What is a good cheap digital camera?

[MWink]

I'm looking for a good digital camera for under $200. I would like the following features:
LCD viewfinder
1+ MegaPixle

Features I must have:
uses standard batteries
removable memory (at least 4MB)
USB interface
GOOD QUALITY

I have one of the horrible Earthlink cameras (got it free) and I want something better. The first one blew up after about 10 pictures. The second one takes up to 50 pictures before batteries die (or at least that is what IT says). I want one that will work properly and give me good pictures. Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[Mats122]

50 pictures with one battery is a standard and I don't think you get any better than that. Try not to use the LCD and then amount of pics to be taken will increase.
I can't help you much in the $200 range, but if you can, I suggest get the Canon S100 / S10 from B@y.com. They're both at $398 - $30 discount = $368 delivered. Both are very good camera at this price.
I would not go for the cheap Kodaks or HP's - they bulky and quality of pictures isn't good at all. You buy a $200 camera and will regret it the second day. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's my $0.02.

 

[Need4Speed]

"good" "cheap" digital cameras dont exist.
You either get a cheap one or you get a good one.

Save the money and spend the extra cash and buy a good one...you wont regret it.

 

[Oyeve]

Actually, the Kodak c200xi can be bought now for 230 with a 30 buck rebate. that brings it to 200. 1 megapixel, 8 meg cf card. Not bad actually. It isnt USB (i think) but you could get a reader fairly cheap.

 

[Chuffmaster2k]

I agree that there is no such thing as a "good cheap digital camera"...

I also picked up on that Earthlink deal. I used the camera for maybe three days and could not stand it anymore. I went out and bought a Kodak DC240. These things are awesome.

When it comes to digital cameras you really do get what you pay for. Good Luck.

 

[Wizkid]

My uncle has a cheap digital camera. It's an HP something or other and cost CAD $300, so $200 US and it's a piece of garbage. The quality is bad enough that you wouldn't even want to use it for taking pictures that you intend to email or post on a web page, and it's DEFINITELY not even comparable to film cameras. However, I have a Nikon Coolpix 950 at work and it is awesome. The pictures really are the same quality as film cameras, but that cameras costs several times more than my uncle's cheap one. I am sure that there are some good "cheap" cameras, but none of them will be $200. I would consider $400 to be a "good cheap" camera. My best advice for you would be to go to a store that sells several different models in your price range. Try them out and compare the results (on a PC, don't use the built-in LCD for comparison b/w cameras). If you are happy with the results then buy one, otherwise save your money

 

[Mats122]

You can also try the JVC GC-QX3U, which is a 3.34 Mpixel camera with a lot of functions and lithium battery/AC charger included.
There was a glitch on Cameraworld's site and they could be had for $320 delivered. Cameraworld honored the deal and so people jumped on digi-cam worth few hundreds more (most stores sell it for around $850).
I got one too (sold my flat to a friend at work after I got a Nikon 880) and I must say, the pictures were very nice. Would not pay $850, but for anything around $400 - you don't get another 3.34 Megs.
Now they're on Egay for like $350 new in a box - that's may be something for you.

 

[MWink]

Mats122: Ummm... There is no LCD!

 

[Tonec]

Fuji 1400

 

[MWink]

What about the Kodak DC3200? It sounds like a pretty good camera.

 

[MWink]

How about the Fuji FinePix 1300? It looks the best so far.

 

[hans007]

yeah fuji finepix 1300 is the best you can do, i had an mx1200 (older serial port version, but basically the same), and they are both good, if you dont mind not having the zoom. Also the $30 off coupon at buy.com is dead so no s100s for $370 anymore. For $199 someone might tell you to get the new HP photosmart 215, but be aware that it can not take rechargeable batteries for some reason (says so on HP's site).

 

[MWink]

Anyone else?

 

[gerbz]

I've been researching these myself.
The best bang for buck is the fuji 2400
$330 now, I hope to find one under $300 after the holidays.

 

[pdo]

keep checking for Hot deals board and you'll bound to find something decent for the price.

 

[Tonec]

Remember to budget ~$100 to the total cost for niMH batteries+charger, additional smartmedia/compactflash/cf reader,etc

 

[MattStone]

how about the olympus d360L. I've been looking into that one, and I will probably get it...I believe you can get it for under 250. PC World gave the the editors choice for 1+ megapixel cams...it is 1.3. What do you guys think...

 

[MWink]

Tonec: I already have the batteries and if I get the Fuji at Best Buy this week, it comes with a free 16MB Smart Media card.

 

[Skaven]

I would go with the Fuji. I have the MX1200 and I got the USB smart-media reader for free with it. The camera takes great pics! Here is a shot I took on vacation in November:

Pic

The MX 1300 is pretty much the same camera with onboard USB and re-freshed looks. While on the trip I took a 64mb smartmedia and could fill it multiple times (50+ pics) with one set of 4 AA batteries. I didn't use the LCD much at all though..

Get the Fuji, you won't be dissapointed. I only wish it had optical zoom!

-Skaven

p.s. The pic was taken at highest res, higest quality.. then reduced in size for photopoint. If you would like to see the original pic, PM me.

 

[MajesticMoose]

There is no such thing as a good cheap digital camera. The on;y ones that are close to good cost about $1400. That's ignoring the fact that digital cameras suck. y not go with, you get alot more for your money, and i know you have a scanner, so whats the issue? Buy film not digital, they suck, i know first hand.

Moose

 

[MajesticMoose]

oh yea i forgot: you spelled digital wrong.

Moose

 

[Fardringle]

Personally, I've been looking into getting the Olympus D-460. It's a 1.3 Mpixel camera with LCD viewfinder, 3x optical and 2x digital zoom, 8MB Smartmedia card as well. It uses alkaline or rechargeable batteries, but I'm not certain about the USB... A friend of mine has one of these and quite often prints out pictures (with a photo printer) that look at least as good (and often better) than my simple point-and-shoot film camera!

Right now, the best price I've been able to find is $337 at Amazon.com, and with their $50 off $200 deal on electronics which is good until the end of the year, that makes the camera only $287, which is at least $100 less than I've been able to find it anywhere else.

 

[bernse]

The HP 315 is a 2.1 mega with 2.5 digital zoom (digital zoom is ass). Comes mit batteries and stuff, and an 8MB smartcard. Can be had for around $250 or so now, I think.

 

[RossMAN]

I agree there is no such thing as a "good cheap digital camera" my requirements are about 99% the same as yours. I want a decent digital camera, LCD, USB, at least 1.0 megapixel and prefer some extra goodies but I'm willing to pay up to $250-$300. How ambitious are you to get a good deal? If you can spare about an hour total you can get a super kick a$$ deal like I did. Here it goes:

$299.99 Fuji Finepix 1400
-$150 Free $150 Amazon GC from MCI
-$50 off $200 Electronics coupon (yes this can be combined with the GC)
-$50 Fuji rebate (expires 1/31/00)
====================================
$49.99

Here's a CNET.com review of the Fuji Finepix 1400 (97% thumbs up, 3% thumbs down)

Is there a catch? Of course there's always a catch
You have to pay shipping and sales tax, that's about it. I did this deal and my camera should arrive any day now.

Are you an existing Mercata customer? If so, check yourMercata dollars balance hopefully you have some left. These are good towards 20% of your purchase, check out Mercata's Digital Cameras selection. They have several of the best digital cameras including Nikon, Olympus, Kodak and Fuji. The Kodak DC3400 looks impressive but a tad out of my price range.

I only intend to take pictures for eGay auctions and outdoors pictures I'll probably never print them, they'll all remain in digital format so 1.3 Megapixel is plenty for me. A Fuji Finepix 1400 for $49.99 life is just to good sometimes!

There is no minimum committment to stay signed up with MCI in case you are curious ...

 

[MWink]

Mike (MMoose): You did not have to post your opinion. I am well aware of what you think about digital cameras. I personally don't like film cameras (you're going to kill me for saying that aren't you?). I don't like to have to buy film and wait to get it developed. I also like being able to store it on my computer without scanning it.

As for the rest of you: Thanks for the advice. I got the Fuji Finepix 1300 W/16MB extra Smart Media at Best Buy for $235. It has everything I wanted and so far is excellent. The image quality is far better than I expected (especially at low quality). So far I have no complaints at all.