The Very Best Point And Shoot Digital Camera
Canon is one of the most popular brand of cameras out there, and for good reason. They have a range of models that sell from below $100 up to several thousand dollars.
It really doesn’t matter if you have a $100 camera, or a $10,000 camera. If you can’t see and compose the desired image with your own eyes, in your mind, then save yourself a whack of money and buy the $100 camera.
I heard a great story from an aspiring young photographer about their college days. His professor in a photography class full of promising professional photographers was given a simple task.
They were shown a dozen or so beautiful and artistic photographs. Their task was to determine which photographs were taken by some very expensive SLR cameras, and which were taken by some very inexpensive point and shoot cameras. The end result? Their success rate was about as good as if they had just randomly guessed.
Another thing to consider, is LCD screen size. A lot of digital cameras have 2.5 or 3 inch LCD screens. Nice for viewing, but also guaranteed to chew through batteries like crazy. If you look around a bit, you should be able to find some models with a 2 inch screen.
The inexpensive Canon PowerShot A460 or S30 are still around, and both have smaller screen sizes. An alternative, would be to find a lower priced NiMH battery pack and charger. Don’t buy the charger the camera shop salesman will try to up sell you on, as they’re generally more expensive than then same product at a discount store.
In the spirit of saving batteries, and keeping your costs down, make sure your camera has an optical viewfinder. That way, you don’t have to use the LCD screen all the time. Many LCD screens don’t work well outside in bright sunlight anyway. A lot of digital cameras these days (especially the least expensive) exclude the viewfinder.
They have by far more models to choose from then any other manufacturer. If your looking for a really small camera, you can take anywhere, consider the Canon SD1000 Digital Elph. If image quality is more of a consideration then portability, then step up to the Canon PowerShot A570IS. Both are around the $150 range.
If your a little more ambitious with your photography, then start with a Canon Digital Rebel XTi SLR camera. For under $600 you’ve got plenty of room to grow. That’s it, go get one, and start taking pictures. Your not getting any younger.