Thread: Need a cheap digital camera

Originally Posted by stuffy

Hi all you photography buffs,
I would like to buy a cheap digital camera so I can post photo's on the forums.
I guess you pretty much get what you pay for, but is there any features I should look for in particular?
Obviously number of pixels is stated clearly enough, but what about lenses, storage types, screens, functions, even battery types.
I know I'm only looking at the bottom end of the market, but I don't want to waste my money on something uneconomical to use or just plain rubbish.
I know next to nothing about them, so any advice is very much appreciated.

I agree this is VERY confusing topic and knowing a bit about them I see people getting sucked into buying inappropriate stuff all the time.

Pixels are like horsepower. Most cameras have WAY more pixels that are necessary and they cannot all be used anyway because the lenses in front of those pixels are too small to provide enough light.
To fully utilise 6 or more megapixels the piece of glass out the front of the camera has to be about 30 mm in diameter.

A fair range of optical zoom (eg x5) is useful but too much is a waste because you won't be able to hold the camera steady enough to use Oh yeah, forget about digital zoom it doesn't really do anything you can't do on a computer.

They're getting harder to find but a camera that uses also regular (eg AAA) batteries is handy.

Functions: They already have way to many. The most useful function a lot of cheap cameras don't have is to be able to turn the flash off if you want to so if you enter a "no flash location" you can still use the camera

Digital cameras are relatively delicate so if you are happy to replace the camera every year or so because it dies right when you need it then you can buy the cheapest you can get If you want it to be reliable then get brand name product, it might have fewer pixels and lack a few widgets but they are generally going to survive a knock or fall better than something cheap.

these point and shoot ones are pretty good nowadays, if all you want to do is to upload to the web then you dont need any more than say 5 megapixels, you must also keep your dimensions small, usually no longer than 4 - 600 on the longest side, a resizing programme like this one..... BD Sizer - Download .... is the way to go.....as for camera.... something like this would be more than adequate... Canon PowerShot A460 5 Megapixel Digital Camera - eBay 5.0 - 5.9 Megapixels, Compact, Digital Cameras, Cameras. (end time 25-Aug-10 18:59:59 AEST) ...plenty of specials on the point and shoot range nowadays, dont get sucked in by the salesman who will try to sell you bigger

You don't say what items you want to photograph. If you are doing only small items, you may not even need a zoom. Most small point and shoot a/k/a P&S cameras are very similar. But do be sure whatever you get it has a self timer. This allows you to take pictures 'hands off'. Also get a small and inexpensive tripod. Steadiness is of great importance in getting sharp photos. I use PhotoShop Elements for my photo editing. But, as stated, there are a number of pretty good free programs available out there.

Hi Stuffy,
I have a Canon A520 Powershot, meaning, that I use AAA Rechargeable Batteries.
I prefer them to those small sq. Batts. It has 4 Mega Pixels. Never had a problem.
Have taken approx 6000 Photos.
The beauty of these Cameras is you just keep Clicking, & later Review them & Delete what you don't want.
I bought Sanyo, eneloop size AA R6. $22 for 4.
The bigger 3.5in. "see what you taking screen" is good, & if possible an ordinary see through lens, is all the better.
Its not all the time that you can use the screen, because of the sunlight.
What was said about the Zoom is most likely right, but I over came that by making my own Monopod.
I can zoom to 14, & keep it still with the Monopod.
Bought 1 of those Allum. 3 extension handles, found the ball & screw to take the Camera, cut a bit off the bottom, turned a bit of wood to fit the bottom & stuck a bit of black plastic foam to the bit of woods bottom. Did the same to the top.
All Cameras have a Common Female Thread these days.
Had to bore a 1/8th. hole down near the bottom to let the air in & out.
Bingo, you have a " Monopod ".
My Wife's Camera is a Olympus FE 10, quite good, & cheap.
Why ? because it has a Plastic Body instead of a Steel Body.
The Canon Cameras have a lot of different Displays, Auto, Night Shots, Panorama, Portraits, Movie, Scenic, Speed, & Macro, which is good for Close Ups.
I also bought a 1GB card & at this time I have 280 Photos with 255 to go .
Hope this helps.
Regards,
issatree.

Thanks a lot for your help guys. I think you've answered most of my concerns.
Using standard size batteries is a good idea because I don't think I'll use it a lot and if there like cordless drills it'll be flat when i need it most.
The way the flash functions is important so thanks for those comments.
Self-timer and tripod sounds good. Oh and size of card - 2mb should be plenty for now then.

I saw a Canon A490 for under $100, I reckon that'll cover most of my needs.
I guess I'll see what's available locally, now that I know what I'm looking for.

Thanks again, hopefully I'll post a pic of what I get soon.

Hi Stuffy,
The reason I bought those Sanyo Batteries, is because, once they are charged up, they hold their charge for a very long time. I mean Months. In the Camera or out. They haven't let me down yet.
Regards,
issatree.

Yup - the Sanyo Eneloop batteries are fantastic

I have sets of both AAA and AA, which are used in my camera flashgun, assorted LED torches, and so on. Well worth the $$$ IMHO.

Originally Posted by stuffy

Self-timer and tripod sounds good. Oh and size of card - 2mb should be plenty for now then.

I think you mean Gb not mb?

Here's the camera I chose.
Basic cheap point and shoot. Easy to learn, difficult to master.
It has plenty of auto and manual functions for different scenes and portraits.
One feature I like is that I can take a few photos of the same thing on different settings, then the software tells me what those settings were so I can learn what works best. Of course then I delete the failures so no ones the wiser.
Eneloop AA batteries and yes Bob, 2Gb card.

Yay! my first attempt at posting a pic worked!


Thanks again for your help and advice.

Best wishes

Steve

There's no stopping him now.....

Congrats on the new toy !

Well I have to say it certainly represents excellent value for money.

I see from their website that the camera was designed by;
"Jason Wu, the 27-year-old designer who gained international recognition for dressing First Lady Michelle Obama and his countless loyal clients and celebrities including Diane Kruger, Natalie Portman, and Drew Barrymore, among others."

It will be interesting to see how it works out for you.