I have $200 to buy a new digital camera but I need help picking one out.

I have been looking in the stores and on the internet but still can't make up my mind.

Any advice would be helpful.:shrug:

There's no substitute for megapixel memory — but you also don't need a boatload of it unless you want to print a lot of 11x14 photos.

I don't think there're any cameras out there anymore under three megapixels, which is plenty for snapshots. I'd recommend at least four, though, just to have some leeway.

Get a camera with a zoom lens or you'll wish you had.

Avoid the smallest cameras. They might seem convenient, but the truth is, the smaller the camera the harder it is to hold steady. They're also easier to lose.

Make sure it comes with a USB cable (assuming your computer isn't a dinosaur and has USB ports) or you'll have to go out and buy one for that camera or else get a card reader to view and process your photos.

That's all I can think of right now. This may be of more help: http://www.digital-camera-buying-guide.com/

Forgot something: Stick to brands like Canon, Nikon, Olympus et al — those that have been making cameras for years. HP, for example, makes computers and peripherals, not cameras. With photography, optics are everything, so stay with the people who know optics. (Canon and Olympus both have some very good cameras in your price range.)

I have two new computers so I have USB ports.

I really need a decent camera, the one I have came with the computer, it is OK but I want better.

There are so many cameras within my price range it has been hard to pick one.

Thanks for the website, I will check it out.

for a point-and-shoot.

being idiot proof with lots of options that aren't too complicated to learn in literally a moment or two. It's solid, well made, easy to use, good for close ups and distance, just a good clean package.

The ONLY caution I make is DO NOT DOWNLOAD THE SOFTWARE. It isn't great and you can never get it off your computer.

Use Google's Picasa instead. Free and FANTASTIC.

I love Picasa.

They partnered with a german company (SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH) to design the optics and they are superb though serious photographers will forever turn up their noses at zoom lenses.

at various online sites. Watch out for the Canon line-up. Some of them seem to have problems with the retractable lens jamming.

It's been an outstanding camera so far. You can get a 6.0 now for the same price I paid for a 4.0 two years ago.
I don't like the PicturePackage software that comes with it though. Not very eaasy to navigate.

And I love it. Haven't had any problems with it so far.

(Although, as someone below mentioned, I'm not especially fond of the software that came with it. But I don't use that anyway, so...)

I usually don't give up my sources, as I sell on Ebay, but here are some at wholesale and below wholesale that you may be interested in....
http://www.hotbuy4u.com/catalog.cfm?do=list&catID=31&subcatID=3

it has a thru the lens viewfinder- so that you can see the image you're getting, even if it's sunny and you can't see the lcd display.

ours in an older nikon 950, with the twist body- which is also an excellent feature...but it's only a 3.1 megapixel.

ultimately, i'd probably choose to buy a camera on ebay- i just picked up a new 5.0megapixel nikon for under $100.

What do you want this camera for, exactly?

Simple point and shoot, or more like high end?

Simple point and shoot will be fine, I would like something more but I limited by a budget right now.

What I have now came with my Dell computer, Fuji FinePixA210. I have taken some nice pictures with it but it is only 3.2 mega pixels, I would like a better camera. This little camera does have a view finder which is nice, but this camera does not take
action photos.

You can try stopping into the Photography forum and see what gets said.

Or you can wait, and try to save up a few more hundred. Digital SLRs are starting to come into reach and if you can scrap another couple hundred, you'll probably be able to pick up something quite nice in a few more months.