Best decent smallish digi camera for around $100

[Pablo]

Is this one any good: Nikon Coolpix L11 (3x opitical, 6-Megapixel)? It can be had for $89! But, it seems the main drawback is slow recovery time between pictures.

We have two fairly/medium expensive digital cameras (Sony,Olympus) one on the large side of life. Basically we are looking for an inexpensive, small, very portable digital camera that we can carry everywhere.

 

[MarkC]

Spend a few more bucks and get a Panasonic DMC LZ7 for about $160.
6X optical zoom, 7.2 megapixels, optical image stabilizer, etc.
I just got one and it's a lot of camera for the price.

I also just bought a 10 year old friend a small Samsung for $99.
Totally decent.
Mori knows more than I, however....

 

[Brett Miller]

I was just looking at that exact Panasonic last night. Ritz Camera has is for $150 with a free Canon printer. The sales guy recommened over higher priced Canon and Olympus cameras.

 

[ThirdeYe]

Here's the camera I have, it's pretty tiny.

http://www.thecameraprofessionals.com/prodetails.asp?prodid=129065&gclid=CKPC6LTBnJACFQVlZQod5WeF6Q

It's only about 2"x3.5" and 3/4" thick. Here's a picture I took with it:



It can also make clear movies and has a lot of neat Macro features like night-time, anti-blur/movement, etc. and a huge LCD screen.

 

[Anduril]

I have about a year-old Sony Cybershot no-idea-how-many-megapixels-but-it's-more-than-enough-for-me that I got off of eBay for a little under $100. Takes pictues, has a bunch of adjustable settings (that I never use; I just keep it on Auto), and takes 30 fps (TV standard) video with sound.

 

[saaber1]

Excellent site for camera reviews:

http://www.dpreview.com/

Back when I bought my last ultra-compact digital camera canon and nikon consistently recieved the highest reviews with canons doing better in low light. I have had some really incredible photos from the small inexpensive canons and I got about 12,000 photos out of my last one before it started losing some color. For any very small camera try to get image stabilization if possible or else hold it in a death grip to get good photos. Also none of the small ones can give any depth of field but that is to be expected. The videos on the small canons actually are a lot better than you would expect also. Many of the ultra compact canons even allow you to have up to 15 second exposures! Also many have the "take a picture every 1/2 or 1/3? second" continuos shoot mode which works well. I am sold on the canons (obviously) but have only had one nikon compact which was a real pain in low light situations and the user interface was clumsy (but they have probably improved a lot since then).

 

[Pablo]

Panasonic DMC LZ7

Quote:
Likes
- Affordable $199 price tag ($160 makes it a bit more attractive)
- 6x optical zoom
- Intelligent ISO
- Sharp lens
Dislikes
- Poor resolution LCD with limited angle of view
- Uninspired design
- Size and placement of buttons
- Limited movie mode functions


The size is a problem. Our Olympus is 10X optical zoom. Price on the high side.

 

[MarkC]

Originally Posted By: Brett Miller
I was just looking at that exact Panasonic last night. Ritz Camera has is for $150 with a free Canon printer. The sales guy recommened over higher priced Canon and Olympus cameras.


It is a great deal and has a lot of features for the money.
http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-elect...000000000005702

I paid $159 I think, from Vanns.com. No tax, free shipping.

 

[Rick in PA]

I like the Samsung A503. I got one for my young son last Christmas as a small, reasonably durable "real" digital camera (it's still alive a year later). I ended up getting one for myself from Sears at less than $100. It's got more than enough megapixels. The lens doesn't extend and there's no automatic lens cover (less mechanicals to break down). It's got a bunch of software driven features, but not too hard to use, mostly point-and-shoot. Large 2" viewing LCD. Takes sharp pictures. Uses two standard AA batteries and an SD memory card. The one feature I like is that the lens ring has two positions; infinity and 8", so you can force the focus for nice sharp close-ups (I use this feature often in my work as an engineer). It's worth a look.

 

[moribundman]

I don't think there's any camera under $150 that I'd consider. For under $300 I'd go with a camera that has the largest CCD, the fastest lens, not more than a 3x zoom, without a (usually useless) tele lens. Very important would be as little shutter lag (check specs) as possible.

Features I wouldn't want to miss:
- 28mm or wider (35mm equivalent) at short end
- exposure override/compensation
- focus lock
- exposure lock
- decent macro-setting
- takes AA size batteries and rechargeables

If I were in the market for a compact point&shoot right now I'd get this Nikon, which can be had for under $200:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Nikon/nikon_cpp50.asp
(They list an incorrect battery for it. It does take AA-size batteries or rechargeables.)

 

[sprintman]

Chech dpreview site it's the best by far.

 

[Merkava_4]

Here's a shot taken with a Nikon CoolPix P2. It's a handle of a little 3 inch blade screwdriver.

 

[Al]

Scheesch Pabs. How can you go wrong with that price and being a Nikon? I say buy it. Obviously right now you are not really looking for a $10000 camera. My thought is buy a D80 or better if you want a great camera. If not go buy whatever. Your selection sounds great.

 

[mechtech2]

Coolpix is not a Pro's camera, but are wonderful for most everyone else for general use.
They may even give you computer editing software bundled with the camera.
I'm a long time 35mm guy, but I may have to get one of those for that great price.

 

[The Critic]

Canon PowerShot A570IS, but it isn't terribly small. Takes AA batteries and has full manual controls.

I was thinking about picking up a SD850IS for myself once the prices drop, as I want something smaller. But if you do not mind the added size, the A570IS is a great value at about $150 shipped off Amazon.

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Coolpix is not a Pro's camera, but are wonderful for most everyone else for general use.
They may even give you computer editing software bundled with the camera.
I'm a long time 35mm guy, but I may have to get one of those for that great price.


Most people won't be willing to carry a large camera all the time. Often people buy cameras or whole professional systems that then remain at home in a heavy photobag at the bottom of the closet. A small camera is much more likely to be taken along than a large, heavy camera.

Look at my 35mm Nikon, which, in combination with that particular lens, checks in at over 7 pounds. Does anybody think this makes an ideal camera for any occasion? Of course not. On the other hand, look at that flyweight 35mm point&shoot next to it. It weighs only 6 ounces, is the size of a pack of a cigarettes, and it goes with me wherever I go. There are a few nice and simple, small digital point&shoot cameras that are pretty nice for the money. As for the full-size DSLRs, they tend to be a little lighter than 35mm SLRs, but they are still about the same heavy and big.

Digital cameras are convenient, but I wouldn't recommend a full-size DSLR to anyone who simply wants a point&shoot. Neither would I recommend a compact camera that's laden with mostly useless features that come at the cost of simple operation and functionality.

KISS

 

[Pablo]

Quote:
A small camera is much more likely to be taken along than a large, heavy camera


There you go.

 

[moribundman]

By the way, one should pick a camera that fits ones hands well. Some of the tiny cameras are very uncomfortable to hold with tiny buttons and dials that cannot be operated without one looking at them. A very light camera is also very shaky. Just pushing the shutter release becomes a shaky operation and getting a comfortable grip is essential. Therefore, mail-ordering a camera based solely on its specs is a hit-or-miss venture. At least go to Best Buy et al and play around with actual cameras before deciding.

Another caveat: Do not buy a camera that has no viewfinder -- less and less compact cameras actually have one. In bright light you will regret if all you have is a washed out display at which to squint in frustration. When you take pictures of people, you also need a viewfinder, because on the display (low refresh rate) you can't tell if they had their eyes open or if they were blinking.

 

[Merkava_4]

I haven't even figured out half the things the little camera can do; its capabilities are extensive and complicated.

 

[Patman]

I picked up a Kodak Easyshare C613 a few weeks ago for $99 on sale and this thing is amazing! It's 6.2 megapixels too! It has 3x zoom, takes movies, has image stabilization and it's very user friendly too.