camera recomendations

I recently got a Pentax k-x SLR digital. I like it. It uses 4 AA cells, that I'm using rechargables. The kit I got came with a 300 mm zoom.

Canon PowerShot SX130IS, 2 AA batteries, 12x zoom, Walmart $179.

Don't be concerned about mega pixels. Most newer generation dig. cams have more mp's than the average person needs for prints, emailing, etc... . Unless, that is, you plan on making large format prints.

Greebas

Ok, first of all, the question is whether you want a compact point and shoot or something fancy.
If you don't know cameras and don't want to know them, buy a decent point and shoot. They take great pics!
For instance, all these AZ pics here are hand-held point and shoot Canon SD880 IS - you can probably buy this or similar newer model for less than 200 bucks....
http://picasaweb.google.com/cissod/Arizona#

Megapixels do not matter. In fact, they can work against you! The idea is this - there is a sensor in the camera which picks up light and interprets it into color. If that sensor is divided into too many little compartments (pixels), then less light falls on each. This makes a worse picture!

The only real except to that rule is very large cameras with very large sensors......in short, anything over 5 MP (and ALL are) is more than enough. Many pros use Nikon D40's for their travel and fun cameras.....5 MP.

Anyway, the best camera is the one you can easily carry and that you have with you at all times...

Advice would be different if you are looking for wildlife or sports (high zoom - probably on tripod) or other such things. In general, landscape works well with very little zoom. Even 3x zoom is fine for the vast majority of regular photography - after all, that is what most semi-pro SLR cameras come with (D90, etc.).....3X.

The small point and shoot cameras that have their own rechargeable lithium batteries. The AA batteries don't las 1/2 as long. AA do hold up well but the LI just don't quit. There is no need to have a 2nd battery. Partial to Cannon. DP review and Steves Digicam are to good places to see what the camera's are like, in depth reviews complete with pictures of actual cameras. Newegg is a good online retailer.
You asked about zoom, just figure on actual camera lens zoom. Digital cameras have digital zoom on top of the lens zoom. My experience is that distorts the heck out of the picture. You can get simular / better results with photo software.

yooperdave said:

i would like to purchase a digital camera with "aa" power source (not rechargeable). i understand the higher the "mp" number, the better the pic. would also like some zoom...is 5x enough? i thank all who will respond and can't wait to bore the heck out of everyone on this site with scenery pics of the u.p. and hopefully some wildlife. please recommend some cameras to be considered. yooperdave

Click to expand...

Check the Kodak Z980 digital camera.


zap

canon powershots are good------for AA batteries make sure you get some LSD (low self discharge batteries) such as the sanyo eneloop, or the precharged ones---from energizer or duracell -before the lsd's came out, every time i grabbed camera, the regular rechargeables were dead. I bought the lacrosse tech charger and eneloops on amazon. don't even bother with the regular batteries as any camera will eat them up. I got a canon powershot since, at the time, it had manual shutter speed settings and I was tired of getting blurs with the kids running around. I love it.

Joel good info, The wife's Power Shot A710IS is the one I'm comparing to my daughters smaller point and shoot Cannon Elph series ( can't remember # ) with self contained LI that get some where around 200+ pictures on a charge and is 1/3 the size. I'll have to look at those batteries for the PowerShot. Thanks.

one thing to consider IF you decide on an DSLR unit is the difference between canon and Nikon-----I know two pro photographers---one uses canon the other uses nikon...... I believe that nikon bodies can use older nikon lenses whereas canon bodies may have changed making older lenses un-useable...... not 100% sure on this but if it is true, then you can save money by buying used lenses. otherwise I think the body performance is probably comparable.