Inexpensive digial camera for banging around?

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"Lucinia" <luciniathefletcher@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1107307662.072240.284580@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Heya all. I'm looking for a smallish, relativy inexpensive digial
> camera to keep with me while I go snowboarding, skating or just banging
> around.
> I already have a d70 and assorted lenses, so I need something more
> portable and less prone to getting broken or stolen, for catching those
> moments when you say "man I wish I had my camera with me".
> Maybe something like a Coolpix 3200? I'm willing to spend up to about
> $200 - $250.
> Thanks in advance!!



I also have a D70. My "bang around" compact digital is a Sony DSC-P100.
Zeiss lens, very compact, 5.1MP, near-zero shutter lag. Nice little camera,
I think.

Good shooting,
Bob Scott

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Lucinia wrote:
> Heya all. I'm looking for a smallish, relativy inexpensive digial
> camera to keep with me while I go snowboarding, skating or just
banging
> around.
> I already have a d70 and assorted lenses, so I need something more
> portable and less prone to getting broken or stolen, for catching
those
> moments when you say "man I wish I had my camera with me".
> Maybe something like a Coolpix 3200? I'm willing to spend up to about
> $200 - $250.
> Thanks in advance!!

The CoolPix 3200 is an excellent choice, if you can still find one.

Here are my recommendations:

For $213 you can get the Coolpix 3700 from Newegg.com, after $100
rebate.
"http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=30-113-113&depa=0"

For $251 you can get the Canon S410 from buydig.com
"http://buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=CNPSS410"

Personally, I'd get the S410, since it uses CompactFlash, and the
aftermarket batteries are very cheap.

For $150, you can get the Canon A400, but you get a lot more for your
money when you move up to the $200-250 range.

All of the above cameras feature the all-important AF Assist Lamp.

See the Digital Camera Short List, at
"http://digitalcamerashortlist.com"

For a while, you could get the Canon A75 for a very good price, but it
has been discontinued, and no one seems to have them anymore.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"Scharf-DCA" <scharf@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1107374353.870438.38220@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Lucinia wrote:
> > Heya all. I'm looking for a smallish, relativy inexpensive digial
> > camera to keep with me while I go snowboarding, skating or just
> banging
> > around.
> > I already have a d70 and assorted lenses, so I need something more
> > portable and less prone to getting broken or stolen, for catching
> those
> > moments when you say "man I wish I had my camera with me".
> > Maybe something like a Coolpix 3200? I'm willing to spend up to about
> > $200 - $250.
> > Thanks in advance!!
>
> The CoolPix 3200 is an excellent choice, if you can still find one.


What do you mean by "if you can find one"? It's all over the place. It's NOT
if you vcan find one. It's how many do you want?



>
> Here are my recommendations:
>
> For $213 you can get the Coolpix 3700 from Newegg.com, after $100
> rebate.
>
"http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=30-113-113&depa=0
"
>
> For $251 you can get the Canon S410 from buydig.com
> "http://buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=CNPSS410"
>
> Personally, I'd get the S410, since it uses CompactFlash, and the
> aftermarket batteries are very cheap.
>
> For $150, you can get the Canon A400, but you get a lot more for your
> money when you move up to the $200-250 range.
>
> All of the above cameras feature the all-important AF Assist Lamp.
>
> See the Digital Camera Short List, at
> "http://digitalcamerashortlist.com"
>
> For a while, you could get the Canon A75 for a very good price, but it
> has been discontinued, and no one seems to have them anymore.
>

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Kitt wrote:

> This one is $200 at Amazon. Unlimited movie mode, quick on, pretty
> fast between shots (they claim 1.3 fps) & 2 AA's for power. It's about
> 5"x2"x1.5". Really will fit in a shirt pocket. You'll probably want a
> bigger Memory Stick, extra batteries and a fast charger:
> Sony Cybershot DSCP73 4.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

I'd avoid this camera. It's a good price, but it hasn't received great
reviews due to its noise suppression system being too agressive, leading
to loss of detail. The Nikon Coolpix 3200 or 3700 is a better choice.

I'd avoid Memory Stick cameras as well.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"Lucinia" <luciniathefletc...@yahoo.com> wrote in message

>One thing I forgot to consider was the purchase of new memory cards.
Thanks for pointing that out

Also, remember that the CoolPix 3700 and Canon S410 come with Li-Ion
batteries and chargers, eliminating the PITA AA cells that are used on
the CoolPix 3200 and Canon A85. The charger for the S410 is very
compact, with a built in plug, no wall wart needed.

Unfortunately, the buydig.com/beachcamera.com deal on the S410 appears
to be over, they no longer have this camera on their site at any price.

It's $287.30 on Amazon, and you can get $30 off by getting an Amazon
Visa card, and it's free shipping, so this actually is less than
Buydig's old price. Also, you get 3% back on orders with the Amazon
Visa, so subtract another $8 or so.

I try to keep common memory types whenever possible.

Steve
http://digitalcamerashortlist.com

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On Wed, 09 Feb 2005 10:16:23 +0900, Stewy <anyone4tennis@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>In article <1107464387.297656.21680@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>,
> "Scharf-DCA" <scharf@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> "Lucinia" <luciniathefletc...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>
>> >One thing I forgot to consider was the purchase of new memory cards.
>> Thanks for pointing that out
>>
>> Also, remember that the CoolPix 3700 and Canon S410 come with Li-Ion
>> batteries and chargers, eliminating the PITA AA cells that are used on
>> the CoolPix 3200 and Canon A85. The charger for the S410 is very
>> compact, with a built in plug, no wall wart needed.
>>
>> Unfortunately, the buydig.com/beachcamera.com deal on the S410 appears
>> to be over, they no longer have this camera on their site at any price.
>>
>> It's $287.30 on Amazon, and you can get $30 off by getting an Amazon
>> Visa card, and it's free shipping, so this actually is less than
>> Buydig's old price. Also, you get 3% back on orders with the Amazon
>> Visa, so subtract another $8 or so.

With the $200 rebate, you can pick up a Nikon 5400 for under $250.
Check Pricegrabber.
>>
>> I try to keep common memory types whenever possible.
>>
>Not if you use Sony's memory sticks. The shortcomings of these expensive
>things became apparent very quickly. My first digital was a Sony S-70
>back in 2001. After buying it for $700, I realised I'd have to spend
>another $400 to make it useful on vacation.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On Thu, 10 Feb 2005 06:20:45 GMT, JPS@no.komm wrote:

>In message <anyone4tennis-ED300C.10162309022005@newssv.kcn.ne.jp>,
>Stewy <anyone4tennis@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>Not if you use Sony's memory sticks. The shortcomings of these expensive
>>things became apparent very quickly. My first digital was a Sony S-70
>>back in 2001. After buying it for $700, I realised I'd have to spend
>>another $400 to make it useful on vacation.
>
>I am using CF cards in my Canon DSLRs now, and I sorely miss the vastly
>superior reliability of the Sony Memory Sticks. I took almost 30,000
>shots on my F717, and had *ZERO* file errors.

Have you had problems with your CF cards?

--
Bill Funk
Change "g" to "a"

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

In message <io3n0119t7dq09kddcgr7jgaaasq0h1ooi@4ax.com>,
Big Bill <bill@pipping.com> wrote:

>Have you had problems with your CF cards?

Yep. I've had CF cards go corrupt just from trying to read them on
computers.
--

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>
John P Sheehy <JPS@no.komm>
><<> <>>< <>>< ><<> <>>< ><<> ><<> <>><

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

ebay - you'd be surprised what you can get for $100.

Lucinia wrote:
> Heya all. I'm looking for a smallish, relativy inexpensive digial
> camera to keep with me while I go snowboarding, skating or just
banging
> around.
> I already have a d70 and assorted lenses, so I need something more
> portable and less prone to getting broken or stolen, for catching
those
> moments when you say "man I wish I had my camera with me".
> Maybe something like a Coolpix 3200? I'm willing to spend up to about
> $200 - $250.
> Thanks in advance!!

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Please append a smiley to my previous reply.
.....
.....
.....
Jeff

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On Fri, 11 Feb 2005 23:04:19 GMT, JPS@no.komm wrote:

>In message <tibo0117p118fbk4qno9l6lt0fkodjao9p@4ax.com>,
>Confused <somebody@someplace.somenet> wrote:
>
>>On Thu, 10 Feb 2005 22:31:18 GMT
>>In message <g3on01hf6j4ttbjj5r7io5f0eatu6o2qbp@4ax.com>
>>JPS@no.komm wrote:
>>
>>> Yep. I've had CF cards go corrupt just from
>>> trying to read them on computers.
>>
>>That sounds like media abuse. Could you be specific?
>
>I put a card in the reader. The computer did not seem to respond. I
>manually went into "My Computer" to look for it, and opened it. The OS
>said that there was no disk. Tried again, and again, and on the third
>try, it saw the disk, and one folder, but nothing in it. Ejected the
>card, put it in the camera, which told me that it was full, but that
>there were no images. This happened about 3 times on the same computer;
>30,000 Sony files were transfered without a hitch.
>
>>What would you think if I said:
>>
>> I've had film go bad just from looking at it.
>
>I'd think that you looked at the film before it was developed.

That sounds like a reader gone bad to me. Or something else happened.
I seriously doubt that the cards were the problem; they don't do that
except in exceptional circumstances.
Were the Sony files (from a Sony card?) read using the same reader?

--
Bill Funk
Change "g" to "a"

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On Fri, 11 Feb 2005 23:04:19 GMT
In message <6tdq01d87sm989v9cf58o8dp47s6vd2vqf@4ax.com>
JPS@no.komm wrote:

> Confused <somebody@someplace.somenet> wrote:
>
> >JPS@no.komm wrote:
> >
> >> Yep. I've had CF cards go corrupt just from
> >> trying to read them on computers.
> >
> >That sounds like media abuse. Could you be specific?
>
> I put a card in the reader. The computer did not seem to respond. I
> manually went into "My Computer" to look for it, and opened it. The OS
> said that there was no disk. Tried again, and again, and on the third
> try, it saw the disk, and one folder, but nothing in it. Ejected the
> card, put it in the camera, which told me that it was full, but that
> there were no images. This happened about 3 times on the same computer;
> 30,000 Sony files were transfered without a hitch.
>
> >What would you think if I said:
> >
> > I've had film go bad just from looking at it.
>
> I'd think that you looked at the film before it was developed.

Yup. <grin>

I'd think you used the CF cards before properly
configuring the computer... not a media's fault.

;^)

Jeff

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Oliver Costich wrote:
> With the $200 rebate, you can pick up a Nikon 5400 for under $250.
> Check Pricegrabber.

Just a comment on this (not personal), as I've been looking to pick up
the 5400. When you factor that many of those retailers on pricegrabber
are not Nikon authorized (thus risking the rebate), many have dubious
service records and many gouge on shipping, it is a task to find it for
under $250. Actually, if you do, let me know because I'd like to get
one for that overall price...however, I find that even if the camera is
<$250, you will not get it for less than $300, if that.

Other considerations include:
- are you in NY, many of those on pricegrabber are NY-based...if so,
add $30 or more in pre-rebate sales tax

- are you willing to take a risk...most low-price retailers that show
up on pricegrabbers have dubious records

- are you willing to hear an upsell pitch when you have to call them or
they call you to "verify" your purchase...I've never had to "verify" my
purchases with other online vendors but somehow it is normal practice
to buy a $300 camera

- you may be able to buy the bones of a 5400 for $250, but you will
immediately need a decent storage card for another $x and shipping

It would be great to see a camera sold at a decent price, with decent
performace, features and accessories, but without rebate hassle. But
then, that might actually stand head and shoulders above the market and
we can't have that, can we?

Dave