Camera Recommendation?

[garybeck]

I've had an Olympus C700UZ since 2001. BAck then it cost $500. It was a gift. It has served me well and I would keep using it but I used it in a terrential rainstorm and it got too wet and hasn't worked properly since. It was only 2.1 megapixels but it seemed to take great pictures and they were big enough for my purposes (rarely need to print anything bigger than 5x7... virtually everything is just viewed on the web).

so now I have to replace it. I'm on a low budget but I need certain things including:

*10x zoom or more
*electronic viewfinder
*640 x 480 video would be nice but not essential
*takes good photos (I really like the photos my Olympus C700UZ took)
*6 MP would be fine
*I prefer AA batteries so I can get more on my own and keep an extra set charged up, etc.

I'm thinking I should be able to find a "last year's model" for a good deal because I don't need 10MP like most of the cameras have now. But after weeks of reading reviews and searching sites I'm getting confused and frustrated and I thought I'd seek some DU help. The reviews just make me dizzy. CNET doesn't seem to like any particular camera that much, unless you spend $1000. They either say it's too slow, or there's too much noise in the photos... One site says Canon takes the best photos in general... I was looking at the SX110IS but it doesn't have the electronic viewfinder and I don't think I can live without one, and it's almost twice the price for the SX10 IS (and out of my price range). Another says the Nikons are the best but it also seems I'm out of my price range for the features I want. Another site doesn't like the photo quality of the Nikons... Help, my head is spinning!

I'm hoping to spend ~$200 - $250, and I"m willing to sacrifice MP for zoom. I thought I'd be able to find a closeout deal on an older model from a couple years ago when 6MP was the norm, but I can't seem to find one.

I'm feeling lost without a decent camera. Can anyone recommend a good camera that suits my needs and maybe a good website that offers it at a good deal?

thanks!
gary

[ConsAreLiars]

1. I'd recommend using dpreview

Unfortunately price range doesn't seem to be one of the sorting options, but you can plug in those features that are important to you, and then look at the release dates to get an idea about the likelihood of finding used models for sale and hit the prices link to get current selling prices from several sources.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare.asp

They include many older and discontinued models in their database, but bear in mind that a camera that cost $400 two years ago is probably matched in features by one going for $200 new today. Also look for for a 10-12X optical zoom rather that one that uses "digital zoom" to reach those numbers.

[druidity33]

2. stick with Olympus

If you've been happy with them so far. Try not to get anything "too old", pre-2006. Camera chips have grown leaps and bounds since then.

Try an Olympus 1010, or 550UZ.

Good luck.