Help me find the right camera, please

[TechnoPro]

My needs are pretty simple:

* Point and shoot

* Compact. Subcompact okay too.

* Under $250. Ideally, $200 or less.

* Must be able to charge via USB - this is crucial. Specifically, I want the camera to have a standard USB mini device port used to both charge and transfer photos.

* Use SD/SDHC cards

Any ideas? Thank you.

...

09.30.2009

Due to my shear stubbornness, I decided to contact every digital camera manufacturer and ask them if they had any USB charging cameras in their current product line.

Botton line:

NO
Canon
Casio
HP (Yes, I got in touch with them not realizing they didn't make cameras anymore)
Nikon
Panasonic
Pentax
Sony

YES
Kodak [M series EasyShare - Uses proprietary ports and cables, though]
Olympus [Stylus 9000]

No response from Samsung but I attribute that to a broken web form.

Thank you to those who initially cast some healthy skepticism on my idea! I still haven't bought a camera yet, but I'm altogether detached from the USB charging aspects.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: TechnoPro
* Must be able to charge via USB - this is crucial.

Why? Been using digicams for over 10 years now, and I would only buy one that has replaceable batteries. Charging in the camera is a loser in my book. What happens when you see a photo op and the camera is charging? Not good.

 

[ElFenix]

i can't even think of a camera that charges off the USB cable. maybe they all do and i just don't know it

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

yeah, i don't know a camera that has a built-in charger for its batteries. I won't deny that it would be convenient, but I don't think it's out there. Plus charging @ 500ma would be pretty slow (4 hours for standard 2000mah batteries). On a side note, one of the things that I hate about my D300 is that if I leave it hooked up to my computer via USB, it will be completely discharged overnight. Not a cool surprise when I wake up to go to a job and both batteries are dead.

 

[TechnoPro]

Originally posted by: corkyg

Originally posted by: TechnoPro
* Must be able to charge via USB - this is crucial.

Why? Been using digicams for over 10 years now, and I would only buy one that has replaceable batteries. Charging in the camera is a loser in my book. What happens when you see a photo op and the camera is charging? Not good.

All of my portable electronics charge via USB which is hugely convenient for me when I travel (often) and want to bring all of my gadgets yet still travel lightly. I should have mentioned that I rarely use the camera, so the likelihood of missing the perfect shot is rare.

That said, if such a feature is indeed rare, I'm certainly not married to the idea. I'd prefer some portable means of charging and not a 6' cord.

 

[corkyg]

I am a frequent overseas traveller, and I always carry a spare set of batteries (2 ea AA) for my P&S. My DSLR has its own Li-ion battery, and I carry a charged spare for it along with its charger.

I would suggest you look at the Canon SD1200 IS. It meets all your other checks. It has a removable Li-ion battery and a small travel charger is available for $15. With a spare battery all charged, you should really not need a recharge for several hundred pics.

SD1200

I like my P&S cameras to use AA batteries - I have never been anywhere that I could not find AA batteries in a store or kiosk. Nowadays I use Eneloops rechargables, and carry the small charger in my laptop bag.

 

[akugami]

Originally posted by: TechnoPro

Originally posted by: corkyg

Originally posted by: TechnoPro
* Must be able to charge via USB - this is crucial.

Why? Been using digicams for over 10 years now, and I would only buy one that has replaceable batteries. Charging in the camera is a loser in my book. What happens when you see a photo op and the camera is charging? Not good.

All of my portable electronics charge via USB which is hugely convenient for me when I travel (often) and want to bring all of my gadgets yet still travel lightly. I should have mentioned that I rarely use the camera, so the likelihood of missing the perfect shot is rare.

That said, if such a feature is indeed rare, I'm certainly not married to the idea. I'd prefer some portable means of charging and not a 6' cord.

Another vote for a camera with a user replaceable and externally chargeable battery. I've lost count of the times when the compact P&S I was using was running low on power. Being able to pop in another battery may mean you don't miss crucial shots. Nothing like being in the middle of a vacation day and you are out of power.

 

[takeru]

here's some useful things for you:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3205
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.67
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4837
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.488
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.487

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Last year, while vacationing in Cuba, I helped another tourist recharge his HP camera's batteries... he'd forgotten (or lost) the dedicated battery charger, so I just tethered the digicam to my netbook, via USB, and he was back to a full charge in about two hours...

So, yes, there's at least one camera maker that allows you to charge via USB... actually, I thought they all do, until I realized my Olympus 1030 SW can't do it...

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: corkyg
I am a frequent overseas traveller, and I always carry a spare set of batteries (2 ea AA) for my P&S. My DSLR has its own Li-ion battery, and I carry a charged spare for it along with its charger.

I would suggest you look at the Canon SD1200 IS. It meets all your other checks. It has a removable Li-ion battery and a small travel charger is available for $15. With a spare battery all charged, you should really not need a recharge for several hundred pics.

SD1200

I like my P&S cameras to use AA batteries - I have never been anywhere that I could not find AA batteries in a store or kiosk. Nowadays I use Eneloops rechargables, and carry the small charger in my laptop bag.

how small is the travel charger? the thing that comes w/ the SD1200 is already pretty damn compact and plugs right into the wall

 

[TechnoPro]

Updated with vendor information.

 

[ElFenix]

you pretty much don't want to limit yourself to a few blech kodaks and an olympus.

 

[TechnoPro]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
you pretty much don't want to limit yourself to a few blech kodaks and an olympus.

I can be stubborn, yes. But not stupid!

 

[magomago]

eh when it comes to p&s does it really matter? I'd say go for an oly/kodak if you like the menu/styling/feel its intuitive to use.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: randomlinh
how small is the travel charger? the thing that comes w/ the SD1200 is already pretty damn compact and plugs right into the wall

Smaller than a pack of cigarettes or a deck of cards. It plugs directly into a wall socket, and can charge 4 AA or 4 AAA, or combos thereof at the same time.