[Incendiaryfilm]

How high of quality digital camera would I have to buy before I get something that is comparable to a film still camera? Is the Nikon Coolpix 5400 enough?

Is there anyone out there who has a nice digital camera that could share with me their experience and use of their camera?

Thanks!

[OldManMac]

A 3+ megapixel camera will give you good results, if you're looking to do prints in the 5X7 range or smaller. If you want to go up to 8X10, a 5 megapixel will give very good results. I just bought an Olympus C-50 (5 megapixel), and it gives excellent results at 8X10 size. Check some of the digital review sites, and you'll see there is a good selection to choose from.

[Timo]

More than you want to know: http://www.dpreview.com/

[chiara]

I bought a Canon G2 a few months ago, great camera. Follow Timo's suggestion to dpreview.com - great site.

[ervier]

Another good site is http://www.steves-digicams.com/

[OreoCookie]

Define quality a bit more: just image quality?

Image quality should be ok for most consumer stuff, if you take a 3+ MP model. But a bad 5 MP camera might be less of a good choice than a good 4 MP one. E. g. the Canon G3 has `just' 4 MP, but it's image quality is quite good.

I faced the decision to buy a digital camera last December. I went for a middle class SLR (Nikon F80 + Tokina 2.8/28-80 SV). Even the quite sturdy Olympus that I have taken a look at (for about the same chunk of change) felt flimsy in my hands. The viewer was the biggest issue: I am used to a big bright SLR viewer and not a tiny compact viewer.

So it'll take some time until I get a digital replacement for my new one.

Consumers should be fine.

[G4ME]

even though i can't get a crystal clear 8X10 out of my 2MP canon PowerShot S330 i still think the results are amazing, expecially when i print them out on my ghetto Epson 740, people always do a double take and ask

"you printed this, on that thing "

But if i want better results i take my CF card to my uncle he runs a small photo devloping studio and has the latest technology that is better then the simple crappy stand at walmart. I took about 240 pics of a trip down the Colorado River and had him print them all out, i have to say the blew me away, the amazing contrast and colors that i could caputer with that thing is amazing. I had him print out an 8X10 of a few pics and i am more then happy with my results.

But would i get a 2MP camera when it seems that the lowest suitable camera is a 3MP no, i would love that Canon S50, 5 MP camrea in a sleak black anodized aluminum case, Drooooollll

[zigzag]

I have a 2 MP camera that does fine at 4x6 but if I were buying now I'd want at least 3 MP for the extra breathing room. The more the better, of course.

Don't forget that if you do much cropping you'll want some extra resolution - a cropped picture has to be blown up a bit to fill the same space.