camera recommendations?

[kahlamodie]

I would like some recommendations. I am about to go camera shopping. My Dh`s brother sent us a $100.00 gift card from Best Buy, so that`s where we`re going. We can probably throw in alittle more $$ on top of that, but not much. The camera I have now is a Samsung Digimax 130 with 1.3 megapixels. It has 2 settings that I`m aware of (book is lost forever), and I`m not even sure it has a macro feature. I don`t think it does, but I am really BAD at this sort of stuff right now. I can`t seem to get close enough to the photo subject without it coming out blurry. I am actually pretty electronically impaired, LOL! I know I have to learn all of this stuff if I want to take pics and post my stuff on the net.

My question is, for under $200.00, what can I expect to get in a camera, and can I expect to get one that takes decent enough pics to put online when the time has come? I do have a tripod, and a photo tent that`s HUGE (2' by 2' I think?) However, I have no lights for the tent at this time as I`m confused about that also. I have the nylon backgrounds the tent came with, a white, a red, and a blue. I really like the look of the gradient backgrounds, I believe they`re called?
Sorry for being all over the place here, this started out as one question, so I`ll get back to it....what camera would you recommend for under $200.00 or should I wait until I can afford a more expensive one? Feel free to answer this and any of the above ramblings, LOL! TIA....

Gloria

[kahlamodie]

Forgot to mention, the camera I have now is probably 5 or 6 years old. (In case you couldn`t tell from the description, lol)

[kahlamodie]

Ok, I guess I got no response to this because of the other thread similar to this one. Sorry, I didn`t know that was already there before I posted mine. I`ll go there and read the replies!

[Lisi]

I'm not sure what other thread you mean, but I can give you a great recommendation! :D

I got my camera at Bestbuy for $149 - Nikon Coopix L4

It's better than the old 4300 that I had for three years before it jammed up. It had been dropped so many times, that's why it died, I'm sure. I've had this newer model one for almost a year, and I love it!

[kahlamodie]

Yeay! A response!!! LOL!
Cool Lisi! Do you have any pics you took with it to show me?

[Lisi]

Yep! Here's a few bead pics and others. My teenage daughter who had never used the camera before took the sunrise and sunset pictures. I love the fireworks setting! :)

Oops, I have them backwards, the first one is the sun setting, and the second one is the sunrise. ;)

[Emily]

Try this site. It has a tool to help you pick out the "perfect" camera for you, and a "Dave's Picks" recommendation page.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/WB/WB.HTM

Here's the link to the "find the best camera for you" page:

http://www.myproductadvisor.com/mpa/camera/inputSummary.do

Make sure you double check the prices on any cameras you like. Camera prices tend to go down pretty quickly, because manufacturers are coming out with new models all the time, so what's shown as list price might not be what you'd have to pay.

[kahlamodie]

Thanks for posting those pics, Lisi! Those are the kind of pics I would like to be taking, and I can`t take anything near that at the moment.

Emily, I went to the sites you listed, and it seems I would be best suited for either a Nikon or a Canon. Dave`s picks were interesting, too. Thanks for the help ladies!