Steve'sDigicams

Morag2 · Jul 12, 2006, 2:37 PM

I need a nice pocket camera (my Kodak P850 is too small to carry around).

Here's what I need.

-An Optical Viewfinder
-3x Optical Zoom
-at least 4MP... 5 would be nice, I could be talked into accepting 3, but only if it's a really nice camera at a great price.

Besides that, I basically just want it to be really small and light (I want to carry it everywhere in my pocket) and $200 is about my max price.

KALEL33 · Jul 13, 2006, 1:32 AM

depends on the pocket size, but I would say the the canon a530. Any ultracompact in that range <$200 usually have mediocre quality and poor performance in speed.

KALEL33 · Jul 15, 2006, 3:57 AM

Every camera we sell under $200 are very slow and have poor to mediocre picture quality. I agree with the last post of maybe buying an a530. It's a great camera for the price and is very small.

mtclimber · Jul 15, 2006, 1:38 PM

The highly rated Canon A-620 is available on the internet for less than $300. From that price downward, you begin to compromise on both photo quality and features.

Yes, there are cameras that are cheaper, but the photo quality and the features available on the camera will be less. The Kodak Z-760 is in the under $200 range and it is OK but it will not be able to capture the photos in situations where the Canon A-620 can do it with ease.

MT

flippedgazelle · Jul 15, 2006, 4:11 PM

Morag2, when you mention a budget of $200, you mean CAD and not USD, correct? I don't think you could get an A620 for $200CAD.

I'm assuming that when you say, "Kodak P850 is too small", your intent is to say it's too big?

This past Christmas I got my mother an A520, and the picture quality seems pretty reasonable in the little time I played with it.

The attached picture was tweaked slightly in Photopaint. No flash was used, it was rainy outside and the (white) blinds were drawn, most of the light was provided by some Christmas decorations and a table lamp that had a 60 watt bulb. IIRC, camera was set to Auto.

I know its not a great pic, but I only have a couple.

flippedgazelle · Jul 15, 2006, 4:11 PM

And here's another one, same time frame, this time with flash and everything else set to Auto.

mtclimber · Jul 15, 2006, 5:21 PM

flipped-

Those are nice photos taken with the Canon A-520. That is a good alternative suggestion.

MT

meanstreak · Jul 16, 2006, 2:22 AM

flippedgazelle wrote:

Quote:

And here's another one, same time frame, this time with flash and everything else set to Auto.

Good photo. I can tell that is not Ginger Ale in that glass.:lol:

blindsight · Jul 17, 2006, 12:32 PM

Tigerdirect.ca is selling Canon Powershot A430 for $198:

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...&CatId=127

Vistek for $199.95, Henry's for $199.99

4 MP, 4X optical zoom (39 - 156 mm), use 2 X AA batteries, ISO 64 - 400, and your requirement optical viewfinder! It has the thickness of an AA battery and it is not as slim as an Exilim or Cybershot T9, but those card cams use proprietary Li batteries.

Steve also gave this camera a thumbs-up!

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/a430.html

Jul 15, 2006, 4:11 PM	#5
flippedgazelle Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 930	Morag2, when you mention a budget of $200, you mean CAD and not USD, correct? I don't think you could get an A620 for $200CAD. I'm assuming that when you say, "Kodak P850 is too small", your intent is to say it's too big? This past Christmas I got my mother an A520, and the picture quality seems pretty reasonable in the little time I played with it. The attached picture was tweaked slightly in Photopaint. No flash was used, it was rainy outside and the (white) blinds were drawn, most of the light was provided by some Christmas decorations and a table lamp that had a 60 watt bulb. IIRC, camera was set to Auto. I know its not a great pic, but I only have a couple. Attached Images

Jul 15, 2006, 4:11 PM	#6
flippedgazelle Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 930	And here's another one, same time frame, this time with flash and everything else set to Auto. Attached Images

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Jul 12, 2006, 2:37 PM	#1
Morag2 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 820	I need a nice pocket camera (my Kodak P850 is too small to carry around). Here's what I need. -An Optical Viewfinder -3x Optical Zoom -at least 4MP... 5 would be nice, I could be talked into accepting 3, but only if it's a really nice camera at a great price. Besides that, I basically just want it to be really small and light (I want to carry it everywhere in my pocket) and $200 is about my max price.

Jul 13, 2006, 1:32 AM	#2
KALEL33 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 260	depends on the pocket size, but I would say the the canon a530. Any ultracompact in that range <$200 usually have mediocre quality and poor performance in speed.

Jul 15, 2006, 3:57 AM	#3
KALEL33 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 260	Every camera we sell under $200 are very slow and have poor to mediocre picture quality. I agree with the last post of maybe buying an a530. It's a great camera for the price and is very small.

Jul 15, 2006, 1:38 PM	#4
mtclimber Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Oregon, USA Posts: 18,143	The highly rated Canon A-620 is available on the internet for less than $300. From that price downward, you begin to compromise on both photo quality and features. Yes, there are cameras that are cheaper, but the photo quality and the features available on the camera will be less. The Kodak Z-760 is in the under $200 range and it is OK but it will not be able to capture the photos in situations where the Canon A-620 can do it with ease. MT

Jul 15, 2006, 5:21 PM	#7
mtclimber Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Oregon, USA Posts: 18,143	flipped- Those are nice photos taken with the Canon A-520. That is a good alternative suggestion. MT

Jul 17, 2006, 12:32 PM	#9
blindsight Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 398	Tigerdirect.ca is selling Canon Powershot A430 for $198: http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...&CatId=127 Vistek for $199.95, Henry's for $199.99 4 MP, 4X optical zoom (39 - 156 mm), use 2 X AA batteries, ISO 64 - 400, and your requirement optical viewfinder! It has the thickness of an AA battery and it is not as slim as an Exilim or Cybershot T9, but those card cams use proprietary Li batteries. Steve also gave this camera a thumbs-up! http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/a430.html