Best optical zoom

[james76]

hi guys,
i am quite new to this world of digi-cams. I will be buying one somewhere next week, wanted some suggestions from you experts. My choice is a Canon but i am particularly looking for the best zoom available. My budget is within $250.00.

[SMcEvoy]

James, it depends what you're shooting at. There are lots of lower end digitals that will do really well. If you like taking shots from a distance then a 3x optical will do you well. If you like zooming in on things, then the 10x & 12x will be more up your alley (but will cost a bit more). There are a couple of great review sites out there. www.dpreview.com and http://www.steves-digicams.com/ so line up some models you think you are interested in, and that fall into your price range and see what the experts have to say. Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm and Panasonic all make really nice little point and shoots these days. Personally, I have a small 3.2megapixel Fuji one ($199Cdn) with a 3x zoom that takes really good people shots and I had a Minolta Dimage Z1 that was super on macros and the 10x zoom was great. At the time it was sort of a mid-range one. ($550). If you find the features aren't quite up there with what you're hoping, it's worth saving up a little bit longer and going for something a bit better.

Hope that helps.

[james76]

thanks Suzan,
well i was basically looking forward to a zoom for a distant object to be the nearest without any loss of quality. Then print the image on a post card size paper using my HP Photoprinter. I went though the websites you have provided. Thansk for the information.

[james76]

just got my new camera at my doorstep. this is the Canon Powershot S2 IS. What i liked was the 12 zoom as in the website. i am still a bit confused with the zoom part. the website from where i bought this stated 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom. What is this Image Stabilized all about ? I bought it online for US $333.45. Was the price right ?