Digital Camera Advice

[frostdillicus]

Hey all.

I'll be spending next academic year in Japan as a foreign exchange student. As such, I need a camera. I know just about nothing about the topic, so I figured I would ask here and see if I could get some advice.

Basically, my primary requirement is something compact that I can take with me just about everywhere as I travel. Just looking for something that can take decent pictures, is portable, and won't break the bank. Oh, I guess it should take pictures at a resolution higher than 1920x1200 in case I want to make them into wallpaper.

I know, real specific requirements. Thanks for any help/input you guys can offer.

[Dog]

I have had bad experiences with Canon - their shutters tend to freeze. The image quality is great but if the shutter freezes, the camera is useless.
So I have been buying Nikon for the past couple of years. Great quality and they take a battering!

Others will have different stories!

[Fraulein Arztin]

Kodak DX4530 looks like a nice, portable camera. I would like to have it just for general use because I need my own camera as well. it can take pictures up to 20x30 inches. I am not sure what that is in pixels

[Gizanked]

1920x1200 is a 2.3 megapixel image. I don't even know if you can buy a camera anymore that is less than 4mp or so.

[MrBlah]

Olympus makes some digital cameras that can really take a beating. Waterproof and everything. Look at Nikon too.

[John Doe]

Unlike Mr. Dog I have been buying Canon digitals for the past 9 years and I recommend them to everyone. Tons of models, tons of features and a price range of $100 - $500 for the various digitals, if you want to get into a digital SLR Canon is again a market leader but there are other good brands to consider too.

[frostdillicus]

No DSLR this time around. I need something small that I can take with me everywhere.

Maybe a DSLR after I graduate.

[gator]

What price range are you looking at?

[frostdillicus]

Most I want to spend is probably around $300. I could probably push $350 if it was for a significant increase in quality/features.

[gator]

On the Canon side, I'd say either the A3100IS ($149) or SD940IS ($199). If you want to go to the high end of their compact range, then either the SD4000 or S90 (both $349).

[bullet4o1]

On the Canon side, I'd say either the A3100IS ($149) or SD940IS ($199). If you want to go to the high end of their compact range, then either the SD4000 or S90 (both $349).

I agree.

For Nikon

Coolpix S6000 for more zoom
or Coolpix S3000 for a little less

[Plinko]

I carried a Canon S100 around for a long time, maybe 7 years before she finally started to fall apart. Many people I know have had cameras in their compact lines and all seemed quite happy.

I'm on a Nikon D5000 now, but that's way outside what you're looking for.

[arfy4]

1920x1200 is a 2.3 megapixel image. I don't even know if you can buy a camera anymore that is less than 4mp or so.

Yeah, about the lowest is 4MP. My compact video camera is 5MP with it's pictures.

[Flash]

Professionally I use Canon and have a G10 for light duty, however it isn't pocket sized. My parents just bought a Panasonic TS2, which is water and shock proof, for a trip to Mexico and gave it positive reviews. They spent a lot of time snorkeling with it.

http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/compact/ ... index.html




.

[Dirty Dan]

I went to Japan for 10 days when I was in high school, had a blast! Would love to go back there some day, be sure to go to the fish market in Tokyo at like, 5 am.