Digital Camera Question
 

Ok, I'm in the market for a digital camera, and I want to start photography as a new hobby. I've always wanted a camera, but never really had the motivation to get one. I've been browsing people's shots in the photography forum and some other places online, and that's what made me decide to get one. I'm looking for something in the $300 range, and I'm pretty sure I want to get the Cannon Powershot A95. I noticed that the Powershot A520 is coming out soon, but I can't find too many details on it. Is it any better than the A95? And anyone that has the A95, how do you like it? I searched and didn't come up with too many results. Thanks :D

Canon POS tend to be really friendly, I think you will have a good time.

I would recomend going ahead and picking up a compact flash (or what every memory you want, though CF seems to be best) and bringing it to best buy or another store. Use each of the camera, and just remember which picture is what and then either compare it on one of the computers there or bring it home and make a choice.

My POS camera is a Canon Digital Elph s200, not the greatest but still just as good as anything else I've used.

FYI if you intend to print the pictures you take regardless of what camera.
http://www.megapixel.net/cgi-bin/fs_...egapixels.html

My rule of thumb, the most megapixel/optical zoom in the price range. It looks like you should just get the A95.

I just bought the Sony Cybershot DSC-P73, and it's awesome.

Assuming your in America, for something in the $300 range, maybe you can even get the P93 model.

I love my canon powershot G3... i think they have the G6 out now. If you havent checked this website out, I found it very useful when comparing different cameras. www.dpreview.com

I find CNET good for reviews too

http://www.cnet.com

Panasonic DMC-FZ3: 12x optical zoom f2.8 Leica lens with image stabilization. 3.1 megapixels. Cost just over $300.

New versions are coming out in a month (fz4, fz5) that will cause the price of the fz3 to be lower.

Check it out, it's got the best lens in the pricerange by far. Only problems are iso 400 is crap and chromatic aberrations at 12x zoom when you overexpose.

Another option is the powershot G6, which is pretty cool, with a good movie mode.

Depending on your size, people like the canon elph series. Or if you want something weatherproof, check out the olympus verve.

Thanks a lot for everyone's opnions, sorry I didn't come back to this thread sooner, I've been busy with work and such. I'll look into the other recommended cameras, but it seems everywhere I go it says A95 can't be beat. I'm not too interested in movie mode, I think I'll mainly be taking pictures of nature and architecture. I live in southwestern Vermont, so there is plenty of nature around here :p

Here's (Sony Cybershot DSC-V1) what I have. It's really nice. Been using it for about 6 months and there is almost nothing that I don't like. I might be expecting too much of a photo camera, but I thought they could have made it possible for you to plug it up to the computer and use it as a webcam, or that they could have made it possible to zoom while you are using the video camera mode. Anyway, for $330 I think it's a very good buy.

If nature is what you want, you want a long zoom, so as not to disturb the animals, check out:

Fujifilm Finepix S3000 and S5000
Minolta Dimage Z1 and Z10
Panasonic DMC-FZ3
Canon PowerShot S1 IS

Check out dpreview.com they have a pretty cool buying guide.

Did anyone else see this and think he meant "Cannon Piece of Shit"?

Sorry, continue about your business...

Dedicated Nikon shooter...... :lol:

Yes please, carry on.

I have the Canon Powershot A80 and love it. Very easy to use and have had no problems with it. I have seen my images printed at 11x14 and they are beautiful. I print at 8x10 all the time with great results. People can't tell they are digital. When you start printing, don't skimp on the printer, get the best you can afford.