camera help

I am in the market for a nice digital camera of my own. I've got plenty of cash but I need help choosing. I am really digging the Nikon Coolpix line. The 3100 got an awesome review in PC World but I am really digging this mofo.

Ummmm...Help?

For starters.....what kinda camera are you after? consumer/prosumer??

2nd, massive megapixels isnt important unless you want to make large prints. If your just looking for photos for graphics/web than 2-3 mp is plenty. Yes more mp will result in a slightly better picture, but if you have the right features and pratice a little, then the diff in image quality will be minimal. Also the reason im suggesting lower mp is they are smaller in file size (more on a media card/hdd), they make the camera run faster and of course you can take waaay more pics at once (nevermind the large price difference).

3rd....get a camera with Features!!! Manual control, scene settings, flash modes, ISO settings etc. A point-shoot camera will get very boring very quick.....and for a lot of $$ doesnt offer any creativity.

4 - get the most zoom you can. Sadly...most cameras dont offer more than 3x. But if you can find 4x, 6x, 8 or even 10 you should take a look at those.

I am looking for a relatively small, carry around camera. Nothing fancy, a little zoom would be nice, but ther are just for everyday sorts of things, nice pictures but not professional quality. Let me put it this way, anything close to an SLR or over 5 megapixels is way overkill.

i seriously recommend the nikon coolpix 5700 a little expensive but are great cammara, im saving for the 8 megapixel one, they have features you find in the pro end but with out paying all that much, i have a casio 3.2 and a casio 4.2 megapixel the exlim line, they are cool the 4mega pixel has 3 optical zoom witch is nice and they are the slimest cammaras you can get. Their picture are great they have tons of features to, if you want a budget camarra and want one thats slim and sexy the casio is the one for you. If you want something more "pro" get the nikon.

I am looking for a relatively small, carry around camera. Nothing fancy

In that case, im also going to recommend the coolpix line!! I got a coolpix 2100 (my mothers actually) and its takes great photos. Also its has a decent amount of features to use as you advance with it, nevermind the regular features....such as scene modes (night/beach/fireworks/museum/etc which are awesome). I think they only have 3x zoom......but if your after a smaller cameras then you wont find much above that. Also size wise...the coolpix are midgets...smaller than say your fist.

go to dpreview.com <---- greatest site for reviews etc.


edit: correction: 2100. i cant remember these damn numbers lol.

coolpix 3100.

my brother's gf has the 2100 and it's great. you won't regret picking one up. Hell, buy me one!

if you're not into fancy stuff you may want to get one of those small, sleek creditcard size cameras - like the Casio Elixim or a Minolta DiMage X or the G3 thing....

or you could get a Sony Cyber Shot DSC-U60 - that's good even for underwater pics - granted no more than 5-6 feet but for pool parties it's perfect

My neighbors are scuba divers and they bought an underwater camera case.... works great with their Canon Powershot A50. The coolpix line looks like the best so far, looks great for just an everyday camera.

Looks like the 3200 for me.

I have nothing but great things to say about my Sony DSC-S70 camera. We bought one of the CDR Sony's for work. Again, nothing but great things to say. We went with the CDR because we sometimes travel with the camera and didn't want to have to worry about always having a laptop with us, or running out of Memory Stick space.

My bro-in-law has one of the mini Sony dig cameras (don't remember model #), again... yup, that's right. Nothing but great things to say about it.

I would actually recommend either the Sony or the Nikons. The reason being both have above average lenses. The lens is often over-looked, but it is where the quality of the image begins. Either one of these two is good quality. I personally prefer the Sony media and quality, because I have... nothing but great things to say about them!