5MP is all you need for good enlargements to 11 x 14 inches..

Sports is a problem. Most point and shoot cameras suffer from what is called "shutter lag." This is the time between pressing the shutter release and the camera actually taking the picture. Quite a bit of sports action can take place during this time..

When you look at cameras, take some test shots of moving objects get the sales clerk to wave his arm slowly and see how much lag a particular camera has..

BAK..

Sports is a problem. Most point and shoot cameras suffer from what iscalled "shutter lag." This is the time between pressing the shutterrelease and the camera actually taking the picture. Quite a bit ofsports action can take place during this time..

...and at least as important, freezing action requires a fast shutter speed. A short exposure time in poor light (indoor sports, for instance) requires both a fast lens (as in wide-open aperture) and a high ISO sensitivity to avoid massive underexposure. Inexpensive cameras tend to have slower lenses, and small-sensor cameras other than the Fujis tend to suffer at high ISOs...

Hi. I'm looking into buying my first digital camera, but I can't makea decision on which camera to buy. I will be using this camera forsporting events, as well as in conditions where there is lowlighting, as I will be taking it to university, and I will be takingpictures of parties e.t.c. It must also be able to fit in my pocket.My budget is a maximum of 200 ($400US)..

Also, what is an acceptable amount of megapixels in a camera thesedays? All these cameras boasting 10+ megapixels look expensive, sowhat should I expect from a digital camera for about 200?.

Hello.

I'd be surprised if your requirements can all be met in a single model. There are plenty of small compacts which will fit in your pocket but sports pics will be difficult and low-light performance with a small compact will be very poor as the sensor is so small (so the pix will be very noisy) - might be OK at 6 x 4" but they will be horrible blown up any more..

To take good sports pictures you want something where you can control the shutter speed, and which has dynamic focussing (so you can choose the subject, like a runner, and it is kept in focus as it moves)- and unless you are very close to the action, a telephoto lens. All this suggests an SLR which will not fit in your pocket (especially with the long lens!!) and would be a bit intrusive at parties..

It sounds like you want a decent compact for 'normal' use... and maybe save up for a DSLR later for sports and more demanding use. Plenty of people on this forum who have lots of expensive SLR-related kit also keep a small compact for social situations or for when carrying something large isn't desirable. For your budget you can get any one of several excellent compact cameras - I don't know what is currently the best but look elsewhere on this form and you'll find lots of Qa and As on this point..

Don't worry about MP, all modern cameras have more than enough, and unless you are taking pictures with very good lenses and printing them out a meter square you won't be able to tell the difference. There is a lot of advertising hype on this to delude the gullible...Mike..

Ok I had a look around and came up with a few options:.

Kodak Easyshare V610Panasonic DMC TZ1 (by the way, whats the difference between TZ1, 2 and 3?)Samsung L85.

I have heard great things about Canon models but I haven't found a model small enough to slip into my pocket yet..

Right now I'm leaning towards the TZ1, does anyone else have any suggestions?..

If low light is important then perhaps also a look at the Fuji F30 and F31..

StephenG.

Fuji S9600Fuji S5200Fuji F30Fuji E900Canon A710ISPCLinuxOS..