Author Topic: Need Digital Camera Help (Read 490 times)

Airscrew · « **on:** May 31, 2007, 04:35:26 PM »

So to start with, my daughter dropped my Fuji Finpix 3000 and jammed or broke the zoom button. Now the camera comes on, the lense tries to zoom then the camera errors out and shuts off. I might be able to fix it bad news is I have a trip to Galveston next weekend and then El Paso after that. there are two museums I want to go see and I need a camera.

so the good news I get to buy a new camera, problem is I dont know where to start. I looked earlier today on ebay and saw a lot of choices. I really dont want to spend more than $100 to 200. it doesnt have to be a new camera, just a good camera.
the Fuji was a 3.1 megapixal and I'm ok with that, I wasnt taken fancy pictures but I want better quality pics. the Fuji was fully auto, you could set it to manual but it only had 3 fstop settings, no manual setting for shutter speeds or focus, just preset settings. Made it very difficult to take indoor or low light pictures without a flash. I was trying to find a decent 3 to 4 megapixal camera in either a regular digital camera or digital SLR with the ability to changes lenses and have has many features as possible under that $200 limit. I'm hoping to find one that has the same features as my regular Yashica 35mms I already have, Fstop, Shutter speed, etc. Just want to get the most bang for my buck but keep it inexpensive. Filters for the lense would be nice to but necessary.

any suggestions?

Sandman · « **Reply #1 on:** May 31, 2007, 05:01:12 PM »

A DSLR for less than $200?

I think you're dreaming.

My recommendation is to grab a Fuji S5200 on eBay. Quality glass, quite a few program options, 5 megapixel, plus you'll be able to use your XD chips from the 3000.

Going price nowadays is approximately $225. I got mine for $350 a few years ago.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0507/05072802fuji_s5200zs5600z.asp

eskimo2 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 31, 2007, 05:03:26 PM »

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=183&modelid=12942

Or if you want to spend less, the 530. I bought 10 model 530s for my school and am absolutely delighted with their quality and performance. They take great stills and even 640x480 movies. I’ve seen them as little as $130 on sale. They take 2xAA batteries. 5MP, 4X zoom. The main thing is, however, that they take fantastic pictures and are pretty darn cheep. The only thing else you would need would be a $10-$20 1 gig card and some rechargable batteries.

Xjazz · « **Reply #3 on:** May 31, 2007, 05:04:10 PM »

Hi

I have a Canon Powershot G7 compact camera and I'm very happy with it.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0609/06091405_canon_g7.asp

eskimo2 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 31, 2007, 05:10:02 PM »

Here's an unedited image from a A530, shot in 640x480 mode:

Note that this is an indoors museum snapshot in poor light. They rarely take a poor picture, you almost have to force a bad one.

Chairboy · « **Reply #5 on:** May 31, 2007, 05:17:02 PM »

You can't go wrong with a Canon Elph, and there are plenty in your price range on eBay. Zeiss lenses (glass, not plastic), 3x optical zoom, strong construction, and a very small profile that makes carrying it around in a shirt pocket very easy.

eskimo2 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 31, 2007, 05:24:53 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Chairboy
You can't go wrong with a Canon Elph, and there are plenty in your price range on eBay. Zeiss lenses (glass, not plastic), 3x optical zoom, strong construction, and a very small profile that makes carrying it around in a shirt pocket very easy.

If you’re willing to go used Canon Elphs do rule and can found for under $200. I don’t know if any new older models are in that price range though.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #7 on:** May 31, 2007, 05:30:01 PM »

How about under $2000?

Xjazz · « **Reply #8 on:** May 31, 2007, 05:35:02 PM »

Some sample pictures took with Canon G7:

http://www.warezhouze.1g.fi/Here/pics/

bsdaddict · « **Reply #9 on:** May 31, 2007, 05:36:42 PM »

tigerdirect.com has pretty good prices and has some deals on refurbs. they've got a good way to specify what features you're looking for to simplify your search. they've got a couple DSLR's as low as $700 too.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/category_digitalcamera.asp?

(I'm not affiliated with them in any way...)

eskimo2 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 31, 2007, 05:37:27 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Xjazz
Some sample pictures took with Canon G7:

http://www.warezhouze.1g.fi/Here/pics/

Xjazz,
Can you stear him towards a G7 for under $200?

Dago · « **Reply #11 on:** May 31, 2007, 08:37:55 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by eskimo2
Here's an unedited image from a A530, shot in 640x480 mode:

Note that this is an indoors museum snapshot in poor light. They rarely take a poor picture, you almost have to force a bad one.

Sorry Eskimo, but that is not a very good photo in my opinion. Yes, poor lighting in a museum, but none of the items on the table are clear, pretty fuzzy. The flash should have illuminated the picture a lot better. A decent lense and flash should have made that brighter and clear.

Just my opinion anyway.

eskimo2 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 31, 2007, 09:28:01 PM »

He’s looking for a camera under $200; this one can be found new for $130. There is a visible difference between this and a $400 camera’s picture and again a visible difference when you jump to a DSLR. I’ve seen worse from $300 Sony and Olympus cameras.

Halo · « **Reply #13 on:** May 31, 2007, 09:33:14 PM »

I'll chime in with another vote for whatever Canon Digital Elph comes closest to meeting your requirements.

You can find some great camera reviews just Googling around the Internet.

Xjazz · « **Reply #14 on:** June 01, 2007, 12:56:11 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by eskimo2
Xjazz,
Can you stear him towards a G7 for under $200?

I know it's way over 200$, but I just said my opinion here if Airscrew will consider to spend some more.

After my previous camera, Minolta Dimage Xt (3.1M), the Canon PowerShot G7 (10.1M) feels like a DLSR