looking for a certain type of digital camera

[Bob]

I'm wondering if something like this exists.

Someone said a used smart phone would probably work well for this too.

I want a camera where I can take a picture and immediately see if the pic came out clear or fuzzy for sure and a camera where I can show the pic to someone else immediately.  So it needs to have a display large enough to see that. 

Maybe something like a tablet.  Pinch and zoom is nice, although I wonder if that's really necessarily.  I suppose it's a useful feature for seeing if details are present in the pic.

Being able to hold the camera with one hand is a plus.  I'd like to be able to hold an object in one hand and take a pic with the camera in the other hand.  And then see immediately if the pic came out right.

Being able to label that pic immediately would be a huge plus too.

And if it could spit pics onto something like an SD card, even better.  I'm not sure how I would get pics off a smart phone without a data plan.  Wifi, but I'd rather avoid wireless.  And I'm not paying that much per month for a data plan. 

Something like a regular digital camera with a giant display would work great.  I just haven't seen anything like that.

Does what I'm describing exist?

Quality I don't think is an issue.  I've seen 5 megapixel cameras do more than enough for what I'm thinking. 

[scottmcc]

what you want does not exist.  but an excellent digital camera for starters in the "real camera" world is the nikon d3100.  sd card, pretty good screen, can zoom in on the image to check focus (relatively well), adequate autofocus system, and a really good imaging sensor.  of course, you'll get hooked and then want to upgrade to some different lenses, and then you'll decide you need a more pro-level camera body, and then you'll be broke, but in the mean time you can have a lot of fun.

[Bob]

$5-600?    I'm also thinking of a just 'point and shoot' style more toward the $100-possibly $200 range.

I'm thinking it doesn't exist though.  I've looked a bit.

[quantum]

Even the pros don't have such camera with large display.  If they really wanted a big screen they would do what is called tethered shooting.  You connect your camera to your laptop via USB and can view the images directly on computer.  You can even control your camera from your computer.  If an even bigger screen is needed, some cameras come equipped with an HDMI out, so the display can be routed to a flat screen TV.  

$500-600 is a very reasonable price for a camera considering the quality one can get in that range.  10 years ago such cameras with similar features would have cost in the thousands.  

You could go with a tablet that takes pictures, but I'd guess that your basic point-and-shoot will take images with better quality.  

[scottmcc]

well, it's like this.  with cameras, as with many things in life, you get what you pay for, at least to a certain extent.  you wouldn't buy a $100 grand piano and expect the world of it, would you?  so, if you really want good image quality, you have to step up to at least an entry-level DSLR, which means paying at least $500.  and if you want to be able to take pictures that are worth blowing up to 18x24 or the like, you're going to need to pay at least $500 more on a lens.  but if you just want snapshots, then you can do whatever you want, pay as little as you want, but don't be surprised if all your pictures look pretty poor.  and all the other things you ask for like a gigantic screen to check focus are really not available.  tethered shooting is done by professionals mainly to let the artistic director of a shoot look at the pictures as they come in, not for the photographer's benefit--they've already got a glass viewfinder and a small LCD for preview, and they're bracketing their shots to ensure that they get everything (bracketing means taking the same shot with different settings and choosing the best one later).

anyway, you ask the impossible.  but hopefully you take a good look at the possible and decide that it's a better idea than you thought, just more expensive. 

[Bob]

I don't need the quality though.  A tablet would work, but I don't need everything else beyond the camera.  Just the camera and that large of a display in back.  Although a tablet is a little large for taking pictures with one hand.

[quantum]

I think what you need to do is prioritize what you really need in a camera.  Start with that feature and weigh the compromises of the other features you desire.  There is no all-in-one device with the items you seek at the price point you wish to pay. 

What is it exactly you wish to shoot?

Do you really need a large screen to check focus, or do you just need a more reliable auto focusing system than your current camera allows?  Using proper camera holding technique and a suitable focusing method goes a long way in obtaining more keepers.  For example if you are shooting action choosing Servo mode sets the camera to continually focus on the subject as it moves.  If you are shooting in low light perhaps you need a tripod or stabilized lens.  Having a larger screen won't do your focus any good if what is causing the trouble is shake from the camera operator - all you will see is a bunch of blurry shots on a nice big screen. 

Do you really need a large screen for instant showing?  Can you afford a few seconds to pull the memory card out of the camera and pop it in a laptop or inexpensive netbook? 

Are you sure quality doesn't matter to you?  What you may be perceiving as out-of-focus may be image softness due to low quality.  More megapixels does not mean higher quality.  Here is one article that talks about it:
https://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/mpmyth.htm

Is it necessary to shoot with a single hand?  Again proper camera technique can go a long way in achieving sharp pictures.  Is it possible to put the subject on a stable surface and shoot it that way? 

[timothy42b]

What you want is easy, I think.

Any point-and-shoot digital in the $100 range does what you want.  Sometimes you can find them discounted to $49 if you watch the sales. 

You take a picture.  Then you look at the screen and hit the zoom button while watching any straight edge in the photo for clarity.  You can see instantly whether you were in focus or not.  If not, delete it right away and try again.

I'm using a Nikon L22.  But any digital can do it.  The only differences are what button you use to zoom your image.  Some digitals are more intuitive with the user interface than others.

All of them have sufficient megapixels of resolution.  I think I have mine set to 8.

All of them use SD chips.  My trombone teacher takes a short video, pops the SD chip out of the camera and into a laptop in less than ten seconds, and shows me what I'm doing wrong.  VERY useful. 

Now, one handed shooting.  That's the main reason for unclear photos, camera shake.  You can get superb photos out of the cheap little point-and-shoots, but you need to be very steady at shutter release, and that isn't easy with the light weight.  Best bet, tripod and camera release, but point-and-shoots don't come with releases.  When I really need a shot in good focus with no shake, I use the tripod and the self timer.