Help me camera shopping

My first new digital, a Canon S-100 Powershot, used a tiny rechargable battery exclusive to that model. It was good for about 5 minutes. Cost $75xx each. Bought 2 on ebay for $30xx each but they faded out in 6 months. Everytime I went for the camera it was dead!
It seemed to drain even if it was off.
**My number one requirement is AA batteries!
Currently I have a cheap Samsung S730 , bought 4 Nickel/metal hydride rechargable AA's with it over 3 years ago and they run the camera for ...I'm guessing here, about 30 minutes of use per pair. The camera takes excellent shots and has a big screen on the back to see what you're doing.
I always look for dials that turn when shopping for electronic stuff. I can't stand pushing them little buttons and listening to beeps. If I can't figure out how it works in the store, my next step(after AA's & dials) is picking a camera with the smallest and simplest direction manual.
I use this camera hard...it's an essential tool at my job and it's surpassed my expectations.
I might move up to a Nikon Coolpix soon just to get better distance shots, but the Samsung has served very well and owes me nothing.
 
Bigger the megapixles the bigger the blow up,
single flash (some cameras flash twice and confuses the person you are taking a Picture of).
Ease of handling,
Look through view finder (can't see the screen in the daylight).
Standard memory (sony has their own style)
Larger the better optical zoom
 
If you are not in camera sales, you should be! I'm buying one as soon as I sell some stuff on eBay. THANK YOU! Bob
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Roadster62 said:
If you are not in camera sales, you should be! I'm buying one as soon as I sell some stuff on eBay. THANK YOU! Bob
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I have shot ~6400 pictures over 3 years with this camera. I LOVE it. That dog nose would have showed every ripple, but she kept moving.

The danged thing even got drenched at Niagara Falls, to the point it had water in the LCD and it is still going 2 years later. It is VERY easy to use, just a little larger. The bigger lens makes it excellent for night and low light shots, everything is just crisper. It was a great compromise over an SLR.

Here is a night shot from it using a timer on my honeymoon.

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Here are a few more I have taken with it.

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We use a couple of Nikon cameras at the Model ATimes. The CoolPix S50C is compact, high resolution easy to use and is in your price range. It is used to shoot many types of pictures from close ups to scenic. The avator photo I use was taken with that camera.
 
Tom, I was in the same spot you're in about a yr. ago. I bought a Kodak "Easy share M340" at Staples Store, $113.99. Does everything the more expensive digital cameras do but so much easier to work and download pics. Beware of cameras that use an expensive battery. The Kodak has a different power system that doesn't require constant battery replacement. Good luck!-- Pete.
 
I have and have had many cameras. If I were just getting my toe in, I would buy the cheapest and most rugged (consider one waterproof to 30 feet or so), one with the highest MP rating, one with SD type cards, RAW image capture if possible, .... but the most important consideration would be ruggedness.

You don't want to have to treat the thing like a piece of jewelry and you will find that you will take it and use it far more often and in more situations than one you have to baby. Then go get a fine art camera if you really get into it. Sort of like starting with a Model A and then acquiring a '32 Lincoln.

I mostly use Olympus because they have a sonic cleaner to keep dust off of the CCD (lots of dust out here) and prefer Panasonics for their point and shoot types.
 
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