading alot of reviews and comments.
Another one I am looking at is a used or refurbed Canon S1 IS. It is in my
price range, and looks to be a very nice camera as well.

The Nikon D50 is WAY out of my price range.
The Nikon CoolPix4600 did not really get the best of reviews. While some pictures
came out well, it seems to not be the best for outdoor sunny shots. Although the
shutter lag does not seem to bad. (just what I have read)

The use of a tripod is not a problem.

Thanks for the input thus far.

Randy