I have finally purchased a digital camera. I've been meaning to do this for ages and have spent a lot of time evaluating all the different cameras that are available here in New Zealand.
I decided a while back on getting a Canon digital camera. They are a well know brand and their models have always received good reviews on Digital Photography Review. Price was a purchasing issue and since camera prices have come down lately I thought it was a good time to buy. Make sure you shop around when looking for digital cameras because I found a huge variation in prices. I suggest either searching for local shops online, or go to a dedicated photography shop (and one in a mall doesn't count).
Below is a picture of the camera I purchased: a Canon Digital IXUS 330 (known as the PowerShot S330 in US/Canada). Originally I wasn't looking for an ultra compact model, but this one is packed full of so many great features that it's small size doesn't translate to a small feature set. It received a Highly Recommended Review through Digital Photograhpy Review which is also a good indicator that this model is pretty darn good. It's only a 2.0 Mega pixel camera but I plan on using it for experimentation and photos destined for a monitor, as opposed to print, so the maximum resolution of 1600 x 1200 isn't really an issue.
So far I am really happy with the Canon Digital IXUS 330. Taking photos digitally is so much better than with film, mainly because you can see the photo taken straight away. I like taking pictures and with this I can snap away and just delete any that don't come out very well. It also means that some experimentation can be done with the same shot to get it how you really want it. This is difficult with a normal camera, because you can't tell until you have got the film developed.
Once I have got out and about and taken some really nice pictures I may post them here. I was playing with the long shutter speed the other night and managed to take some really good night shots. It's by far the best toy I've bought in a long time...
