Camera advise please
A while ago last year I bought a used Canon digital camera (http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-SX1IS-Stabilized-2-8-inch/dp/B001SER44W/ from my sister, and unfortunately did not read reviews about it before I bought it. I found out very shortly that it had extremely poor image quality, especially indoors. I really enjoy photography and I can't take good pictures if I don't have a good camera (:P), so I'm looking for an upgrade.
I'm hoping for one less than $300, it doesn't matter what kind, but I know most about Canon's and Nikon's. A fairly good zoom, at least 12MP, and good in low-light situations. ANY ideas, even if it doesn't "fully qualify" would be greatly appreciated! I can use them all: P thanks!
Added (1). Btw, I wouldn't just need it in low-light situations. I'd use it for scenery, portraits, you know… Pretty much everything. But good ISO ranges are a necessity.
Depends on what you're looking for. If you want to really get into photography, get an entry-level DSLR. A used one with lens can probably be had for $300. But DSLRs are a pain to carry around.
Do you want to learn the technical stuff or just take good pictures? Lots of Point and Shoot cameras have manual modes.
Don't get too wrapped up in pixel count-the more pixels there are the smaller each one is if the sensor is the same overall size. You want large pixels for good low-light performance. The lens should be fast also (it should have a low numbered f/stop) 6MP is good enough for most prints up to 8x10 or so.
Don't believe the ISO numbers--look at a site like DP Review that shows pictures taken by the camera at that ISO. Some manufacturers are more "generous" than others when saying a picture has acceptable quality at a given ISO.
When buying a camera on-line, check resellerRatings.com to see if the store is reputable. B&H Photo has prices that are about as low as I've seen and is very reputable.
The best thing to do is go to a camera store (not an electronics store) and hold, look at, and try the different brands and models within your budget. You don't have to buy at that store, but you can get a better feel for the camera when you can walk around with it and actually shoot instead of being tethered to the display stand, PLUS the people working there will be able to answer your questions and help you learn the camera. Most camera store also offer beginner and intermediate camera lessons ( sometimes free if you buy the camera there)
Go to http://www.yellowpages.com and type in camera and your city, state to find the camera stores near you.
I think you should go with Canon PowerShot SD4000IS 10 MP CMOS Digital Camera
10.0-megapixel CMOS sensor combined with DIGIC 4 Image Processor create the Canon HS System
f/2.0 lens, great for shooting in low light conditions or using a shallow depth-of-field; 3.8x optical zoom
720p HD movie shooting capability; HDMI output connector; Super Slow Motion Movie function
Low Light mode for dimly-lit situations; shoot like a pro with Aperture- and Shutter-priority modes
Capture images and video to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)