Help me pick out a digital camera.

[Brew]

I'm looking into getting a camera for my girlfriend for christmas. She's an art major, and it needs to have good optical zoom and at least 4 megapixels and have manual shutter and aperture settings. I'm looking to spend up to about $350 or so.
I searched, but I couldn't find any solid info.

Here's what I've narrowed it down to:

-Canon A85/95 http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canona95/

-Canon S50 http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons50/

-Sony Cybershot DSC-V1 http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscv1/

-HP Photosmart 945 http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/HP/hp_945.asp

-Olympus C-750 http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/spec...oly_c750uz.asp


So obviously I haven't narrowed it down too much. I know there are some gurus on the board, so lets hear your opinions. If you have other suggestions I'd love to hear them.

TIA

[Jon325i]

I have a Canon S30 (couple years old now). The S50 looks exactly like my S30....probably just a few evolutionary changes, otherwise the same thing.

Nice camera....a lot of features (many which I still have yet to learn). My only gripe is that it takes a special Canon specific NiCad battery, and replacements are $50+ each. If I could do it again, I would buy a digi cam which operated on AA or AAA batteries instead. That way replacements aren't nearly as costly.

Jon

[E30ownerwithanopinion]

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Canon/canon_s500.asp

you dont want which is so big that you end up leaving it at home or one which required a fag bag when you do take it out.

[Digitalwave]

The bigger the body is, the more stable (therefore more in focus) your pictures will be. I hate the ackward little rectangular bodies. Notice how digital cameras get more and more expensive, they look more and more like SLR's?

My room mate got a Fuji Finepix S5100 and I've used it... its an amazing camera for the money. It has 10x optical zoom. Very ergonomic body, easy to use. One of the nicer LCD's I've seen too. It's very expandable lens and filter wise.



Prices range from about $300 to $350 online.

[Brew]

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Canon/canon_s500.asp


you dont want which is so big that you end up leaving it at home or one which required a fag bag when you do take it out.

It for my girlfriend so I could really care less. :P


Thanks for the responses guys. I'll definitely check out that Fuji TJ.

[Schniddy]

u better not get one, she'll be gettin on showing off to radom men, ask me how i know ;)

[Brew]

u better not get one, she'll be gettin on showing off to radom men, ask me how i know ;)

Heh, I'm not too worried about that.

[nitro325is]

I have a Canon S30 (couple years old now). The S50 looks exactly like my S30....probably just a few evolutionary changes, otherwise the same thing.

Nice camera....a lot of features (many which I still have yet to learn). My only gripe is that it takes a special Canon specific NiCad battery, and replacements are $50+ each. If I could do it again, I would buy a digi cam which operated on AA or AAA batteries instead. That way replacements aren't nearly as costly.

Jon

I have had an Canon S40 for about 2 years now and it has almost all the features of the S50.It has been a very durable and trouble free camera.The batteries are canon specific but more powerful generic replacements are 2 for $15 on ebay so thats not a big deal.As Jon stated it is just loaded with features that only an advanced amatuer /semi pro could use.