Which digital camera should I buy? Do I need a DSLR?

Question

I'd like to stay under $300. I mainly shoot pics of my kids, who are constantly on the move, so I need a camera with no lag time between pressing the button and the shutter actually opening, and with minimal lag time between shots. I will need to print these pics, some up to 8x10", and I'd like to be able to do some heavy cropping, so I'm guessing I need about 6 megapixels or more. An 8x or more optical zoom sounds nice. I'd also like to be able to take a closeup of a face or a flower. What I miss most about my old 35mmSLR camera is the ability to focus on a face, leaving the background blurry, so I want to either have manual controls, or a quick way to get that setting. (With my current digital camera, I have to go through 3 menus to switch to that mode, so I never bother!)
Thanks for any suggestions!

Answer 1

Don't debate over it, you really want the DSLR for all the manual controls and familiarity. You could look for some used cameras, some bargains can be had. The Olympus E-520 recently came out and I was able to get a great deal on a new E-510. I am certain there are people looking to sell off older models. This would certainly get you going and could keep you on budget. On the otgher side, you can get a new entry level DSLR for around $500. So saving a bit more could benefit you there. You could also look at new film SLR's, I have seen these for about $300 in several places. You only need 5MP to get quality 8x10's. With most point and shoots, you get a sports/action mode which usually has shutter speeds around 1/250 second and burst shooting for 3-5 sequential shots. Some higher end cameras offer some manual control, like aperture, to get the effect you described.

Answer 2

I just bought a Fuji S1000 FD today for $250. It has a 12X zoom, face detection focus, and even a flower mode. I haven't used it yet, but it seems like a good deal (the $250 is the regular price, not sale).



http://www.fujifilmusa.com/products/digital_cameras/s/finepix_s1000fd/index.html

Answer 3

In your price range, you are looking at a digital point and shoot. Take a look at the Canon A640, which has many manual features and the capabilities you are looking for.



Review at Cnet:

http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-cameras/canon-powershot-a640/4505-6501_7-32072675.html