help the noob (seriously)

[camnoob]

Ok, hope im not waisting the time of pros here. I want to buy a digital camera within 150-200 euros (that is 200-250 $). I currently dont own one and i want it to :
1) take decent quality photos
2) be not too big so that io can carry it around ell the time
3) not to suck
4) be of good quality

What cameras/brands do you suggest (people told me not to buy SONY cos they are not good. Is that true?). Is it possible to get a nice camera within this price range?

[Medley]

Check out the reviews (http://www.photographyreview.com/sf-...ctlistcrx.aspx)

My point and shoot cameras (which is what you're looking for: portability wise) have all been Canons, and I've had very good luck with them. For your price range, I'd look in the 4-6 megapixel range.

The biggest drawbacks to point and shoots are the shutter lag (time between pressing the button and when the camera takes the photo) and the significant lag time before you can take a second shot. You basically get one chance at an action shot.

My 4MP Canon A520 is still a great backup camera. It's easy enough to use that my 4 year old nephew can take decent shots with it (though the concept of "composition" still escapes him, and I get a lot of shots of his tennis shoe- due to the shutter lag thing. )

Whatever you do, you'll end up happier if you do some homework first.

Hope this helps you.

-Joe U.

[Greg McCary]

The Canon Power Shot line is popular around here. I bought one for the Camera around the world project and I used it for about a week and never looked at the instructions. It would also fit in my front pocket. You would probably want one with a few more MP than the one I had, but from what I saw they are excellent cameras for the money. And if I were to buy a P&S camera it would be high on my list.
Greg

[camnoob]

The biggest drawbacks to point and shoots are the shutter lag (time between pressing the button and when the camera takes the photo) and the significant lag time before you can take a second shot. You basically get one chance at an action shot.

i see. What categories of cameras are better in those aspects (shutter lag and lag time) but do not require having to sell my car to buy one?

[Photo-John]

i see. What categories of cameras are better in those aspects (shutter lag and lag time) but do not require having to sell my car to buy one?

The fastest cameras are the digital SLRs. But all digital cameras have gotten much faster in the past 2-3 years. There is some noticeable shutter-lag, but with good technique it's almost not an issue anymore. I've found the best cameras for minimal shutter-lag to be the Casios, Kodak EasyShare, and the current crop of Canon compact digital cameras is excellent. But they're really all very good now. Technique will help more in most situations than a faster camera would.