Inexpensive Digital

[dbllunger]

I just destroyed my second digitial camera Kodak C743.  I either sat on it in my pack, or the horse broke it when it ran my pack into a tree.  Either way the screen was broke, and now it has completely quit.  The Kodak took great pics, and I replaced it with another C model.  The last one took really poor pics and I sent it back.  Any suggestions to look at?   

Needs to be ran by AA batteries because everything else in my pack runs off AA's.
Small enough to fit in shirt pocket for obvious reasons. 
Like cost to be under $150.00
Take a SD memory card.
Truely a point and click with the close up feature.

[robodad]

Canon Powershot SX100IS.

Great P&S with image stabilization. Takes really good photos. Lens is a 36-360mm f2.8-4.3 so it is quite fast in low light and really clear !! 8.0 MP 10X optical zoom forget about the digital zoom they are useless. Only one drawback is it doesn't shoot in RAW which is no biggie for some !!!

[Grizzly95]

I have a kodak at home I will check the model and let you know, I was gonna try to hack it but I think I will stick with the sony's for now.

[dbllunger]

robo...I just looked at their web sight.  I am not a techno guy at all.  I ran a comparison between the one you mentioned and the A580.   The A580 is 100 bucks cheaper, and nothing is free.  They looked like the same camera on the web sight.  Would you look at them and see if they are the same.  We use a Canon at home and it takes awesome pics.  It is an older one but is great and never a problem.  Again this camera will be used for my hunting, fishing, dirt bike, etc. general point and shoot camera.  I take scenery pics of sunrise, sunsets, and animals.  If you thing the A580 is compareable that might be the way to go.

[Grizzly95]

Gotta agree with you guys on the canons, my neighbor has one and it does awesome, he has a DSLR and his wife has a lesser expensive canon point and shoot and I think they both look just as goods as eachother.

[robodad]

Some of the major differences I see are the 580 does not have Image Stabilization, it's zoom lens is only 140mm or 4x compared to the 100IS at 360mm or 10x. You cannot put the 580 into Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority mode which is a small drawback, but the 580 is a little bit more compact in size and weight.

Both should be able to take very good photos out to 4x zoom but the 580 stops there and the 100IS goes all the way to 10 times closer which is huge especially with animal pics and employs an image stabilization feature which improves image quality immensely especially for those long shots.

If I were you I would get the 100is just because of those features but if you don't care about seeing a long ways off and are a pretty steady camera holder or use a tripod then the 580 should do fine !!!

[Slider]

Amazon has the 110IS for $212.00 +1 on the Cannon point and shoots!!! I took this pic with a A95. I have purchased an A95, 570IS, 590IS, SD1100IS(between getting them jacked and liquid spilled on them at concerts) I quess my kid is hard on camera's? 


http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Powershot-SX110IS-Stabilized-Black/dp/B001EQ4C8U/ref=dp_cp_ob_p_title_0

[huntnphool]

ROBO, does it have the ability to shoot RAW? DBL, I would look for one that does if it is a matter of $50.00

[dbllunger]

What is RAW?  I just checked the family digital and it is a Canon A610.  It has the swing out screen, and is at least seven years old.  It takes great pics.  I found the A580 for right at 100 bucks cheaper.  I really appreciate the input, so now I will mull them over.  I don't use a bipod, but have layed it on my pack, or over a log/rock at times.  90% is just hold it, let it focus, and take the picture.  I think the image stabilization would be good.  When I take pics sitting on the horse I take 5 to make sure one turns out.  Seems like he is sitting still, but the pic ends up blurry. 

[huntnphool]

DBL, make sure you read this before you purchase. I didn't write it Pope did but it does a great job in explaining some things for you to consider before spending your money. I will never buy a point and shoot but if I had to RAW would be essential and something I would reject cameras for if they didn't have the ability.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,17434.0.html

[robodad]

ROBO, does it have the ability to shoot RAW? DBL, I would look for one that does if it is a matter of $50.00

No it doesn't Rob and that was one of the drawbacks I pointed out earlier, I personally shoot all pics in raw but there are some that don't and wouldn't know where to begin. If I didn't do any post processing I would rather have the IS then the ability to shoot in RAW if it is about $50.

Personally I am selling a bunch of my stuff so I can afford a $950 lens but shooting great photos is quite a bit more important to me then some folks !!  I want both !!! 

[dbllunger]

Thanks...I read popes post and it was informative.  WAY more advanced then I want.  I checked out the 500.00 Canon, and did not see the RAW feature.  So what does that feature cost extra?  Is RAW labeled as something else in the features or what "Spec" should I be looking for to know it shoots in RAW.  Would be a nice feature as I have screwed up a few shots that could probably have been made to look great.

[robodad]

Thanks...I read popes post and it was informative.  WAY more advanced then I want.  I checked out the 500.00 Canon, and did not see the RAW feature.  So what does that feature cost extra?  Is RAW labeled as something else in the features or what "Spec" should I be looking for to know it shoots in RAW.  Would be a nice feature as I have screwed up a few shots that could probably have been made to look great.

Best I can explain is it is a format that does not compress your digital photos, (jpeg compresses them and degrades them as it does) and allows for post processes that are not possible with jpeg (white balance, exposure values, etc...) so you have much more freedom when touching up your pictures in RAW format. I know there is many more advantages to RAW files but just think of it as your digital negitive like the film negetives that were necessary to generate a great image from a not so great image.

[dbllunger]

Robo...thanks sorry I did not explain that well.  Will the spec sheet say "RAW" in it. I have seen the jpg, but just not the abbreviation RAW.  Sorry I am being a pain, but if it is only 50 bucks or so more it sounds worth it.

[robodad]

Yeah you bet it is worth it !! and yes it should say under "setting image recording quality" weather it will shoot in RAW and sometimes it will say Raw/jpeg and that means it will take both at the same time !!

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare.asp

Here is a good place to start and when you decide on one you can look up its specs right there. Look under buying guides and you'll see a side by side comparison menu then just put some cameras in there and see which one is better !!!