We're looking at getting a digital camera and I figured I'd ask you guys. Everyone on here is always helpful and seems to know than any of those review sites.

Off hand, these are the features I can think of.
- LCD screen
- 4+ MP (a camera with the adjustable 2/4 MP option would be nice)
- Good battery life (we borrowed a camera for a little while and the thing just went through batteries like nobody's business-we're talking 2 batteries for 6ish pictures on 4MP Best- unbelievable)
- Burst/Action shot mode (not sure what frames per sec. or pics per second I'm looking for)
- Good close up pics (other camera took nice ones but didn't focus easily- needed a lot of light- maybe they're all like that but I don't know)
- Decent optical/digital zoom (forgot which was better- any suggestions?)
- Able to take videos (preferrably any length and not limited to 15, 30, etc seconds)
- 3:2 aspect ratio and not 4:3 (ten_39's advice)

This camera is going to be used for a little of everything. Family vacations, filming/photographing snowmobile riding/jumping and other action shots, close up pics (like when working on a snowmobile/car/truck), and whatever else we can think of. Looking to spend 3-400 but if you have a suggestion that costs more, I'd still love to hear it.

Thanks

edit: This is probably a question that requires some research so even a link to an easy to follow review website would be helpful. I don't really understand what some of the numbers and lingo means so I'll probably need help translating.

Great Camera all the things you are looking for and more for very reasonable price. I just bought this camera after much research and love it. Buy it off the internet though saved me over $100. Here is a link to a site with reviews to all brands.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Pana...onic_dmcfz7.asp


Optical zoom is the one you want digital zoom will distort. This has a 12x about the most you can get.

Boy there's some mixed reviews on that site. Some people complaining about different features and what not. How's this thing on batteries in hot/cold/extreme cold/high resolution/etc ?

I like my Sony Cyber-shot cameras. Started with a 3 MP, then 4 and currently using a 7.2

This one has an expensive battery but I shoot 100rd's of picts between charges. Paid $279.00 with 32 MB Memory stick. Spent extra $80.00 for 1 Gig stick and you can get up 2 Gig which will allow longer video's.

Just saw someone had it advertised for $189.00. Think it was Circuit City or Best Buy.

Down side it doesn't have enough zoom and it uses Sony's memory sticks which don't plug into standard slots. So you have to use their USB cable to download.
I use mine outside all winter and the only trouble I had was after I dropped it. Lense wouldn't close.They fixed it under warranttee for shipping charges. Turn around was about 10 days.

Nice and small, easy to carry.

Gets about 200 pics at high resolutin but comes with the rechargable battery got a backup one off ebay for $15 . As far as extremely cold dont know yet. doesnt seem to make a difference with the heat. Only bad thing is it only comes with 16mb sd card. Get a high speed (x133 50 bucks corsair on newegg) sd 1gig will hold over 300 pics at high resolution and makes for very quick shots. The biggest complaint on that sight the high ISO settings (noise at these settings) is a feature that is more for pros.

I'll be the first to admit I don't know all that much about digital cameras and even less about computers but I picked up a camera a few months back and have been very happy with it. I bought an Olympus sp-310, 7.1 megapixel. It has a nice large 2.5LCD display on the back, nice zoom, PictBridge, plenty of settings, and threaded barrel for conversion lenses which i'll never use. Came with starter kit (case, batteries, charger,etc. ) Picked it up @ Office Max for $249.99 less promo disc. of $30.00 plus $20.00 rebate. $199.99 Not bad............and so far works great! :div20:

I am also looking to get a digital camara, But I don't know anything about them. All I know is that the camara needs a long battery life. I would like to find one around the $2oo range. If any one can help. Thanks. :beerchug:

I have a Fuji F10. Awesome camera, big LCD, very fast power on, 6mp, great video w/sound, battery lasts forever, and replacements are about $10 or $20. I got mine in January, and still haven't charged the battery yet. And I have taken about 400 pictures. Still shows a full charge.

At the time, it was the fastest power on time, and also the fastest shutter lag (time from when you press the shutter button until it actually takes the picture). Plus has all the other features you are looking for. (3:2 aspect, 2mp mode, burst mode, lcd, great close-ups, 3x optical zoom, etc.)

It's small, light, and I have taken it on a couple sled trips, too. Works just fine out in the cold. I have a "universal" leather cell phone pouch that I use for a case.

Wal-Mart has them for about $225 last I checked.

Only thing I can think of that might be a "bad" point about it is it uses xD memory. But it's not that much more expensive nowadays vs. SD...

That Panasonic is also a very good choice, if you are looking for something with a longer zoom.

The way I look at it is I have 6mp to work with at 3x zoom, I can crop out the center part of the pic, and still have 2mp to work with at an equivalent 6x zoom. Much over 3x zoom and you'll need a tripod to get good pictures, ask anyone that owns a longer zoom camera.

i suggest CANON A650

CANON A650 is nice.

Hey Patrick, i just got a Canon S5-IS for christmas, i love the camera! It takes awesome pics

This thread is 2 years old I'm sure he has found one by now.

i noticed that after i posted it....it's ok, i know him and it's all good

i suggest Canon G9, because it is really one of the most popular and greates digital camera all over the world

i suggest Nikon D60