Steve'sDigicams

kjo · Dec 26, 2006, 12:50 PM

(Title should say nine-year old)

Howdy, campers. Been trying to decide which camera to get for my
daughter in a couple weeks. I want something easy to use.

Minimum requirements:

3 Megapixels (4 or 5 would be OK)
Relatively small - easy to hold/store (pocket sized or close)
Decent quality
3x optical zoom (4x would be nice)
Movies with sound - at least 5 minutes with halfway decent quality

Would prefer AA batteries and SD memory card, since I have those
already.

And I don't want to spend much over $100! Maybe $150 by the
time I (groan) have to buy a 1G+ memory card.

The Nikon Coolpix L4 seemed perfect until I found out that the
movies don't record sound. The L3 might be OK if I can get a deal.

Looks like the Fuji FinePix A500 also doesn't have sound?

Help! Any other ideas?

mongrelchild · Dec 26, 2006, 1:32 PM

fast 1G sd cards should not exceed $usd 20

Check tigerdirect.com or newegg.com

mtclimber · Dec 26, 2006, 1:35 PM

kjo-

You might want to take a look at the Kodak C-series cameras. They are right in your budget range, use SD chips, and are quite simple to operate.

MT/Sarah

kjo · Dec 26, 2006, 2:02 PM

Thanks... Just saw them a few minutes ago. Looks like the
camera stores around me don't carry them.

Any opinions on the Nikon Coolpix 4200?

And why, oh why can't you zoom on most cameras
while shooting a movie? Because of noise from the zoom motor?

Morag2 · Dec 26, 2006, 7:17 PM

I think it is indeed because of the noise from the zoom motor. That and the focus loss. I can zoom in on my camera while filming movies, and well, if I zoom from 1x zoom to 12x zoom continuously the focus is pretty messed up.

I'm afraid I don't have any good suggestions for you, I would second the Kodak C-series idea, but if they don't sell those around you, I'm not sure. I would try to find older used camera's in the area, you can often get excellent cameras if you're willing to get an older model.

Edit: You may want to look at the Canon A430. It has 4x zoom and 4MP. It does have a movie mode although I am unsure about sound and my friend tells me it is nice. It sells for about $150 in my area, but that is in Canadian and we generally get ripped off, so I bet you can find it for $100-$120.

flippedgazelle · Dec 26, 2006, 7:39 PM

Do you have to go to a camera store? Do you have anytihng like Staples/Office Depot, Bestbuy or Walmart around? Can you shop online?

kjo wrote:

Quote:

Thanks... Just saw them a few minutes ago. Looks like the
camera stores around me don't carry them.

Any opinions on the Nikon Coolpix 4200?

And why, oh why can't you zoom on most cameras
while shooting a movie? Because of noise from the zoom motor?

kjo · Dec 26, 2006, 9:39 PM

I'd prefer to go to a camera shop, or maybe a Target-like store.

Would rather not deal on-line, just in case of returns and such.

Morag2 · Dec 26, 2006, 10:23 PM

I would recommend a bestbuy, I haven't shopped there but I have shopped at Future Shop (owned by BestBuy but Future Shop is Canadian). They are excellent for returns, and I am 99% sure they carry the Kodak C-series cameras.

kjo · Dec 26, 2006, 10:31 PM

Thanks... Looks like the C875 is $200 on the Best Buy web site.
More than I want to spend. I'd probably get the Canon A530 for $140,
or the Nikon 4200 (refurbished for $99!) first.

Morag2 · Dec 26, 2006, 10:32 PM

Refurb is a risk, but you might end up okay, make sure it has a decent return policy.

I haven't looked into the Canon A530 myself but have heard good things (although there is a battery warning on it right now, check out the main Steve's Digicams page). I would bet new models have nothing to worry about battery wise, and Canon has always served me well. Seems like a good choice.

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Dec 26, 2006, 12:50 PM	#1
kjo Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 7	(Title should say nine-year old) Howdy, campers. Been trying to decide which camera to get for my daughter in a couple weeks. I want something easy to use. Minimum requirements: 3 Megapixels (4 or 5 would be OK) Relatively small - easy to hold/store (pocket sized or close) Decent quality 3x optical zoom (4x would be nice) Movies with sound - at least 5 minutes with halfway decent quality Would prefer AA batteries and SD memory card, since I have those already. And I don't want to spend much over $100! Maybe $150 by the time I (groan) have to buy a 1G+ memory card. The Nikon Coolpix L4 seemed perfect until I found out that the movies don't record sound. The L3 might be OK if I can get a deal. Looks like the Fuji FinePix A500 also doesn't have sound? Help! Any other ideas?

Dec 26, 2006, 1:32 PM	#2
mongrelchild Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 116	fast 1G sd cards should not exceed $usd 20 Check tigerdirect.com or newegg.com

Dec 26, 2006, 1:35 PM	#3
mtclimber Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Oregon, USA Posts: 18,143	kjo- You might want to take a look at the Kodak C-series cameras. They are right in your budget range, use SD chips, and are quite simple to operate. MT/Sarah

Dec 26, 2006, 2:02 PM	#4
kjo Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 7	Thanks... Just saw them a few minutes ago. Looks like the camera stores around me don't carry them. Any opinions on the Nikon Coolpix 4200? And why, oh why can't you zoom on most cameras while shooting a movie? Because of noise from the zoom motor?

Dec 26, 2006, 7:17 PM	#5
Morag2 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 820	I think it is indeed because of the noise from the zoom motor. That and the focus loss. I can zoom in on my camera while filming movies, and well, if I zoom from 1x zoom to 12x zoom continuously the focus is pretty messed up. I'm afraid I don't have any good suggestions for you, I would second the Kodak C-series idea, but if they don't sell those around you, I'm not sure. I would try to find older used camera's in the area, you can often get excellent cameras if you're willing to get an older model. Edit: You may want to look at the Canon A430. It has 4x zoom and 4MP. It does have a movie mode although I am unsure about sound and my friend tells me it is nice. It sells for about $150 in my area, but that is in Canadian and we generally get ripped off, so I bet you can find it for $100-$120.

Dec 26, 2006, 9:39 PM	#7
kjo Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 7	I'd prefer to go to a camera shop, or maybe a Target-like store. Would rather not deal on-line, just in case of returns and such.

Dec 26, 2006, 10:23 PM	#8
Morag2 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 820	I would recommend a bestbuy, I haven't shopped there but I have shopped at Future Shop (owned by BestBuy but Future Shop is Canadian). They are excellent for returns, and I am 99% sure they carry the Kodak C-series cameras.

Dec 26, 2006, 10:31 PM	#9
kjo Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 7	Thanks... Looks like the C875 is $200 on the Best Buy web site. More than I want to spend. I'd probably get the Canon A530 for $140, or the Nikon 4200 (refurbished for $99!) first.

Dec 26, 2006, 10:32 PM	#10
Morag2 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 820	Refurb is a risk, but you might end up okay, make sure it has a decent return policy. I haven't looked into the Canon A530 myself but have heard good things (although there is a battery warning on it right now, check out the main Steve's Digicams page). I would bet new models have nothing to worry about battery wise, and Canon has always served me well. Seems like a good choice.