Best digital camera for the buck?

[rockafeller]

Need help picking out a digital camera in the $300 and under range. Has to have good upgradable storage, preferably smart media cards. Needs a decent zoom and macro. I will be using it for pictures for my website and of course pics of my animals. I can go up to $400 if I can really justify it to myself but would rather stay below $300. Any suggestions?
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[Bry]

You could look at the Olympus D-360L. I've never used them, but I"ve heard good things about them. I use the Olympus D-320L and it's pretty good. The picture quality is so-so, compared to the more high-end digi cams out there, but I'm not complaining. There isn't any zoom or macro option on the 320L at all. But I believe the 360 model does. I've also been looking at getting a Sony Mavica of some sort. I've seen a few FD-87 and 85 models for under $400 and they do have the zoom and macro options. Lori and Julius have Mavicas, and the picture quality is much better.

Bry
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[joerissa]

We are using Olympus D-150 Zoom 1.3 megapixel 3x optical zoom 2x digital zoom. Price is around $300. I think it takes pretty good picks. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_cool.gif[/img]



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[reptilemama]

Well, I paid more like $500 for my mavica FD-92, but they have new models out so you may be able to find one cheaper than that. It uses floppies and memory sticks. Great macro and zoom, I really like it. Here's a pic I took of a 1" frog, from just an inch or so away from it. (don't ask me why it sat so still, maybe it wanted to be a model.)

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[Ophiophagus-hannah]

I believe you can't go wrong with a Canon or a Kodak. Keep doing your research and compare prices and features. Good luck!
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[kogoz]

I use a kodak DX3700 From wallie world (Wal-Mart)ut was like 200.00 at the most and its really good
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[XzyluM]

Well, I recently bought me a new digi. I got the Olympus brio D-230. It's great for $200. It has some really nice specs as well. 5x zoom, 2.0 mexapixel, and come with a 16MB memory, most only come with 8MB. It's a good buy. Think this digi is around $300+ on the web. If you don't have a tight budget, I would go with a Sony Mavica, I heard a lot of good things about them.
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[QuickSilver]

Ahhhh HAH!!! finally a topic that i am VERY experienced in! Working under 400 bucks will get you a decent dig cam...its not going to be spectacular but will yeild good results. For macro work i can suggest any of Nikons cams...there CoolPix line are great with macro shots and can readily be found for under 400 bucks. Canon also has two new cams out, the s200 and s330...both are essentially the same camera but the 330 has a 3x zoom vs. the 2x of the 200. Both are GREAT cameras under 400 bucks...I currently have a Canon G2 and a s330 and recieve excellent pics from both...although the G2 is FAR supperior but it also costs substantialy more than 400 dollars. I would recomend going to a camera dealer like ritz camera, or a best but or circut city and playing around with there selection of cameras...that way you will get the feel for which one you like the most...also, you might want to visit my favorite page (besides this one [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] ) www.dpreview.com They review pretty much every dig cam ever made in extreme detail. But my 2 suggestions would be a nikon or canon =) Ive never been a big fan of the olympus cams just because of the fact im really not to hot with the whole smart media thing...its just to open to damage having the contacts exposed like that...i prefer compact flash, but dont get me wrong, they still take great pics too...cameras are only limited by there user...ive seen pics taken by a 200 dollar camera rival ones that were taken with a 1000 dollar one...alot of it is in the hands of the user! Have fun! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
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[QuickSilver]

Also, if you need any help in making a descision, or locating a specific cam, email me at QuickSilver6927@msn.com and i will be more than happy to help you out! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
[addsig]

QuickSilver, thanks for the link! I'm also in the market for a digital camera and am so behind the technology wave I have no clue.

I want something that can yield pictures like ReptileMamma's above. I won't be so foolish to say price is no object. Seems like the Mavica FD-92 is the ticket for me. Anyone that can suggest something that produces similar results, feel free to share.

Gotta go check out that link now and learn some stuff. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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[natas]

Nikon by far [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] I wouldn't by any other digital Camera. If your looking for one in that price range then the CoolPix 800 or 950 are the best for your buck. Go to ebay and search for them....thats how I bought mine.
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[XzyluM]

I tried eBay a few times, but it gives pretty rough on the digi. Most of the time you'll better off shopping then wasting time bidding on eBay. Nikkon are probably the best, but pricey.
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What I have learned relatively quickly:
If you wanna take close up pics of small things, you need a short marco focus length, at the very minimum, single digit centimeters. For instance, ReptileMama's close up pic of the small frog was taken with a camera with a macro focus of 3cm. Some cameras look like the a super deal, more effective pixels but have a macro focus of like 16cm which will probably result in relatively poor close up pics of small things.

I have yet to find many cameras under $250 at all. And of those, none have a macro focus length shorter than 8cm, and many are 20cm or more!

Oh, and the nikon coolpix 800 or 950 are WELL out of the $300 range, more like $400+

What kind/type of pics are you planning on taking mostly? If you don't plan on taking a lot of close ups, you can probably get away with a long focus length. I highly suggest examining the link QuickSilver posted, it's very informative. The difference between $300 and $400 seems to be significant in terms of quality...

I would ask you to look at the Kodak DX4900, it seems to have all that you need for around $400

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[rockafeller]

Thanks everyone for the help!

Mostly I will be taking everyday sort of family type pictures. My friend owns a photo processing place that can make excelent prints out of digital images. I will of course also be taking pics of my snakes and parrot and car etc... The many hobbies I have. On top of that I do website design as favors for people I know. So I may need to take pics for that as well. I have used the Nikon Coolpix 950 and I thought that was a decent cam. I thought it was out of my price range, but the prices recently went down. I really like the Kodak and Cannon brands which are well repected in photography. Also I've heard good things about Fuji. I'm gonna check out that reveiw site and hopefully pick one out.


Thanks
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[QuickSilver]

Let me also remind you guys that ive bought almost every peice of photography eqiupment i own on E-bay...its WAY cheaper than any store, just make sure the person you are buying from is very reputable, and that you know what your buying. I got my canon G2 for $600, versus around 800-900 at almost any store...plus the guy was really cool and threw in a carrying case, a lensmate and 2 screw on filters. As long as you carry a little knowledge in with you, you should come out with good results. Also if your adventerous, American Express Blue does killer price matching and sometimes gives substantial rebates...check out the forums on dpreview.com and they can give you an exact cheapest price around...there really a great bunch of people.
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