What Digital Camera Should I buy?

[goobernoodles]

Ok, so I'm looking to get a digital camera. I've been looking at the sd300, the sd400, and the sd450, all canons.

However, I'm not a digital photography expert, and I do not want to spend a lot of money if I don't need to. Size of the camera is really not that big of a deal to me, although if its possible to have a the small size of these cameras without sacrificing image quality then I'm all for it.

What do you guys suggest I get? I'm looking for something under 300. I can get a sd450 for that but is it really worth the extra cash to get manual exposure? Are there cameras that are a little bigger than these pocket ones that have better image quality at less cost? Thoughts and questions?

 

[PurdueRy]

If you get a good deal the Canon 620 might be worth looking at. Its not too much over $300. The main difference I see between the ultra compacts and other cameras is that the ultracompacts seem to lack the sharpness that the non-compacts possess. Images on the SD450, Z1, X1, S1, are generally softer than the average larger camera. The 620 is not small, but it isn't large either. Try em out in stores. Thats important to get a feel for the camera you are buying.

 

[Excelsior]

Also the smaller cameras generally struggle in low-light situations.

 

[Machine350]

Both of these guys are right. I would definitely go to a store and try several out. It depends on what you want, the SD's are small and great point and shoot cameras, but the A620 or A610 have some manual controls if you think you might ever want to dabble in digital photography.

 

[Rufio]

sd550 can be had for about $314.

 

[mogurf21]

I have only great things to say about the canon SD series of cameras... SD400 SD450 SD500 are all within your pricerange... go for those.