Need help purchasing a digital camera

[Jabberwock]

Hi folks

When it comes to cameras, I am a complete amateur I am planning on taking a short trip overseas soon and I'm in need of a quality digital camera. I am aware that mega-pixels are a factor, but picture quality also depends on the photo sensor inside the camera.

With that said, can any knowledgeable photographers recommend me a quality digital camera around the $200-$250 price range? Is good picture quality even attainable at this price range?

[ripken204]

what type were you looking for?
you can get a decent point and shoot for the price.
personally i would recommend a Canon PowerShot.

[Mescalamba]

Get some Panasonic within price range. Just stay away from those with "built-in" lenses (ones which doesnt move when zooming .. FP series usually). Others are fine..

[Jabberwock]

I've been looking at Canon, Nikon, and Olympus cameras and so far I like the Powershot series. Any particular model that stands out?

[ripken204]

do you prefer a very slim camera or does it not matter?

[Jabberwock]

Size does not matter in this case. As long as it is good at taking pictures.

[Lestat]

i just got the wife the Lumic DMC-ZS3 and its a freaking fantastic camera.. damn good wide angle lens and superb zoom.
movie mode was fantastic! 720p movies. mjpeg like every other camera and AVCHD too.

[Jabberwock]

i just got the wife the Lumic DMC-ZS3 and its a freaking fantastic camera.. damn good wide angle lens and superb zoom.
movie mode was fantastic! 720p movies. mjpeg like every other camera and AVCHD too.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I did some further research based on your suggestion and the Panasonic ZS3 does seem to suit my needs as I may be recording videos and having stereo is a plus.

I like the manual exposure of the Canon PowerShot SX200, but the ZS3 has a better LCD screen, stereo while recording, slightly better picture quality, but no manual control. I am now stuck between a Canon PowerShot SX200 and a Panasonic ZS3 More suggestions are welcome!

[ripken204]

SX210 should be out soon too

[Lestat]

PLUS the ZS3 does autofocus while taking movies and zooms too.
its a pretty wicked little camera.
i think i got it for $230.00 on amazon.
its wide enough that most of the time we have to soom in a little or it's too wide.

i just wish it was a 2.8 lens and not f/3.5

you can also set your max auto iso which was something that not even the canon dSLR's can do. so you can lock it at iso 200/400/800/1600 if you want to avoid any noise.
the new canon T2i can do it but nothing else can.

[Jowy Atreides]

Hi folks

When it comes to cameras, I am a complete amateur I am planning on taking a short trip overseas soon and I'm in need of a quality digital camera. I am aware that mega-pixels are a factor, but picture quality also depends on the photo sensor inside the camera.

With that said, can any knowledgeable photographers recommend me a quality digital camera around the $200-$250 price range? Is good picture quality even attainable at this price range?

Lumix ZS3. It does great HD video and takes really good pictures for a non-dslr

I like the manual exposure of the Canon PowerShot SX200, but the ZS3 has a better LCD screen, stereo while recording, slightly better picture quality, but no manual control. I am now stuck between a Canon PowerShot SX200 and a Panasonic ZS3 More suggestions are welcome!

The sx200 is a GREAT camera. It just doesn't have the same video quality that the ZS3 has.
I still have the SX200 though as a neck camera for shooting backup pics from events, very high quality.
I shoot video with the ZS3, spare pics with the sx200 and my main photos with a canon 5dmark2

You wouldn't be disappointed with the sx, if you value video though, there's no mid end substitute for the lumix. Audio quality is <3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6FwnM6SA34

ps. I hate calling it a ZS3, it's the TZ7!

[Mescalamba]

I think you cant make mistake with Panasonic.. or good Fuji (but they are bit tricky cameras and movies aint spectacular).

[Jabberwock]

The Panasonic ZS3 looks to be a popular point and shoot and comes highly recommended by most of you folks. Based on its photo/video capabilities, it seems it would be the perfect camera to take along for a vacation. Looks like I'm getting me a ZS3/TZ7

Thank you all for pointing me in the right direction