Decide how much you're willing or able to spend on your new camera, and limit your research to cameras within that budget.
Kodak EasyShare C180
This is a great little camera and it comes in different colors too. Our friends bought this one and love it - great to throw in your purse for convenience but takes really nice quality photos at an affordable price!
Nikon Coolpix L19
Another great camera for under $100, you can never go wrong with a Nikon brand camera. They're one of the best camera companies out there - for a reason! Slightly less megapixels but still a really nice buy.
Canon PowerShot A480
And I'd be remiss if I didn't include a Canon brand camera in this category. Canon is my personal choice for cameras which is why we have 3 of them in our home. We love them and this one is a nice choice in this price range.
My very first 35mm camera (back in the old days) was an Olympus and I still have it! It was a wonderful camera and never gave us problems. Olympus is a good company and this is a nice camera in the just over $100 range. Worth considering.
Canon PowerShot A1100IS
Another great Canon brand camera now with 12 megapixels for fabulous pictures. I've already told you about how great Canon cameras are - just buy one!
Point and Shoot and Digital SLR Cameras
Canon PowerShot SX20IS
Getting into the higher prices now, this would be the choice I'd make if I was looking for something under $500 with some great manual capabilities and beautiful picture taking. We just got this camera for my daughter and it's fabulous. Can't say enough about it. If you have the budget for a camera like this don't hesitate - you'll be very pleased with the results once you start playing with it.
Canon Digital Rebel XSi
THIS is the camera you want if you're really ready to take your picture taking to the next level. My older daughter and I both have one of these (mine's older but great!) and love, love LOVE it (them). Great for people shots, nature shots, sport shots and more, this is a dream camera at a very reasonable price.
Nikon D5000 12.3
And, because we don't want to leave the Nikon lovers behind - I have to put up my favorite choice in the Nikon camp. I've only taken a few photos with my friend's Nikon - very very nice. I love the softer click sound when you take the photos and the quality is superb. I'm still partial to Canon but if someone gave me this camera I'd rejoice - and use it!
Click here to shop for more cameras on Amazon.com
Why waste your time oohing and aaahing over the latest coolest gadget only to discover that it's beyond your means?
Now you can look at the cameras within your budget.
Here are some options in various price ranges for your consideration:
Under $100
Kodak EasyShare C180
This is a great little camera and it comes in different colors too. Our friends bought this one and love it - great to throw in your purse for convenience but takes really nice quality photos at an affordable price!
Nikon Coolpix L19
Another great camera for under $100, you can never go wrong with a Nikon brand camera. They're one of the best camera companies out there - for a reason! Slightly less megapixels but still a really nice buy.
Canon PowerShot A480
And I'd be remiss if I didn't include a Canon brand camera in this category. Canon is my personal choice for cameras which is why we have 3 of them in our home. We love them and this one is a nice choice in this price range.
$100-$300
Olympus Stylus 7010My very first 35mm camera (back in the old days) was an Olympus and I still have it! It was a wonderful camera and never gave us problems. Olympus is a good company and this is a nice camera in the just over $100 range. Worth considering.
Canon PowerShot A1100IS
Another great Canon brand camera now with 12 megapixels for fabulous pictures. I've already told you about how great Canon cameras are - just buy one!
Point and Shoot and Digital SLR Cameras
Canon PowerShot SX20IS
Getting into the higher prices now, this would be the choice I'd make if I was looking for something under $500 with some great manual capabilities and beautiful picture taking. We just got this camera for my daughter and it's fabulous. Can't say enough about it. If you have the budget for a camera like this don't hesitate - you'll be very pleased with the results once you start playing with it.
Canon Digital Rebel XSi
THIS is the camera you want if you're really ready to take your picture taking to the next level. My older daughter and I both have one of these (mine's older but great!) and love, love LOVE it (them). Great for people shots, nature shots, sport shots and more, this is a dream camera at a very reasonable price.
Nikon D5000 12.3
And, because we don't want to leave the Nikon lovers behind - I have to put up my favorite choice in the Nikon camp. I've only taken a few photos with my friend's Nikon - very very nice. I love the softer click sound when you take the photos and the quality is superb. I'm still partial to Canon but if someone gave me this camera I'd rejoice - and use it!
Click here to shop for more cameras on Amazon.com