http://digitalcameravideocamera.com/digital-camera-zoom/
Reasonably priced digital camera with long range zoom?
I want my dad a digital camera for her birthday. It would probably be mostly used to shoot animals in the nature of the medium and long term. (Also known as deer and as in your backyard LOL) that only has a Camera Video, which has a 800x digital zoom. I was thinking it would be able to find a digital camera camera with something similar, but all I see is 6-10x zoom. What is a reasonable Price zoom digital camera is good when one of his top priorities. To me, reasonable price is less than $ 300. Thank you very much for your help !!!!! 
Models 2005 (Sony Cybershot H1 or Canon Powershot S2 IS or Panasonic DMC-FZ5) are available for $ 275 to $ 325. All these Cameras are good and has a 12x optical zoom. (They also have more digital zoom, but image quality will suffer with them) Most important is that everyone has stabilization image, which greatly reduces the movement of the long telephoto camera. This reduces or eliminates the need for a tripod. Cameras are more sensitive a "shocking" that the Camcorders. I have the Sony H1 and I am very happy with telephoto 12x. I hope Prices continue to fall, if you can wait a bit. Search amazon.com or Camera Stores shown in CNET. com. Or visit Sam's Club or Costco or Target sales. Remember that you also have to buy a memory card (256 MB for about $ 20) Maybe another family member could buy the memory card? His father is a lucky guy to have a thoughtful daughter like you!
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