Need a budget camera!

[Neelloc]

Our camera is just about kaput and we need a new one for our upcoming trip!

I don't want to spend more than $200. I'd like a basic point and shoot, that takes nice pictures both indoors and out.

Any recommendations? A friend has a Nikon Coolpix S3000 and raves about it, but it seems to be an older model being phased out by the s3100, which doesn't have as good reviews.

Suggestions please!!!!! Thanks!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

DH has a Nikon Coolpix L22 and it came bundled with a carrying case, mini tripod and SD card for $110 at Best Buy. It looks like they have several bundles right now.

I have a Coolpix L110, but it has more features and it was about $280.

We have both been very happy with them, more so that we were with our Kodak cameras prior to these.

DH even broke the little thing that holds the battery in and with the Blacktie program they have, it was fixed for free.


The Nikon was the only ones we foud that had the features we wanted at a reasonable price. I have to say the picture quality is better as well, but I am used to Kodak cameras.

 

[StrawberryTink]

I have the Nikon coolpix sc3100 its awesome as far as i can tell. Have only had it a week.

Im really pleased i bought it, cant wait to get it to WDW its the reason i bought it!! Its a great price and the quality of pictures is wonderful!!

 

[squirrel]

I like my Canon PowerShot A710IS, it takes great photos and movie clips. I like that it takes 2AA bateries. I purchased a charger and 4 rechargable batteries when I bought the camera (I think in 2007) and they are still working great.

 

[ktlm]

If you really want the S3000 you might be able to find a great used one on Ebay. My DD dropped and broke her camera (an old Canon of mine that I gave her when I upgraded). I loved the Canon point and shoot I currently had, but it was a couple of years old, so I decided I would upgrade again, and then she could have mine. I got the new version of mine which was supposedly a great camera by the reviews. Comparing the pictures it took with the pictures from my older camera, I had just spent a whole lot of money for a camera that did not take as good of pictures as the one I already had. I took it back to the store, and got on Ebay, and found a duplicate of my camera with all the accessories including the original box, and not a scratch or mark on it, for $70 (I think the camera was over $300 when I got it). Now I can't decide whether to give DD the one from Ebay as planned or give her my old one and keep the one from Ebay for myself it is in such perfect condition!

 

[semo233]

I really like the Olympus VR-310 I bought a few weeks ago for our trip to the Grand Canyon. I have seen no 14 mp cameras with a 10x optical zoom. It also came with a carrying case and a 4G memory card! So far, we love it! and the price was perfect!

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Produc...1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC10604-Cat83&topnav=

 

[Deb & Bill]

I'm a Sony fan and have always purchased Sony Digital cameras, both for personal use and at work. My son is going to college and needed a new camera, so I got him a Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W570 16.1 MP Digital Still Camera with Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 5x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and 2.7-inch LCD from Amazon. I added three memory sticks, a camera case, an extra battery, a case to hold the memory cards and a charger that will also work in his car. Total it cost less than $200. It's small, easy to use and makes great photos. Plus you can shoot panorama shots.

 

[scootch]

I have a sony tx5 Waterproof, Shockproof, freeze proof... so almost unbreakable. It is about $285 though... but I love it. It has become my first choice, over taking my $500+ Canon!

 

[cats mom]

I'm another Canon fan. I'm trying to hold out to see if anything new and exciting is released in the fall. But I think if I were in the market right now I'd take a look at the Power Shot ELPH 300. I don't have first hand experience with it though.

 

[ktlm]

I'm another Canon fan. I'm trying to hold out to see if anything new and exciting is released in the fall. But I think if I were in the market right now I'd take a look at the Power Shot ELPH 300. I don't have first hand experience with it though.

Thats the one I returned. Great reviews and supposedly one of the best on the market right now, but when I held it side by side with my old Canon SD1100 and took side by side pics, the photos on the old Canon were better. I decided if the current best on the market didn't take as good a pictures as my old one, I'd stick to my old one.

 

[disneymarie]

I'm a Sony fan and have always purchased Sony Digital cameras, both for personal use and at work. My son is going to college and needed a new camera, so I got him a Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W570 16.1 MP Digital Still Camera with Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 5x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and 2.7-inch LCD from Amazon. I added three memory sticks, a camera case, an extra battery, a case to hold the memory cards and a charger that will also work in his car. Total it cost less than $200. It's small, easy to use and makes great photos. Plus you can shoot panorama shots.

I love the Sony Cyber shot cameras, you can be in a dark cellar, not lights and get great photos. Gave the DSC-W370 5x zoom to dd and bought the 16 mp with 10 x zoom CMOS G lens. I love it more because of the better zoom. It was bundeled at Sears.

If I had the funds I would have loved to bought a Panasonic Lumix. But I had previously bought a DSLR and and wanted something small a no brainer and would work in dim light and under $200. The camera is perfect. I have not one complaintan take at least 1000 photos a week for work.
Oh, it has a great video and the zoom works with it.

 

[SplashMo]

Great choices in the below buying guide:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/recommended-cameras.htm

 

[cats mom]

Thats the one I returned. Great reviews and supposedly one of the best on the market right now, but when I held it side by side with my old Canon SD1100 and took side by side pics, the photos on the old Canon were better. I decided if the current best on the market didn't take as good a pictures as my old one, I'd stick to my old one.

That's disappointing. I've heard so many good things about the ELPH 300. Thanks for sharing your review though. It's always good to hear from folks who have actually tried it.

I'm still using my old SD1100 too. It's going strong, if a bit dinged up here and there.

A Canon rep told me they're focusing on features to really differentiate their point and shoot line from cell phone cameras and there should be new innovations coming soon. We'll see.

 

[KBW]

Would you consider a refurbished one? I bought a refurbished Panasonic Lumix (DMC-ZS1) back in May. Great camera, and I got it at Overstock.com for about $130 because it was refurbished. (And the Vera Bradley Tech case fits it perfectly!)

 

[Bibbidi]

I'm another Canon fan. I'm trying to hold out to see if anything new and exciting is released in the fall. But I think if I were in the market right now I'd take a look at the Power Shot ELPH 300. I don't have first hand experience with it though.

This is the one I'm planning to buy in the next couple weeks before our trip. It is $225 on amazon right now. Got an Excellent rating from CNet and lots of positive reviews. I've been looking for months. Missed out on a great deal on Panasonic Lumix ZS5 a few months ago, but this Canon looks like it will fit the bill.

 

[polkadotminnie]

I have bought all my cameras used from B and H online. I have loved every one of them. I keep upgrading as I get better at photography. They have wonderful service and I have never had any problem with a camera that I bought used. They are very reputable. This is the point and shoot that I keep in my purse. It is a Sony HX5v. I have taken it to Harry Potter and got great night shots. I also took it to Colorado skiing for panoramas of the coninental divide. Image quality is fantastic. It has a twilight mode for low light and shoots 10fps. They only thing I would caution about is the battery door needs to be opened and closed carefully since it looks like it would break easily. I have been careful and have not had a problem.
bhphotovideo dot com has it for $184 used with a rating of 9. I paid $269 used a year ago so that is a good deal. Good luck with whatever you get.

 

[kayrosek]

I've had Kodaks, Cannons, Nikons and Olympus. I have to say I like the Nikon Cool Pix cameras best for point and shoots and I would definatley second looking for a good used one. There are a couple websites out there that specialize in that if you want to try googling used cameras.

 

[cats mom]

This is the one I'm planning to buy in the next couple weeks before our trip. It is $225 on amazon right now. Got an Excellent rating from CNet and lots of positive reviews. I've been looking for months. Missed out on a great deal on Panasonic Lumix ZS5 a few months ago, but this Canon looks like it will fit the bill.

Do you know anyone who has a Special Offers Kindle? One of the recent offers was 25% off select digital cameras, and the ELPH 300 was on the list. You can't claim the code anymore, but if you can find someone who claimed theirs and isn't going to use it, the code itself is still valid through August 31st. Unfortunately I already gave mine away or I'd share.

 

[Bibbidi]

Do you know anyone who has a Special Offers Kindle? One of the recent offers was 25% off select digital cameras, and the ELPH 300 was on the list. You can't claim the code anymore, but if you can find someone who claimed theirs and isn't going to use it, the code itself is still valid through August 31st. Unfortunately I already gave mine away or I'd share.

I don't--but that is interesting--I didn't realize the special offers kindles had actual coupons, as opposed to just ads.