Digital cameras forum: Can someone please help me choose the right camera!!!?

At $300 you won't be able to find a camera that is good in low light. I don't keep up on the quality of videos from cameras but a $300 will have a small sensor and small aperture lens that makes it less than ideal in low light situations.

I've been there and you're a lucky student to have $300 for a camera. The cheapest one there is that does well, not great, in low light is the Canon S90. That will get you a large sensor, for a point and shoot, and a large aperture lens. The next choice is the Canon G11 or to go with a DSLR and a prime lens or large aperture zoom lens.

Many concerts won't even allow "professional cameras"(ie. DSLRs) to be taken into a concert venue. On top of that, you have a learning curve, much larger, and you still wouldn't have the video you were looking for. The one camera that seems to fit all your requirements is the new Sony NEX-3 or NEX-5, but that puts your budget to double of what it is now, not including buying another/more lenses.

All those cameras, especially the SX20, do not get good marks for high ISO noise. The better low light cameras have pretty clean high ISO abilities and none of the one's you mentioned have that. The SX20 has pretty good noise showing up in ISO 400. The S90 does an ISO 1600 that's pretty close to the SX20's ISO 400.

okay so im taking the Sony W370 off the list because of where the flash is and i read more reviews saying that the video quality is pretty bad.

so down to
-NIKON S6000
-SONY H55
-SONY TX1

opinions anyone?

I was wondering why there isn't any reviews on the S6000! i just wanted to try it but can't find it.

I also didnt know that a higher zoom equals poor low light?

I guess I am just left comparing the H55 and the TX1.
I feel like the TX1 is $50 more and you get less megapixels and less zoom so I thought that was weird, no?

Perhaps zoom for pictures isnt that important to me, just during videos cause the singers move all the way across the stage alot.

But would it be dumb to pay more for less mp's and zoom?

Thanks again for all of the help

As previously stated I mentioned the best cameras for you in that category. I have used them. I am considering posting sample photos.
The Kodak image sensors are used in both the Leica, Hasselblad cameras and NASA. They also won the award from the international Image Sensor Insitute last last year. Their "Smart Capture" technology ajusts your settings for low light sensitivity. Go into a store and try them out by comparison. Take a camera from the camera bar, Hold your hand or an object under the bar or in shadow, press the shutter button lightly and click. You will be amazed at the resolution and clarity of your photo.

For a budget of $300, you won't get a lot better from the new camera compared to your old one.

Tripod is your best friend in low light. A gorilla pod is also quite useful if you don't want to lug around a tripod.

For low light still photos, use low ISO and slow shutter speed. If you are taking a photo of someone standing in the foreground, then use flash for the person in the foreground and a slow shutter speed for the background.

For low light action photos, there is no $300 camera that can capture noise free sharp and clear photos. Instead use flash and time your shot to freeze the action. Or you can use your camera's video function. For indoor video, a tripod can also improve the video quality.

For concerts (if your kids are the performers), get as close as you can and use flash if allowed. If flash is not allowed, then use a tripod and video (try not to zoom in if possible).

Try not to zoom during video! Zooming during video is what amateurs do a lot. Professionals do zooming very selectively. Learn to move your camera around to shoot from different angles and different distance (use your legs). Zooming will degrade image quality, even if you use optical zoom. Zooming will decrease the amount of light reaching the sensor and will increase noise and degrade image quality. Zooming during video may also throw the camera out of focus, ending up with a blur. Furthermore, it is far more interesting to take shorter videos from different angle and different distance (use your legs to change your position) of the same subject, giving the viewer different perspectives, than to stand in the same spot zooming in and out. Zooming in and out too much may distract the viewer and make them feel dizzy. Next time when you watch a movie, pay attention to how the professional do video/filming. They don't zoom in and out like the amateurs do. There are a lot of cuts from different angles and distances, without zooming in and out.

This is a long way to tell you that you can save your $300, or use it to buy a tripod or gorilla pod if you don't have one. Upgrading a camera may improve your photos and videos a little, but improving your skill and style will go a much longer way. Try not to zoom in as much as you can. Use your legs to get closer to get better shots.

Going to BestBuy in the am

Which would you ultimately choose? (Hoping for a few opinions hopefully!!)

SONY H55
OR
SONY TX1

Thanks and I promise I'll try not to bother yall anymore!

I too wanted a zoom feature while videoing my granddaughter's school performances. I didn't want the sound of zooming either. I also wanted stereo sound; I wanted low light features; I looked and looked and got to the point where I put the features I needed the most at the top of my list and purchased last November my Panasonic Lumix DMCZS3. I love it. ISO features for outside night videos is really great. Not like professionals but for what I want at my price, this camera is great. My granddaughter on stage and me 4 rows back in low light; I zoomed in while she was singing and could not believe the quality; all reviews claimed the battery didn't have a long life; after research, I also was able to find a spare (original battery) under $18 including shipping. Battery life for me? Haven't ran out yet. Panasonic has since come out with an upgrade so check into it.
Good luck. Yes, I almost purchased the TX1 but it doesn't have stero sound. Mine has two speakers; it has one.