Whats a good Camera for about $300

[supermario]

Hey Guys/Gals,

My daughter wants a nice camera for Xmas. She wants something that can take clear pics, uses simm card and with good optical zoom. It can be basic, don't need anything too complicated. She just want to take nice pics up close and from a distance.

I want to spend about $300. If there is a model that cost $200 and it a great camera, then perfect. If there is an awesome camera at $400 then I'm willing to pay a lil more.
After looking at some. There are a few features I want. Be able to take pictures fast, clear images throughout the zoom, be able to review pics on lcd screen, simple on and off, decent flash and as much optical zoom I can get for the price.

I'm liking this these two that I read on reviews. Just because of the reviews.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/sony-a3000/sony-a3000A.HTM

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/panasonic-fz200/panasonic-fz200A.HTM

OR how about this deal

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016VCJCSG/ref=s9_top_hd_bw_b2hbtbn_g421_i4?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-2&pf_rd_r=FRCAQ8G6JF2AH53DZM8A&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=2501717242&pf_rd_i=2476680011

Thankyou, any help would be appreciated.

[777]

Get her a Blasto 9000. Those are really good.

[supermario]

That's pretty cool, but she wants a basic camera with zoom. Traditional looking

Get her a Blasto 9000. Those are really good.

[someoneeasy]

what are her goals with the camera? If you don't want to have to buy different lenses, that panasonic you linked will probably be the one for you.

The other two cameras that you linked have the option of different lenses and will allow her to expand from there.

It really depends on what she plans to do with the camera.

[FIREBALL_BRIAN]

if you want to take pictures fast. Get an extreme speed card. or whatever is the fastest speed. It makes a huge difference. Honestly just check costco

[someoneeasy]

Keep in mind, the canon and the sony only come with a 18-55mm lens with variable aperture, as you zoom in, the aperture will change as you go, but the panasonic will stay constant throughout the entire range.

For fast shooting, if you're talking continuous shooting, the panasonic has the highest burst rate of the 3 listed.

[Red-Osier]

Basic camera, Decent price, Get a coolpix S3700. Price about $150.00, I picked one up last month for a basic point and shoot, I was suprised at the quality of the pictures it takes.

[ocabj]

Hey Guys/Gals,

My daughter wants a nice camera for Xmas. She wants something that can take clear pics, uses simm card and with good optical zoom. It can be basic, don't need anything too complicated. She just want to take nice pics up close and from a distance.

I want to spend about $300. If there is a model that cost $200 and it a great camera, then perfect. If there is an awesome camera at $400 then I'm willing to pay a lil more.
After looking at some. There are a few features I want. Be able to take pictures fast, clear images throughout the zoom, be able to review pics on lcd screen, simple on and off, decent flash and as much optical zoom I can get for the price.

"as much optical zoom I can get"

'Zoom' is a misused term. What you're looking for is a long focal length. But you're requirement for taking photos up close and from a distance means you want something with a wide focal length range (something with a very small focal length on the bottom end, and a very long focal length on the top end).

That Panasonic you listed will get there because it has a 25mm to 600mm range, but that is pretty much sacrificing a lot of optical quality and adds distortion. The reason why you don't see 'superzoom' lenses for dSLR is because of physics (and money). In order to maximize quality, you need a lot of lens elements (money). But in order to minimize barrel distortion is to keep the focal range thinner (smaller gap between lowest and highest ends of the focal length range).

Anyway, this is more than you care to know, but I would just say get the Canon 'Rebel' dSLR with the 18-55 or maybe find one bundled with the one of Canon's low cost zoom lenses with the 18-135mm range if you can find it in your price range.

[VictorFranko]

Basic camera, Decent price, Get a coolpix S3700.

I have an older Nikon Coolpix, don't know the model number off the top of my head, but it looks like a normal camera, takes great photos and is very user friendly.

[supermario]

It seems Costco has a great deal.
My daughter doesnt plan on being a photographer but we hunt and go outdoors alot, so she would like something that she can zoom with.
On the other hand, i think any camera that takes pics better than her cell phone will be good to her.
Im going to look into that panasonic and costcos bundled cameras.

[Red-Osier]

Photo taken with Nikon S3700......
DSCN0148.jpg

[Red-Osier]

It seems Costco has a great deal.
My daughter doesnt plan on being a photographer but we hunt and go outdoors alot, so she would like something that she can zoom with.
On the other hand, i think any camera that takes pics better than her cell phone will be good to her.
Im going to look into that panasonic and costcos bundled cameras.

That was taken with low resolution, for storage I didn't have a card yet. I thought it came with one.

[Red-Osier]

After comparing the two, I might get the Panisonic myself..

[supermario]

Yeah same here. After looking it up some more, it seems panasonic has great reviews

[sd_shooter]

There's a "free" camera in every smart phone, is that not good enough?