Best digital under $200?

Waldo Lydecker wrote:
> Anyone have any recommendations for a good digital camera within $200?

You may want to review the thread "Best Overall Camera Under $500 Today"
from last week for some hints about how to ask better questions.

jue
 >> Stay informed about: Best digital under $200? 

Waldo Lydecker wrote:
> Anyone have any recommendations for a good digital camera within $200?
> I cannot afford a lot. A buddy has a Nikon Coolpix L12 and enjoys it
> very much. Even has a built in wide-angle lens. Seems like a good
> camera and I took some pics in a restaurant the other day, using
> available light and was amazed at how well it did. The one thing I
> would like, but is not necessarily a must, would be a shutter button
> remote as I tend to shake due to my nerves.
>
> I have a Fujifilm Finepiz 2600Z, 2.0 mp. It is nice, but I would like
> something smaller. A separate viewfinder would be nice too, but that
> might be asking to much for what I can spend.
>
> Thanks in advance for your recommendations.
> Waldo

Sub-compact: Sony DSC-W55 ($194 at Buydig)
Compact: Canon A630 ($186 at Buydig).

The separate optical viewfinder should be considered a no-compromise
requirement--it's not asking too much! G-d I was glad I had it last week
when I was doing some photography inside the Oregon Caves National
Monument--the LCD was worthless!

Personally I'd go with the A630 if you're looking for a compact, rather
than a sub-compact camera. The articulated LCD is an extremely useful
feature that you don't appreciate until you go from a camera with one to
a camera without one. The AA batteries are one downside, but this is
pretty common in lower priced cameras.

The Sony DSC-W55 has the advantage of a Li-Ion battery which is a big
advantage, and not many cameras that cheap have a Li-Ion battery.

The Coolpix L12 does not have a built in wide-angle lens, and it lacks
an optical viewfinder, plus it uses AA batteries. Three strikes and
you're out!
 >> Stay informed about: Best digital under $200? 

On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 15:59:08 -0400, Waldo Lydecker
<ferrante276-waldolydecker.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Anyone have any recommendations for a good digital camera within $200?
>I cannot afford a lot. A buddy has a Nikon Coolpix L12 and enjoys it
>very much. Even has a built in wide-angle lens. Seems like a good
>camera and I took some pics in a restaurant the other day, using
>available light and was amazed at how well it did. The one thing I
>would like, but is not necessarily a must, would be a shutter button
>remote as I tend to shake due to my nerves.
>
>I have a Fujifilm Finepiz 2600Z, 2.0 mp. It is nice, but I would like
>something smaller. A separate viewfinder would be nice too, but that
>might be asking to much for what I can spend.
>
>Thanks in advance for your recommendations.
>Waldo

Take a close look at A-series Canons at or close to that price range.
I picked up an A-630 on sale for $199 a few weeks ago and am very
satisfied with it. You might find an older-stock A-610 or A-620 for
around that price or maybe even less.

I don't know about a remote shutter release for this Canon or a
similar one. You could check Canon's Web site.

However, the A-630 has a feature that should help you steady it: an
optical viewfinder. Using that instead of the LCD, you can brace the
camera to your cheek, in classic rangefinder camera shooting fashion.

The A-630 is especially good for using that way. Its articulated LCD
screen can be reversed so that your cheek won't get skin oil all over
it.

You can also pick up a reasonably priced monopod (< $20) or tripod (<
$30) at Wal-Mart, for times when you're shooting in low light and any
form of hand holding isn't practical.

Kodak's Z612 (I think) is another decent prospect. Unfotunately, it
has no optical viewfinder

For more specific info on these, take a look at <a
href="http://www.steves-digicams.com/hardware_reviews.html">Steve's
Digicam Reviews</a>

Good luck.

---
sw2U
 >> Stay informed about: Best digital under $200? 

Waldo Lydecker wrote:

> Anyone have any recommendations for a good digital camera within $200?
> I cannot afford a lot. A buddy has a Nikon Coolpix L12 and enjoys it
> very much. Even has a built in wide-angle lens. Seems like a good
> camera and I took some pics in a restaurant the other day, using
> available light and was amazed at how well it did. The one thing I
> would like, but is not necessarily a must, would be a shutter button
> remote as I tend to shake due to my nerves.
>
> I have a Fujifilm Finepiz 2600Z, 2.0 mp. It is nice, but I would like
> something smaller. A separate viewfinder would be nice too, but that
> might be asking to much for what I can spend.
>
> Thanks in advance for your recommendations.
> Waldo
Hi,
If you liked Fuji
 >> Stay informed about: Best digital under $200? 

On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 01:52:38 GMT, Tony Hwang wrote:

> Hi,
> If you liked Fuji

Like I like Fuji,
Oh, Oh, Oh what a gal . . .


 >> Stay informed about: Best digital under $200? 

Waldo Lydecker wrote:

> Anyone have any recommendations for a good digital camera within $200?
> I cannot afford a lot. A buddy has a Nikon Coolpix L12 and enjoys it
> very much. Even has a built in wide-angle lens. Seems like a good
> camera and I took some pics in a restaurant the other day, using
> available light and was amazed at how well it did. The one thing I
> would like, but is not necessarily a must, would be a shutter button
> remote as I tend to shake due to my nerves.
>
> I have a Fujifilm Finepiz 2600Z, 2.0 mp. It is nice, but I would like
> something smaller. A separate viewfinder would be nice too, but that
> might be asking to much for what I can spend.
>
> Thanks in advance for your recommendations.
> Waldo
Hi,
How about Canon A570?
 >> Stay informed about: Best digital under $200? 

Waldo Lydecker wrote:
> Anyone have any recommendations for a good digital camera within $200?
> I cannot afford a lot. A buddy has a Nikon Coolpix L12 and enjoys it
> very much. Even has a built in wide-angle lens. Seems like a good
> camera and I took some pics in a restaurant the other day, using
> available light and was amazed at how well it did. The one thing I
> would like, but is not necessarily a must, would be a shutter button
> remote as I tend to shake due to my nerves.
>
> I have a Fujifilm Finepiz 2600Z, 2.0 mp. It is nice, but I would like
> something smaller. A separate viewfinder would be nice too, but that
> might be asking to much for what I can spend.
>
> Thanks in advance for your recommendations.
> Waldo

You might check out the Kodak C743, which costs about $150 (US price),
and takes very good 7.1mp pictures. Its main weakness is in very low
light situations, where it won't focus.
Otherwise, it has performed well in all other conditions.
 >> Stay informed about: Best digital under $200? 

On Jun 27, 11:06 pm, SMS <scharf.ste....RemoveThis@geemail.com> wrote:

> Personally I'd go with the A630 if you're looking for a compact, rather
> than a sub-compact camera.

I agree; I've had an A620 for a year or so and it's a superb camera -
for my money pretty close to the ideal non-SLR digital.

BTW, it looks like the price of the A640 is dropping; I saw it on sale
at Costco, bundled with a small photo printer, for $299.

Bill
 >> Stay informed about: Best digital under $200? 

On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 12:25:52 -0700, wkasimer wrote:

> I agree; I've had an A620 for a year or so and it's a superb camera -
> for my money pretty close to the ideal non-SLR digital.
>
> BTW, it looks like the price of the A640 is dropping; I saw it on sale
> at Costco, bundled with a small photo printer, for $299.

It'll probably go a little lower. Late last year I bought an A620
bundled with Canon's iP6220D from Staples for $249. Strangely, the
printer came with two normal sets of ink cartridges, each set
probably worth as much as the printer. I figure that even
considering the printer as a disposable, using it only until the ink
runs out, it puts the value of the A620 at $200 or slightly less.
 >> Stay informed about: Best digital under $200? 

Waldo Lydecker wrote:
> Anyone have any recommendations for a good digital camera within $200?
> I cannot afford a lot. A buddy has a Nikon Coolpix L12 and enjoys it
> very much. Even has a built in wide-angle lens. Seems like a good
> camera and I took some pics in a restaurant the other day, using
> available light and was amazed at how well it did. The one thing I
> would like, but is not necessarily a must, would be a shutter button
> remote as I tend to shake due to my nerves.
>
> I have a Fujifilm Finepiz 2600Z, 2.0 mp. It is nice, but I would like
> something smaller. A separate viewfinder would be nice too, but that
> might be asking to much for what I can spend.
>
> Thanks in advance for your recommendations.


I have been scouting around for a P&S camera lately and if I were going
to buy today it would probably be the Ricoh R6. It isn't perfect but it
also has a very unique set of features for an under $250 small form
factor P&S. For starters it has a decent 28-200mm zoom lens, image
stabilization, 7+ megapixels, skew correction among others. It also has
a 1cm macro mode. Talk about getting a closeup shot! It is a more than
you might want to spend but then again you get a lot for the little
extra dough. Here's a link:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0703/07030506RICOHR6.asp
 >> Stay informed about: Best digital under $200? 

scharf.steven.TakeThisOut@geemail.com (SMS) wrote:

" Personally I'd go with the A630 if you're looking for a compact,
rather than a sub-compact camera. The articulated LCD is an extremely
useful feature that you don't appreciate until you go from a camera with
one to a camera without one. The AA batteries are one downside, but this
is pretty common in lower priced cameras. "

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

What's the downside to AA Batteries?

====================================




scharf.steven.TakeThisOut@geemail.com (SMS) wrote:

" The Sony DSC-W55 has the advantage of a Li-Ion battery which is a big
advantage, and not many cameras that cheap have a Li-Ion battery. "
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The downside to AA batteries is they're only for cheap cameras?

It's hard to think of a proprietary battery that HAS to be recharged as
a 'big advantage',
(instead of having the option of buying AA's
at any convenience store) but what to I know.

=====================================




scharf.steven.TakeThisOut@geemail.com (SMS) wrote:

" The Coolpix L12 does not have a built in wide-angle lens, and it lacks
an optical viewfinder, plus it uses AA batteries. Three strikes and
you're out! "

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I hope you realize that for most people
AA batteries are a plus, when it comes
to powering P&S digicams.
 >> Stay informed about: Best digital under $200? 

wkasimer wrote:
> On Jun 27, 11:06 pm, SMS <scharf.ste... RemoveThis @geemail.com> wrote:
>
>> Personally I'd go with the A630 if you're looking for a compact, rather
>> than a sub-compact camera.
>


There is also the A710 IS. 7MP, 6x tele, IS, only 2 AA batteries
from which I got about 350 shots at super-fine setting. Broadway
and Prestige have it for about $205 plus shipping. I have one,
just ordered one for my wife. Nice stable tele and I can fit it
in my pocket.
 >> Stay informed about: Best digital under $200? 

wkasimer wrote:
> On Jun 27, 11:06 pm, SMS <scharf.ste... RemoveThis @geemail.com> wrote:
>
>> Personally I'd go with the A630 if you're looking for a compact, rather
>> than a sub-compact camera.
>
> I agree; I've had an A620 for a year or so and it's a superb camera -
> for my money pretty close to the ideal non-SLR digital.
>
> BTW, it looks like the price of the A640 is dropping; I saw it on sale
> at Costco, bundled with a small photo printer, for $299.

Printers are essentially free these days. Why would anyone want to print
their own pictures when Costco will print them for 17¢ each for 4x6 and
$1.49 for 8x10 or 8x12? You can't buy ink and paper that cheap, and the
longevity of the photos printed professionally are probably 10x what you
can do yourself.
 >> Stay informed about: Best digital under $200?