Question about reasonably priced good quality digital cameras?

I've never had a reason to buy a camera until now...Im a new mommy. I want to purchase a reasonably priced good quality digital camera with easy to use software. I went to cnet.com and checked out the reviews and ratings for different brands but still not sure. Any recommendations?

1. Optical zoom at least 3 times - 2.Buy it from a shop that will let you handle the Camera first and also has a reputation for being helpful if there's a future problem - 3. A Digital Camera is about the only item that I would take out an extended guarantee on if it's an expensive model - 4. Check the price of memory cards for it, you don't want to be saving on the Camera and have to buy expensive memory cards. Keith.

I have a Kodak Easy Share and I love it! It's very simple and takes great pics! I would buy one with an actual zoom lense and not a digital zoom though, I don't like that part of it.

If you are looking for bang for your buck, look no farther than the casio brand for cameras, i have one and have been using it for over a year and have experianced NO problems.


Casio Exilim 7.2-Megapixel at best buy is selling for about 229 american. After looking at that look at this cannon one that is 5 megapixles and is selling for 299, thats a 70 dollar difference and with the casio you get a bigger screen, better megapixles and a better optical zoom. you cant lose with casio.

also the casio exilim 7.2 comes in black, red and traditional silver :D

and as for software, it is basic drag and drop! how can it get any easier? you plug it in, then open it up from my computer and it should show all of your pictures just waiting to be burned on a CD, photoshopped, printed, saved to your computer, etc.

and one more thing, the Exlim uses SD cards, which, if you dont already know, are the cheapest ones out there, ive seen 1gb going for around 20 buck! with that you can get ALOT of full quality shots. (im sorry i dont know the exact number, bit believe me, its ALOT)

You might want to check out Canon cameras, they do make quality; and different price ranges not to break the bank. Go for at least a 3X optical zoom.