Looking for a good camera at a good price...

[Minnie's Pal]

I'm looking for a good digital camera for my kids (as their main gift.) I would rather not pay more than $100...the cheaper the better of course.

There are tons for sale around the holiday but I'm trying to avoid the bombs. Any suggestions?

 

[pyrxtc]

I can't say I would recommend anything under $100 as a "good" camera. I could recommend something that takes pictures but you'll have to replace in a year or two. Good luck !

 

[Minnie's Pal]

I agree...maybe I should rephrase it to say decent. Something that won't break within a year of normal use and that will take a decent picture.

 

[paysensmom]

My mother in law just ordered a panisonic lumex from Amazon yesterday. It has optical zoom of 8 which is pretty good. The camera was on clearance from $179 down to $92!! Had great reviews too

 

[NYCDiane]

You can go to WalMart --- they have great digital (name brand) cameras at great prices. You can probably get a 10-12mp camera there for around $50.

 

[JaymeC]

I highly recommend canon cameras, even the cheaper ones take better pictures than other cheapies.

 

[jgates]

My Quill tech rep suggested the Canon Powershot A490 - I hate to say I then went & ordered it from WM lol, as they had $89 online only bundle that included a 4gb memory card. He said a lot of schools, etc., buy it & it is a good durable camera with easy to use software. We puchased 2 for a giveaway promo we are doing for the holidays at work. Doesn't include a case, but I should be able to go back & pick that up. I had both shipped for .96 each to work or could have had shipped to store for free.

Obviously since we are having a drawing, I can't try it out, but I am going on his recommendations.

 

[2littleprincesses]

I am looking at this one for dd for Christmas:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Kodak-C143-Camera-hard-Bundle-Blue-Green-3-trailing-credit/15268906

It has a few good reviews on amazon

 

[Plumeria9]

This past Sunday & Monday Staples had an awesome deal on cameras. Normally I wouldn't let you know this because it would make you feel bad. But I think there are going to be some really good deals, so watch the ads and checkout slickdeals.net. I bought a Canon A3100, a small red point and shoot for $105+tax, and got a $50 Staples GC and 50 4x6 prints or something from Kodakgallery.com. The later are rebate items to do after your purchase. I had a $15 Staples coupon which I found on slickdeals, and the post for the ad to watch out for was also posted there. I set up a "deal alert" so whenever somebody posts a deal for "Canon" I get an email.

I have only owned Canon point and shoots, this is our 4th one. I just wanted to keep everything the same, since each camera is so similar, only newer functions are added w/ the new models. I can't wait to give it to my DD9, she's gonna freak! HTH!

 

[trustknoone]

I recommend this camera from this merchant. It is a refurb but mine is perfect came with everything. It's under $100 shipped. The only problem is it's pink and I don't know if your kids can live with that.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011E35WE/ref=pd_luc_mri?ie=UTF8&m=A2X5H3Q9X2KAV3

 

[livndisney]

I can't say I would recommend anything under $100 as a "good" camera. I could recommend something that takes pictures but you'll have to replace in a year or two. Good luck !

I have had two Kodak Easyshares in the last 10 years. Both bought for less than 100 each. One is still going strong 4 years later. (The first one was dropped). They take awesome pictures and you can record video with sound on them.


I am getting ready to buy 2 more for gifts this year.

 

[StephMK]

I am looking at this one for dd for Christmas:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Kodak-C143-Camera-hard-Bundle-Blue-Green-3-trailing-credit/15268906

It has a few good reviews on amazon

Thanks for posting this! That is my price range & DD10 would love the blue one. Nice that it comes w/the batteries & charger too. Since we already have Kodak software, I wanted to get her one that can share it too.

 

[kellia]

Kodak Easyshares are pretty good. Dd (15) just broke the display screen on hers, but she had it for 4 years. I had one that that a kid dropped and bent the lense that comes out, but my sons still use it.

I got dd a new one online at Target last week - Koday Easyshare 12mp w/case and card for $69 + 10% off coupon, but I don't see it anymore. Might be back, though!

 

[HeatherC]

I JUST bought a Canon Powershot yesterday at Best Buy. They had one on sale for 119 and one for $149. Walmart has the same cameras at the same price on sale. All the reviews I have read highly recommend them.

Hope this helps!

 

[csharpwv]

For anyone shopping for a camera this holiday season - who is looking to spend under $100.00 I will toss this word of caution out. Higher megapixel does not always mean higher quality pictures.

You have to think about the situation where the camera will be used (indoor, outdoor, natural lighting, etc etc)

Higher megapixel camera with very very cheap lenses are not good cameras - not matter how you slice it.

Instead of shopping based on megapixel - shop for lens size instead.
I'm not talking about zoom (digital vs optical) I'm talking about the physical size of the glass lens on the front of the camera.

There are tons of really cheap cameras that literally have pin hole lenses - and YES they take decent photos - but only in 'perfect' lighting.

Plus - megapixel count really only come into play when you are going to enlarge photos well beyond 8X10 OR you are going to be zooming in on a specific aspect of the photo AND printing that portion of the photo.

For the average/casual camera user a 5-8 Megapixel camera will due a good job - AS LONG as it has a decent lens on the front to capture the actual image.

Also another point to remember is this - if you are shopping for a mid-priced camera, the further the flash is from the lens - the better your photos will be.
By placing the lens very close to the flash, it really blows out the white balance in your photos and makes from horrible washed out photos.

I am a free lance photographer and always enjoy helping people take better photos because at the end of the day - photography isn't so much about the equipment as it is about the operator. If your have a good concept of composition - and a basic grasp on lighting, your photos will be better than average.

Also - I will add this, the best gift you can buy your child when you buy them a camera is an inexpensive coffee table type book of work by a famous photographer AND a Photography for Dummies book. OR better yet take them to an art museum while they are showing the work of artistic photographers. Give them something to aspire to! Art is a real eye opener for young minds, and what those young minds can come up with is simply astounding sometimes!