Suggestions for camera around 150 or less

[krone6]

Know very little about this area. Pretty much my mom wants to buy my dad a digital camera for christmas. Wondering what's a good/decent one for around 150 or less. Prefer it to be 10+ MP if i can get it that high. Currently i have found this one but i don't know if it's good to buy as there's no reviews on it yet.

Camera

Feedback on the camera is also welcomed, or maybe some suggestions on what to look for in digital cameras that make or break them. Thank you for whoever can help.

[jbmcmillan]

Your link comes up with this.lol

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The requested URL /Then the tobacco industry would be a multi-trillion dollar industry. was not found on this server.

[krone6]

Fixed. I don't know how it got in there. I copied the URL right before i pasted it. Strange, anyhow it's fixed.

Additional Comment:

bump......

[JustinThyme]

Just an FYI you will be hard pressed to find a good camera on that budget.
I just looked at reviews on the camera you have linked and pretty much across the board they all said that if you want pictures with any kind if image quality look elsewhere.

Often overlooked is Fujifilm. They are bar none king of P&S in image quality.
Heres a lineup to surf at the egg.

Here

[leprechanmonkie]

Get a canon, if you can afford one They are very nice camera's. I hate my GF's Fuji, but my parents canon is teh sex

[krone6]

Well, i had a 4.3 MP kodak POS and it took videos and pics no problem. Came out nice. And i could bet it was 100+ at the time. Can you link me to a site for reivews on this? BTW, i can't go above 130. I just want to suggest to my mom to get a camera that will take good pics (i'm used to 4.3 MP and lower btw, never used anything higher, ever) and take video. If anyone has a camera with video that they use for around 130 or less tell me. I'll look at it and see what others say if there's comments. Thanks for the comments too.

[JustinThyme]

For P&S look here http://www.dpreview.com
For DSLR look here http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/index.asp and here http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/

[Odanez]

if you want a camera for under $150 forget the number of megapixels it can do. compact camera sensors are not capable of making a sharp 10mp picture anyway. 6-8mp on a compact camera is more than enough, especially in that price range. Also, in that price range, cameras will not differ that much from one another, technology has come so far that, just like with dvd burners, it's almost all the same, except things like battery life, user friendliness etc. just check some review sites and see what suits you best.

[krone6]

Originally Posted by Odanez

if you want a camera for under $150 forget the number of megapixels it can do. compact camera sensors are not capable of making a sharp 10mp picture anyway. 6-8mp on a compact camera is more than enough, especially in that price range. Also, in that price range, cameras will not differ that much from one another, technology has come so far that, just like with dvd burners, it's almost all the same, except things like battery life, user friendliness etc. just check some review sites and see what suits you best.

Thank you then. Didn't know there were much difference in dvd burners. I guess i'll just grab the one i got picked out and take a chance. You say there's not that big of a difference anyhow. Just glad i'm not into the serious stuff. over a thousand bucks for a single general use lens? That's a heck of an expensive camera by the time your done.

[unrlmth]

Originally Posted by Odanez

Also, in that price range, cameras will not differ that much from one another, technology has come so far that, just like with dvd burners, it's almost all the same, except things like battery life, user friendliness etc. just check some review sites and see what suits you best.

While the pictures will probably be pretty similar, there may be big differences in the ability to adjust settings. Does at have aperture or shutter priority modes and stuff like that.

If you can stretch your budget a little I would try looking for a used G7. You might not want to give something used as gift, but it is a much better camera.

[Odanez]

aperture and shutter priority is a neat camera feature that I definately cannot do without. If you are into more than just snapshots, look for one that can do that, but I doubt you will find many under $150, since that seems to be less and less of a common feature in compact cameras. I bought a 4mp kodak in 2004 for 230 euros, and it had everything, manual,exposure,shutter,aperture priority, etc, but buy one now in the same class and you will most likely not have those features anymore.

[unrlmth]

Originally Posted by Odanez

aperture and shutter priority is a neat camera feature that I definitely cannot do without.

Only 3 modes I've used in the last 25k pictures I've taken.

Edit: and manual.

[JustinThyme]

Originally Posted by Odanez

aperture and shutter priority is a neat camera feature that I definately cannot do without. If you are into more than just snapshots, look for one that can do that, but I doubt you will find many under $150, since that seems to be less and less of a common feature in compact cameras. I bought a 4mp kodak in 2004 for 230 euros, and it had everything, manual,exposure,shutter,aperture priority, etc, but buy one now in the same class and you will most likely not have those features anymore.

One cannot have true aperature and shutter prioirity but rather simulated on a P&S. There is no shutter and no aperature blades on the lens in inexpensive P&S cameras. Some of the upper bracketed ones have tiny leaf shutters with 3 blade aperatures but these are very few. What you get is a simple circuit that simulates both by varying degrees of length of time the circuit is active for capture.

If you want snapshots get a P&S, If you want something capable of producing astounding razor sharp results then go DSLR,SLR or medium and large format.

One other very important factor to consider with P&S is the lag between the time you press the button and the image is captured. Its comapred as shutter lag but there isnt a shutter. Some are better than others but its an eternity compared to the slowest DSLR.

Befrore anyone jumps out to contradict I have already traveled this road. I refused to believe such and set out to prove I could get the same results with a P&S and spent far too much money going through several top of the line models to prove a point that could not be proven. I was so disgusted by the IQ of the P&S compared to my old film days that I was about to go back to film but finally broke down and bought a Rebel XTi. The results were immediate and absolute. I have since moved up through the ranks of DSLRs and shoot exclusively pro bodies now.

Try getting a shot like this with a P&S, not going to happen!

Canon 1D Mark III full manual with 300mm f2.8L lens @ f2.8, 1/1600, ISO200

[Odanez]

ok you seem to know your cameras, so you say a P&S camera does not have a shutter, but what is the mechanical shutter-like thing in the camera then? My old camera has one of those, if you look into the front of the lens and take a picture, it makes a clicking sound and you can actually see something moving inside the lens. isn't that the shutter?

if you wonder what camera I have, it's this one: http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_..._front_blk.jpg

[JustinThyme]

I said most P&S do not have shutters, especially compact ones. This one I am not sure about. The click sound is almost always simulated just like with a cell phone. If you see anything moving it would be a 3 lens aperature if anything. The reason most P&S cameras are horribly slow is that if they do have an aperature on the lens it is wide open while you are viewing, then you press the shutter, the aperature closes, then adjusts, then the image is exposed. Most P&S (later models) have neither. Fixed aperature and exposure is controlled by the time the capture circuit is active.

[Odanez]

interesting. That DX7440 has a very quick response, if you push down the trigger half way the aperture size and focus is adjusted (I guess) and if you push it all the way then it almost instantly takes the picture (followed by the clicking) - I haven't used many modern small cameras, so I do not know a lot about them, but I assumed all had a mechanical shutter inside, guess I was wrong.

On a side note: my brother is interested in the Lumix ZS3, as it does quite nice HD (1280x720 I think) videos as well. He said it apparently does not have manual shutter/aperture settings, but does it have what you called simulated aperture/shutter or does it have a real one? It is a compact camera, but lets say one of a higher class

[JustinThyme]

I cant locate and specs on it in that realm but due to the rest of the specs I would have to assume it does not. What I just saw leads to electronic shutter due mostly ot high S/N ratio and lack of any type of manual control. No manual control is usually a ddefinite sign of the lack of shutter and or aperature. The performance begins degradation past ISO200 and falls off the chart at ISO400 which is not very good in the realm of digital photography. This goes right back to the high S/N ratio of the sensor. Granted my camera body is very high end but I dont see image degradation in the least until I get around ISO1600.

This does shoot 720P video and seems to do a decent job at it. Judging by the construction and the specs overall I would tend to believe this is more a camcorder type device modified to be capable of stills. Thats just my opinion though.

Dont get me wrong, Im not knocking the versatility of the P&S as it has it place in the market. I have one I pack to vacation spots like amusment parks where carrying a large camera body on a roller coaster is just not feasible but do not expet stellar photos from it either. What I am saying mostly is that any P&S cannot be compared to SLR/DSLR in IQ. Found that out the hard expensive way.

[Turtile]

Originally Posted by JustinThyme

I said most P&S do not have shutters, especially compact ones. This one I am not sure about. The click sound is almost always simulated just like with a cell phone. If you see anything moving it would be a 3 lens aperature if anything. The reason most P&S cameras are horribly slow is that if they do have an aperature on the lens it is wide open while you are viewing, then you press the shutter, the aperature closes, then adjusts, then the image is exposed. Most P&S (later models) have neither. Fixed aperature and exposure is controlled by the time the capture circuit is active.

All cameras have a shutter. Many P&Ss use electronic shutters along with most DSLRs. Fully electronic shutters are controlled by the sensor. My D2hs's sensor can't do this so it requires a mechanical shutter. While the cameras do make a fake noise, you can turn it off.

Unless you have a fixed focus lens on the P&S (limited to disposables usually), you have variable aperture in the camera.

If you don't believe me, look at any specifications of P&S cameras or go to any store and look at the lens. You'll see the aperture range right on the lens.

[JustinThyme]

Dont have to believe you, I know what I know. What do you think electronic shutter means? It means a circuit in which the capture is done by specifying the sample rate of the sensors in a manner of time, not an actual shutter which by definition is a mechanical device. Not all have an adjustable aperature either. Get one and disassemble it. Like I stated earlier I have already been down this road and yes I have disassemled just to see what was in there. Hell I bought, decided the pictures sucked, too late to return it so I figured I may as well satisfy my curiousity and learn in the process. DSLRs do not use an electronic shutter, none of them. EVERY single one made has a mechanical shutter. Later SLR and DSLR models can control the the mechanical shutters time by metering and choosing exposure for you but that does nt an electronic shutter make. Next thing you know someone will post that cars with Elecronic fuel injection have electronic engines.

[Turtile]

Originally Posted by JustinThyme

Dont have to believe you, I know what I know. What do you think electronic shutter means? It means a circuit in which the capture is done by specifying the sample rate of the sensors in a manner of time, not an actual shutter which by definition is a mechanical device.

From Wikipedia:

In photography, a shutter is a device that allows light to pass for a determined period of time, for the purpose of exposing photographic film or a light-sensitive electronic sensor to light to capture a permanent image of a scene.

Also, extra circuitry is required for electronic shutters.

Originally Posted by JustinThyme

Not all have an adjustable aperature either. Get one and disassemble it. Like I stated earlier I have already been down this road and yes I have disassemled just to see what was in there. Hell I bought, decided the pictures sucked, too late to return it so I figured I may as well satisfy my curiousity and learn in the process.

All of the spec sheets for cameras in the $150 range show an adjustable aperture. How would the camera expose the image without an adjustable aperture given its design? The last P&S I had also had an adjustable aperture.

Originally Posted by JustinThyme

DSLRs do not use an electronic shutter, none of them. EVERY single one made has a mechanical shutter. Later SLR and DSLR models can control the the mechanical shutters time by metering and choosing exposure for you but that does nt an electronic shutter make.

DSLRs that have an electronic shutter (as far as I know):

Nikon D1
Nikon D1X
Nikon D1H
Nikon D40
Nikon D50
Nikon D70
Nikon D70s (I own)