Can anyone recommend a digital camera?

[midnight armadillo]

Price: ~$200. I am selling off my never-used Minolta SLR on ebay in a week or two and want a decent digital camera for snapshots of my son, the world's cutest two-year old.

Priorities: good optics over zoom capability, a flash that doesn't totally suck, and one that won't require me to get a second PhD to learn to use. Can any DUers help?

[KitchenWitch]

1. Nikon and Olympus have some good entry level models

with good optics

Hint: do not buy a digicam from a computer/general electronics manufacturer (like HP, etc). Buy one from a known camera manufacturer. I think for your price range you would be able to get something with about 3 megapixels (enlargements to 5x7). Make sure if you get a zoom that it is an optical zoom.

[GOPisEvil]

2. I've had good luck with Canon.

The Powershot A520 is in your range.

www.abesofmaine.com (good source for camera deals)

[BikeWriter]

3. My Kodak DX 6340 works good for me.

http://www.dealtime.com/xPR-Kodak_Easyshare_DX6340_Zoom

[China_cat]

4. I have a Kodak dx7630

Very nice, easy to use, lovely high resolution pics and not very hard on the poketbook.