I have a Casio Exilim, I like it because it's really small but it still takes quality photos. I like that it has automatic 'best shot' settings for all sorts of things, like flowers or pets, which make it easier to use. It also has a nice long battery life. I got it in 2008 and I've been very happy with it's performance.

Perfect timing, flaurabunda. The original Nikon Coolpix 990 "forgot" how to format cards and refused to relearn or recognize any card put in it, formatted or not, so a new Coolpix L120 came home to live here last week. It's lightweight and amazingly low light capable. The screen is brilliant and visible everywhere I've tried the camera. The anti shake feature is quite nice and the zoom is wonderful. Battery life on alkalines, which are included, is very good except when flash is used. I put the original equipment ones in to learn the camera while I recharged the others for normal use. I'm learning how not to hit any of the control buttons on the back of the camera when I pick it up or while using it and the zoom is not as precise as the 990's. It moves quickly and seems sloppier, moving further and faster than I wish it would, requiring more adjustments to the shot when using the feature. But, it is a 21X zoom, compared to 3X of the old one. Seven times more zoom capability I can live with! The new one has roughly four times the pixels than the old one, resulting in great photos. It has MANY more settings possible, which means it can take a bit longer to scroll through all the possibilities to get where you want, something the older one didn't due to fewer settings, but that's a price you pay for more technology and MORE features.

I didn't shop as this was a gift. Would I trade for a different one? Nope. I'm happy the choice was made for me, relieving me from having to shop and make the choice. This one does what I want it to and it appears it will be easy adjusting to its operation. It's light weight and I can SEE the screen. It delivers sharp, easy to take photos. What else should I want from it? Kim

AWESOME review! I haven't yet uploaded the Nikon's user manual, but I see that the Canon has a histogram on-screen while shooting, and a feature that lets you retain 1 color while changing the rest of the background to black & white, something I've been pining for. I am just salivating about shooting a purple rose on a black & white background. Very artsy-fartsy.

I'm looking for all those extra features & I do take my time while shooting. I usually have my current camera or phone in my pocket when I'm out gardening, so it's a labor of love and I spend a lot of time on it.

I have a Fuji Film Fine Pix S700 that I like very much. It takes very good quality pictures and has many features like the very expensive ones but at a much more cost effective price for me. I'm looking into getting a new one with a 30X optical zoom but I don't have the bucks at the moment. I don't want a DSLR any more because I don't want to have to carry around a bag of stuff like I used to. So a good versatile point and shoot is what I like.

Aha....I agree with the drawback on DSLR's. My pockets aren't big enough to tote everything around with me.

I know what you mean about the bucks. Converting this to our commonly understood currency here, it's about 10 new shrubs for the ones I'm looking at. Currently I have 8.1 megapixels and 5x optical zoom in the rickety model I carry.

The ones I'm looking at are both 14.1 and more than 10 times optical zoom. Digital zoom is irrelevant since I have software on the PC.

I also use a Casio Exilm which was bought in 2009 and I really like it...
Like peachymomo mentioned above...
I can't tell you much about the higher end cameras though...
Good luck with whatever camera you decide to buy...

Your post regarding cameras (especially for garden use) is perfectly timed, Flaurabunda. I'm hoping to get a new one this christmas and you can't ever have too much information.
Molly

I do use a DSLR [an Olympus E-Volt 500] and would never give that up.

The Nikon Coolpix I bought about 3 years ago for a "pocket-camera" finally pushed my annoyance level beyond endurance. The picture quality just wasn't there, and I was disappointed in it from the git-go. Last week, it was replaced with a teeny, tiny Olympus VR330. (Costco)

It does TERRIFIC quality, and is everything I wanted.

Its' only drawback is that like every Olympus Camera I've ever owned over 4 decades, its INSTRUCTIONS were apparently written my a mentally-ill monk of the medieval era. I am slowly figuring it out, and I'm going to love it. But I wouldn't recommend it to the casual user.

Here is a link that might be useful:

You just made me laugh heartily, Jeri.

As I saw in the news yesterday, Olympus has serious problems with disclosure and it affects more than just camera directions.

I don't know whether the L120 has the other bells and whistles you seek or not, flaurabunda. I'm the type that until I WANT the other features, I don't care about them. I read enough of the instructions to make it do what I want and then just use it like another tool. It does have MANY 'scenes' to automatically correct for the type of scene you want, and you can edit and correct images while still in the camera. I used the auto scene for 'flowers' to shoot this macro shot the other day. It's a difficult one for auto focus usually, as it's so far from the background. One shot, first time and it's actually quite good, showing exactly the details I wanted it to. All of the photos I put up to HMF beginning last week are from the L120. Kim

Here is a link that might be useful: R. Fedtschenkoana bud and stamen detail

I've found learning to fully use the features of the camera is as important if not more so than the camera you pick. Any basic photography class may improve your photos more than a new camera. Another very inexpensive way to improve photos is to use a tripod. You can get a decent one these days for less than $20, and the improvement will be obvious.

This becomes apparent if you see photos taken by professionals with very cheap cameras. They are just as good if not better than photos by amateurs with pro-level DSLRs, just because #1, they've learned to get the best out of their camera, and #2, they used a tripod.

The truth is, if I wanted to take that picture, Kim, I'd just use the DSLR, which is like an extension of my hands and eyes. But your L120 did a great job, and my "Little" camera really IS a pocket thing.

The issue of Pros using cheap cameras -- the classic example is some of the beautiful things Ansel Adams did with an inexpensive Polaroid. Genius is -- just genius. :-)

Jeri

I know precisely what you mean, Jeri. My old SLRs WERE extensions of my hands and honestly seemed to know what I wanted, and, just DID it. Digital is great because there is no processing costs; no film necessary and the results are immediate, but there is the after download massaging which I simply am not interested in messing with. The shot comes out as I want it, or it's dumped.

Tripods are wonderful and I used them extensively "back in the day". Now, the blamed thing is something else to schlep around with me and I find myself setting it down and not using it.

Yes, genius is genius...and a whale of a lot of patience! Kim

Yep---I've already found a tripod at Sears for $19, so that's a certainty. With Parkinsons running in my family, I'm not sure how many years I have left of being able to keep my hands steady.

My main concerns are getting reds to come out RED on photos, and I'm really excited that both of the cameras I'm looking at have the option to set color with a white card. That's something I've not been able to do, so I have very few photos of some of my favorite reds in the garden.

It will be nice to be able to zoom in and get a great picture without either lying on the ground or falling into a shrub. Currently I have to maneuver like a contortionist to get some of the better shots. I'm so excited....this is going to be fun!

For flower shots a macro setting is a must. That's how I shoot all my rose pictures. Macro on and zoom in to frame the bloom how I want it. For one thing it allows me to do most of my shots standing up because I don't bend like I used to. And for another it gives me that blurred out background (like the one in Kim's picture) that I like. I tried using a black backdrop one season and hated it. Not only was it cumbersome to use but I didn't like the artificial studio look it gave everything. But I also don't want a messy bunch of stuff visible and identifiable in the background like sticks and pots and things. So I really like the more natural blurred out ones.

As for reds...well...that's tough for all cameras I think. It has a great deal to do with the white balance settings, the amount of light you have and the exposure setting. Every camera is different and you have to play with yours until you find the settings that work for you. I still have problems capturing some reds but I'm getting better at it.
{{gwi:338543}}
Veterans' Honor
It also helps the reds to underexpose your photos a little so the reds don't flare out. Like I said you have to play with the settings on your camera.

And get a photo editing program. I have Photoshop Elements 6 which works great for me but there are lots of them out there. You can do so much in post editing to enhance your photos with only a little bit of time and effort. And besides, to post on most sites you need to be able to down size them anyway. An editing program will let you do that easily.

I noticed the other day that Photoshop Elements 10 is out now. I'm currently using Photoshop Elements 8, and like Seil, I find it invaluable.

When I get a new laptop, tho (soon, I hope!) I think I might try downloading GIMP -- which purports to do most of what Elements does. It's free, so it's worth a try.

Like Kim says -- We're now past the mantra that "Film's Cheap." We're into "film" being sorta free.

So take the first shot you can. Then take your time, take a breath, and try for a better image. Take as many shots as you want. You can dump the unsuccessful ones.

And when you're done, IF you started out with a good, high-resolution image -- a lot CAN be accomplished by careful cropping, and adjusting the white balance using a good software.

Oh, BTW, that Resolution thing is important, too.
Whatever digital camera you have, check your settings, and get a HIGH resolution image. You can always save it down for posting, but you can't replace what wasn't there to begin with.

Jeri

Well, I've spent all day re-acquainting myself with my camera (Canon IS A710) and, sure enough using the macro made a HUGE difference...thank you, Seil! I've been using the auto mode for quite a while and had forgotten how rewarding (and essential) it is to make your own camera adustments, such as white color balance, shutter speed, arpeture and on, and on.
Molly

Having just upgraded to a new DSLR camera last week, I wanted to comment. I'm no expert. And I admit that I never seem to master all of the features of any camera I own. You must determine a few things first:

How much can you spend?

What are you going to do with your camera?

What features do you need?

Will you put in the time to learn how to use your new camera?

There are many camera reviews on the internet. Its not hard to make an informed choice. You'll be amazed at what the latest generation of cameras can do.

My new camera is a Nikon D5100. It replaces my Nikon D50. I wanted more megapixels (16.2). With another grandchild due in 3 weeks, I needed a camera more suited for child photography.

There are many scene modes that allow you to be instantly creative including "macro" as mentioned above. Since I am newly retired, I have promised myself that I will master this camera.

Congratulations, Harryshoe, both for the new camera and new grandchild! With all the things that camera does, no matter how interested you are, it should be a full time job learning it. I hope you have enough time for the grandkids! lol! Kim

I have a Nikon D60, and DSLR. I love it. But I had it for 3 years before I really learned how to use it.

I bought this guide to my camera:

Magic Lantern Guides

It has a DVD that has a photographer take you through your camera, ever menu item, explain it and explain how to use it. There were some menu items that were hidden and I didn't know existed. Whatever camera you do get, I'd advise getting a guide to take you through it. Usually the manuals that come with the cameras aren't through enough.

I noticed that a few of you use Photoshop Elements. I do too, but since moving to Windows 7 and PE 8, it's been horrible and locks up my computer constantly. I am thinking of upgrading to an iMac, and I hope it runs better on that. Otherwise, I may try Apple Aperture.

If you camera is somewhat adjustable, use the S (shutter) setting rather than the auto setting for more accurate red color when shot in direct late afternoon or early morning light. Futzing with the white setting didn't help at all on my camera. Also a polarizing filter helps on hot pink and some reds when the color reflects too much for the camera sensor to process correctly. Lenses apart, megapixals are not the best indicator of digital camera image quality. The sensor is what to look at.

buford, you might have insufficient memory on your machine--PE can be a memory eater.

Here is a link that might be useful: discussion of sensors