Best dig out there for $200 or less?

[scubadude]

Topic says it all....Im curious as to opinions on the best dig. camera out there for $200 or less....basically the most bang for your buck...I would like the movie option, and excellent zoom capabilities. Nice LCD color display....ya know all the newest bells and whistles. Mainly used for aquarium photos but also family pics and other stuff

[Poseidon]

$200 is pretty low Rocky, there are options in that range, but $300 would get you a LOT farther.

[scubadude]

$300 would get you a LOT farther.

I tell ya what you give me the extra 100 bux and I will go for the 300 hundred range ;) Im doing alot of upgrades to the tank right now and Im w/out a camera I cant afford to do $300 for another month or so which I very well may do that @ that time, but Im gonna miss out on alot of recording step sequences of my tank if I dont get a cam soon......Im really kind of stretching it with the 200 range for now but I dont mind eating bean soup for a bit

[Poseidon]

Have you held any yet? Go to a local camera shop/Best Buy/Circuit City and see what fits in your hand. Try and navigate in the menu system, change the ISO, Av, Tv, M modes, look for Macro, see how easy it is to move from place to place within the camera's OS. Try a few brands, Canon, Nikon, Olympus, are all good to start. The last time I checked, Canon sold more camera's then everybody else COMBINED, but that doesn't mean that it will be right for you.

Once you find a menu system that you like, then try models above and below from the same brand, usually you will find a sweet spot where the features vs price are in balance. To move up from there may cost 50% more, but only gain you 10% in performance.

Here are some things to consider, MOST camera's will have a sensor made by someone else. Canon, Sony, and Panasonic are the biggest manufacturers of sensors, so you could buy a Nikon, and end up with a Sony sensor. There are differences from camera to camera, but most are more alike then different in a given price range, so get what works for you!

I asked about the bump in price because $300 gets you into a true macro camera.

[CubsFan]

Well now you have my curiosity going, what is a good macro for $300.

[scubadude]

Well now you have my curiosity going, what is a good macro for $300.

Yup....Me 2 CubsFan

[Poseidon]

This camera can focus on a fingerprint that is ON THE LENS!

That one is a favorite of mine, since the S3. There is also the A650,but I haven't tried that one myself.

Either of those camera's are GREAT for walk around family shots as well.

[CubsFan]

Well I looked at the first one at Wal-Mart today it was $349. Looked like a nice camera but I went and did something else I have Never posted a shot of my tank because I always hated the way the pics turned out, but here in a few I'll post one (if it turns out o.k. and specs on the new camera).

[Poseidon]

Uh.. Can't see your pics. ;)

[CubsFan]

My pics still look like crap I will try again tom lol

[scubadude]

This camera can focus on a fingerprint that is ON THE LENS!

That one is a favorite of mine, since the S3.

Mike,
I found the S5 for $215

86th Street Photo & Video

And the A650 IS for $189

ShopDigitalDirect.com

So are these "True Macro" camera's?

[Poseidon]

Rocky, DON'T buy from those places!!!! They are rip off artists!

86th street gets a .13 out of 10!!!

86th Street Photo & Video Customer Ratings, Reviews and Prices at ResellerRatings

Shop digital gets a ZERO!!

Shop Digital Direct Customer Ratings, Reviews and Prices at ResellerRatings

I don't know why MOST camera stores are such crooks, the ONLY places to buy camera's online as far as I am concerned is B&H Photo Video | Digital Cameras, Camcorders and Digital cameras, all other cameras and everything photographic from Adorama Camera if you do the e-bay thing, I bought my 1D from Cameta camera. All of those are much more expensive then the places you listed, but you will actually get the camera, and you won't have to start a dispute with your CC company.

The S5 at Circuit City is a pretty darn good deal.

[scubadude]

Yeah the only camera I have bought online was from B&H. Thanx for the heads up Mike This thread has already done more for me than I expected

Mike so the S5 and the A650 IS are both true macro cameras like you where saying earlier in this thread?

[zhenya]

I'm not sure what a true macro camera is, or even if such camera exists. I know that there are true macro lenses which allow you to replicate a life size image on the sensor, however it is another matter. I think what Mike meant to say that the macro mode on those two cameras may be the best out there but I'm not sure how a zoom lens is capable of achieving true macro capabilities. Great close-ups are possible but not true macro (meaning life size, 1:1), at least that is what I think of the macro images.

By the way, both cameras that Mike recommended are excellent cameras for every day use as well. My son has Canon's A650 and it is great little camera.
Good luck with your purchase, Rocky, which ever you decided on.

[scubadude]

Im pretty sure im just gonna do like Mike suggested and wait until I can afford a camera in the $300 dollar range....might be a bit longer than I wanted but hey I will get wat I want

[Poseidon]

MAybe "true macro" was not a good term... I agree with what Gene has suggested about 1:1, either of those models will not provide 1:1, but they do well with getting VERY close to your subject.

I agree you are on the right track Rocky, that $300 mark seems to make a big difference from the $200 cameras.

[Future]

I have a Sony cybershot 4.1MP and it took me a while to figure out some of the features, but for under $200 it's been doing a damn good job. The plus to this one is it will accept lenses that allow for greater zoom and stuff.

I'm not saying to buy here, they are asking over $200, but this was the only image I could find in 5 minutes on this work dial-up computer..lol Sorry Sony Cybershot DscP73 Dsc-P73 4Mp Digital Camera 110-220 volts Pal Ntsc 3x digital zoom

If you hit ebay you'll find a ton of good digi cams at $200 or less as well.