Best digital camera under $200

S

sawgrass7

Joined
Nov 30, 2005
Messages
216
Howdy,

There is a wealth of experience here with you gentlemen so I would appreciate your insight and hearing from those with substantial digital camera experience.

$200 is my limit for a new camera. If possible, I want something that will be excellent for the outdoors from insects to vistas. I would like to hear your thoughts on best options for one that does NOT suck battery power, does not take 5+ seconds reaction time between shots and is in general just a great all-purpose camera.

I see one that has 10x optical zoom and imagine that would be great for getting wildlife shots, but reviews say that it has a long recharge time between shots.

I have been using a Fuji Finepix with 6X Optical zoom that has been slowing crapping out. I like being able to use AA batteries for their ubiquity.

Many thanks to all and enjoy this fine Spring.
 
This may be shortly moved to the Gadgets and Gear section.

I was recently on the hunt for a new camera, and after a lot of research settled on the Canon SX110. It's just slightly above your price point, but is easily the best camera I've ever owned. Takes some really great pics, and has a depth of control as manual or automatic as you'd like. It's 9 megapixel with 10x optical zoom. Battery life is easily two or three times as long as my last two point and shoots. Great macro function, good controls.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16830120285
 
I have the Canon Powershot A590, and I like it alot.

It's largest downfall is that it is pretty bulky, not easily stuck in a pocket for a quick jaunt through the woods.

Apart from that, though, I have been really enjoying this camera. It has all sorts of modes including Auto (for point-and-shoot type photos), aperture and shutter speed priority, and even a fully manual mode (for using it like a traditional SLR camera).

the LCD is good sized and crisp. The battery life is pretty good. I use rechargeable AA batteries, and the battery probably lasts for a few weeks of occassional use. I haven't timed it, but I think you could probably run the camera for at least a couple of hours with the batteries I use. With normal AA batteries the capacity might be less...

The interface, because of all the different features and functions, is a bit tricky at first. After a couple of hours with it though, I started feeling pretty comfortable with it. I really enjoy the manual and macro focus options, but I mostly use the auto focus.

So basically, I think the camera is a really good camera, but not necessarily a very packable camera. It also runs under $200.
 
I also recommend the Canon A590. For a camera of its type it's actually fairly compact (though not really a pocket camera as has been said). It is easy to use, takes good pictures, and can also do video with sound.
 
I just purchased the Canon A590 for $117.00 out the door. It's a nice camera. I've only had it a couple of weeks, so I'm still in the learning curve. This camera gets two thumbs up from me.
 
As others here have stated, the Canon A590 (4x zoom) is a fine camera for the price. Get it soon though, as it is a discontinued model, so available whilst stocks last.

If you get this camera, you will have plenty left in your budget for some decent rechargeabe batteries (suggest Sanyo Eneloop), a case and a fast high capacity SD card.

If you need a bigger zoom, Canon's SX110IS (10x zoom) is at the top end of your budget. Sitting inbetween is Canon's A2000 (6x zoom).

Good luck in your search, and hopefully we will be seeing your pics here soon.
 
if you are going to get a pocketable camera, you will be limited in both manual settings and zoom. I got a Canon SD1100IS, and it is about the size of a deck of cards. I think the convenience and portability make up for those few shortcomings. It takes nice outdoor pictures.
 
Yep this thread will probably be moved.

I'm totally an SLR-guy and don't keep up on the smaller cameras too much. However, consider three different use patterns for the camera in terms of what you want it for and how to optimize the features.

1) Ultra-compact. These small cameras will fit in a shirt pocket or just about any spare pocket in your bag. The beauty of these things is that they are tiny, which like your EDC, ensures you always have it with you. More often then not, they have a fixed lens or limited zoom lens. I don't know if they still advertise digital zoom vs optical zoom. But digital zoom is useless as it is just a crop. Optical zoom is what you want. Mostly these ultra compact cameras have about 3 x optical zoom lens. This is pretty versatile IMO.

2) Mid-sized camera that is trying to be an SLR. Really, these are cameras that are cheaper than an SLR under the limitation that they have a non-removable lens with a usually large zoom range (e.g. 10 x zoom). They can have a diversity of intermediate features found in SLRs with the exception that they are operated primarily in automatic mode. These cameras seem to be built to optimize features, like higher mega-pixels, better zoom range and better autofocus at the expense of compactness.

3) Digital SLRs - these are beyond your price point but the market is getting to the point where you can have a nice outfit for about $550 or so. If you ever decide to go from 'taking snapshots' to expoloring photography a bit more seriously and getting into high quality lens and manual settings than this is a way to go.

In the end, it sounds like you want 1 or 2. If you are at all interested in option 3, then my recommendation would be to go for 1 as the compact cameras are very compatible as a purchase item. I.e. you want your EDC camera, and the big chopper (SLR) for the serious tasks. If you buy a mid-range camera (2) and then later want to go with SLR, you won't be using (2) any longer.

Last comments. When researching camera's in category 1 and 2, don't get to carried away about mega-pixel counts. Anything at 5 MP is totally fine, and really going to 10 MP in these cameras is a waste of memory as the lens' included in them aren't so great of resolution that they warrent such a processor. Look for quality lenses in these camera's. A lot of the compacts which sport a Carl Zeiss lens have really good optics.
 
Thanks for all the excellent information in this thread everyone! I am thinking about one in the near future.
 
Thank you for all your thoughtful replies.

Spooky - That is the one I was leaning towards. It had some user reviews for a long "recharge" time between pictures (I don't know what the techinical name for it is.)

kgd - really appreciate your thoughts. I know it's a compromise. I used a SLR for decades so I hear what yer saying. I do like the teeny 'always have it with you' aspect of the micros, too.

Phil & Co. - I will check out that model, too.

Again, you guys are great! THANKS.
 
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8696128&type=product&id=1198888711940

this camera is bulletproof

it's 50 dollars more than you want to spend but it's waterproof and shockproof and truely it is. I've had it down to about 20 feet without a problem and my 2 year old chunked it off the 2nd story porch once (children are such a joy)

I've had it about a year and a half without any issues whatsoever, it takes small vids and it can emulate about 1000 speed film so you can get fast shots as well as macros.
 
Whats the point of huge amounts of mega pixels? I get by with 3??? Not saying theres a lot of talking about here on this thread, but man some just think pixels is the only thing that counts.
P3110116.jpg

P3150131.jpg

P2280065.jpg
 
Pilot1 said:
Those are nice shots for 3 megapixels. Nice knives too. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

I've taken better, just those were the quickest to get to.:p

The thing is though, your going to find most of cameras out there are going to be 6-7 pixels and up, but dont go for the cheapest camera with the highes pixels, thats not the thing to do.

Go for something around the 3-4 pixel mark and get something nikon, Olympus, or even sony. And take a look at what the camera can do before you buy it, your gonna have to dig some, but honestly there isnt any thing that my 5 year old olympus does that I dont like.
 
the megapixel thing is another good point-I think the A590 that I have goes up to 8 or 10 megapixel, but I always keep it in 3. It works great for what I do, and allows me to take more than a thousand shots on a single 1mb SD card. As I understand it, the higher megapixel is really only useful if you are blowing your photos up to poster sized images.

these were taken in 3 megapixel, and I think they have alot of detail and clarity (except for some pixelation in the bottom one, due to compression from loading onto the internet):
IMG_2098.jpg


IMG_2180.jpg
 
I just bought a Canon A1000IS yesterday at Wal-Mart for $149.00. 10MP, big screen, about the size of a pack of cigarettes, has a view finder, even shoots video!
 
Don Rearic said:
So with the Canon A590, what batteries and other accessories should we purchase with one?
Click to expand...

1. A 6 or 8 gig memory card would be nice.
2. A battery charger and batteries, Sanyo eneloops are top notch for this application.
3. A camera bag.

and your purdy much set.

Shawn
 
I always take my pictures at the highest setting. You can always lower the resolution or size later, but you can't make a tiny picture big. It also allows you to crop and edit the photos properly. My 8megapixel camera gets like 1800 full sized pics on a 4 Gig card.
 
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