I want a digital camera. what kind should i buy?

i'm looking to take pictures of nature and people. i want at leat 5 megapixels. and i'm looking to spend about $200-300 for a good one

I have one and from experience a Sony camera is one of the best cameras. I have a 6.0 megapixel camera and mine was $250.00. So I imagine that 5.0 would be cheaper.

Hey okGO!,

That is a good and realistic price range. I have a Sony Cyber-shot with 7.2 Megapixels for that price range. I love it.

Id say go for sony...
I just got myself a T50 and i love it.

The best way to choose a camera is to actually go to a store and try out the different cameras they have available. Find some camera models that fit into your price range, and have the features that you want. Then try out each one. Make your choice based on how the camera fits your hands, the features the camera has, and the ease of use. The best cameras will have easy to navigate menus, "one-touch" feature selection via buttons on the back of the camera or a mode dial, and a large optical zoom. I would ignore digital zoom as using it will actually make your image quality worse. Also, save about $50+ for a larger memory card and other accessories. Consider buying rechargible batteries as they will save you a lot of money in the long run, but make sure that the batteries you get are compatible with your camera. There are 2 main types of rechargable batteries, NiMH and NiCad. Some cameras work well with one type, but not with the other. You can ask others what they like, but you are the one that has to live with your selection, so go pick out the one that you like based on these ideas.

since you are talking about nature and people, first decide on the zoom you would like to have. A 3X optical zoom is sufficient most of the time, but sometimes a 10X optical zoom is better in certain close up situations. (don't ever buy a camera with digital zoom). when you go for higher zooms also buy one which has image stabilizer feature.
My experience has been good with canon powershot s1 or s2 IS which has 10X zoom with image stabilizer. However the camera is a bit bulky one.