If you had $225 to Best Buy, which Digital Camera would you pick?

[gwilks98]

My g/f wants a camera, but she (nor I) know much about what's good/bad. I don't have much time to research it, because she wants to buy it tonight for our vacation tomorrow.

She has $225 in gift cards, so shopping elsewhere isn't an option. She may be willing to spend more, but not by a whole lot. ($300 cameras probably isn't in the cards.)

Does anyone have any suggestions?

$200-300
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?type=category&cmp=&id=pcmcat66000050014

Under $200
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?type=category&cmp=&id=pcmcat66000050013


please give me your first and second pick choices, since availability may be an issue as a last minute purchase.

Thanks guys!

[smeakim]

Well I have a Fuji F10 which I love but BB does not sell it. It looks like they have some newer models but I don't have any experience with the new ones. You might check www.dpreview.com. They have tons of reviews on digital cameras.

[zero2dash]

Anything by Canon is a safe bet, but they only list the Powershot SD-450 at $299...so I'd probably get the Nikon Coolpix L2 for $229. It only has 23 megs of internal memory - so spend another $25 on this (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=5886366&type=product&productCategoryId=cat04007&id=1060002782027) Sandisk 512 meg SD card.

Canon's are (arguably) the best, but Nikon's are probably a close 2nd or 3rd.

Avoid Sony's because of the proprietary/more expensive Memory Stick format. :bonk:

[avlena]

I love my Pentax Optio s5, and they have the upgraded version, the s6, for $269 (in cart sale price). I like that it's super compact (their claim to fame for awhile was that the camera could fit inside an Altoids tin) so that I can carry it 24/7 without too much trouble, and it has a fast shutterspeed, which is a particular annoyance for me. I tried the Canon's, which have always been my favorite brand, but their shutterspeed was considerably slower. So yeah, if you want a super-compact camera, the Pentax gets my vote.

[clutchy]

those new fuji cams are supposed to be awesome. although i'm not sure how well their interface or the speed of the cam is, but the fuji's have great great color rendition.

[gwilks98]

too late clutchy and avlena...we picked up a canon. Thanks for playing though :)

[clutchy]

too late clutchy and avlena...we picked up a canon. Thanks for playing though :)


ugh, i have one too... stupid canon...