whats your favorite digital camera under $ 300

[twoeeyy]

for the last two years we have bought a digital camera for our daughter for her b-day trip to WDW. each year we have upgraded but now are ready to buy her a decent camera .

What camera do you have that is under 300 that you are happy with.
We especially want to be able to take good firework shots, night shots, parade shots and of course the usual touristy shots

thanks in advance.

 

[jenseib]

You might want to post this on th photography board as well, you will probably get some good answers there. But I would suggest the Canon S3.. I ti s a very popular camera and make really nice pictures. It also has some manual settings if you chose to use them or want to learn them.

 

[JulieEck]

We bought a Fujifilm S700 back in May and love it! It has lots of features, like settings for sunsets, fireworks, etc. that you can pick from. It will even do some continuous shooting which is great for catching kids in motion. The video it takes looks pretty good too. Nice screen, looks like an SLR although it isn't, wonderful zoom. I can't remember the specs right now, but I've been very happy with it. I was able to zoom in on our stuff we left down on the beach from up on our balcony - wanted to make sure the water wasn't getting too close! We got ours at a Circuit City with a price match to Walmart.com. The Walmart in town didn't have them in stock. Price is around 240 at Walmart, more at Circuit City/Best Buy for the regular price, but you could check for sales. Good luck in your search!

 

[ukcatfan]

What camera do you have that is under 300 that you are happy with.
We especially want to be able to take good firework shots, night shots, parade shots and of course the usual touristy shots

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you just cannot get a camera for under $300 that can take great low light shots, such as inside attractions and night parades. Fireworks shots are not as big of a deal as long as it has a manual mode and you get a tripod. A remote shutter release option would also help. To maximize your low light abilities, look for a model with a larger than average sensor. The models with this will have a sensor in the 1/1.6-1/1.8" range. The typical smaller sensor is the 1/2.5" one. Do not expect miracles though.

If a big zoom is not important, you can go about $100 more, and are alright with a larger camera then there are a couple of DSLRs that would do much better for low light.

Kevin

 

[Minniemouse07]

We just purchased a Canon SD750 in May and really love it. It has a rechargable battery in it as opposed to using AAs and I really see the difference in the lack of lag time.

This camera also doesn't have a viewfinder but has a 3" screen on the back, which I !

I was just taking pictures of the kids last week in an indoor ball pit..in VERY low light and all my shots came out great w/ the flash.

We picked up the camera at dell's site for only $239/free shipping. I've seen it at Costco for $259 and at Target for $299.

After we got the camera I brought it into work to show it off... TEN people now have the same camera (coworkers and friends of coworkers).

 

[ukcatfan]

We just purchased a Canon SD750 in May and really love it. It has a rechargable battery in it as opposed to using AAs and I really see the difference in the lack of lag time.

This camera also doesn't have a viewfinder but has a 3" screen on the back, which I !

I was just taking pictures of the kids last week in an indoor ball pit..in VERY low light and all my shots came out great w/ the flash.

We picked up the camera at dell's site for only $239/free shipping. I've seen it at Costco for $259 and at Target for $299.

After we got the camera I brought it into work to show it off... TEN people now have the same camera (coworkers and friends of coworkers).

I am certainly not trying to pick apart your message and you do have a nice camera, but I feel that I need to add to this for the OP's benefit. Under the right conditions, almost any camera can take good low light shots with a flash. I am pretty sure that the OP is not wanting flash shots though as there are many situations where a flash is either ineffective or not allowed at WDW. A built in flash only works for about 10-15 feet away. For Spectro, the flash ruins the shots by allowing you to see all of the framework of the floats that are not supposed to be seen.

Unfortunately, to get a proper exposure in low light without flash, the camera must raise the ISO level in order to keep a fast enough shutter speed. By doing this, the image noise is increased. On almost all p&s cameras, that noise causes the image quality to become very degraded and often ruins the image completely. It can be improved a little by having a larger sensor like a 1/1.6" one, but it still goes nowhere near the quality of a DSLR. Just do not expect too much out of a p&s.

Also, while lithiums can improve overall speed performance in the camera, more of it comes down to the design of the camera. For example, my DSLR takes AAs and can still take shots at 2.5 frames per second and the focus speed blows any lithium battery based p&s away. Basically, do not eliminate a camera just because it uses AAs. Do not think I am some DSLR snob though. I still have a p&s Canon S2 IS and it goes everywhere the DSLR goes. Some situations can be better handled with a p&s.

Kevin

 

[jenseib]

I don't think the OP really wants a super fancy camera, if I'm not mistaken. I think just a nicer one in the 300 range for her DD. An I think if she was jsut getting basic ones before the ones suggested will be nicer and work better for her.

but you're right, alot of the night shots are worth a hoot unless you have a better camera and a tripod.

 

[Minniemouse07]

I am certainly not trying to pick apart your message and you do have a nice camera, but I feel that I need to add to this for the OP's benefit. Under the right conditions, almost any camera can take good low light shots with a flash. I am pretty sure that the OP is not wanting flash shots though as there are many situations where a flash is either ineffective or not allowed at WDW. A built in flash only works for about 10-15 feet away. For Spectro, the flash ruins the shots by allowing you to see all of the framework of the floats that are not supposed to be seen.

Unfortunately, to get a proper exposure in low light without flash, the camera must raise the ISO level in order to keep a fast enough shutter speed. By doing this, the image noise is increased. On almost all p&s cameras, that noise causes the image quality to become very degraded and often ruins the image completely. It can be improved a little by having a larger sensor like a 1/1.6" one, but it still goes nowhere near the quality of a DSLR. Just do not expect too much out of a p&s.

Also, while lithiums can improve overall speed performance in the camera, more of it comes down to the design of the camera. For example, my DSLR takes AAs and can still take shots at 2.5 frames per second and the focus speed blows any lithium battery based p&s away. Basically, do not eliminate a camera just because it uses AAs. Do not think I am some DSLR snob though. I still have a p&s Canon S2 IS and it goes everywhere the DSLR goes. Some situations can be better handled with a p&s.

Kevin

Totally understand about the quality and the low light shots/shutter speed issues. In a former lifetime, long ago I played around w/ all that. Had a great SLR (Minolta X700) and loved to really work at all the settings.

Now as a parent, I am happy w/ my point and shoot. I don't have the time, or the energy, to futz w/ the settings.

Also, we actually looked at Canon's SD line over their "A" line specifically because their lithium battery camera's had quicker speeds than the A's. The reviews I read stated that the speed was better by a full second!

The speed is longer (than day shots w/o a flash) when using a flash in a really dark room...but otherwise I don't wait practically at all when taking pictures. With a 20mo that is really important!

 

[pyrxtc]

this is my favorite,

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/481022-REG/Olympus_225920_Stylus_770_SW_Digital.html

I got it for only $280. Anyways it's a great little camera and you can even get it wet as much to swim with it. As for lowlight photo's, here are a few examples......

I know they are not perfect but they are pretty good for taking pictures while moving (either myself or the object) I ahd also just gottent he camera nd I know now that I've had it a while, I can use it so much better.

 

[twoeeyy]

Thanks for all the info. so far.
I think we are going to get the Cannon S3, do you think this is a pretty good 'middle' of the road camera.

 

[Groucho]

If you do want the best low light ability for under $300, the clear choices are the Fuji F31fd or F40fd. We recently picked up an F40fd (currently $191 at Beach Camera) and it's far superior in low light to the Canon SD600 that it replaced (thanks to a 1/1.6" sensor instead of a 1/2.5" sensor), and the F31fd is even slightly better, I think, due to a lower megapixel count.

If you want zoom, the Fuji S6000fd is currently $279 after rebate at Beach Camera, and gives you much of the functionality of a DSLR for much cheaper, though its low-light ability still can't touch a DSLR's, but it is much better than any other long-zoom point-n-shoot.

If low-light isn't a concern, there are many decent choices that you can be happy with.

 

[jenseib]

You will get alot of answers form many different people becuase alot of people prefer one brand over another.
I think the S3 is an excellent choice. You can go to a s store and play with it if you want, but I think it will be a wonderful gift for your DD. How old is she going to be?

 

[twoeeyy]

You will get alot of answers form many different people becuase alot of people prefer one brand over another.
I think the S3 is an excellent choice. You can go to a s store and play with it if you want, but I think it will be a wonderful gift for your DD. How old is she going to be?

She will be 15. She loves her digital camera that she has now but she has aked ( once again ) for an upgrade. The camera she has now is Nikon coolpix L4 . I hope she likes this and I hope she shares .

 

[jenseib]

MY DD just turned 15 in June. I have a 15 YO D and a 2 YO DD, none in between! ) She would love that camera. She has jsut a basic P & S and loves it, but a fancier one would make her eyes glow! LOL!
I would even consider signing her up for classes if possible and if she is really getting into photography. Then she can learn to take picutres in Manual better, and really enjoy how to use it more.

 

[twoeeyy]

years ago when the dinosaurs roamed the earth I had a dark room myself ( I had it set up for black and white only ), but now-a-days all I want to do is point and shoot. I still have my very expensive HUGE / HEAVY camera that I got for HS graduation but I am to lazy to contend with it.

I think she will like the S3 from what I have heard, looking at others pictures they seem very good. Her High school has an excellent photography class / group. She is big into art, she took classes this summer at the museum of fine arts in boston.
anyway enough rambling on thank you for all the help I have received so far