What kind of digital camera should I buy?

What is the best kind of digital camera to buy?

• Where is the best place to buy a digital the digital camera?

• Answer:

  If you have to ask this question (not being snotty) buy something simple and not too expensive. If you only have the money to buy one and you're mostly interested in recording family or places you go, then buy something smallish that you can stick in your purse or a pocket (preferably in a case). I'd recommend one of the Canon SD-800 series, i.e. there are several SD 8?? which have image stablization (important), face recognition and good pixel count. Shoots fine pictures, using either the LCD screen or an optical finder. You probably want at least the 7.1 megapixel one. These cameras are about the size of a pack of cigarettes. There are other good equivalents by Fuji, Nikon, Panasonic, Olympus etc. You want one preferably that takes an SD card (higher end cameras will also use these or the CF card). Avoid the Xvid Cards. They're okay, but tend to be expensive since fewer cameras use them. These cameras have relatively limited zoom ranges, usually 3-4 x optical. Digital zoom is unimportant and is not a factor - no matter what the sales people tell you. You might be inclined to look at a larger camera with a bigger zoom range. Canons, Panasonics and others have big zoom ranges of 12-16x. But the cameras are larger and you want to be sure you take the camera with you and don't leave it behind because it's too big, etc. All of these cameras are capable of makng large enlargements, depending on the photographer not shaking, etc. Some people prefer a camera that takes AA batteries. Others don't. Higher end cameras pretty much have to use Lithium-Ion batteries and they're not cheap. Sources. Costco. Amazon, BHphoto or Adorama are all companies that do well in my book.