Photograpy Pros can u help me choose the right camera?

[Magick]

I would like to buy a camera with a great zoom for nature pics and good distance shots like for getting close ups of dance performances. I would like to keep it to under $250 but the numbers and language are confusing for me.
I would also like it to be as compact and lightweight as possible and the viewing screen a decent size.
Please feel free to call me if it would be too detailed to post. THanks in advance! Warmly, Magick
707 327 7940

[oliviathunderkitty]

I'm looking for exactly the same sort of camera and would love it if there could be a public reply. Thanks bunches in advance.

[Shandi]

I would like to buy a camera with a great zoom for nature pics and good distance shots like for getting close ups of dance performances. I would like to keep it to under $250 but the numbers and language are confusing for me.
I would also like it to be as compact and lightweight as possible and the viewing screen a decent size.
Please feel free to call me if it would be too detailed to post. THanks in advance! Warmly, Magick
707 327 7940

Before I became a pro, and knew nothing about cameras, I went to a camera store, told the salesperson what I was looking for, and my budget. To get a referral seems easy, and there is information online. Google "best cameras under
$250", but I think the best thing to do is to go to the camera store, and actually "handle" some cameras. See what
actually works for you before making a choice.

As a pro photographer, I know nothing about the inexpensive cameras, and would have to do research as I recommend
that you do. Check out the "professional reviews", and try out the cameras yourself.

It worked out well for me, and I chose a camera that I used for over 10 years, as I taught myself how to do portraits. I
reluctantly gave it up to go digital, after they had been popular for awhile. Someone who knew the kind of images I
liked to shoot, did give me a referral. It was a steep learning curve, but 15 years later, I'm still using it. I have another
camera, which is lighter weight, but without all the features I'm used to, so I rarely use it.

Pick up a photograhy magazine and check out the reviews, then visit your local camera store to see if any of those
cameras might work for your purposes.

Another thing I recommend is to attend a class for digital camera beginners; you'll learn a lot and get good advice
from the instructor. You'll also see what others are using and like for various reasons.

[Imagery]

I have to agree with Shandi here. When I was looking for a new digital SLR system, I went to the local camera store and compared camera bodies. I held both Nikon and Canon bodies, tried out their menus, tried to see which one was more intuitive, as taking the shot means being able to make adjustments and still capture the moment sometimes.

When I walked into Shutterbug with money in hand, I already knew what I wanted. Thanks to having someone local help me out while researching the purchase, I gave them my business instead of going online to save some money.

[1104GT]

Many of the point-and-shoots are very good and I agree with the previous posts that the way they feel and the way their menus are setup is a huge factor in selecting. You need to go play with a few and take some time with working through menus and figuring out how they work. I prefer the feel and menu system of Nikon SLR's but think Canon's compact camera's are the best both in terms of image quality, durability and ease of use. I've used an entry level Digital ELPH and just enlarged some photos to poster size and was amazed at the image quality. I also have an Olympus compact which takes nice photos but is way too complicated to navigate and I have used a Panasonic Lumix with a Leica lens which, again took great shots but had a very complicated multi-layered menu system that you had to get through to get it out of auto mode.

My first stop would be the entry level Canon ELPH. You should be able to find one for under $200. The slightly more expensive might be better built, so look at that too.