Preferred camera??

[booger]

Show me a camera that takes solid pics with good image stabilization and I'll run out today and buy it. As far as I know one does not exist in the $300 and under range with point and shoots. So a stable hand is indeed important until you prove otherwise.

[Clarity]

Show me a camera that takes solid pics with good image stabilization and I'll run out today and buy it. As far as I know one does not exist in the $300 and under range with point and shoots. So a stable hand is important until you prove otherwise.

Booger - This camera takes solid pics with good image stabilization
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Cyber-Sho...pr_product_top
16.1 Megapixel and only $199 used - $129 refurbished.
It has an Optical SteadyShot image stabilization which uses a built-in gyro sensor to detect camera shake and automatically shifts the lens to help prevent blur without sacrificing image quality. - I've had it for a few months and every shot comes out clear for me.

See Cnet review here:
http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-came...-34471843.html
Granted, this camera is not without it's issues, The battery power doesn't last as long as I'd like it to and the screen function layout is not the way I would necessarily set it up, but it's a great camera for the price it takes amazing low light pictures and HD video footage.

I'm sure there are better point & shoot cameras out there by Canon, Nikon, Panasonic & Lumix that cost more
But I'm really very happy with this one.

[RockRobster]

Show me a camera that takes solid pics with good image stabilization and I'll run out today and buy it. As far as I know one does not exist in the $300 and under range with point and shoots. So a stable hand is indeed important until you prove otherwise.

Both cameras I linked to in a prior post in this thread have OIS, both are less than $300(the Sony is less than $200 but you only get the minimally acceptable 5x optical zoom), both get great reviews, and both have excellent results in daylight with OIS engaged. OIS was expensive 4 or 5 years ago, but not now. You can even get OIS DSLR lenses for less than $300 now. I don't know what cameras you have demo'd in the last two years, but I am fairly certain they were not these two cameras. You may want to head out to your nearest BestBuy and try out this year's model cameras....esp. when a manufacturer has a rep onsite for DemoDay....sometimes the rep can throw in some cool schwag when you buy a camera...like floatie straps for a waterproof camera, padded pouches and even a free memory card!

OIS has its limitations, as I stated earlier. Even $1000 OIS DSLR lenses won't take acceptable photos at 1/60th and below and many OIS lenses and cameras are fooled when used with a tripod. So, your argument may be correct, in a very limited manner that is mostly irrelevant to the topic of reasonably priced P/S cameras for the novice/amateur shooter.

[RockRobster]

The purpose of this thread was for recommendations, and I am guilty of having strayed from this purpose. The two cameras I linked to are great and I recommend them.

If you want a camera that literally has EVERYTHING on it, go with the Olympus TG-810. Tamminator got me one as a gift and it rocks. It is slightly over $300, but is simply incredible for the money. I've never seen a manometer that will withstand a 6 foot drop on concrete, let alone have one built into my camera. Same with GPS. Never seen one that will withstand a 6 foot drop, let alone be waterproof to 1ATM(33 feet!!!!), and this one IS IN MY CAMERA. Holy schmoly. It has not one but TWO image stabilization systems, one opto/mechanical and the other digital. If there is a feature you desire and it isn't on this camera, I can't imagine what it is!!

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2011/3/2/olytg810