DealCam is a good resource for finding a good deal.

You should figure out what you need in a camera. Is portability the most important thing? Low-light ability? Image stabilization? All-weather protection (against rain AND beer)? Big zoom? Big screen?

I like my Canons (I've had an Elph S200, S230, S400 and an SD500 currently). Nice interface, super-portable and tough little buggers too!

Yeah, I'd go with a Canon SD model as a beginner. It's good stuff.

I don't even know what I need - just a camera! Something that's definitely portable and sturdy (for meetups), with big memory for big learning curve, and maybe a newbie bell and/or whistle to make the curve funner to learn.

Actually, I just checked and the camera my wife has (which was what I was thinking out) is the Canon A520. (not a SD) She loves it for point-and-shoot and I actually have had a lot of fun with it too.

Memory space you don't need to worry about as all these cameras now take external cards. Just buy a nice big SD card.

Third vote for a canon.

You just want to be able to document things, not make art. So, I'd say shoot low.

You can get cheap 3.2 megapixels from Canon, but if you can afford it, shoot for 5. If you're not going to be making enlargements, something on the low end will work just fine for you.

Personally, I'd spend a little more to get one with a rechargeable battery, too. And since you want to document your daily life, get the smallest camera you can afford. Pocket-sized.

Invest in a high-capacity memory card, though, or a couple of them. Nothing worse than running out of room.

Definitely get a camera that accepts AA batteries. Rechargeable NIMH AA batteries are where it's at for cameras, and they're a lot cheaper, usually, than some specialized li-on battery pack. Besides, having the AA compartment means that you can rush to Rite-aid in a battery emergency.

ask around for a handmedown one...i have a 2mp one (samsung) that someone was going to trash...tons of people have been trading up to 4 and 5mp, and just dumping their old ones.

I'd argue against the AA rechargeables myself. The battery packs have to be ALOT larger than what is in my SD500. And it has excellent battery life, the recharger is small and quick and I bought two spares on eBay for $10.

If you're looking for a meetup-friendly camera, I'd suggest either the Fuji F10 or F11, which gives at least a stop (probably closer to two) improvement in indoors/low-light situations -- for more details, see this AskMe thread. Their successor, the F30, has already been announced for a May release, so now is a good time to pick up an F10/F11 at a discount since retailers are clearing out existing stock.

There are just a ton of good digital cameras out there right now. For $150 you can get a 3 megapixel Canon or Pentax, another $20 for a 256 card that will hold a couple hundred pics. And Amber has a good point about older models. If the optics are good, a 2 mp camera will take great pictures. I have a 1 mp Samsung that shoots really well. Whatever you buy, check out some reviews on Amazon or wherever first. Have fun!

So LT, what did you end up with? Inspired by this thread and the day in the life of jonmc thread, I hit the pwn shop and picked up a 4.0 megapixel samsung for $60. Pictures at eleven flikr (once I create an account, that is).

I'd second, third, forth and fifth Canon cameras. I've had an A10 and now have an A80 and that's what I've used for all my pictures on flickr. They're chunky and seem to be pretty sturdy as well as being simple to operate and having the essential zoom lens.

Which reminds me: don't pay any attention to a camera with "digital zoom" - it's not a zoom at all. Optical zoom is what you want.

If you want to save money and don't care much about how many gazillion bazillions of pixels you have then I'm sure you can pick up an earlier model on eBay for next to nothing.