Sun Aug 31, 2003 5:43 am
I suggest that you go to dpreview.com and steves-digicams.com to do your comparison shopping. A 2-MP camera is usually sufficient for printing up to 8X10s (depending on the type of image, you can even print larger successfully). Everyone gets hung up on MP rather than turning their attention to what is right for their specific camera needs.
Kodak cameras are okay, but generally don't provide sufficient flexibility in terms of manual controls. This might not be an issue if you're a point-and-shoot person who doesn't want to think too hard. If you want a camera you can grow into, you should select one that has both excellent auto and manual capabilities. OTOH, the more manual settings, the greater the learning curve -- so if you're a point-and-shooter who just wants to be able to take good quality snapshots of pets and children, you don't need all the bells and whistles.
In your question, you didn't indicate how sophisticated a photographer you are, what types of things you'll be shooting, and what your budget is. For example, if you shoot a lot of macros, you may need a different camera than if you shoot a lot of action/sports shots. If you anticipate shooting with filters, you should get a camera with lens threads. If you use it primarily for vacation photos, and you want a small camera that will fit in a shirt pocket, you'll need a smalll camera, not a behemoth. These are all important things to know in order to make an informed decision. DP Review and Steve's Digicams are EXCELLENT sources for learning about digital cameras and determining what features you really need to have.
MP should be the tie-breaker when you've narrowed down your list of possible cameras, not the first thing you look for. Much better to buy a 2 or 3MP camera that is perfectly suited to your usage requirements than to buy a 5-6 MP camera that does not suit your needs and ends up on the shelf or eBay.