I need some good, solid, knowledgeable advce.

My son wants a digital camera for Christmas.

Right now we're thinking about the Nikon CoolPix P80. but we're pretty ignorant.

Someone out there knows more than we do.

HELP!!!

Thanks

You can't go wrong with Nikon or Canon.

If he wants the Nikon go for it! I myself am a Canon user but both are very good camera's with easy to use software.

The Coolpix are hot now with the kids.They come in bright colors!

Great marketing, but you are buying a decent camera as well!

Optical zoom is a feature you will never regret. The more, the better. Several models offering 18X zoom now. Mine has 10X and I wouldn't buy a camera with less.

But also, I'm with ROX on brands. My next camera will probably be a Canon or Nikon.

I have a Canon Powershot A530. It's nothing special, but it takes good pictures for someone with no photographic inclination.

The Powershot A590 (newer model) can be had for around $150.

digital camera reviews

http://www.dpreview.com/ 

My wife is a photographer. Her fun camera is a Canon Coolpix. She is hppy and impressed with it.

J

Personally, I think Canon makes better Point & Shoots than Nikon, but it's the other way around on DSLR's . . .

The Canon G9 & G10 is the hottest pocket camera with the enthusiast crowd right now . . .

But, if you want a DSLR, then you can't beat a Nikon D90, D300 or D700 . . .

I have a Canon PowerShot A520 that I've had for three years and it takes great shots. My gal has a Nikon CoolPix ans she likes it a lot except in low light.

My only word of advice is to watch out what kind of battery the camera takes. When I got her the Nikon this past summer, I didn't like the fact that 90% of them take a lithium battery similar to those in cell phones... when they die they are $40-60 to replace. The one I got her takes AA batteries (rechargable) and is only about 1/8" thicker than the lithium battery model.

-JT

Check out B&H photo after you decide what you want. It seems nobody can touch their prices. We got a Nikon S60 for $260 a month ago. Everywhere else wanted $350.

www.bhphotovideo.com I think is the web address.

Whoops, I meant Canon PowerShot, not Coolpix.

J

When I buy a camera, my concerns are:

1) Battery type - If it a specialty battery, does it have good life? If not, stick with AA so you can buy replacements at the convenience store when you are on vacation.

2) Media type- must be removable for use in a card reader; why waste batteries downloading images?

3) Durability - Must have a lens cover, metal body is preferential.

My casual camera is an Olympus 720SW......you can use it underwater and you can drop it......stainless steel cage........and I don't worry about the kids breaking it.

Squaw is advanced amature photog, uses (and prefers) 35mm Olympus OM1.

I clown around and use the Canon A520 which has been mentioned alot here. It's a good camera.

If ordering off the internet, be very careful of the company, a LOT of bulls*t companies out there, especially from Brooklyn. Do your research.

http://www.resellerratings.com/ 

check out this site. the guy is kind of a goofball, but i think gives pretty good advice for a camera purchase; seems to agree with iurox and jetblasted, canon or nikon. we have the canon sd800is, takes great pictures and battery lasts a good long time.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/recommended-cameras.htm 

If Squaw has good lenses from her OM-1, you might want to consider a DSLR from Olympus . . . In-depth reviews on Olympus DSLR's can be found here . . .

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Olympus/ 

twisted & leonardo both have good info . . .

what's your budget like? And how old is your son? Nikon or Canon, you can't go wrong IMO. From the Nikon L18 (about $100) to the Canon 1100 ($250) to the Nikon D90 ($1100), everyone of these camera's are great for their prices and I would recomend anything by either mfr.

Thanks so much crew. We settled on the Nikon P80. I was braggin' about you guys. When we were pooling our ignorance, I told my wife I'd just post it on this site. Everyone here seems to have an opinion. 🙂 Anyway, it's good to know that there are a bunch of people (who hardly know each other) who care.

Thanks so much.

Nice camera (P80) it's going for $254.95 at B&H right now!

I have bought many items from them and so have my work buddies. We've always had great service and no problems with the equipment. Plus, it's tax free and free shipping(if you don't live in NY). You can't beat that.

Looking at a photograph in my most recent Sports Illustrated of a large group of photographers taking pictures.

EVERY camera in the shot was either a Canon or a Nikon. These are all professional sports photographers... that should tell you something.