Newbie needs a bit of help

I've just been researching digital cameras for the last two days. I have a
question though. I will be using the camera primarily to take pictures of my
friends and me. I want a digital camera that can produce fine details. I
hate when a face is obscured on a picture. I've been primarily focusing on
the Canon brand. Any constructive input would be welcomed. TIA.

Michael

On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 04:29:25 GMT, anon RemoveThis @where.com(Lordmajax) wrote:

 >I've just been researching digital cameras for the last two days. I have a
 >question though. I will be using the camera primarily to take pictures of my
 >friends and me. I want a digital camera that can produce fine details. I
 >hate when a face is obscured on a picture. I've been primarily focusing on
 >the Canon brand. Any constructive input would be welcomed. TIA.
 >
 >Michael

Im no expert but most of the halfway decent cameras nowadays seem OK
to me for point and shoot pics. The complaints come if you are picky
about startup times , how quick it focuses between shots , indoor
shots and flash , whether it can take add on flash/lenses etc.

Even in the megapixel dept --- in the old days it was heaven if you
could get 2 megs at a decent price and 3 below $400. Now - I just got
a 4 meg for a neighbor for $99 and it was a name brand Olympus.

The main thing is -- if you want a small soapbar type camera you
obviously arent going to get add on lenses or flash - not that all
bigger cameras get them though but you definitely arent going to get
them with a soapbar camera. Many arent the greatest at low light
indoor shots and the flash maybe weak.

If the lights good etc then most name brand cameras will take decent
simple shots. With action shots , low light shots etc youll have
problems without better cameras probably but for straightforward shots
, most of the well known 200-300 cameras will probably be OK. The
Canon is good because it has an OK lens , is pretty small/thin and
still has many manual controls. Ive seen some good deals on them too.

Anyway check Steves digicam site for reviews and sample pics and
Imaging resource , megapixel.net. They all have reviews AND sample
pics so you can make your mind up.

Some cameras are much better than others though. I used to have one of
the a Toshiba 3 meg camera that broke the $400 price barrier for being
3 megs and having manual controls. It also sported a canon zoom lens.

While it was fine for the time given the price ratio, my next purchase
the Olympus 4040 blows it away. The clarity of the pics overall is
much better, the zoom quality is way way better and the low light pics
- something it was well reviewed at , was WAAYYYYYYYYY better.
Of course its a much bulkier camera.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->