I've had 3 digital cameras...
First one was $50 new (was on clearance the day they came out), so obviously was crappy.
Second was a Fuji A340 4MP w/ 3x Fujinon optical zoom. Never used the 4MP setting, instead using the 1600x1200 setting, which was more than good enough for my uses. Took it to the desert with me, forgot to zip up the case when I was using a pick to dig a trench. After I was done, pockets were 1/4 full of sand...
and so was my camera and phone! Phone was easy to take apart and clean. Tried cleaning the camera when I got home (it still worked, just the zoom would jam every time), my dumbass got shocked by the capacitor (note I've done this before on disposable cameras playing with dischargind the capacitor) and dropped the camera on the ground. Still worked, but the ribbon cable for the screen ripped, making the camera essentially useless. Uses Fuji/Olympus only xD cards, which are more expensive than SD cards.
Third cam is a Casio Exilim EX-Z57 5MP with 3x Pentax optical and 2.7" LCD. Camera is great and takes crystal clear pictures (even at the 5MP setting). Only drawback with this camera is that it only interfaces with a dock, so you need to lug the dock everywhere instead of a cable. Not a problem when you have a computer with an SD slot, but work buys the cheapest computers, so no dice.
The Casio takes pictures that are more clear than the Fuji, but the Fuji excelled at night. There could be zero lighting for the camera to zoom on, but the picture would come out clear every time with just the flash.
My girl's Cannon (some 6MP jobbie) takes super awesome pictures... they're either as good or better than my Casio's pictures.
I know the mid-higher range Sonys have Carl-Zeiss optics and the Panasonics Leica optics. EDIT: looks like Kodak uses Schneider-Kreuznach optics.
I'm sure the picture quality is at least slightly better with the name brand optics instead of a no-name setup.
Also:
DIGITAL ZOOM SUCKS!!!
1) NEVER use it, because it degrades picture quality. Instead of Optical zoom using a lens system to make the picture bigger, Digital zoom just digitally places extra dots in the picture to make it larger.
2) NEVER use digital zoom specs to decide on a camera.
3)
ALWAYS buy a camera with Optical zoom!
Oh, and
Steve's Digicams is another good review site!
