Someone recommend a point and shoot camera to me

[Norbert]

Someone recommend a good point and shoot camera to me, please!
I want something that takes good pics in 'automatic' mode.
Yeah, that's lame, but hey....

Also, where could I buy one for cheap?

Thx!

 

[tuningfork]

Sony Cybershot lineup has a nice/easy user interface and many have the "intelligent easy" settings which do an automatic scene analysis and select from one of several "program" modes. Nice size (not too big not too small) and pretty good optics, pic quality, etc. certainly for snapshots. Don't get too hung up on the # of megapixels, I'd spend more for good optics, more levels of jpeg compression, stronger flash, faster speed, etc. There are lots of good brands out there though.

For a bit more money there are some really nice prosumer P+S cameras that have really nice optics but still smaller and less complex than a SLR. ex Canon G11. If you are going to get more into photography then it is nice to have some manual control for things like aperture, shutter speed, and focus.

This is a really good site for reviews.
Steve's Digicams - Main Menu

Amazon is good place to check pricing as they deal with several vendors. Ebay can be ok sometimes as well, especially if you buy a 1-2 year old camera, they depreciate faster than a FZ6 . Just watch for gray-market stuff. Not that this is particulary bad, I actualy bought my current camera gray-market out of Canada (using Amazon) and it was like 1/2 the price at the time. I have also used BuyDig.com. Generally Bestbuy and places like that will be more expensive. Depends on the camera brand sometimes as to who can offer a better deal.

 

[GConn]

I have a canon powershot and I am pretty pleased. The video is decent too.

 

[Wolfman]

Panasonic tz-7...everything you could ever want from a point and shoot, plus full high def video!

 

[Norbert]

Do you think it's ok to buy a "refurbished" camera?

 

[tomari]

why not? if the price is fair....most "refurbished" out there are of stupid people buying a product just to try it, then they are claiming their right to return a product if they dont like it blah blah blah...ending up in a slightly used product mostly sold as "refurbished" after it gets some cleaning and restore to factory settings etc..

 

[FB400]

+1 on Sony Cybershot. Takes nice video too

 

[Shinleung]

I strongly recommend Canon S90.
The quality is good. There is also Manual, Aperture / Shutter priority mode on it, but more expensive than point n shoot of coz;

Or if you are really looking at a budget one, get a Fujifilm F 200 EXR.
Believe me, the image quality is really stunning in its class.
Its been out for like a year, so I think it is pretty cheap.

 

[Norbert]

Yeah I'd like a camera I can just pull out of my riding jacket pocket, snap a photo, put the camera back, and ride on.....

I'll keep looking, thanks for the recommendations....:thumbup:

 

[chaskell27]

I just picked up an insignia for the same purpose. It is really thin and has a nice big clear screen. Came with a 4gb sd card. I think it's around 10Megapixels. I got it at best buy for like $70. super cheap and takes great pics and vids. I couldn't ask for much more for the price. :thumbup:

 

[FZ6771]

Cannon power shot sx100 or a sure shot

 

[Hoshiko]

Sony Cybershot:rockon::rockon:

 

[tuningfork]

Best budget and cheap digital cameras - CNET Reviews

 

[Bates121]

if you have a tendency to be abusive to your equipment (like me:stupidpc I would recomend the Olympus Stylus Tough series. I have one it can can be (and has been) dropped from about 10 ft. dunked in various liquids (beer, water, sea water, jello, pudding, and jungle juice) Even took pics while submerged. I do hvae to say the lens cover got sticky after the pudding and jello but a little isopropyl alcohol and a q-tip fixed it right up. Some of my buddies have this same camera and they are more abusive with it then me and theirs still work. This thing is indestructible and takes good pics. All the pics I have posted on this site are from that camera. Just so you know they retail at about $400 but I got a refurbished store floor model off ebay with all the original packaging, the bigger memory card and a bunch of cool little add-ons (Mini Stand, Memory card reader, lens cleaners, etc.) for $150. EBAY FTW.

pics taken with camera
(the pets pics where not with the camera)
Yamaha FZ6 Forums - International FZ6 Motorcycle Community Forum - Bates121's Albums

 

[goker]

+1 Olympus Stylus Tough series. Good pictures, waterproof, and nearly indestructible. I have cool underwater whale picture I took with that camera. Remind me to show them to you next time you are over.

 

[FZ-B]

I'd say get nothing cheaper than $150, that seems to be where picture quality is good. Everything under I have always found to be subpar. I was in a pinch a few years ago for a cheap, small form factor digi. Got an Olympus on sale for $89. Based on a previous camera from them I thought I'd be ok. Not so. It works, even still. But picture quality is far from good.

I like the Canon and Nikon offerings. I like a camera that uses SD cards as they are more plentiful and usually cheaper than the the XD cards and Sonys memory stick.

 

[BusyWeb]

if you have a tendency to be abusive to your equipment (like me:stupidpc I would recomend the Olympus Stylus Tough series.

That's my camrea. Tough 8000, there are Tough less number model too.
Water proof, shock proof, dust proof, and freezing proof (ha ha ha)
My another water proof cam is Sanyo Xacit VPC CA9. >> using mainly for the bike mounting, but currently out of the order.. sad.
I saw an ad. today, Sony also announced the Water/Dust proof point-shoot camera.
Cannon has one too.

These water proof cam is good when you go and ride bike at the humid places.
Sometimes, samll digital camera lens gets problems when the camera is exposed in the long time without covers >>
at the places like >> good dense of fogy, early morning at the camp site, beach, yes rainy and snowy day, and etc...

Also, the dust is one of the problem when the cam is in the riding jacket while you are on the long run highway or dusty road. (especially, you forgot to close lens door..>> don't ask me how I know... ha ha ha)

 

[fredraction]

I recommend buying the best Canon Powershot model you can afford. I really like the menu system and features. They have a lot of "smarts" to make the picture taking experience as point and shoot as possible.

 

[Norbert]

I recommend buying the best Canon Powershot model you can afford. I really like the menu system and features. They have a lot of "smarts" to make the picture taking experience as point and shoot as possible.

i'm reading good things about the canon digital elph series.
i wonder how the picture quality stacks up with the competition.

 

[Shinleung]

I'd say get nothing cheaper than $150, that seems to be where picture quality is good. Everything under I have always found to be subpar. I was in a pinch a few years ago for a cheap, small form factor digi. Got an Olympus on sale for $89. Based on a previous camera from them I thought I'd be ok. Not so. It works, even still. But picture quality is far from good.

I like the Canon and Nikon offerings. I like a camera that uses SD cards as they are more plentiful and usually cheaper than the the XD cards and Sonys memory stick.

I got a Canon A480 for AUD$88 and it seems fine so far.
For the price, I think its does the job and I would just chuck it into my bag without any camera case or whateva.

If i were to get a camera not doing any research, I would go for a Canon.
They are easy to use, image quality is good, not much problems.