Im going to be purchasing my first digital camera and was wondering if anyone could recomend a good make,or model I know nothing about them so any options I should look for or stay away from would greatly be appreciated

I would like to stay within $250-300.00 if possible

Bob

Look at the Sony line.

You want the highest Mega Pixel. 3 or more is fine.

And you want the highest optical zoom. Digital Zoom means almost nothing.

Make sure it has a mic so when you take a 30 second movie, it also has sound. Some don't have mics.

I have had 2 different Olympus cameras and they have been GREAT. I actually dropped one when it was about 3 months old and broke it, actually cracking the screen (obviously my fault). I sent it back for repairs and awaiting a bill. Three weeks later I received the camera fixed and NO bill. I was impressed that they fixed it at no charge.

Make sure you get as much memory as possible. The last one I bought I added a 256MB card and it is great. Mine will take up to a 5.2 megapixel image. Camera card and all I have about $600 in the package.

Cannon is running some specials now. The one I just for for work is nice and small and is taking VERY good pictrues. One thing you want to look at is how fast it takes the picture after you push the botton. My moms Olympus take quite a bit of time and it can cause you to miss things. The Cannon can take about 1 a second or so

Jon

Now that you mention it I never really thought about it. I was so impressed that they didn't charge me that it never crossed my mind until you mentioned it. It could have been a new camera

I got my first digital camera this year. Just a 2 MegaPixel job. For E-mail and posting on message boards even that size turns out to be overkill.

In the less expensive models Canon and Sony are hard to beat. I ended up with a Canon, but it easily could have been the Sony.

Kelly Cook

Casio exilim (sp?) I have two and they are 2 mp and take better pictures than my olympis 4mp. Check them out size is tiny

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=30005

New one 3.2 mp
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=48533

I just picked up a f828 Sony. It is a 8 megapixel with a 7x optical zoom. The thing has more buttons and switchs than I will ever figure out but it takes a nice picture.