Total Noob Camera

[Airn]

What would be a decent camera for a total beginner? I use my phone to take pictures all the time but I'm so jealous of all the Chaz photographers. I doubt I can get my pictures to look as amazing as most of you do, but I'm sure I could make them look less crappy.

I'm not looking for an 'OMG SUPER DUPER CAMERA 500'. Just a nice, easy camera that will take decent photos and not give me a headache. A starter camera. What should I look for?

(I'm also very rough on my electronics. I drop things often.)

 

[yv0nne]

Canon Rebel XS if you don't mind dropping some cash on more lenses when you get sick of the kit lens!

 

[Hillside]

What is your budget?

I have a Fuji Finepix that takes pretty decent pictures and it kind of acts like a wanna be DSLR. It's considered an "ultra zoom" type. They are considered a bridge camera between a point and shoot and a DSLR. It looks like a small DSLR. I was quite pleased with the pictures it would take. I got a DLSR for my birthday one year and while I don't use the ultrazoom as much anymore, it is my traveling/more rough and tumble camera. If I hadn't had prior experience with a manual camera and wasn't a bit of a photography nerd, I would have not needed to upgrade to a DSLR.

 

[frostfell]

canon powershot, whatever the latest number is. last time i bought one it was $110 and was the A590. decent little point and shoot, cheap, good quality. no frills or lenses tho

 

[ruffiangirl]

I love my little Pentax that's water proof, drop proof, dust proof and freeze proof lol, it's me proof.

 

[Airn]

I'd like to say under $200.

I don't plan on getting really 'into' it and even if I did, my dad has a HUGE camera with a ton of lenses. I doubt he would mind if I took it off his hands. He has a huge backpack for the thing. He's maybe used it 10 times since he's bought it. (I'll have to figure out what kind of camera it is, now.)

I like the waterproof aspect of your Pentax, ruffiangirl. That's how I destroyed my last one. (We went canoeing and I learned that the bag I had wasn't waterproof...)

 

[Aleron]

I don't think you really need a DSLR for your needs.

I like the Panasonic ZS series superzooms. I prefer the older versions to the newer. I know there are a lot of used zs7s on Amazon, in good condition for under $200

 

[crazedACD]

canon powershot, whatever the latest number is. last time i bought one it was $110 and was the A590. decent little point and shoot, cheap, good quality. no frills or lenses tho

I had the A590 as well, seriously was not bad for a Point and Shoot. And the macro settings were awesome.

 

[frostfell]

I had the A590 as well, seriously was not bad for a Point and Shoot. And the macro settings were awesome.

fo sho. it was my 5th canon, when my old one starts making bad noises from all the abuse i put them through, i just go to walmart and pick the $100-$120 canon model theyve got, and iv never been disappointed yet!

 

[Saeleofu]

I have a Fuji Finepix that takes pretty decent pictures and it kind of acts like a wanna be DSLR. It's considered an "ultra zoom" type. They are considered a bridge camera between a point and shoot and a DSLR. It looks like a small DSLR. I was quite pleased with the pictures it would take.

This. I forget which one mine is exactly, but this is it. It was around $130 at Walmart when I got it about a year ago. I love it. I'm slowly learning more and more of the manual functions, but it's easy to let it do it's own thing and come up with a great picture, too. It also has a macro and "super macro" setting that I LOVE.

 

[Grab]

I have an Olympus Camedia Ultra zoom that took perfectly fine photos. It also had a lot of manual options, which I enjoyed.

I still have it, although I use my DSLR for pretty much everything. Not to mention a certain Poodle at my charger