Hey all,

I am in the market for a new cheapish amateur-easy digital camera!

My current camera is a Pentax model that's about 3yrs old now and was around the $250- mark new. It's only got 3.2 mega pixel.

I basiacally want a camera that I can use at car shows / events, sporting events and to take photos at partys etc.

Also want to be able to take some good pics at the Jamboree

I dont really want to spend more than $400- as my last one wasn't too bad for what I used it for.

I had a quick look around on the weekend and seen ALOT of 5 mega pixel cameras for around the $250- mark which is alot cheaper than i was expecting.

What do you recommend?

Thanks

Jase

P.S. would you recommend 6.0mp to be a minimum now?

what do you think about the touch screens?

and the lithium batteries over the AA's?

thanks

There are alot of cameras in the mark you are looking at to spend. Best bet is to google camera shops in your area, and find the biggest one that has the biggest range, and then go in, and speak to them.

I would reccomend www.photocontiental.com.au but they are in QLD. They are really good to talk to, and I got a good deal on a lens from them.

Otherwise I am sure someone could reccomend a camera straight up.

Most of the photographers on here would be using digital SLR camera's which are out of your price range, but I'm sure they could still suggest something...

I can't say "X model is better than Y model because:" but I can say I prefer Olympus, Canon and Nikon camera's, but you may also find they are not in your price range...

the best bet is to go to a camera shop and tell them what you want and how much you have to spend...

the best peice of advice i have been given when looking at camera's is look at the lense, the physical size of it is important, the larger the better, also look out for brand name lenses such as carl zeiss....

hope that helps

cheers guys

yeah mainly looking for something small and easy to use...

so is optical zoom 'that' important????

like would i be better getting say...

6mp with 3x zoom

over a

4mp with 8x zoom

thanks

depend what u want, will u use zoom?
there is a few 10x optical zoom and 5MP cameras around $400.
I have a fujifilm s5600 i got for $330.
and about the batteries, the cameras that come with the rechargable lithium batteries are alot dearer, i would just get one that takes AA's and get some rechargable ones. I bought some AA rechargbles for mine and they last for ages. And also when you your batteries run out you can just have a spare seat of normal AA's with you instead of getting an extra lithium batteries that cost heaps.

These are my recomendations (I work at a camera shop btw)

Kodak EasyShare DX7590
Fujifilm S5600
Kodak Z650

Good Luck.

yeah agreed Harry, i have a Kodak z740 and it cost around the same as Psi's camera, 10x optical 5mp.

Tyson

I hate Kodak cameras, so for me its the Fuji S5600.
Shame you can't stretch to the Panasonic FZ7...much sharper results, the best image stabilizer in its range and brings out very vibrant colours. We sell them for $560. But the Fuji still provides surprisingly good results, especially for its price. Have a look at SITH1 posts, I think he used one before getting his 30D!

you may as well step up the the new Fuji S6500