Digital Camera advice

Im a total camera novice, but I want to take some shots of my new RTL. So any advice on a digital camera under 300 bucks would be much appreciated.

Im a total camera novice, but I want to take some shots of my new RTL. So any advice on a digital camera under 300 bucks would be much appreciated.Since you are a novice, I recommend looking at more optical zoom than pixels. Most cameras today come with plenty of pixels for everyday use and will even print 8x10 images well. Which I think is plenty. Standard is 3x optical zoom, I say avoid it as it is a fine zoom level as long as you want to shoot everything from 30 feet or less. People who don't have higher optical zoom on their camera wish they did when they see what 10x optical zoom can do. There are also higher optical zoom available in the price range you are looking for.

I recommend going to your local electronics/camera store and playing with each camera that has the higher optical zoom. Don't get fooled when they say "total zoom", that is crap and ignore it. I won't go into details at this point why it is, but essentially, they combine digital zoom and optical zoom... unwise to shop comparing this. So jot down a few manufacturers and models that you like and then head home to buy on the web. You can save > 30% and no tax with purchasing online. The GPS I bought was $499+tax in Best Buy = $550 here in Louisiana. I bought online and paid $370 FedEX shipped... saved 33%

I like price comparing at http://www.pricewatch.com/ and buy all of my electronics from this site.
do a search for 10x and 12x digital cameras, there are plenty under $300

i recommend u getting u a panasonic dmc-fz8 the newest one and last years is just about as good , i believe it is a dmc-fz7 , they take awesome pics and r user friendly and shoot better than a real compact camera , it is basically as close to a dslr u can get for a point and shoot imho, it has a leica lens built in which is pretty impressive, i could go on and on but i did own two compacts and still do but the panasonic is a step up with out so much heft and u can add some small options down the road if u like

u can go to the dpreview and read all about all kinds , i actually am a cannon man but this panasonic basically has more bang for your buck

at the time i bought mine off ebay from emilydandy or something like that , she has the silver one verses the black cased one , which was jut a personal preference for me , and she had great prices and is well established on ebay from what i read

hope this helps

madi05

The leader, in digital camera as of now, i think is either Canon & Nikon. But there are other good digital cameras out there. They are called Point and shoot cameras. Yes, follow what others have said, most digital cameras now, will probably have 5MP and higher, look into more of optical zoom not digital, also look into the size of the lens. Most digtal camera will boast a 10mp with 3x optical and have a lens a size smaller than a dime. Its great and all, but there's not enough light getting into the sensor and if you try to zoom out during the day or shoot at night more than 15ft, you will get either a blurry picture or the camera can't focus.

My suggestion: start looking into either Canon, Nikon and then sony in that order for point and shoot. At the most you're looking into Ease of use, battery life, the type of Memory storage you are looking (best is Compact flash) you can either choose SD cards is also good and fast, Proprietory Sony Memmory Stick is also fast and large. The size of the camera itself and how large the LCD in the back to view recently taken pictures or review all the pictures you have taken.

Great advice from people will also chime in to let you know what to look for.:D

I started with a point and shoot by sony DSC-V1, then moved to Olympus SLR, then bought a Canon Rebel Xti DSLR. I now have a DSLR and bought a DSC-W1 just in case i want to hike in the mountain don't want to carry my large camera Canon Xti DSLR.

Great suggestions above.

I'm actually looking at a new digicam myself. I thinking of buying the Canon Powershot A710is.

Pros are:
7 megapixel image
6x optical zoom (optical zoom is much better than digital zoom)
Image stabilization (great for shooting in low light w/o flash and when using the 6x zoom to control the jitters)
Uses AA batteries (can always buy at any store)
Easy for beginners with 14 diff scene modes
Advance manual shooting modes for more sophisticated photographs

Cons are:
Can be short battery life (only takes 2 batteries so use rechargeables)
Not pocket size like a deck of cards

Dell has the A710is on sale for $237. Lots of great choices out there.

You want a basic point and shoot camera, I love Canon cameras. I've had a sony, olympus and now my canon.

I suggest a Canon SD800IS, great camera... takes great pics and is easy to use. You won't be disappointed.

great, thanks for the advice. Should make my decision a little easier.

This is a great thread. I have a question and maybe you all can help. I need to get a new camera for work. It will be replacing a Sony DSC-F55505V. This camera has Carl Zeiss 10X digital zoom with a manual macro focus. When this camera was bought back in 2000 it was $900.00.
Well this camera has reached the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced. The replacement needs to have a manual focus with macro. It’s used for normal pictures and close-ups of pc boards and things like that.
I was looking on-line at the Canon powershot pro series S3IS. Can any of you knowledgeable camera buffs point me in the right direction. The boss will allow $400.00 for a camera. Thanks:)

I've owned the Canon Powershot cameras for a few years now. I started with the G2, and traded that in for a G6 a couple of years ago. They're a compromise camera, larger than a PAS but smaller than a DSLR. They have a big lens which you can add extenders to. The optical zoom is small but that hasn't been a big problem for my use. The autofocus macro is good but you can override it with manual focus. It uses a camcorder lithium ion rechargeable battery so there's plenty of juice at all times. The LCD swings and flips like a camcorder screen.

If sales pick up a little I'll upgrade to the G7 this year, as it's replacement should drive prices down.

I have had several with the last two being Canons. Powershots are a great compact, easy to use and download camera. My current is a 10mp A640. It has manual overrides on everything. Great macro shots, as I use it to take photos of documents too. I love the feel in your hand and their menu system translates to their other cameras too!
Avoid relying on digital zoom on "cheap" cameras.
My former cameras to avoid, IMHO, are the HP's and Kodak (software needed). Don't know much about Sony.
My wife has an Olympus. She says she likes it but "borrows" my Canon all the time. ;)

I was looking on-line at the Canon powershot pro series S3IS. Can any of you knowledgeable camera buffs point me in the right direction. The boss will allow $400.00 for a camera. Thanks:)
Oz, I own the Canon S2IS and love it. I also use it at work for the rare occasions where I need to photograph PC boards and other small assemblies. I find the S2 can focus as close as required. I have no regrets, it handles the personal photos as well as my job needs. The cost of the S3 is presently less than I paid for the S2. I think you'll be more than satisfied.

im telling u go to dpreview, and do the reviews of the above cameras mentioned and u will see what u r looking for is there and then price shop , i have bought many cameras, lately i have a couple i would sell u that take great point and shoot pics for u , but if u want something like zoom and macro then do a comparison , u can get what im talking about for right around 300 bucks u mentioned and it will do all u need it to do and then some , lol

madi05

Check out the Fuji 5200 at Sams Club or do a search online. You will be happy with this camera for all around use and some detailed uses. Getting the flash away from the lens of the camera will be a great help with red eye. My Fuji 5100 (the 5200 is a updated model from mine) is a great camera and love the pics it takes. It doesn't hurt to check it out. Compare it to the rest in your price range and you will find it to be the best hands down.

Oz, if you check out the most popular brands at dpreview.com you'll see that Canon leads the pack:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/stats.asp

Based on what you're looking for, I'd suggest you consider the Canon PowerShot SD850 IS. It's an 8-megapixel camera with 4X optical zoom, image stabilization and a 2.5" LCD screen. Sells everywhere for right around the $400 your boss is allowing.

I have a Fujifilm S3100 that's about 3 years old (could be 4). I looked around for a long time before I bought it, with the main features I wanted being a SLR camera (I was used to my Canon SLR) and good battery life.

I've been very happy with the camera, and I can take about 250-300 shots (with no flash) before the batteries need to be replaced. It's been with us on our vacations out west and to Ireland, and it has always worked flawlessy.

Last year in Ireland, we traveled with a guy who had the next generation Fuji, and he had the same good luck and great battery life with his camera.

With such good battery life, I just use regular AA batteries and not the rechargeables. (A battery charger is one thing less I must tote around on trips.)

Oz, I own the Canon S2IS and love it. I also use it at work for the rare occasions where I need to photograph PC boards and other small assemblies. I find the S2 can focus as close as required. I have no regrets, it handles the personal photos as well as my job needs. The cost of the S3 is presently less than I paid for the S2. I think you'll be more than satisfied.

Wow !! What an overwhelming response to my question. I really appreciate the replys. I guess truth be told I need to do a little window shopping. I really like the Canons though and more than likely will go that way. Thanks all for your input.:) ;) ;)

Oz, if you check out the most popular brands at dpreview.com you'll see that Canon leads the pack:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/stats.asp

Based on what you're looking for, I'd suggest you consider the Canon PowerShot SD850 IS. It's an 8-megapixel camera with 4X optical zoom, image stabilization and a 2.5" LCD screen. Sells everywhere for right around the $400 your boss is allowing.

Thanks buddy. I'm looking there now.:)

Thanks buddy. I'm looking there now.:)
This is what the ROC is all about! Friends helping friends. :cool:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/stats.asp

I 3rd the advice to go to dpreview.

Dpreview is a great resource.

As I always do I highly recommend the Canon line. Their algorithms and tech are 1 1/2 steps in front of everyone else because they started a concept of vertical integration years before Nikon and the rest did. Everyone else has been playing catch-up since digital got affordable.

I really like steves-digicams.com as well as dpreview.com.

Use both sites to get a feel for some models you should check out, then go to a "big box" or camera store to try them in person. Once you understand which features are important (to you), the "feel" of the camera can make or break your choice. Make them throw a memory card in for you so you can judge the time it takes between pics. I wish it was easier buying from a "local" store, but the savings by buying online can be very substantial. pricegrabber.com is a great comparison site.

For me, some of the most important features (in order) are:

1. Shutter speed. This pushed me to the Casio Exilim (model?) point-and-shoot; it had the least amount of "lag" time from when you push the button. It's great, but the 3 fps of my Canon Rebel XTi is sweet, but SLRs are much more expensive.

2. Optical zoom for a point-and-shoot. Consider models with image stabilization for 10X and higher - you'll probably never carry a tripod around with you.

3. Battery type. I'll never get another camera that uses regular batteries only (including rechargables). They're a pain and they never last as long as the rechargable propriatary battery packs.

4. Optical view-finder. Some point-and-shoots don't do well in low light or for following fast action subjects using the LCD display. Another reason I went with the Exilim.

theprecedingcommentsarejustthehumbleopinionsofOtte randinnowayshouldbetakenasgoodsoundadvice:D

I just bought a Canon SD1000. Even I can take a decent picture with it which is saying a lot. (Most of the pictures that I have posted online are 5th and 6th attempts from my old camera. I can now get what I want in one or 2 shots because the pictures are no longer blurry.) Needless to say, the SD1000 is a huge step up from my Canon Powershot A70. It's small, it boots up very quickly and has a rechargable battery. It's also on the recommended list on one of those photo websites someone posted.

Microcenter which is an online as well as a brick and mortar retailer has the camera for $225 right now. I went to Best Buy and they matched that price without a question.

Needed a "point and shoot" for my new video calibration biz as my Canon 20D is just too large to tote around on jobs all of the time what with all of the other "gear" that I need to carry. Did a lot of research online (including some fine and much appreciated advice here on the ROC forums) and just purchased the Canon PowerShot A570 IS (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=183&modelid=14905) (only $136 at Amazon - one of the best bargains out there at the moment). With a 4x optical zoom, 7.1 Megapixel resolution, 2.5" LCD screen and optical image stabilization it should be perfect for my needs. Really like the fact that it's comfortable to hold, uses AA batteries (bought the Sony 2500 mAh NiMH setup), has a viewfinder, features Canon's highly-regarded DIGIC III image processor technology and is similar in operation to my 20D.

PowerShot A570 IS

Great camera. :D Got mine at Amazon a few months ago.

I'm doing some comparison shopping right now because I have a friend willing to buy the camera I'm currently using. I love it, but if I can get a decent price out of it I'm going to upgrade. It's just turning a year old. I bought it about a week before we went to Sedona last year.

I'm sticking with the Super Zoom category. My current Panasonic FZ8 is a 12x optical zoom. I'm very happy with the photos I've gotten with it. There are a couple of features I love about it. One is Zoom Resume. If you're focused far away and zoomed in when it goes to sleep, when you wake it, it automatically goes back to zoom. It also has a great tele-macro focus that allows you to zoom in on something for a close up without trudging over to it.

I started my newer/better lust when I saw that Panasonic came out with an 18x zoom update of this model. I looked at it at the local Ritz store but their batteries were not charged. I think I'll go over one day with my own battery to give it a whirl.

But then two other contenders came into the mix. One is the Panasonic FZ50 and the Canon PowerShot S5 IS. Both of those at 12x zoom but have the movable LCD display and hot shoe that the Panasonic FZ8 and FZ18 lack.

I'm going rounds with reading reviews at steves-digicams.com, megapixel.net, and dpreview.com. They all are rated pretty closely with each other.

I'll pipe in on the proprietary battery comments. I used AA batteries in my Konica Minolta and carrying back up sets of 4/8/12 batteries, depending on my shooting plans was bulky and heavy. I had the recharger(s) to pack around too. I didn't think I'd want a proprietary battery, but like Otter68, I prefer them now. They are much smaller and lighter and they take a bunch of photos. The recharger is smaller than my AA recharger too. I bought two extra batteries and try to keep all three charged for the days I take many hundred photos. Rotating those three batteries has kept me shooting just fine.

Take a look at the Nikon Coolpix S7c & S51c you can down load the pics wirelessly. We've been pleased with the 3 in our family.

I've had a Canon G3 for years, and love it. But it's no longer anywhere near the latest/greatest, and while it still takes a great picture, it doesn't make we want to reach for it anymore. And then last year Michelle bought herself a nice Canon Powershot that's a shirt-pocket size. I don't know which model, but I do know it takes pictures that were comparable to that of the G3. But it sucks batteries like there's no tomorrow.

I just came back from Best Buy with a new Canon Powershot SX100 IS (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0708/07082004canonsx100is.asp). For $249, you get an 8.1 MP lens, 10x Optical Zoom, and a 2.5" screen. WOW. It's not QUITE as fast as the new G9, but it's very close, and half the price.

Now, I'm going to put the two G3s up on eBay as a package deal.

Check out:

http://electronics.hsn.com/ge-12mp-3x-zoom-smile-blink-and-face-detection-digital-camera_p-4131483_xp.aspx?webm_id=0&web_id=4131483&sf=ec&dept=ec0108&cat=ec0110&ocm=sekw&prev=hp!sf!cat&ccm=ec|ec0108|ec0110

GE 12mp digital with case and about $149 worth of various software.

TOTAL COST: $199.95

Can't beat that and you have 30 days to test drive it.

When checking for camera reviews, be sure to check out www.cnet.com Great place to get customer ratings on most any camera you're considering. You can select the price range you want, and the website gives you several choices within that range. And it's been mentioned several times to check Steve's Digicams. Best...and most thorough...camera reviews anywhere.

And if you're looking for a good place to buy, check out 17th Street Photo. Very helpful folks who'll take the time to talk with you in terms you can understand. And I've found their prices beat Amazon.com.

Just my 2 cents worth.
Tom

I have been reading this thread for several days now keeping my mouth shut but decided to chime in today. I really like the pictures I get from my Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi. At 10.1 megapixels and an added image stabalizing lens on it the photos are hard to beat. I still have my point and shoot Nikon POS but I never use it. I know that Nikon is typically a fantastic camera but this one really sucks in low light situations. Sorry I can't remember the model number. It shoots a 7.1 megapixel picture and is now about 3 years old. I would rather carry the extra weight of my Canon (which really isn't that heavy) Here is a pic I shot with the Canon yesterday while walking through the desert.

The Nikon I'm talking about in this post is a Nikon CoolPix 7600

When checking for camera reviews, be sure to check out www.cnet.com Great place to get customer ratings on most any camera you're considering. You can select the price range you want, and the website gives you several choices within that range. agreed. I nearly bought a poorly rated phone until I stumbled across the review on CNET.

Here is a pic I shot with the Canon yesterday while walking through the desert.

:eek: Hey, that bee is "mooning" you! :D

:eek: Hey, that bee is "mooning" you! :D

He was checking out his reflection in my big a$$ lens - admiring his stinger no doubt :). It must be a guy thing. Don't worry we let him bee :D. Actually if the truth bee know that poor guy was dead or at least not moving much. I finally touched him to make him move and he just sat there. It was breezy and a little cool (50 or so) so maybe he was just playing hard to get. I'm just glad he wasn't one of those Americanized bees.

My wife went to school for photography and now does it as a hobby and side-job. We both thoroughly enjoy our (her) Nikon D70 DSLR with small assortment of lenses. DSLR is truly the way to go for anyone getting into the hobby.

That said, we also have a Canon SD750B. (I know, canon and Nikon under one roof breaks all the rules!) It's a small 7 Megapixel Point-and shoot with a vibrant and beautiful 3 " screen. It goes in my pocket and takes incredible photos.

I highly recommend this camera, or any Canon or Nikon camera, really. My brother and a couple friends all have the SD750 and SD1000 canons and no one has a single complaint.

I am running into problems taking action pics inside of auditoriums (sp?). Outside pics are sharp and clear regardless of motion. However, when inside the Reunion Arean watching a monster truck show (My Canadian wife bout the tickets), My camera did not want to focus and I had to play with almost all of the settings to get a couple of clear action shots. All of my photos have been taken in Auto mode.

The camera is a Canon Rebel.

Any help would be much appreciated.

I am running into problems taking action pics inside of auditoriums (sp?). Outside pics are sharp and clear regardless of motion. However, when inside the Reunion Arean watching a monster truck show (My Canadian wife bout the tickets), My camera did not want to focus and I had to play with almost all of the settings to get a couple of clear action shots. All of my photos have been taken in Auto mode.

The camera is a Canon Rebel.

Any help would be much appreciated.

What aperture is the lens you are using set at? What ISO is your camera set at? You'll likely need to get into the fully manual mode and make some adjustments with ISO.

I am running into problems taking action pics inside of auditoriums (sp?). Outside pics are sharp and clear regardless of motion. However, when inside the Reunion Arean watching a monster truck show (My Canadian wife bout the tickets), My camera did not want to focus and I had to play with almost all of the settings to get a couple of clear action shots. All of my photos have been taken in Auto mode.

The camera is a Canon Rebel.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Mike, what kind of lens are you using? I would think at a Monster Truck show lighting would be pretty good. I would also expect your camera to set the focus on most shots to infinity. If not you could always point the camera to something distant, press the shot button down halfway. While still holding the button re-aim at the subject - then push the button all the way down to take the picture. You could also shut off auto focus and manually do it. It seems strange that you would need to do this though.

Sometimes if I'm taking a picture of a hawk or plane flying high above, my camera has trouble focusing because I don't have the subject on one of the 9focusing diamonds in the view finder. The lens starts moving in then out then in, etc. Very frustrating. I know there is a way to tell the camera only use a particular diamond to focus on instead of all 9. I havn't played with that option yet.

Sometimes the camera won't focus due to low light, for example: on a recent trip to China I was taking pictures of the terracotta warriors. The lighting was very low and the camera would not focus. I was able to set my camera to a higher ISO speed (1600). This more sensitive light setting not only made the lens focus but also allowed the lens to close faster making the picture less vulnerable to shake. I instructed a friend that was with me to do the same with her point and shoot. She was not able to go up to 1600 but the increased setting also helped her shots. I use image stabilizing lens and swear by them. I really don't know how they do it but they eliminate most of the shake even when using a powerful zoom. The downside is that the lenses are expensive. I think one was around $400 the other $550.

I'm sure someone will chime in here and tell me all the stuff I'm doing wrong - which is fine. I'm always willing to learn. As some professional (snob) friends have told me, they take photographs and I simply snap pictures. Good luck!

For anyone looking to get into the digital SLR (DSLR) side of taking pictures, there are some excellent choices out there. And many are not that much more expensive than the point-n-shoot models...and you can do far more with them. (Something you may not care about.) But if you do want to look at DSLRs, check out the Canon XTi and the Nikon D40.

Or you can move up a notch or two and go with the Canon 40D (wonderful) and the Nikon D80. I'm a BIG fan of Canon cameras, so my choice would be the 40D. But that one will run you around $1,100 or more. Just my 2 cents worth....
Tom

I am running into problems taking action pics inside of auditoriums (sp?). Outside pics are sharp and clear regardless of motion. However, when inside the Reunion Arean watching a monster truck show (My Canadian wife bout the tickets), My camera did not want to focus and I had to play with almost all of the settings to get a couple of clear action shots. All of my photos have been taken in Auto mode.

The camera is a Canon Rebel.

Any help would be much appreciated.

MikeT, the first recommendation I would make would be to use a higher ISO setting....as Bruce has already suggested. But remember, the higher ISO setting you use, the granier and less sharp your pics will be. So bump up the ISO a bit at a time until you find a setting that works. Try not to max out the ISO unless you really need to.

Is your Canon Rebel a digital or film camera? If it's digital, one of the greatest things about digital cameras is that you can take all the pics you want at no additional cost. (Provided you have a large memory card.) So do all the experimenting you want with ISO or any other settings. Take a hundred pics, or two hundred. Even if you end up keeping only one you haven't lost anything except the time to look through them. Memory cards are pretty cheap these days, so go for at least a one gig one. 2 gig is even better. One of the best tips I ever ran across on "how to take good pictures" said that the best way to take good pictures is to take a LOT of pictures. You're bound to find one or two in there that are "good."

One other comment, then I'll shut up. I wholeheartedly agree with Bruce about using an "image stabilized" (IS) lens. And lots of the newer point-n-shoot cameras (Canon especially) come with image stabilization built into the camera. IS can make all the difference in the world when shooting in low light because it eliminates so much camera shake.
Happy shooting!
Tom

And lots of the newer point-n-shoot cameras (Canon especially) come with image stabilization built into the camera. IS can make all the difference in the world when shooting in low light because it eliminates so much camera shake.
Happy shooting!


Plus the A570is fits in my pocket.:D

I'm drawn to the Canon Powershot S5 IS except for two things: the AA batteries and the SD card not having it's own access door. You have to go into the battery door to get the SD card and then you have to keep the batteries from falling out while you change the card.

I like many of the features and I'm taking into consideration all the praise I'm reading from people who swear by their Canon cameras. I know I love my Canon Pixma printer!

I'm drawn to the Canon Powershot S5 IS except for two things: the AA batteries and the SD card not having it's own access door. You have to go into the battery door to get the SD card and then you have to keep the batteries from falling out while you change the card.

I like many of the features and I'm taking into consideration all the praise I'm reading from people who swear by their Canon cameras. I know I love my Canon Pixma printer!

I have a good friend who has the Canon S5 IS and he loves it. It has Image Stabilization built into the cames (hence the "IS" name). You can't go wrong with this one. I had the original S1 IS, and it was a great little camera. The S5 model is far better. Lets you shoot on "auto" or "manual" with wonderful results. Outside a DSLR, this is one of the best point-n-shoot cameras on the market. Not just my opinion, check www.cnet.com
Tom

I know I love my Canon Pixma printer!

Couldn't agree more! Camera was a perk for buying the printer.:D

After extensive research and seeing each camera I was interested in comparing in person, I decided to stay with Panasonic and upgrade to the FZ18 with the 18x optical zoom.

Comparing the cameras in person was a major challenge. I had to go back to the Ritz store with my own batteries because they were the only store where I could find the Panasonic FZ18 but they had dead batteries. I took my FZ8 with me so I could do a side by side.

On the first trip to the Ritz the person helping me was a Canon fanatic. He convinced me I needed to seriously consider the S5 IS, but they don't carry that model at their store. I found it at Best Buy and went there a couple of times to check it out. The first time I came across the thing that really ruled it out for me: the four AA batteries in the same slot as the memory card. I will always go for proprietary lithium batteries over AA now that I've used them for reasons stated in a previous post. But in addition to that, there is nothing holding the batteries in place while you pop memory cards in and out. I hated that and knew it would annoy me endlessly. The second time I went back to BB to look at the camera just to make sure I'd given it a fair look, someone had dropped the camera and it didn't work at all.

I went to all the local stores I could think of to get my hands on the cameras to make sure I liked the placement of buttons, shape and feel. One of the vastly superior features of the Pany for me is the large font and easy navigation on the menu system. I don't have to scramble for reading glasses.

There are a couple of great features or tweaks from the last model that I like and wonder how I got along without them. The first is an aperture/focus lock. Yippee! I've been using that a lot. Another is making the macro focus a one button push instead of two or three. Start up and shut down are noticeably faster than the FZ8, even at full zoom with zoom resume on.

I loved my FZ8 camera and staying with the same manufacturer makes the transition especially easy.

I like the Soni DSC-H5.
To begin with you can set it to do all the work for you.
Or you can play around with different settings.
It comes with a 12 power zoonm and you can add a 2.5 for about $35.00 giving you a 29 power zoom.
The great thing is the LCD can be used for shooting or veiwing what you shot.
And the's a setting called ISO. Great for low light photos without the flash.
Once you get comfortable with the camera there are lots of extras if you want.
I have a 2.0 gig memory card so I can take up to 1000 photos without stopping.
Also it has the stedy cam setting so your photos come out very clear.
You can check it out at Amazon.com.
Not cheap but neather is your Ridgeline.