Please help me pick a camera from the following 3

[sutherland]

Assuming your budget is at or under 200, I would check out the Sony W120, Nikon S210, Canon A720, and the Panasonic LZ8.

These are also the more current offerings by these manufactures within this price range. Stroll into your neighborhood brick & mortar and try them all out. In terms of image quality, I wouldn't expect to see much difference, but take into account feel and interface. I am guilty for suggesting Sony, just because I enjoy their interface, image stabilization, and layout. However, I would suggest you take a good hard and long look at the Canon Powershot line (especially the A720). It's a solid performer at that price point and will give yield some satisfying results.

I do have an old W80 that I carry at all times. Absolutely love the interface, image quality. Try them all out!

[jbny525525]

Assuming your budget is at or under 200, I would check out the Sony W120, Nikon S210, Canon A720, and the Panasonic LZ8.

These are also the more current offerings by these manufactures within this price range. Stroll into your neighborhood brick & mortar and try them all out. In terms of image quality, I wouldn't expect to see much difference, but take into account feel and interface. I am guilty for suggesting Sony, just because I enjoy their interface, image stabilization, and layout. However, I would suggest you take a good hard and long look at the Canon Powershot line (especially the A720). It's a solid performer at that price point and will give yield some satisfying results.

I do have an old W80 that I carry at all times. Absolutely love the interface, image quality. Try them all out!

I wish i could try out all of them but i was trying to get one for free using the reward points on my citi bank card....the 3 i listed in my first post and the others in my reply are all the ones that they offer...have you played with any of the models above? I was thinking about going to the store and playing with them but i think these are all older models and im not sure the stores will still have them on display

[Liz]

I wish i could try out all of them but i was trying to get one for free using the reward points on my citi bank card....the 3 i listed in my first post and the others in my reply are all the ones that they offer...have you played with any of the models above? I was thinking about going to the store and playing with them but i think these are all older models and im not sure the stores will still have them on display

I think of all the cameras you listed I would go with the Canon A590IS. Here is a review I read on the A570IS - and the A590 is one step above.

Canon makes excellent p&s cameras. No p&s cameras are perfect, but Canon has some great ones. From this review, it seems to me that you can't go wrong. Free? Wow! It's worth it!

Liz

Canon A570IS Camera
Canon's A series PowerShots were originally designed as 'entry level' cameras but since have quite clearly moved out of their original market segment. A series PowerShots have improved with each generation and - thanks to the inclusion of comprehensive manual controls and technologies such as the new DIGIC III imaging processor and image stabilization - have become a viable weapon of choice not only for beginners but also the more advanced photographer with limited resources.

The A570 IS takes the succesful formula of previous cameras such as the A530/540 - well-priced, compact cameras with a useful zoom range and extensive photographic control - and adds the one thing that was missing, an effective optical image stabilization system. Image stabilization is certainly the most important new feature introduced with this new camera; the increased megapixel count or a larger screen will almost certainly not have any significant impact on your shooting.

The A570 IS offers a lot of camera for what is a very low price. The camera is very responsive, the output quality very good, exposure and focus reliable, and the amount of photographic control on offer is superb. The ability to further expand the camera's abilities with add-on lenses and a flash is also a definite plus point.

There are only a couple of points that merit some criticism, the most crucial one being the flash recycling times. In a typical 'social' shooting situation having to wait up to 10 seconds (with weak batteries) to take the next picture can be fairly frustrating, not only for the photographer but also his subjects. We found the battery life in general quite disappointing (with AA batteries), it is therefore recommendable to always carry a spare set of batteries, the battery warning icon will come on rather sooner than later.

Image quality issues are almost negligible, there is some minor evidence of CA, color blooming and highlight clipping but all these 'problems' occur on a very small scale and almost certainly won't have any negative impact on your prints (unless you print at poster size).

So in conclusion, with the Canon A570 IS you get a nicely designed, responsive camera with more than enough features to keep most users - especially those wanting a little more manual control than is normal at this price point - happy. If you don't mind it not being the fastest 'social' snapshot camera in the world (the flash recycling puts paid to that), this is a perfect camera for anyone wanting real photographic control without paying through the nose. Its well balanced combination of image quality, functionality and handling (and not to forget value for money) means the A570 IS just about deserves our highest award.