Digital Camera????

[TLC97]

I need the "Digital Camera's for Dummies" break down.

We desperately need to purchase a new digital. Ours offically died. Jonathan got a cheap one for Christmas and it works great for him, but I can not get the pictures to load on my puter for the life of me. This will be for my husband's business not family stuff so simple is best. I take pictures of the equipment people are interested in and send it in an e-mail.

Here are the requirements:
Idiot proof to use.
Preferably USB cable hook-up to the computer for ease of loading up pictures.
compatable with most computers (as mine tend to be very moody)

Any suggestions would be great appreciated. We are okay with spending a couple of hundred $$$$ as it will be charged to hubby's business. What do I need to look for as far as options and features go.

[oursarge]

Remali just got a new one that takes very nice pictures. I love Morgan's photos too seems she never gets a bad one. You can give me the best camera in the world and I can't operate it. I got one of those little flat ones that fits in your palm kind of thing. I think it's a Kodak. A girl at the barn has one and gets the best pictures, my husband can use it and gets the best pictures. I can't get anything but BLUR with it.

Good luck, there are so many out there to choose from.

[Country Girl 43]

Well...the photographers on here don't really care for the Kodaks, but I love them! They are idot proof!

I have two...one cheap one and one expensive one. I can use them both for just point and shoot, plus they both do videos. My expensive one can do so much more....I just haven't figured it all out yet. LOL

As long as I can just point and shoot and download to the computer...I am happy!

[JetLagaside]

We have one of the Canon PowerShots for a point and shot camera (we have 3 digitals now + all my 35mm ones) and for a point and shot it does really well added bonus it takes nice short videos too. I just can't remember is its a 4 or 5x zoom

[TLC97]

Okay, you have given me some ideas. I have a great 35mm that I love and want to get a super fancy digital someday. But right now I need the idiot proof one. I will check out the Canon for sure as that is what my regular 35mm is and I love it.

[lovesfortune]

i have a kodak and it's pretty straight forward. it takes decent pictures.

the camera that remali got is this:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/SX110IS/SX110ISA.HTM

and i want it to by my next camera

[Remali]

I just got the Canon PowerShot SX110 IS and I was blown away at how nice it is, I highly recommend you take a look at it! When I got mine last weekend it was on sale. The zoom on it is incredible for a point and shoot. I used to have a 35mm SLR and I have to say this digital is every bit as good....you can use it on auto, or do the settings yourself. And it comes with the USB cable too. I think you would love it. Here is another link to it for more info.....

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2008_reviews/canon_sx110.html

[Remali]

Thought I would add some examples of the zoom it has.... Keep in mind I took these pictures really quick, in bright snow, and I took them before I read the manual, lol, only to find out that there is a setting for taking pictures in bright snow so I bet I could've gotten nicer pictures.... also, I just set it on auto and really didn't do anything at all with the settings to fine tune it or anything. But this will at least give you an idea of the zoom.....all pics of the same apartment building down the street from me.... For the price (I paid about $230), I am impressed with it so far.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c91/Remali24/IMG_0008resized.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c91/Remali24/IMG_0010resized.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c91/Remali24/IMG_0009resized.jpg

[Equine_Woman]

Sounds to me like you just need a card reader for your other camera! You should be able to remove the memory card and stick it in either your computer or a card reader and upload your photos in that way. No need to hook up the camera!

But if you do want a new camera I highly recommend Canon. There are a lot of point and shoot cameras that will work just fine for what you need.

[oursarge]

Remali those pictures are great, that thing really zooms!!!!! It would be interesting to take the same photos on the setting for snow to see if there is a difference. It looks like a great camera. In my hands I can guarantee all's I'd get is a big blur, I must shake it or take the picture faster than I should or something. I don't know. A guy I know has his photos on face book and they are unreal, it's like WHY can't I take a good picture?!

[KittySawrus]

I have a brand I'd never heard of before - Pentax. IT IS AMAZING!!
I have the Pentax Optio L40
It really is intuitive and so easy to use, the manual's great to follow, so long as you know symbols you're on your way but there's even little explanations on the screen for what stuff does!
It doesn't just do Point & Shoot either. It has manual focus, so you can get all up-close and prettyful with flowers or dewdrops or whatever. And if you shoot outdoors on anti-shake or sportmode with a high ISO, you get excellent action shots!
Here's some of my faves with it:
http://fc73.deviantart.com/fs32/i/2008/219/6/a/Approach_by_kittysawrus.jpg
Friend on approach, upped the ISO after that
[link] (http://fc74.deviantart.com/fs37/f/2008/259/2/2/Smart_Mover_by_kittysawrus.jpg) <--of my friend trotting
http://fc20.deviantart.com/fs32/i/2008/219/9/c/Sleepy_Peep_by_kittysawrus.jpg
Manual focus, my cat, my room
http://fc58.deviantart.com/fs37/i/2008/259/c/a/Lightning_Strike_by_kittysawrus.jpg
In FL, thunderstorm, caught a lightning bolt! (Yeah it was hit & miss ;))
[link] (http://kittysawrus.deviantart.com/art/House-of-God-87477720) <--pls click to see my favest ever photo I took with this camera, hence explaining my love for it!!

So yeah, I'd go for that or a Canon Powershot.

[Remali]

LOL....oursarge, I bet you could take great photos with a point and shoot camera like that.....these days the cameras even tell you if there is any shakiness to prevent blurry pictures. :)

[TLC97]

EW- Ours is so old it does not use cards. It uses Pocket Cd-R's (mini cd's).

It needs to be IDIOT proof for hubby. He just touched Jonathan's and erased all the pics, no idea how.

[Equine_Woman]

Lol, well you can't go wrong with any of the Canon Powershots!!!

[TLC97]

Well we got the Canon Powershot just the basic entry level on for $129. It is AMAZING. I kept playing with it last night and really idiot proof, but has some really neat features.

[Remali]

Good for you, we'll be looking forward to photos! I know a couple people who have Canons, and they all just love them.

[Gypsy Rose]

Amazing what the new digital cameras can do now. When they first came out, you could get almost nothing for zoom, lol!

Kitty and Remaili- those are some awesome pics!

Tanya- I'm looking forward to seeing what neat pics you can take with your new cam!

[pandorasmom]

I have a Fujiflim and love it!! It's great for what I use it for and to me it takes really clear pictures as long as you know how to use it. ;)