In the market for a digital camera..

So I don't have one and I think it's about time for me to finally invest in one. I got a couple ideas of what I want but I'd like some user input from people who are more acknowledgable than I am on cameras.

I don't want to spend no more than $200 but I'm willing to go a bit further if I have to.

I'm looking at the Sony CyberShot W290 which from reviews seem positive although I'm not too thrilled about having to buy a propriotary memory card when I have a 2GB SD card just sitting at home. Although if this seems the best route then I'll bite the bullet.

I was looking at some Panasonics, which seem nice considering they got Leica lenses. The one in particular was the Panasonic Lumix DMC-F150S. It has a huge resolution and apparently decent zoom and it fits my price range. I was also looking at the Panasonic TZ4S which is only 8MP but it has a 10x optical zoom.

Edit - Just came across the Samsung LS620 which seems alright too.

So what do you guys think? What camera's do you have that you would recommend? I'm basically going to be using this for point and shoot style stuff, nothing too extravagant. So it doesn't need to have tons of options and I'd prefer it to be compact

Thanks.

The Samsung Lumix's have great Leica optics. I'd would generally recommend the zs3 but it's a bit out of your price range. :/ I'd still go with anything Lumix over the Canons etc.

Edit: Sony cameras, especially at that price point, are garbage - don't waste your money. Those memory sticks are crap too.

Panasonic makes the Lumix with the Leica lenses, but yeah I see your point.

How are Nikon? I saw the Coolpix 560 on sale somewhere and the reviews seem decent. My friends have newer ones and the image quality is good. My mom has an old 4mp one that does a good job too.

Lol, not sure why I said Sammy.

I don't know much about the Nikon point & shoots. This Lumix may be of interest though. [ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011Z44UA/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&s=photo"]Amazon.com: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S 9MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver): Camera & Photo[/ame]


Edit: Wow, that's kind of obnoxious.

Yeah I was actually looking at the TZ4, which is the same thing with 8MP and maybe a few missing features. I'll see if I can find the TZ5 cheaper elsewhere but I think that the Panasonics are the route I'm gonna go

I have the same model but a few generations older (DMC-TZ1K I believe) and the zoom is great and it takes great pictures (despite the 5MP CCD). I can upload a few photos if you want and I can find someone to host them at their original size.

The only real downside to the camera is the size, with a case there's no way you'll fit it in a pocket without wearing cargo pants or the like. Oddly enough I pretty rarely use the huge zoom anyway; I bought my girlfriend a smaller (pocket sized) Lumix with a 4x zoom (it ran about $200 if I remember right) and it's been a great camera and the zoom has usually been enough, and the improved CCD (it's a far newer camera) is nice too.

Something the TZ# are criticized for is real grainy looking pictures, especially in indoor shoots. I found the Sony w290 for 175. I'm tempted to jump on that deal.

EDIT - Fuck never mind somebody jumped on that opportunity. Back to ground zero

EDIT 2 - Bought the Sony w290 for 175 new and an extra 14 for a 4gb card. Not bad.

Thanks anyway