Budget Digital Camera?

[MattStone]

I'll be getting a Ditial Camera for Christmas...but I'd like to keep it cheap. So far I've looked into the Kodak DC3200, and the Olympus D360L. Does anyone have experience with these? Also...can someone tell me about accessories for the specific cameras...like memory. I will have a 50 dollar gift certificate to staples, so I'd like to buy stuff from their. Okay...thanx for the help...

 

[RossMAN]

Whichever digital camera you decide to get from Staples make sure to 1) Use a coupon in your purchase and 2) Price match it at a competing web site (Onvia.com Buy.com, etc.) that'll easily save you another $100. Plus some digital cameras (Fuji Finepix 1400) are offering rebates of $50 or more.

 

[ArchAngel777]

You get what you pay for.

 

[MattStone]

RossMan...where is the Finepiz 50 rebate??? I'd really like to get this cam.

 

[RossMAN]

Matt - You could post a message in this FatWallet thread to see if anyone has any extra's.

I will be visiting my local stores like Staples, CompUSA, camera shops, Best Buy, Circuit City, Sears, CostCo, anywhere that sells this camera. If they have the green & white $50 rebate form then that's all I need. Some places on the web still have it, I would try a good search engine and go for it. If $50 is worth it to you then you'll go all out searching until you give up. I ordered mine from Amazon.com using my MCI $150 GC and a $50 coupon and this $50 rebate came out to $49 net. Not that bad

 

[MattStone]

I just found it on the web...and printed it out. But everywhere that I've read says that it wont be honored if you bought after 11/9/00...? Should I try anyway, I could work out a good pricematch.

 

[RossMAN]

Matt - Can you PM or e-mail the link where you found the rebate form? Thanks.

I verified with someone at Fuji's headquarter's that they will honor my rebate, there's been a big uproar about this whole fiasco. Check out http://hot-deals.org and do a find for Fuji you'll see what I mean.

The Fuji Finepix 1400 is the IDEAL entry level camera for me, USB, 1.3 Megapixel, nice design, yadda yadda yadda except for it has one flaw it uses SmartMedia instead of CompactFlash but for the price, I can live with that.

 

[smensch]

I'm very happy with my Olympus D340R. Doesn't have optical zoom, though (which really sucks). My brother has the Canon Elph digital camera, and it rocks. My brother-in-law has a higher end Olympus digital camera. The picture quality is outstanding.

 

[smensch]

Oops. Forgot to mention that the D360L and the D340R is basically the same difference. My roommate bought the D360L, and I fumbled with his camera, checking every button. I found no difference between the two.

 

[MattStone]

Those are the two models that i'm trying to decided between. The problem is that I'd rather not have a camera that is USB only because I have no free USB slots (including a hub)...I'd like something with serial, because I really don't care about the speed. I think I might get the Olympus....am I making a mistake?

 

[MWink]

I just got a Fuji Finepix 1300 and I have to say it is an EXCELLENT camera for the price. I have used a few digital cameras (Earthlink DSC Pro, and Sony Mavica FD73) and it is much better than either of those. It is an excellent camera and I have no complaints whatsoever. I got it for $235 with a free 16MB memory card at BB a few weeks ago. I would highly recommend you look at it.

 

[NaughtyusMaximus]

I just bought a Canon S10, and I love it! I bought mine for the same price as a Fuji 1400 would have cost. For a 2.11 MP camera, I'm damn happy.

You should be able to find some refurbished ones for cheap in local camera shops. Check out as many reviews as you can on all the cameras in your price range before you buy. Good luck!

 

[RossMAN]

Well I guess your selection of Olympus digital camera's at Staples is pretty much limited to the D-360L or the D-460.

Before you buy either camera or the Fuji Finepix 1400 (drool) I cannot stress enough reading reviews and seeing other people's sample pictures.

First do a search in the anandtech general hardware forum for the word camera and you'll see plenty of good digital camera threads with most of them talking about Olympus cameras, what they like, and don't like about a particular model.

Also read all the reviews from these web sites and more (try a search engine like google.com or dogpile.com etc.)
C|Net.com

DCResource.com

DPreview.com

Steves-Digicams.com

Epinions.com

 

[RossMAN]

FYI - Just received my $49 Fuji Finepix 1400 digital camera today I'll probably use it this weekend and will post sample pictures for your viewing pleasure of rainy/cloudy/depressing Portland, Oregon. Also possibly some pictures of my Dell Dimension 4100/866 and 19" P991 FD Trinitron monitor.

Matt - Which camera did you decide on order?

 

[MattStone]

I still haven't friggen decided. I might go w/the Olympus D-460L since it has zoom. I would get the Fuji, but I really would like, at least the option of using serial instead of USB, since I don't have any USB ports open.

 

[RossMAN]

Then I would definitely buy theOlympus D-460Z, it's LOADED and a perfect mid level camera. Just make sure you find a good deal at Onvia, Staples, Buy.com, Camera World, PhotoAlley.com, Mercata or wherever you decide to purchase it.

 

[wj]

I have the D360L and I like it, but if you have the spare cash go for the D460Z I think you'll be happer.



wj

 

[MattStone]

Yah...that is what I'll go with then. I think that I can pricematch it from TurboPrice and use a $30 coupon at staples...making the total around 266. Not a bad price. What do you think?

 

[MattStone]

I just went though w/the purchase. I got it pricematched at staples for 290...of course I got charge up the arse for shipping via the pricematch, but hey...110 below retail ain't that bad. I can't wait till it comes in. I was at the Staples store yesterday, and I played around with it a bit, really nice cam. I hope I'm happy.