choosing an inexpensive camera

[siestakeys04]

camera. I dont know what the differences are in them. I would like to take it to disney and put pictures on the computer or diff. boards. Can someone suggest a good camera to buy?? :confused3

[Kelly Grannell]

let's start with your budget. There is "the best" camera for every budget. Then we'll go with what you really want to do with the camera. Just point and shoot and record daily activities, or for more serious picture taking, etc and so on and so forth.

Cheers,
Kelly

[siestakeys04]

I just want to point and shoot my budget is about 100-150 no more than that just something to take to disney?

[Kelly Grannell]

At that price range I can recommend Nikon L4 or Canon Powershot A430. I have no personal preference between the two

Don't touch Fuji (reasons: battery drain, the use of more-expensive XD-card) or Kodak (reason: no lens cap) or Olympus (reason: the use of more-expensive XD-card).

[siestakeys04]

Thank You!!! :thumbsup2

[A Mickeyfan]

My DD cracked the LCD screen on our digital camera. It still works but I thought I would just give it to her and buy new for myself. Ours is an older model Fuji & has no Optical zoom. It takes really great clear pic's just cannot zoom. I am looking for something that will take clear pictures when zoomed in (thinking maybe 4x optical???). I have been online since 10am this morning looking at so many different ones that now I am totally confused on which to get.
This is what I am looking for:
1. Trying to stay under $200 (will go up to $225 with rebates or promo deals).
2. Need a decent size LCD screen so I don't have to put on my glass's on when I take pic's
3. Do not want a bundle deal with the printer.
4. Want one that works with AA batteries since I have about 12 rechargeable ones already

Anyone have any suggestions???

Oh forgot to mention.. I am leaving on Saturday for WDW so mail order will not work for me unless I just go without one this time around.. I still have a decent 35 mm camera I can use. TIA

[Kelly Grannell]

Fuji A345 would fit the bill rather nicely. It's not the best camera, but for the price (about US$150) that would fit the bill.

BTW, what kind of memory your previous camera uses and how much memory you already have? Because if you already have lots of memory, you should get a camera with the same type of memory so you can save moneyo on the memory card(s).

[LSDisney]

Canon PowerShot A610
5.0 MP

:thumbsup2 I have one, and I love it!
It uses four AA batteries and an SD Memory Card.

Its great, the LCD swivels a full 180 degrees and it also has a view finder.

It's about $208 at walmart.

It also has a slot for the tripod.

It has a 4x optical zoom & a 4x digital zoom.

I recommend it.




.

[A Mickeyfan]

I have an SD card, small one at that only 64mb! We usually do not take more than say 25 pic's before downloading, even when we go away. We usually take the 35mm, a disposible & the digital. Once I get new camera, I will not take the 35mm anymore so I will need more memory without a doubt.

The digitals I have been looking at and comparing are the:

Panasonic 6X LZ3 for $199 @ Best Buy
HP M425 for $149 @ Office Max & includes 512 MB SD card as free bonus
HP M525 for $179 @ Staples & includes bounus SD card (think 256 mb)
Nikon coolpix L3 $179 @ Best Buy
Nikon coolpix L4 $149 @ Best Buy

Olympus SP 310 $199 after rebates @ Office Max also includes the DC 352 Accessory Kit & 256 MB card

Cannon A430 $149 & A530 $199 @ Circuit City

I will check out the one you have mentioned since most of these do not have everything I want... Out of all of them, I am leaning towards the Panasonic since it has a 6x zoom.. or the Olympus SP 310 because it is such a good buy compared to normal price... this is worse than buying a car :crazy:

[A Mickeyfan]

Canon PowerShot A610
5.0 MP

:thumbsup2 I have one, and I love it!
It uses four AA batteries and an SD Memory Card.

Its great, the LCD swivels a full 180 degrees and it also has a view finder.

It's about $208 at walmart.

It also has a slot for the tripod.

It has a 4x optical zoom & a 4x digital zoom.

I recommend it.




.
Didn't see that one for that cheap!!! Gotta check that out too... thanks

[A Mickeyfan]

Fuji A345 would fit the bill rather nicely. It's not the best camera, but for the price (about US$150) that would fit the bill.

BTW, what kind of memory your previous camera uses and how much memory you already have? Because if you already have lots of memory, you should get a camera with the same type of memory so you can save moneyo on the memory card(s).
Just checked this out online.. is comp to a 35 mm 35-105mm I was looking for something with more zoom.. but thanks... it was worth looking at :)

[A Mickeyfan]

Canon PowerShot A610
5.0 MP

:thumbsup2 I have one, and I love it!
It uses four AA batteries and an SD Memory Card.

Its great, the LCD swivels a full 180 degrees and it also has a view finder.

It's about $208 at walmart.

It also has a slot for the tripod.

It has a 4x optical zoom & a 4x digital zoom.

I recommend it.




.
I am not sure if my local store has it, but online it says that Wal-mart is out of stock on this. I did find it at Circuit City for $239... I will have to actually look in my Wal-mart.. Is this heavy to carry with 4 batteries?

[LSDisney]

Is this heavy to carry with 4 batteries?

No, not at all. It's pretty light. I carry it around almost everywhere I go.
Its about 8 oz.

here's a link to a website with lots of info on it:
http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/a610_review_1.html


:thumbsup2

[A Mickeyfan]

No, not at all. It's pretty light. I carry it around almost everywhere I go.
Its about 8 oz.

here's a link to a website with lots of info on it:
http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/a610_review_1.html


:thumbsup2
good site for the reviews.. thanks.. would you happen to know the main difference between the A530 & the A610? I really do not see much of a difference when doing the comparison.. I can get that at Walmart for $188 & now circuity city is showing it for $179 (I may have read it wrong the first time).... I am thinking in the event I cannot find the A610 for under the $239.. I may just go with the A530 for $179... that is a $50 difference & I will pick up a higher memory card... Circuity City is showing them on sale...

[LSDisney]

good site for the reviews.. thanks.. would you happen to know the main difference between the A530 & the A610? I really do not see much of a difference when doing the comparison.. I can get that at Walmart for $188 & now circuity city is showing it for $179 (I may have read it wrong the first time).... I am thinking in the event I cannot find the A610 for under the $239.. I may just go with the A530 for $179... that is a $50 difference & I will pick up a higher memory card... Circuity City is showing them on sale...

i'm not sure about how different they are.

the biggest difference i see is that the A530 doesn't have the swivel screen

other than that, they *seem* the same.

The A610 is considered a camera to use for business or framing (high-quality photos)
The A530 is considered a camera to use for point and shoot (snapshots).

I dont have an experience with the A530, so I don't know how that works, also I'm not sure if it has all the features that the A610 has...

Heres a link to a comparison chart: (i dont know if u've already done this)
http://www.officedepot.com/shop/items/add.do?enterKeySubmit=false&useSelected=true&skipEmptyQty=false&skuDisplayType=txtSearch&item%5B0%5D.selected=on&item%5B0%5D.sku=208600&item%5B0%5D.qty=&redirecttocompare.x=114&redirecttocompare.y=7

You can also compare them here:
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=113

[Kelly Grannell]

Canadians really got the short end of the stick. If A610 is US$208. I highly recommend it. I have the year-before older sister the A95. I love that camera.

[S. C.]

If i remember right from when i was researching cameras for my DD xmas gift the Fuji A345 does not have sound with the movies.

[Kelly Grannell]

That's correct. Don't forget, however, that although some digital videocam can produce very decent to very good still pics (Canon digital video cameras, for example) digital cameras are far from that purpose, especially the sub-$300 ones.

The $300-ish ones are rather decent, but obviously eats up so much memory it's not even funny. The amount of $$ to buy the memory you need for 1-hour true-DVD-quality movie is about 4 Gb on a high-speed card. That's a $200 card. Buying 2 of those cards you might as well buy the lowest end miniDV camera and you'll get several hours worth of tapes too (and the picture quality will be better than DVD).

Just FYI.

[A Mickeyfan]

I really do not care about video in the camera. I have it now & never used it. I am more concerned about clear pictures when zoomed in. The one I have now gets all grainy when I zoom, it has no Optical zoom. The more I am looking the more I think I may go with a Cannon. I did the comparison on the A610 & A530 & the only real difference that I really see is the amount of AA's to use & swivel.

[manning]

Maybe this one might work. It is Panasonic LZ3. Panasonic list it at 229.00. It has 37-222 mm zoom, 6x zoom. I don't know much about Panasonic other than I just got the new TZ1 and like it. It is a 10x zoom, 35-350mm, but sells for around 300.00 Panny list it for 350.00

One thing about the LZ3 is that is has Image Stabilization.

It uses 2 AA batteries but I would go with rechargeable AA.

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vModelDetail?storeId=15001&catalogId=13401&itemId=95964&catGroupId=24999&modelNo=DMC-LZ3S&surfModel=DMC-LZ3S&cacheProgram=11002&cachePartner=7000000000000005702

I also have canon and sony and like both.

[Jeanne B]

If 4x zoom is enough for you than I highly recommend the A610 - the swivel screen is great and it takes terrific pictures.

[A Mickeyfan]

Maybe this one might work. It is Panasonic LZ3. Panasonic list it at 229.00. It has 37-222 mm zoom, 6x zoom. I don't know much about Panasonic other than I just got the new TZ1 and like it. It is a 10x zoom, 35-350mm, but sells for around 300.00 Panny list it for 350.00

One thing about the LZ3 is that is has Image Stabilization.

It uses 2 AA batteries but I would go with rechargeable AA.

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vModelDetail?storeId=15001&catalogId=13401&itemId=95964&catGroupId=24999&modelNo=DMC-LZ3S&surfModel=DMC-LZ3S&cacheProgram=11002&cachePartner=7000000000000005702

I also have canon and sony and like both.
That was one of the other ones I was considering. I liked the fact it had the Image Stabilizaion & 6x zoom.. Target has it on sale for $229 then you get a $20 Gift Card (Target is less than 2 miles from my house) and Best Buy has it for $199 (about 6 miles & a toll bridge to cross)... it may pay to get it at Target for the extra $10... I hadn't heard of anyone having any of the Panisonics... that was why I was hesitent on that.. Cannon everyone buys at one point. One of my best 35 mm was a Cannon (lost that one years ago :sad2: )

[Kelly Grannell]

Really nothing wrong with the Panasonic. Just be aware this is only valid for the first couple of settings of their ISO. Once it reaches a certain level, the Venus engine kicks in with Noise Reduction, alas is overpowered making the pictures looks blurry at ISO higher than 400 (and depending on the model, including ISO 400 itself).

If you're planning to use no further than ISO 200, the Panasonics are fine. Not great, but fine.

[A Mickeyfan]

Really nothing wrong with the Panasonic. Just be aware this is only valid for the first couple of settings of their ISO. Once it reaches a certain level, the Venus engine kicks in with Noise Reduction, alas is overpowered making the pictures looks blurry at ISO higher than 400 (and depending on the model, including ISO 400 itself).

If you're planning to use no further than ISO 200, the Panasonics are fine. Not great, but fine.
Ok..you lost me? What is Noise Reduction?? Are you saying that the Image Stabilization is olny good up to a 200???? My DH just went to Target & purchased it for me. I have taken it out of the box but haven't read anything from the booklet yet. How do you know this happens?


OK..just skimmed thru the booklet & I do see what you are saying.. & now understand Noise Reduction. I thought we were still on the topic of audio in the movie setting :guilty: . You are right about it only working to a certian point. It just will not say what point, it says may not work when increased speed for pictures in dark places. I will see how it goes. I don't use that much in the dark so I shoud be ok... I hope. If not, Target has a 90 Day return policy which is why I decided to buy from them..

[LSDisney]

:thumbsup2 Glad u decided on a camera in time for your trip!
I hope you enjoy your trip...

... and post some pics when u get back ;)

[Kelly Grannell]

Image Stabilization (Panasonic's term: O.I.S.) has nothing to do with noise reduction. What you've read about OIS is true. It only reduces your hand movements, not object movement. What stops object movements is higher shutter speed which can be achieved with higher ISO. However, higher ISO will introduce higher level of digital noise (looks like red, green, blue specs randomly splattered on your pics). To eliminate this, Panasonic uses it's processing chip called the "Venus Engine" but it always applying it far too much so the pic look blurry.

I will post examples of pic with high ISO, high ISO but cleaned with noise reduction, and high ISO but cleaned with TOO MUCH noise reduction. If not tonight maybe tomorrow.

[Kelly Grannell]

here you go. The images are borrowed from dpreview.com.

On the left is the image with digital noise, on the right is the image with digital noise applied (automatically, there is no way turning it off) by a Panasonic camera. The one in the middle is the image on the left but cleaned by myself using Imagenomic Noiseware.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/kgranell/67a2098a.jpg http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/kgranell/ab443ecd.jpg http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c72/kgranell/748358dd.jpg

[dance2874]

I have a decent camera right now and I LOVE it. It does what I want and is easy to use, takes great shots and has a great 10X optical zoom...but it is bulky. (I know there are some Kodak haters around here, but I love my easyshare DX6490.) I am looking for a second camera now. More specifically I am looking to find one to take with me to Disney instead of my current camera. It is too bulky to be taking in and out all day long, and I am afriad of it getting damaged. I want something inexpensive and smaller, but still takes decent pics and has a zoom if I can find one. But, I dont want to sacrifice having nice vacation photos just for a smaller camera. Any suggestions? Hoping to stay under the $150 mark if I can.

Thanks!

[DisneyGirl4188]

I have a Canon A310. It isn't too expensive and it's very compact (you can fit it in a pocket). I took the pictures in my signature with it. It is a 3.2MP, but all the pictures have turned out pretty good. It also has 5x zoom.

I'm glad to see another Kodak lover. I have the z740 and can't wait to take it to WDW.

[dance2874]

You took the fireworks shot with it? That is something I am especially worried about because I really want some good pics of that- we are taking a Illuminations cruise :Pinkbounc

Say what you want about Kodak people, but I love mine too. I have some amazing shots that nobody can believe were taken with a Kodak easyshare. I love my zoom too so a 5x would be a good compromise. Thanks :sunny:

[YEKCIM]

Note that the 5X zoom on the A310 is DIGITAL, not OPTICAL. For less than $150 (online), you can do better; the A430, for example, has a 4X OPTICAL zoom and 4MP resolution. There are other options out there, as well; this is just one example.

~YEKCIM

[dance2874]

Thanks, I just found that out when I went to research it. I definitely want optical zoom....keep the ideas coming,thanks!

[YEKCIM]

Thanks, I just found that out when I went to research it. I definitely want optical zoom....keep the ideas coming,thanks!

Have you looked at some of the reviews on www.dpreview.com and www.steves-digicams.com? Your $150 budget is a mixed blessing, as it will limit your choices, meaning that you won't have to wade thru dozens of models with multiple dozens of feature traedoffs, but will also limit you in terms of capability, obviously.

FWIW, I took my Fuji S5200 to WDW last month, along with my camcorder, and did not find the bulk or weight to be a problem. No, I couldn't put it in my pocket, but I found the 10X zoom to be a HUGE advantage in photographing The World.

~YEKCIM

[dance2874]

Yes, I have spent alot of time over on dpreview. I like that site for researching, but like you said it is a mixed blessing. For around $150 I may as well take what I have. For any less, I will probably be dissapointed in the quality because of what I am used to.

[jann1033]

just read the consumer report on digitals and i think they rated the canon a620 7 mp for tops in that catagory...it's about 50 more than your budget though( or was a few months ago at least). the 5mp, a 610 is about 20 less than the 620 and the only difference is the mp.

[Kelly Grannell]

You took the fireworks shot with it? That is something I am especially worried about because I really want some good pics of that- we are taking a Illuminations cruise

ANY camera can take fireworks picture, please refer to my sticky. :thumbsup2

[aubriee]

OK, I've read through the first several pages of this board and managed to just confuse myself. I'm a complete novice when it comes to photography and truthfully don't particularly care to pursue it, but I do need a decent easy to use digital camera to take on my WDW trip in May. I currently have a little cheapo Kodak Easy Share CX7300 which takes lousy inside pictures, but OK outside daytime pictures. Anyway I was thinking about an Olympus stylus 710 7.1 MP or a Canon A610. Any opinions or other recommendations for an very easy to use cheap camera for a photography clutz like me? Thanks!

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

My small cheap point and shoot is a Canon A540. I have a larger digital that I use for bigger things but the Canon is great for quick stuff, I keep it in my purse for those random moments when I need to take a picture, like now!

Target had it for $199, it doesn't look like they have it online anymore but they might in store. It's a 6mp with 4x optical. I had a Casio Exilim for half a day before it but the pictures were grainy.

[captaincrash]

I'd go with something from Costco... anything in your price range... 1st chice being any Canon. Double check their return policy and just try it out. If you don't like the results just return/exchage it another model. One is likely to handle and shoot well for you. I shot with a DSLR so cannot guide you from personal experience. If you want good indoor flash shots - then some models of point and shoot will be good/averge/bad. Canon models have served me well in the past.

[photo_chick]

I have a 4mp Fuji P&S (bought in 2003) that I finally handed down to my DD. It is a great little camera and similar Fuji's go for under $100 now. The focus is very sharp, the images have very little noise issues and I have no problems making 11x14 enlargements form it.

[aubriee]

Thanks guys! I round up following Captain Crash and BelleBoo&AmisMum's advice and got a Canon PowerShot A540. Now I have about a month to learn how to use it. Thanks!

[jlbower79]

So I'm in to US in a couple of weeks and I went to disney over a year ago and brought a "throw away" camera which my pictures didn't come out that great at all... i do have a really $$$ digital camera but it's big and not something you can just carry around. I'm looking for something small enough to put in a pocket or tiny purse then I would like something in the price range of $0-$100.

Looking for any suggestions, I've looked online but it's hard to actually tell how big they are.

Thanks
Jai :surfweb:

[Master Mason]

I don't think your going to get much in the way of digital cameras in that range.

[ukcatfan]

For that low of a range, you might want to consider used or refurb.

Kevin

[YEKCIM]

The Fujifilm A500, Kodak C533, and Samsung S630 can be had for less than $100 online.

~YEKCIM

[jlbower79]

The Fujifilm A500, Kodak C533, and Samsung S630 can be had for less than $100 online.

~YEKCIM


thanks, im on my way to work but when i get home im going to look those up.

[Groucho]

I'd definitely hit eBay and get a camera from a year or two ago, you can probably easily find one for half the price that it originally sold for, with little wear on it. An advantage of getting an older camera is that it's easier to find reviews for it, too. :)

[photo_chick]

I have sen my old p&s, a great little camera IMO, for around $50 (this kills me becasue I paid $$$ for it a few years ago!). It is a Fuji A340 and is 4mp. There are still a few floating around here and there that are new.

Most of the cameras in the under $100 catagory that I have seen (I have been looking for MIL) have some serious shutter lag issues still.

[photo_chick]

The Fujifilm A500, Kodak C533, and Samsung S630 can be had for less than $100 online.

~YEKCIM

You can also pick up nice underwater housing fo rthe Fuji A500 for like another $50. That could come in handy at the parks.

[DisneyMom5]

I hesitate to bother the experts, but I didn't know who else to ask. :confused3

I would like a digital camera, around $200, simple is better, zoom ok, but prefer not a ton of complicated bells and whistles.

I want to make prints and also work with the pics on the computer.
I use an internet photo service so I don't need one that has it's own printer dock.
I'd just like bright, clear, decent pics.

I have been using a really old, clunky Kodak digital, which was given to me, and which I have really liked, but it is starting to fall apart.

My dd has a HP photosmart M407 (?) [also given to her] and I'm not a real big fan, only because it seems I have to do so much just to shoot a pic. [Probably user error, LOL ;) ]

I have a lot of photography experience from back in the day.
(non-auto SLR and darkroom work, sigh, those were the stone ages, no? LOL :rolleyes1 )
So it's not that I am unfamiliar with cameras and photography, I guess I am just getting old. LOL

Do any of you all powerful, all knowing photo guru genuises know of a camera that would work for me?

[Master Mason]

Take a look at the Canon A series line. My son has one that works pretty.

Also, the Fuji's are known for having better low light performance, but other than that I don't know much about them.

[jann1033]

my daughter also has the canon a series ( i think her's is a610 or something, it's a 7mp) and it takes very nice shots & also has a creative side of the dial where you can set your own shutter etc if you grow tired of p &s auto or the auto scene modes.. hers has the same sensor as the s2IS that you see some nice shots from on here.

[DisneyMom5]

Thank you both! My recent copy of Consumer reports is on cameras, so I am going to combine the advice I get on here with that and see what that gets me. Hoping to get one soon so I can practice before our trip in Sept.

[GrumpyOne]

I have a pair of the a620s and it's a great little camera.

[chalee94]

after doing some research to recommend a new camera for my parents, i like the canon a570 is - currently available at newegg for a little over $220 (including a 1gb SD card.)

(i have an old 4 megapixel nikon that suits me fine...but the canon is tempting me.)

[Marion]

I love the Canons... and vote stay away from Fuji. I just bought a Canon Powershot SD1000 and I love love LOVE it. It was $299 cdn though. The Fuji I bought at Xmas was a big mistake, took ages to take the photo and it ate batteries at a phenomenol rate.

[marywdw]

Hello! I am looking to buy a new digital camera, preferably for under $200. I don't use a camera too much, but I'm getting married at Disney in 5 months and I figure I'll need it for shower, wedding, honeymoon, etc. pictures! I am not much of a photographer, but I want something that will take good pictures and is easy to use and transfer pictures to the computer. I don't currently have any photo software, so something that comes w/ whatever you need to view, save, and share your pictures online would be perfect!
Thanks so much!!!!

[Master Mason]

Take a look at the canon A line of cameras you can probably find something that will fit your needs there.

[klmall]

I just wanted to add two things. First, check around. Someone you know may have the camera Master Mason recommends and you could try it out to see how you like it. And second, whatever camera you do buy, since you say you don't use a comera much, devote time to learning how to best use your new camera. Take it places and snap away in different conditions and then practice transferring the pictures and processing them so you can see how they turn out.

[RadioNate]

I've been out of the p&s market for awhile so I'm woefully behind about what is out there. My DH needs a CHEAP camera for work. I think their budget is about $150 total. I know that isn't much to work with.

The basically need to take photos of prizes that they are giving away. I suggested some sort of light box set up to go with it.

Something like this they can make themselves
http://www.pbase.com/wlhuber/light_box_light_tent

or something they can purchase like this
http://www.ezcube.com/

So I'm looking for a camera for between $100-150 that will take decent enough shots. Would the Canon A550/A560 be about the best in that range? Cheaper is better. What about the Lumix DMC-LZ6?

Thanks for any advice.

[Anewman]

While not perfect, I feel that the Panasonic LZ series is close to the best value in point and shoot digicams.

Where else can you get a 6x optical zoom and Optical image stabilization for about $125.

This is from my daughters LZ3
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/Manobeer/AUG%202006/P1000535.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/Manobeer/AUG%202006/P1000545.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/Manobeer/AUG%202006/P1000430.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/Manobeer/AUG%202006/P1000512.jpg

[Groucho]

You can also go the used route and get a 1-2-year-old higher-end camera.

[seobaina]

Hi

I nrealise I'm probably committing a sin here by asking for advice on cheap lower tech cameras ;) but...

I currently have the Canon A70
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-Digital-Camera-Optical/dp/B00008OE5G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1207181163&sr=1-2

I go to WDW in 3 weeks and I was tempted to buy myself a new, or good condition used, camera (as the A70 is borrowed). I love the A70 and always get good pics but it is old. However, I am very broke and can't afford to spend money on a new high tech one. I've been looking on amazon and ebay (mostly cause I'm in the USA and it's more expensive here). Can anyone recommend something that I might be able to get for around $70-80 (esp cause of postage and getting new memory cards)? If poss I'd like it to be better than the A70 and small/light enough to carry on holiday. Any recommendations or advice PLEASE?

Thanks :)

[Jeanne B]

Well, I typically recommend Canons along with many others on here. Just looking quickly, the best thing I could come up with (although still out of your price range) is a refurbished A560 from Adorama for $109.95 plus shipping. Adorama is reputable, I've purchased from them before and they're often recommended on here.

http://www.adorama.com/ICAA560R.html?searchinfo=A560&item_no=1

You can usually find memory pretty cheap online, Amazon usually sells Kingston 2GB sd cards for $10 or so and buy.com sometimes has specials (and if you use google checkout you can usually get $10 off).

[dr_zero]

I have ordered from Uxcell in the past for some Ipod stuff and some silicone skins for a p&s but never though about looking for other stuff there.

So I was pleasantly surprised to find they have remotes for Nikon Canon and Pentax cameras pretty cheap.
http://www.uxcell.com/search.php?keywords=NIKON&page=1&sort=priceAsc&categories_id=1123&view=Gallery

They have other items also like the covers for the LCD on the D60 and D70 and all kinds of odds and ends.

Now I know some of the items are generic Chinese made items but alot of the stuff is made on the same production lines just not labeled as that companies but we will never know for sure without being there.

Just thought I would share a bargain I had found with the group.

http://media.uxcell.com/uxcell/images/item/catalog/ux_a08061300ux0164_ux_c.jpg
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/2170RXXCCZL._SS500_.jpg

[fhirleighinn]

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Uxcell

Not the best reviews. Most of thier products seem to be knockoffs, and unknown brands.

[dr_zero]

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Uxcell

Not the best reviews. Most of thier products seem to be knockoffs, and unknown brands.

IDK I haven't had any issues with them my friend initially sent me the link last year when I go my Ipod and she hasn't had any issues either. Maybe things have changed I will let you know when my remote comes in. :thumbsup2

[dr_zero]

The package came today! Opened it up and took this little baby out and fired up the camera.
Worked like a charm, right on! :thumbsup2 Wife even had to try it out LOL

I also got a coupon for $5 off another order so I can get another remote if I wanted for FREE cant beat that with a stick.

Here is the remote. Looks just like the original with one little extra bit LOL :lmao:
I would like to see inside of a Nikon one to see how the circuit compares.

http://i34.tinypic.com/25swktz.jpg

So if you dont mind a knock off that works then you can get one of these :thumbsup2

For those who are hesitant to order online you can go through ebay also.

[Code]

For those who are hesitant to order online you can go through ebay also.

Indeed I would much rather buy my cheap knockoff accessories from Ebay so they don't have my CC# and I have some protection through Paypal.

[dr_zero]

Indeed I would much rather buy my cheap knockoff accessories from Ebay so they don't have my CC# and I have some protection through Paypal.

I agree with you 100% there, and that is what I like about their site your can use Paypal to pay them so their is that extra layer between you and them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Why are people so harsh on the place also I mean Im not saying order your lenses from there but for something like a remote or one of the flash diffuser things thats just a plastic rectangle or a tupperware tub why not get one for less than retail.

You can get a remote from wal mart for a couple of bucks that will work your tv so why does a single button remote for a camera have to be much more?

[ukcatfan]

Where is Groucho with his handmade Tic-Tac wired shutter release. I was going to make one but realized the purchase of the soldering gun made it more expensive than just buying one. For anyone that already has a soldering gun, you can make a release for about $5.

[Anewman]

DealExtreme is 80 cents more, but they ship for free.

http://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.806

[dr_zero]

DealExtreme is 80 cents more, but they ship for free.

http://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.806

Thanks for the tip! They have some neat stuff :thumbsup2

[jennwndrlnd]

DealExtreme is 80 cents more, but they ship for free.

http://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.806
Have you ever bought anything from them? I am needing a lens pen, an air blower and some cleaning cloths. Free shipping is always good. :)

[Anewman]

Have you ever bought anything from them? I am needing a lens pen, an air blower and some cleaning cloths. Free shipping is always good. :)

yes I have...

I purchased a couple GorillaPod clones from them about a year ago, Delivery took about 10 business days but considering the price I was satisfied.

[Dismom+two]

Dh does a lot of traveling for work. He has finally decided that he would like a camera to bring along with him. He is NOT a photographer but any means and does not need anything expensive.
He has a birthday this week and I wanted to get one for him.
Does anyone have any suggestions for something between $50 and $100?
I want to get him something cheap but not CHEAP if that makes sense!~

Any thoughts??

THanks!!

[webshark3]

There isn't a whole lot that make sense in that price range.

Is $150-$200 out of the question?

Maybe a $99 Kodak...

[Frantasmic]

Samsung S Series cameras start at 89.99.

Panasonic makes the Lumis DMC-LZ6K, 7.2 megapixels with 6x optical zoom.

[YesDear]

Personally speaking inexpensive and cameras are two terms I rarely use together. But that is me!

[Dismom+two]

Well for a "photographer" amateur or Professional ...cheap and camera should not be put in the same sentence however I am just looking for something that will just be used for snapshots.

Thanks for the help though.

[MarkBarbieri]

In that price range, I'd look for something used from someone upgrading.

[d96j97]

Hi everyone! My DS just purchased a 10MP Nikon Cool Pix for $130. We took it to a baseball game and were soooooooo disappointed with the pictures....very grainy and fuzzy. We ended up returning it only 1 day after purchasing it. He was sooooo bummed! BTW...he is 13 years old. I have a Sony Cybershot and a Cannon digital for myself, but they were somewhere around $300. They take great pictures. Does anyone have a camera for under $150 that takes crisp, clear ditital pictures? Thanks!!

[pyrxtc]

TRy Olympus Auctions on Ebay. You can get a stylus digital for pretty cheap on there direct from Olympus. They are great camera's. I own 4 different ones and never a problem.

[Dancemom03]

I'll second the Olympus stylus suggestion. I have two and use mine for everything from shots for the newspaper to vacation pics to ebay photos. Very easy to use with enough features for an array of different situations.

I have a weakness for cameras and use one for my job too so, at one time or another, I've tried most of the reasonably priced cameras out there. I like Olympus best and prefer the XD (used mostly by Olympus & Fuji) to SD card technology for some odd reason too. DH and the girls joke that if they lose me in a store, they just need to head for the camera section and wait cause I'm sure to turn up there playing touchy/feelie with all the new camera models. ;)

[dawson5]

Hi everyone! My DS just purchased a 10MP Nikon Cool Pix for $130. We took it to a baseball game and were soooooooo disappointed with the pictures....very grainy and fuzzy. We ended up returning it only 1 day after purchasing it. He was sooooo bummed! BTW...he is 13 years old. I have a Sony Cybershot and a Cannon digital for myself, but they were somewhere around $300. They take great pictures. Does anyone have a camera for under $150 that takes crisp, clear ditital pictures? Thanks!!
can I ask what he was taking a picture of? My son has a nikon coolpix (8mp) and it takes wonderful pics. I know there are settings that allow you to fit more pictures on your card, which reduces the quality of the photo. I do know that if you are far away you won't get clear pictures either.

That being said we have a canon powershot a610 that takes great photos but is not fast, decent zoom lens. I know we paid more for it but it was probably 4 years ago. I would assume they have value models available.

A great resource for camera reviews is dpreview.com

[torinsmom]

I was also wondering what kind of pics he took? If he was zooming in, and it doesn't have a high enough optical zoom, the pictures will be fuzzy. Maybe take more pictures around the house and see how they come out. You may have to explain the zoom to him.My camera can zoom to 20X, but after 10X, it is digital zoom. There is a little line in the picture view that shows me when I have done max optical zoom and after that, pictures come out fuzzy.

Marsha

[Blue.Fairy2]

Is this his first camera?

If so this one might be a little complicated but being last years model it is a great buy and just a tad more than your 150 mark.

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Powershot-A2000IS-Digital-Stabilized/dp/B001EQ4BZE/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1248787353&sr=1-19


If you want a more point and shoot friendly camera, this one takes awesome pics....not as good as the above on action shots and zoom. I own it and love it for shots when I do not want to fuss with settings. And for $129 it is well within your range.

In fact some of the pics in the customer image gallery for this camera are mine. I love this camera and I have 5 digitals more times as not I grab this one for ease of use.

http://www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-Finepix-Digital-Camera-Optical/dp/B0012Y6WFA/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1248787711&sr=1-16

[Darcy03231]

I was wondering too because my daughter has the Nikon Coolpix and it takes better pictures than my more expensive camera. Crystal clear.

[Blue.Fairy2]

I was wondering too because my daughter has the Nikon Coolpix and it takes better pictures than my more expensive camera. Crystal clear.

not all coolpixs are created equal ;) depends on make and model.

Also own a coolpix and not especially impressed with it bought it for DS and it is a low end model, pictures are good just not great.

[Chereya]

This was just posted on Slick Deals today. I love Canon cameras and am on my third one over a 10 year span. This one is reg $180 on sale at Dell for $115.

Canon Powershot SD1200 IS (http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=A2532097&cs=19&c=us&l=en&dgc=CJ&cid=24471&lid=566643&acd=10495476-1225267-u0t0f0fp22973c0s441)

[tmccullough]

We bought our Sony Cybershot at WalMart for just under $150 with 10 megapixels and took it to Disney and it took wonderful crisp colorful pictures and it has a selection on the dial that says easy for just quick pics that you don't want anything fancy. It's nice for dummies like me! :rotfl2:

[Blue.Fairy2]

This was just posted on Slick Deals today. I love Canon cameras and am on my third one over a 10 year span. This one is reg $180 on sale at Dell for $115.

Canon Powershot SD1200 IS (http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=A2532097&cs=19&c=us&l=en&dgc=CJ&cid=24471&lid=566643&acd=10495476-1225267-u0t0f0fp22973c0s441)

does not seem to be available :(

[Chereya]

Sorry - the link was working this morning when I posted it. It must have gotten pulled. :(

[Blue.Fairy2]

Sorry - the link was working this morning when I posted it. It must have gotten pulled. :(

np there are other great bargains but it is only a 24 hour sale I think.

[TaraPA]

Another vote here for an of the Canon Power Shots. I've had the A95 & currently the A610, love them both.

Make sure he knows not to just snap the picture quickly. With my digitals, anyway, you have to depress the button only half-way so it self-focuses, then continue to take the pic. It's like you have to pause before clicking. If I don't do that & snap too quickly every picture is grainy or blurry.

[d96j97]

can I ask what he was taking a picture of? My son has a nikon coolpix (8mp) and it takes wonderful pics. I know there are settings that allow you to fit more pictures on your card, which reduces the quality of the photo. I do know that if you are far away you won't get clear pictures either.




We actually took both close up pictures and distance pictures. In all honesty, I have to wonder if the factory settings were correct because the pictures looked like a 1-2MP at best. I've taken pictures for my boy's school yearbook for years with both of their digital camera (Both sony cybershots) and the pictures were FAR superior to these with the Nikon.

[d96j97]

not all coolpixs are created equal ;) depends on make and model.



It is the Nikon Coolpix L20 and yes, it was a lower end one ($130..sale for $116). I was really disappointed though....knowing that Nikon has one of the most reputable camera names out there today.

[d96j97]

We bought our Sony Cybershot at WalMart for just under $150 with 10 megapixels and took it to Disney and it took wonderful crisp colorful pictures and it has a selection on the dial that says easy for just quick pics that you don't want anything fancy. It's nice for dummies like me! :rotfl2:



How funny...what model is it?

[Blue.Fairy2]

It is the Nikon Coolpix L20 and yes, it was a lower end one ($130..sale for $116). I was really disappointed though....knowing that Nikon has one of the most reputable camera names out there today.

:goodvibes actually was not referring to the price

I know what you mean though I was disappointed with DS also. Should have gotten him a canon or a fuji

[Calliaz]

The Canon A1000 gets good reviews. (http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Powershot-A1000IS-Stabilized-Brown/dp/B001EQ4C6W/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1248835850&sr=1-2) I've seen the A1000 at Target.

However, for a bit more money, the A1100 is a newer model with some better features. (http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-A1100IS-Stabilized-Silver/dp/B001SER4BK/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1248835752&sr=8-5)

[dawson5]

We actually took both close up pictures and distance pictures. In all honesty, I have to wonder if the factory settings were correct because the pictures looked like a 1-2MP at best. I've taken pictures for my boy's school yearbook for years with both of their digital camera (Both sony cybershots) and the pictures were FAR superior to these with the Nikon.

I would wonder. My son's has a lower pixel count than yours did and when I look at his pics (he has one of the dog that is just great) I can see hairs, individual hairs, it's clear. I would wonder if it was defective or like you mentioned the settings. With three boys, they are constantly messing with my camera and I'm trying to undo what they have done. I've found google is my friend when this happens. I can usually google the problem and someone else has already dealt with this problem and an answer posted. Did you go to somewhere like Best Buy and use the camera beforehand? The only thing we're finding so far that we don't like about his camera is the amount of batteries it goes through. We need to invest in some recharge-ables.

[PinkRhombus]

I am on my 3rd Sony Cybershot since late 2002 and I will not buy another one. They start out okay, but the first one blew the chip after year, and the other two seem to have a decrease in the quality of focus over time.

I bought my daughter a Fuji one off of Best Buy last year for $70 or so. It was around Thanksgiving. That thing takes great pictures and, I think, has better features than my camera.

I'd like to pick one of those up for myself, or I'm going to bite the bullet and get an SLR camera.

Haven't decided yet.

[MichelleinMaine]

We actually took both close up pictures and distance pictures. In all honesty, I have to wonder if the factory settings were correct because the pictures looked like a 1-2MP at best. I've taken pictures for my boy's school yearbook for years with both of their digital camera (Both sony cybershots) and the pictures were FAR superior to these with the Nikon.

what is the file size of the pics when you put them on your computer? I wonder if some how he changed the image size w/o realizing it?

[*Seanaci*]

Casio Exilim. Got mine for $130 online through Target. Takes fantastic pics. LOADS of different settings (from night to firworks, scenery, to sports).

Amazon also older models for sale around $100...my mom has one and it too takes fantastic pics.

[SandrA9810]

I've always prefered Fuji cameras myself for P&S. I just got the Fuji z20 camera, I just need to buy a battery for it now to see how well it works.

If the lens pops out... that's optical and a lot better.
If the lens is flat... that's a digital zoom and doesn't have as good clarity for zoomed in pictures.

I would also check out the settings and make sure it's set to 10mp, although 7 should suffice for your average photo, leaving a bit more room on the memory card. And don't leave your camera on auto... you will not get the best pictures from that. You need to make sure your light settings and capture settings are correct for the enviroment you are working in. I've taken pictures messing around with different setting and gotten really fuzzy pictures because of it, but not because the camera wasn't good.

Personal opinion, I'm not fond of Nikon P&S but thier SLRs are really good and stand up to the test of time.
Cannon and Fuji both have really good P&S.

[SandrA9810]

I've always prefered Fuji cameras myself for P&S. I just got the Fuji z20 camera, I just need to buy a battery for it now to see how well it works.

If the lens pops out... that's optical and a lot better.
If the lens is flat... that's a digital zoom and doesn't have as good clarity for zoomed in pictures.

I would also check out the settings and make sure it's set to 10mp, although 7 should suffice for your average photo, leaving a bit more room on the memory card. And don't leave your camera on auto... you will not get the best pictures from that. You need to make sure your light settings and capture settings are correct for the enviroment you are working in. I've taken pictures messing around with different setting and gotten really fuzzy pictures because of it, but not because the camera wasn't good.

Personal opinion, I'm not fond of Nikon P&S but thier SLRs are really good and stand up to the test of time.
Cannon and Fuji both have really good P&S.

[Blue.Fairy2]

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[Blue.Fairy2]

removed

[Dancemom03]

Great pictures! That doggie pic is so clear I want to pet him!
My mom gave DD8 a finepix in pink for her first communion. I still prefer using the olympus for me b/c it has more megapixels and more optical zoom but I love that the fuji models will take both XD and SD cards now. They used to only accept XD cards when they first came out years ago. Literally the best of both worlds now for a great price...:thumbsup2

[Blue.Fairy2]

Great pictures! That doggie pic is so clear I want to pet him!
My mom gave DD8 a finepix in pink for her first communion. I still prefer using the olympus for me b/c it has more megapixels and more optical zoom but I love that the fuji models will take both XD and SD cards now. They used to only accept XD cards when they first came out years ago. Literally the best of both worlds now for a great price...:thumbsup2


thank you, she is a little darling.
I prefer my canon over the fuji but for a camera in this price range I think the z20 is difficult to beat.

[Anne34]

I was wondering too because my daughter has the Nikon Coolpix and it takes better pictures than my more expensive camera. Crystal clear.

I agree with this too -- my daughter's Cool pix takes wonderful pictures!!! I like it a lot better than the Olympus my husband bought.

[kmvand1]

Stay away from Kodak Easy Share!!! I purchased one for my daughter in March of this year. Last week at camp, it just stopped working! The lens is stuck in the out position and everytime we try to cut it on, a red light flashes and it turns off. I purchased a replacement plan from Walmart, it does not take effect until one year after the manufacturer's warranty! Well, I called Kodak and after interrogating me for almost a half an hour, they told me to send it back and they would look at it. If it could not be fixed, they would send me a "refurbished" model. Gee, thanks! No camera should only work for four months!:mad:

[coastiewifern]

I bought a stylus on suggestion from my SIL. I hate it!!!! My friend had the same one she hates it. I wish I remembered the model # but I got rid of it. I am looking to go back to a canon

[SandrA9810]

Stay away from Kodak Easy Share!!! :mad:

LOL.... yes by far the kodaks really are the worst digital cameras. They've might've started it all, but they sure don't beat the competition. My sister swears by them and I just nod along... only because I know better.

When I worked in photopass, I was handed a lot of guest cameras to use as well as my own (for photopass). So I got first hand experience on "testing" cameras in all different sorts of situations. I always hated the kodaks. Some of the older cannons have some pretty bad lag on them too. Sony and Nikon are both fast. Fuji and Cannon have newer models that compare to the other two, so I'd put them all on the same playing field now. And I've never dealt with an off brand that offered any sort of comparrison, so stay away from those.


Another thing you have to remember, is most cameras will auto adjust the lighting as to not "white out" everything. So when you're taking pictures from far away on a sunny day (and make sure your flash is turned off), make sure when you focus, the lighting is correct for the object you want to shoot. Or else it'll turn that person dark trying to make other things in the picture come out.


Here's some photos taken with a nikon, that I personally took at night time, free handed with a Nikon P&S.
http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/SandrA9810/nightphotos.jpg

[jewjubean]

I swear by casios. I got mine for under 120 and It takes awesome pictures..
The exact model that I have is out of date. But the brand is awesome and the battery lasts for up to 3 days taking lots of pictures.
Examples:

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z236/jewjubean/disney337-2.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z236/jewjubean/dsiney037.jpg

[Blue.Fairy2]

Oh one thing I forgot is canon has a trade in program.

It is called Canon Loyalty Program.

You can trade in your old canon for a newer model, I am not sure about this but I think they will even take non working cameras.

[SandrA9810]

Here's a shot of just the geosphere at night...

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/SandrA9810/SpaceshipEarth-night.jpg

All the pictures are copied from face book photos into paint together. I don't have the actually picture, as the camera isn't mine. I just get to be the elected photographer.

[Chereya]

Posted on Slick Deals today:

Canon Powershot A2000IS for $130 on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B001EQ4BZE/ref=ord_cart_shr?tag=slickdeals&_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance)

This camera's regular price is $200 so it's 35% off.

[d96j97]

Checked this as soon as you posted & price was listed as $199?????? Thanks so much to everyone for your help as we still haven't made a decision. Keep your advice coming!
:goodvibes

[Chereya]

Checked this as soon as you posted & price was listed as $199?????? Thanks so much to everyone for your help as we still haven't made a decision. Keep your advice coming!
:goodvibes

Ugh, I can't keep up. :guilty: I checked back and it also says $199 for me, too. I guess they only offer a limited number at the sale price and after that it goes back to the regular price. :confused3

[DISfan0829]

We just purchased some Kodak re-furb cameras on eBay from the Kodak store. We got a 10MP camera for around $117 with a 1 year warranty and it works great.

It was the model Z1012IS.

[CharacterFan]

I'm a Pentax user. They aren't a big here in the US, but I love my Pentax dSLR. I'm looking at getting a P&S for christmas this year.

Before I got my SLR I used a Kodak v series camera. I had a v603 which I loved. I gave it to my dad. I also used a v803. The pictures were always quick and clear. I got them off ebay, with extra batteries, memory card, and they were new. I paid $83 for each. I'd also recommend the Kodak Z series if you want a larger camera with more zoom.

If you want a cheap SLR look into the Pentax K100d Super. It's about $150-$250 used.

[nunzia]

I had a Sony Cybershot and hated it..it took forever to be able to shoot and by then the kid had moved. I got a Koday EasyShare after alot of research and it's fine (z1285 model) but it does seem to take a while to store the picture. I need to spend more time trying to figure out the settings, but it seems like they don't really do much.

[Blue.Fairy2]

Checked this as soon as you posted & price was listed as $199?????? Thanks so much to everyone for your help as we still haven't made a decision. Keep your advice coming!
:goodvibes

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Powershot-A2000IS-Digital-Stabilized/dp/B001EQ4BZE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1249220483&sr=1-1


listed $159.99 but click on the 52 new and you can find it for $145.99 with $5.49 shipping if you scroll down.

[ma2jr]

I love the Canon Powershot as well......

[laughinplace199]

Since you all seem to know a lot about cameras, can anyone recommend a reasonably priced very small camera? I'm running the Disney marathon and would love to get a small camera to put in my waistpack. I'd love to take pictures during the race. I have an older Sony Cybershot, but it's too big to lug around for 26.2 miles.

[ceecee]

We have had no problems with our Kodak Easy Shares. We have upgraded them but the old ones were passed down and they are still doing fine.

[Tweevil]

I need a new camera... the P&S - polaroid I have let me down in April of 09. It was so bright and sunny that all of my photos were white washed. I lost all of my disney photos. :scared1:

I am looking for another one for our Oct trip - one that can do sunny and dark because we are going to MNSSHP and I don't want to miss any shots.

So - for a complete camera dummy - which one could do both?

[Blue.Fairy2]

Since you all seem to know a lot about cameras, can anyone recommend a reasonably priced very small camera? I'm running the Disney marathon and would love to get a small camera to put in my waistpack. I'd love to take pictures during the race. I have an older Sony Cybershot, but it's too big to lug around for 26.2 miles.

Fuji Z20 would be perfect for this.

[laughinplace199]

Fuji Z20 would be perfect for this.

Thank you!

[Blue.Fairy2]

Fuji has just come out with a Z30 I found it on amazon cheaper than the z20

http://www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-FinePix-Digital-Optical-Violet/dp/B001R23JNA/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1249307919&sr=1-13

[Howellsy]

I'm looking for a standard digital camera to take with me on my trip next week - my budget is £70 but I'd prefer to spend less than that if I can! I've found two or three so far that I'm stuck between, but I have no idea how to make a choice. Here's two of them:

http://www.samsungcamera.co.uk/series/19/fun_and_easy/camera/49/es15.html
http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/a/fujifilm_a100/

I'm looking for one that's easy to carry around and which has a fairly decent battery life. I'll be taking nighttime/fireworks/parade shots of course, but I'm expecting them to be awful no matter what camera I have to be honest :laughing: I'll be off to university in a few weeks too, so I imagine I'll be taking a lot of photos of people close-up.

I'd appreciate any advise I can get :)

[zackiedawg]

Between those two, I'd be more prone to recommend Fuji...they have been in the game a bit longer, and have established themselves as one of the 'big 6' manufacturers in the P&S game (Sony, Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Panasonic, Olympus). Any of those are pretty safe to recommend to almost anyone. Not to dismiss other players, like Kodak, Pentax, Samsung, Ricoh, etc...but the big 6 are more common, more known, mor reviewed, and therefore easier to recommend.

My stepfather has a Fuji F60FD, BTW, and it is quite a good camera for someone not knowledgeable about photography. It is better than the A100, with better pixel pitch and low light performance on a much larger 1/1.6 sensor rather than the 1/2.3 sensor in the A100...and it should be within about £10 in price.

[stm61]

Casio Exilim. Got mine for $130 online through Target. Takes fantastic pics. LOADS of different settings (from night to firworks, scenery, to sports).

Amazon also older models for sale around $100...my mom has one and it too takes fantastic pics.

ok I'm running out of time to buy a camera for our trip Sept. 19th. Right now I've got it narrowed down to the Casio Exilim, Kodak M1033, and Fuji Z20 from reading this thread. Can anyone tell me what model Exilim they have? I checked the stores yesterday and there seem to be 2 or 3 with the same name, different model #. Also, does anyone know if the Z20 has been replaced by a newer model? We don't have a lot of store choices around here and I'm hesitant to order online without seeing it in the store first. Thanks.

[Blue.Fairy2]

ok I'm running out of time to buy a camera for our trip Sept. 19th. Right now I've got it narrowed down to the Casio Exilim, Kodak M1033, and Fuji Z20 from reading this thread. Can anyone tell me what model Exilim they have? I checked the stores yesterday and there seem to be 2 or 3 with the same name, different model #. Also, does anyone know if the Z20 has been replaced by a newer model? We don't have a lot of store choices around here and I'm hesitant to order online without seeing it in the store first. Thanks.

yes the z20 has been replaced with a newer model but it is still being sold and is now I think an excellent buy at $90

http://www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-Finepix-Digital-Camera-Optical/dp/B0012Y6WFA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1251666445&sr=8-1

I would not hesitate to buy this camera for $90

The z30 is $110 at amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-FinePix-Digital-Optical-Orange/dp/B001R23JN0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1251666466&sr=1-3

also a great buy

http://www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-FinePix-Digital-Optical-Orange/dp/B001R23JN0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1251666466&sr=1-3

amazon also has the new z33 wp which is waterproof

http://www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-FinePix-Z33WP-Waterproof-Pink/dp/B001R23JNU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1251666598&sr=1-4

I have ordered several camera's from amazon because of the great prices and would not hesitate to do so again.

http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/z/

read the user reviews at amazon, I will take a look to see what the differences are between the z20 and z30 when I get back and post that for you.

[stm61]

how does your Z20 handle low light/night pics? My older Kodak is horrible with them.

[luckymom4]

I have never bought my own camera, I've always got my Mom's hand-me-downs. My husband and I would like to buy a camera for our upcoming trip to DW and MNSSHP. We are both camera "dummies". We'd like to keep it below $200. We don't take a lot of pics, we just need something to get good shots of the kids and fireworks. They don't have to be the BEST pics, bit I'd like something that's not going to be blurry and still be pretty easy to operate. I'm looking at a Kodak Z1485 14 mp. Does anyone have an opinion on this camera or is there another you can recommend? Thanks in advance for any advice!

:hippie:

[VVFF]

I have never bought my own camera, I've always got my Mom's hand-me-downs. My husband and I would like to buy a camera for our upcoming trip to DW and MNSSHP. We are both camera "dummies". We'd like to keep it below $200. We don't take a lot of pics, we just need something to get good shots of the kids and fireworks. They don't have to be the BEST pics, bit I'd like something that's not going to be blurry and still be pretty easy to operate. I'm looking at a Kodak Z1485 14 mp. Does anyone have an opinion on this camera or is there another you can recommend? Thanks in advance for any advice!

:hippie:

Keep in mind that the main cause of blurry pictures is the user, not the camera. No matter what camera you buy, if you don't understand its limitations, you'll find it takes "blurry" pictures.

[luckymom4]

Great advice, thanks!

[VVFF]

Great advice, thanks!

With that advice in mind I would recommend telling us what type of camera you are looking for, size, brand, zoom needs, etc and maybe we can narrow down the plethora of options for you.

Fireworks picture really come down to having a stable surface. Sure, you can get a snapshot of some colors in the night sky without one but to truly get something that looks like fireworks you'll need a tripod or at least a nice trash can or something to set your camera on.

[luckymom4]

Now I'm going to open my mouth and expose my ignorance...I have no idea about any of that. No brand preference, I don't know what size refers to, no clue about zoom needs. My needs, as far as I can explain them, are just pics that will be recognizable. I want pics of the kids with characters, maybe a couple smiling shots with ice cream on their chin, you get the idea. I'm not very creative or artsy, I just want regular boring vaction pics. I admire people who get those great shots, but honestly that probably won't ever be me. The only reason I posted on here ( I thought all P&S cameras were pretty much the same) is that my stepdad has a digital camera that none of us can take a decent pic with. It has the auto-focus and all that stuff, but no matter what setting any of us use, the pics are inevitably blurry. So I thought maybe some were just extremely hard to use (or not made so great?) and I wanted to avoid one of those at all costs.

[luckymom4]

With that advice in mind I would recommend telling us what type of camera you are looking for, size, brand, zoom needs, etc and maybe we can narrow down the plethora of options for you.

Fireworks picture really come down to having a stable surface. Sure, you can get a snapshot of some colors in the night sky without one but to truly get something that looks like fireworks you'll need a tripod or at least a nice trash can or something to set your camera on.


Thanks for this advice on the fireworks. I would have stood there, camera in hand, not stabilizing, and wondered why it looked awful.

[NateNLogansDad]

That may sound a little harsh, but it is correct. Once you really learn about the camera, you will learn how to make your pictures much more crisp. I.E. if you set the camera to AUTO and are taking pictures at night without a flash for a more natural picture, the shutter needs to stay open longer. ANY movement will cause a blurry picture. Movement can be just from your hands not being steady enough (like mine) or from just pushing the shutter button. Whatever camera you are looking at, try to set it on something and use a 2 second delay so you can push the shutter and get your hands off before the picture is taken. That way it will stay perfectly still. Now, if your subject in the picture is moving, that's a whole new ball game.

That's the dumbed down version anyway. The guys on here can and have really gone into details which I'm still trying hard to understand!

I've seen my P&S camera on Ebay for $200 but it doesn't fit in your pocket. My 2009 trip report is in my signature and every picture was taken with my Nikon P80. If you think you might like somethng like that and want to know more about it, feel free to send me a PM with whatever you need.

[NateNLogansDad]

Thanks for this advice on the fireworks. I would have stood there, camera in hand, not stabilizing, and wondered why it looked awful.

I cheated and set up the camera with the sports setting which let me take 30 pictures in 2.5 seconds (shutter speed 1/15th of a sec.) My hands aren't steady by any means but if you take 300 pictures you usually get a few that don't look too bad:lmao:

[VVFF]

Now I'm going to open my mouth and expose my ignorance...I have no idea about any of that. No brand preference, I don't know what size refers to, no clue about zoom needs. My needs, as far as I can explain them, are just pics that will be recognizable. I want pics of the kids with characters, maybe a couple smiling shots with ice cream on their chin, you get the idea. I'm not very creative or artsy, I just want regular boring vaction pics. I admire people who get those great shots, but honestly that probably won't ever be me. The only reason I posted on here ( I thought all P&S cameras were pretty much the same) is that my stepdad has a digital camera that none of us can take a decent pic with. It has the auto-focus and all that stuff, but no matter what setting any of us use, the pics are inevitably blurry. So I thought maybe some were just extremely hard to use (or not made so great?) and I wanted to avoid one of those at all costs.

Don't worry about sounding "ignorant". No one here will "judge" you based on experience. I simply find that even a little bit of added knowledge can help even the casual P&Ser get better pictures. Even if they are "just of ice cream on the chin" ;).

Size = I'm referring to the size of the camera. Do you want credit card tiny? Or are you open to more sizeable cameras with more zoom and larger grips?

Zoom = If your in the stands at your son's T-ball game do you need to be able to get it so he is very large in the picture even though you are far away? Or are your shots limited mainly to close ups where you are within a few meters of what you are taking a picture of?

Brand = I'll assume by your response that you have no brand preference. This is just something that is useful as some people really hate or prefer certain brands from past experience...justified or not.

In regards to this camera that no one can get to take good pictures. Are you trying to take pictures inside? Is the flash going off? Problem with indoor pictures is, whether you realize it or not, the light inside is pretty dim typically. Because of this the camera has to take a lot longer to expose the picture. This longer time results in blur because our hands are not rock steady and typically neither is what we are taking pictures of. Using the flash illuminates our subject if we are withing a few feet and allows the camera to need less time to expose the picture. This reduced time results in less blur because our hands don't have as much time to shake and our subjects won't be able to move much as the time is so short.

Hope that explanation makes some sense to you. Again, I'm not trying to confuse you, I'm simply trying to help you realize the limitations of a camera no matter which you get.

[VVFF]

I cheated and set up the camera with the sports setting which let me take 30 pictures in 2.5 seconds (shutter speed 1/15th of a sec.) My hands aren't steady by any means but if you take 300 pictures you usually get a few that don't look too bad:lmao:

Yeah that's what I meant by "you can get a snapshot of colors in the night sky". Buy, because of the short exposure time(1/15th a second) you don't have time to get the nice trails that we associate with fireworks.

I've done this before though as getting a picture of SOMETHING is better than nothing IMO. But cameras may "choose" to expose for a much longer time if put in auto mode and then the user will likely see blurred dots of color.

[luckymom4]

I'm open as far as size goes, DH will carry the camera, not me. ;) I do expect to be within a few meters of whatever I shoot. And no brand preference. I just don't want to spend a LOT of money, I prefer to keep it below $200.

As far as stepdad's wicked camera, we've tried inside, outside, daylight, night time, flash, no flash, you name it. When he bought the camera, he took some pics of mountains and they turned out great. Now you couldn't get a decent pic of a plate of food, it blurs no matter what. I'm starting to wonder if he dropped it and didn't tell us....

[luckymom4]

Yeah that's what I meant by "you can get a snapshot of colors in the night sky". Buy, because of the short exposure time(1/15th a second) you don't have time to get the nice trails that we associate with fireworks.

I've done this before though as getting a picture of SOMETHING is better than nothing IMO. But cameras may "choose" to expose for a much longer time if put in auto mode and then the user will likely see blurred dots of color.

Ok, I can understand that. So Autofocus may not be my best bet when shooting fireworks, and definitely brace myself on something. I'll play with whatever camera I get before I leave so I can figure out the best way to do these shots. :thumbsup2

[ThurlFan]

Most point and shoot cameras have a dial of some kind to select different modes. These include Auto, sports, beach, fireworks, and more. It is vital that you double check which mode you are in before you press the shutter; if you carry the camera in a backpack or camera bag it is easy for the dial to get moved and next thing you know you're trying to take that picture of ice cream on the chin while in fireworks mode and not know it - resulting in poor results.

[NateNLogansDad]

Yeah that's what I meant by "you can get a snapshot of colors in the night sky". Buy, because of the short exposure time(1/15th a second) you don't have time to get the nice trails that we associate with fireworks.

I've done this before though as getting a picture of SOMETHING is better than nothing IMO. But cameras may "choose" to expose for a much longer time if put in auto mode and then the user will likely see blurred dots of color.

Yep, the SOMETHING was pretty much what I was going for :lmao: When walking around with 2 little guys, getting a good spot real early and staying in it wasn't really an option. 1/2 the time I had at least one of them in my arms or on my back while trying to take a picture. I was happy with SOMETHING :rotfl::thumbsup2

[Pirate-Jeff]

Go to Wal-mart,Target,Best Buy or Wal-Greens or a local camera shop and pick out a "point and shoot" that you like and feels good in your hand. I would do a little research before you get to the store. Remember the counter Guy most likely has no idea how to use a camera except maybe the guy at the camera shop.

What to look for:
Image stabilization
more optical zoom less digital
It is also nice if it will fit in your pocket.
Takes normal batteries "AA" so you can find them anywhere when they are dead
Good battery life
high mega pixels (so when you enlarge or crop they still look good)
Get extra memory card or cards (2 gig or larger)

If you want pictures of fire works that look great get a pocket size tripod.


My wife has a $150.00 Kodak that can take great pictures. I mean She takes the Great pictures. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE is what it takes.

There are some great threads on this site to help you learn "How to"

As far as focus learn how to use "YOUR CAMERA" before you go on vacation.
HINT: Push the shutter button 1/2 way down wait for the beep than push the button the rest of the way.

[adctd2WDW]

Luckymom, thank you for this thread. I am also a complete novice when it comes to cameras and picture taking and I have even taken my camera to WDW twice! I still have problems understanding what goes wrong. I took my kids to a field of flowers once for phots. The 1st two pictures came out great after that every picture was over exposed (I think this is the correct term- everything was too bright, almost white). I had not changed any settings at all. ????
I understand a little more after reading the above posts. Thank you to everyone for them. So, do I hold the shutter down longer when it is dark? Isn't that what a flash is for? If I hold the shutter down longer do I just get more flash?
I am such a novice that I almost don't know what questions to ask. It would almost be easier if there were a thread where if I posted a bad picture someone could possibly tell me what I did wrong.
Anyway, I will keep reading. I am sure I wil learn more.:goodvibes

[Frantasmic]

This article is for YOU!

http://www.popphoto.com/Features/24-Great-Photo-Gear-Bargains

Scroll down to the compact camera suggestions.

That Panasonic and Fuji would be the ones I'd look into.

[TheGoofster]

I know it can be very difficult when trying to decide on a camera that will serve you well, without spending too much for it. Most people will have their own preferences and recommendations which can be very helpful when trying to decide.
I would like to go ahead and give you my own personal recommendation of a really good camera at a great price, and hope that maybe it might help.

I recently purchased the Samsung SL30 at Target for only 89.99. To be honest I was mainly looking for a simple point and shoot that my wife could use, but as I spend more time with this camera, the more impressed I've become.

First of all, here are the specs of the camera:

http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/photography/digital-cameras/compact/EC-SL30ZBBA/US/index.idx?pagetype=prd_detail

Here are a few shots that I've recently taken to help show what this camera can do:

You mentioned fireworks, here's one I got yesterday (using a tripod and on night mode):
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o8/Jessdad/fw08.jpg

Being a 10.2 MP, it offers very crisp and clear images (that can be zoomed in on really close and don't lose any quality):
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o8/Jessdad/jessducks01b.jpg

I went ahead and added this so you can see a little better the 10.2 MP quality and how it relates to blowing up (zooming in on a picture) without losing quality:
the original
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o8/Jessdad/ducks01-1.jpg
the same shot blown up:
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o8/Jessdad/jessducks01c.jpg

It only has a 3X optical zoom (with an additional digital zoom available), but it does pretty good at bringing the shot to you:
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o8/Jessdad/bear006.jpg

It also has a high speed 5 pictures per second mode which allowed me to capture this (it's actually 2 pictures merged together, but you can see how clear they turned out even at high speed):
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o8/Jessdad/strike04a.jpg

I know it's not professional quality but for the price, you really do get a lot of camera (even though it's pretty small) for the money.

I hope this might help somewhat, and maybe at least give you something to consider.

[luckymom4]

Wow, thanks for all of this advice! Goofster, those pics are great! Can anyone explain the optical zoom thing? Is there a certain number I should look for on the zoom, what's the difference in optical vs. digital? And can you tell me about holding down the shutter down til I hear the beep? Why am I doing that and in what situation? Again, you guys have no idea how much I appreciate your help and advice! :thumbsup2:worship:

[Pirate-Jeff]

Optical zoom has better picture quality. The digital zoom takes the highest zoomed optical image and enlarges it digitally but also loses quality

The shutter button is pressed 1/2 way down to let the auto focus work. The beep signals you that it's focused and then and only then you press the button the rest of the way down to take the picture.

[ThurlFan]

Optical vs Digital Zoom, according to Kodak
http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=399&pq-locale=en_US&_requestid=1803

Basically, optical zoom uses the camera's lens to magnify the image before it gets captured by the sensor. Digital zoom takes the image that hits the sensor and uses a small portion of that image and enlarges it to write your file to the memory card. To do this, the camera's internal software has to make adjustments to the image and make guesstimates as to what certain pixels should look like. Have you ever enlarged something on a photocopier and noticed how jagged the edges of everything are? That's digital zoom.

A 3x optical zoom is going to give FAR better pictures than a 3x digital zoom, to the point where many camera shoppers ignore the digital zoom spec altogether and only compare optical zoom.

[luckymom4]

Thanks Thurlfan and Jeff! Having things explained so that I can understand them makes all the difference in the world. Optical zoom is now a top priority. :thumbsup2 With all this great advice, I'm sure to get the camera that suits our families needs! You guys are awesome, keep the advice coming please! :thanks:

[LPZ_Stitch!]

I recently purchased the Samsung SL30 at Target for only 89.99. To be honest I was mainly looking for a simple point and shoot that my wife could use, but as I spend more time with this camera, the more impressed I've become.

Hey, Goofster, how big is the actual SL30 camera? I checked it out on Amazon and the stated size is 6" x 7" x 3" :rolleyes2 Surely, that's the *box* it comes in!

I've been in the market for a small, *cheap* camera to take on bike rides; something that I wouldn't worry about tossing into a pocket (unlike my trusty Canon S3!), and the pics you posted are impressive for a < $100 camera.

Also, how sturdy would you rate it?

I know Samsung makes good electronics, I absolutely LOVE my Touch of Color HDTV! :cloud9:

[TheGoofster]

Hey, Goofster, how big is the actual SL30 camera? I checked it out on Amazon and the stated size is 6" x 7" x 3" :rolleyes2 Surely, that's the *box* it comes in!

I've been in the market for a small, *cheap* camera to take on bike rides; something that I wouldn't worry about tossing into a pocket (unlike my trusty Canon S3!), and the pics you posted are impressive for a < $100 camera.

Also, how sturdy would you rate it?

I know Samsung makes good electronics, I absolutely LOVE my Touch of Color HDTV! :cloud9:

The camera itself is roughly 3 1/2 inches long by 2 1/2 inches high by 1 inch wide. It really is pretty small. I've not had it too long, but it seems to be pretty sturdy. I've carried it in my pocket, my wife's pocketbook, in a small bag, etc... plus my kids have used it quite a bit, and so far I've had no problems. It feels pretty sturdy, but I try to take good care of it (not net it get tossed around too much), so I'm afraid I can't give you a better answer as to how sturdy it really is, but it does seem like it's well made.

LuckyMom4, here are a few shots that can help show the difference between the optical and the digital zoom:

first of all the regular (non-zoomed shot - focus on the church in the background):

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o8/Jessdad/compare01.jpg

Here is the 3x optical zoom:

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o8/Jessdad/compare02.jpg

and now the added 3x digital zoom:

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o8/Jessdad/compare03.jpg

It does bring it quite a bit closer, and in this case you don't see a whole lot of quality difference, but you will notice that there is a difference in the color saturation (plus if I try to edit the picture and zoom in closer you do start noticing more of a difference in the quality). Plus I was using a flat surface when I took these shots, so there wasn't any motion or blurriness which there sometimes is when you take a shot while holding the camera).

Let me also add that the Digital zoom isn't always available to use in every mode. On some modes such as Night, portrait, landscape, etc... where you can manually select what kind of scene you want, the digital zoom isn't available. Also, if you use the movie mode, it isn't available.

[bch044]

Hello,

I know this has been asked over and over but I cant find it. I am looking for a cheap ($150-$200) or cheaper. One small enough i can through in my pocket and not have to carry a bag or anything like that.

Thanks
Steve

[AlbertZeroK]

I would personally stay away from Kodak, Samsung and HP.

Nikon and Canon Cameras are nice once you get out of the $120 range. I like Sony cameras as well, but I would suggest finding a Sony Camera that takes SD cards instead of their proprietary Memory Sticks which tend to be more expensive.

[Frantasmic]

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q210grouptravelzoom/ (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q210grouptravelzoom/)

check these out

[judomom2]

I am wanting to get a new camera for everyday use and our upcoming trip I currently have a nikon coolpix and hate it I had a pentax til I dropped it and the screen broke. I am wanting to shoot pics at Disney my daugthers judo matches and just everyday stuff
thanks

[DisneyDancer1986]

The one I have been eyes, but can't justify to my hubby of the need for a new point and shoot camera (I have a SLR, and our old p&s died on us) is the Canon PowerShot SX120-IS Black, it's a 10MP with a 10X Optical zoom, it's right on the $200 edge, but well worth the price. It's more compact then most cameras I've been with those specs & are great for kid shots (we used one for the Santa pix @ walmart last xmas).

I also agree with the tip about Sony cameras, make sure it will take an SD card (though most sold today will take either type of card). Best of luck finding a camera you'll love! :lovestruc

[ashleighbass06]

I just bought a GE X5. It takes 14mp pictures and has a 15x zoom and was only $130ish on Amazon. It is a full size P&S camera (not compact) and so far I like it. All the reviews I read said that it works like a $300 camera.

[mollybeasley]

Hi I was sent over here from another board. They tell me you're the experts, so I'm asking for your help. I'm getting a digital camera for DH whose birthday falls just days before our Orlando trip. (2 weeks) Can you recommend any good cameras in the $100-200+ price range. With all the sales this weekend I might get lucky and find something that's normally more expensive.

Digital camera, small, easy to use with one hand, if possible. Good picture quality and speed. Preferably waterproof and shockproof - if I can get a good one in my price range.

He likes a set up where you can use the same finger to take the picture and adjust the zoom. The thumb zoom controls are a little awkward for him, and it makes it harder to get a steady fast shot.

He takes a lot of outdoor shots now, but that's possibly because his current camera doesn't take good indoor shots.

I noticed a lot of Canon Power Shots in the paper today. Are they good?

Thanks so much for your help!