OT: Digital Camera, Looking for the most bang for the buck Options

[ptravnic]

I'd like it to be able to capture short video as well - nothing crazy. I've been using a 2mega pixel HP PhotoSmart for a few years but it's clunky and doesn't do video...It's dated and is enough to get by but who wants to just get by?

What is the best size megapixel camera for the buck?

Ease of use?

Are video's easily uploadable/downloadable/edited?


I'm wondering if maybe I should get a camera for photo's and a digital recording device for video's... Thoughts, epinions?

-pt

[tat2dphreak]

I've been researching this same thing for about 2 months now... my budget was <350... final 3 candidates were :fuji F30, Sony W100, and the canon SD700IS(800IS is too $$$)...

the F30 won... but it's not known as the most user friendly... it does require a few tweaks to get proper exposure in some conditions...(mainly dialing back the exposure compensation in REALLY bright lights), either in post or while taking the picture... but the camera has the sharpest detail, best low-light performance, and can produce good 8x10+ prints at 1600 ISO speed, and good 4x6/5x7 prints at 3200ISO... no other camera gets speeds that fast and no other camera is as usable above 800 speed...

the sony and canon had more noise at 200 ISO than the fuji at 800!!!

and it still fits in a blue jeans pocket, eventhough it's not quite as small as the sony or the canon....


imaging-resource.com is a good site to compare... since it really does come down to personal preference...

edit:
here: http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM

you can compare pics side-by-side and see what you like...

also read the site's reviews and recomendations... they print out pictures and tell you what the max(good, usable) size you can get out of the pictures at a given iso speed... for me, I put the F30 up against every casio, canon, nikon and sony that would fit into a small jacket pocket... the f30 won IMO...