In the market for a camera.

[HuntingFanatic]

As the title says I want to buy a new camera. I dont have a large budget. Im seeing cameras around 250 to 350 that look appealing to me. Are there any qualities I should be looking for? I am a newbie. Please help.

[jackelope]

in the 350 range there are 3 cameras you should look at.
1-canon s5 I.S.
2-panasonic lumix fz-18
3-fuji fine pix s8000 or something like that...
they're all 350-400 and they're all great. you just have to pick one that you  like best. the fuji and the panasonic both have 18x optical zooms and the canon is 12x. they are all very  user friendly.

[jackelope]

i would add that you should save your pennies to get to the 350 range if thats an  issue. don't spend 250 to get a camera you won't be happy with.

[HuntingFanatic]

There is an olympus SP 550 UZ for 339. any thoughts?

[jackelope]

here's my .02
for $40.00 more, you can have rechargeable batteries, leica glass and more megapixels in a FZ18. thats what i ended up going with....it's also what boneaddict is taking all these deer pic's with. i don't want to carry around a shopping bag full of AA batteries with me.
i was inches away from buying the canon, but everyone told me the fz18 was a better camera. i like it so far, but have  only had it for a week.
i got it at costco for 379. also comes with photo editing software for whatever thats worth.

[billythekidrock]

What is the megapixel and optical zoom on the FZ18?

[jackelope]

18x optical zoom, 8.1mp
there's another 4x digital zoom, but the pic's get very grainey at that length.
is that a word?

[boneaddict]

My Mom has the Canon.  Very nice.  A feature it has the Panasonic doesn't, at least that I haven't discovered is once you lock focus on somthing it will track that item.  Panasonic has 18x zoom and that is a HUGE difference compared to the 12x.  Thats what my old Lumix has.  The panasonic is smaller so carries better, and it has Lieca glass, which you just can't beat.  You can actually choose a smagapixel size and have an optimized optical zoom.  I haven't done this yet as the 18 is PLENTY. You know what my vote is.  I believe the Olympus has 15 power and is liked by folks. 

[jackelope]

the olympus is 18x too, bone.
all 3 cameras i mentioned are all about the same size, at least not different enough to make a difference. with the size of my paws, the one gripe i have about those cameras is that none of them fit very well in my hands, they are all too small.
i believe the feature you're talking about is there on the lumix, but i haven't messed with it enough. the facial recognition deal is cool, thats for sure. too bad they didn't have mule deer recognition, bull elk recognition, etc.

[LEN]

Was just looking at the 12x -18x

canon S5 I.S.                 36-432mm
panasonic lumix fz-18       28-504mm

This doesn't seem as much a difference as one might expect when converted to 35SLR
and the S5 has a hot shoe for a strobe.

Both are great little cams.

LEN

[boneaddict]

I agree about the size.  Its almost hard to take the seriously as a camera when they are alll bite sized.  Nothing compared to "literally" big Canon I have.  I finally cracked the book yesterday on the lumix.  I agree the face recognition is very cool.  Again, I am looking forward to some macro work.  I tend to do more of that with fish and flies.

[HuntingFanatic]

Thanks for the input guys! I am going to buy the panasonic lumix z18. Now comes the tough part. Silver or black.
Thanks again!

[Skyvalhunter]

Black less reflective

[billythekidrock]

Black

[boneaddict]

Black