Cheap, decent digital camera?

[grrickar]

Anyone have any ideas on a decent cheap digital camera? I have a more expensive Fuji that I do not want to risk taking on the trail, so I was looking for a 1-2MP digital camera that is relatively light and not too expensive in case it gets trashed or lost along the way. I saw some cheaper Fujis on Ebay that were going for around $60 that fit the bill, but they were refurbs. Not sure if a refurb digital camera is a good buy. I'd like to spend around $80 or less, and it would be a plus if the camera used the XD cards like my S5000 (which is why I am looking at Fujis, BTW)

[tlbj6142]

I looked for the same a few months ago and gave up. My brother went through 3 refurbs before he got one that actually worked. So, I'm scared to go that route.

The "best" I could find was a Fuji A60? A70? 2MP for ~$130. Don't remember what type of memory it uses.

There are a couple of 2MP $100 cameras on the market, but they all have fixed focus. Which I'd avoid.

Also, make sure they camera you purchase uses AAs, not some special battery.

[grrickar]

I managed to get a Fujifilm A205 digital camera off Ebay (used) for $52. It uses the same memory cards as my expensive Fuji. They sell for $99 new at Staples, so if the camera is in working order I got a good deal. It has a digital and optical zoom, and is 2MP.


More importantly, it runs on standard AA batteries (whoever made that decision at Fuji was a smart one). For those with cameras that take regular batteries, do yourselves a favor and buy a Rayovac IC3 15 minute charger and a four pack of AAs. Sure you can recharge them on the trail, but those batteries last a great deal longer than standard AAs. As the name implies, they charge REALLY quick.

[gravityman]

Also, make sure they camera you purchase uses AAs, not some special battery.

Just an opposing view on this. We have the Optio-S Pentax camera that has a priority battery. However, it really isn't a big deal. We carry the charger with us and have a spare battery and a spare 256MB card. Total weight including case for camera is 8 oz. I think this is lighter than restricting yourself to only looking at cameras that take AA. It's a nice convience, but I think the lightest option is the special lithium batteries. I did have to modify the charger so that I didn't have to carry the plug to the wall (it was 4 oz, so I replaced it with a homemade cord at 1 oz.)

Gravity Man

[grrickar]

My take on the special battery is:

I have to carry a charger or spare battery.

Special batteries cost most than AA rechargables.

If I'm on the trail and the camera dies, I can get off the trail and to a gas station and likely get AAs, not so with the special battery.

AAs will fit other things, like a mini-mag light, headlamp, or radio or whatever...

Just my $.02.

[Goon]

CVS is supposed to start selling a disposable 2 megapixel digital camera:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2004-08-18-puredigital_x.htm

Haven't tried one yet though.

[KiloSierra]

Hi grrickar,

At the risk of newbie over-verbosity, below are some specs on the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-U60... (hope this is useful)

I have had it for a few months so far and _LOVE_ it (so far!). Here's why:
- One-handed operation and great ergonomics
- Water resistant (eg rain) to 5ft, scratch-resistant
- Easy, easy, easy. My husband has a wonderful camera, but can't quickly snap fun pictures like I can.

I purchased mine for ~$150 on sale at Ritz Camera.

Heh heh, I like it so much, that I actually just registered on Whiteblaze to talk about it! (tonight is my first time on WB.. I've just been reading old forum posts for the last 3 hours - what a *great* resource.)

Best regards,
KiloSierra

(ps - th U60 has a funky, distinctive look; here's a random review w/pic that I just pulled up: http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/sony/dsc_u60-review/index.shtml Enjoy!)

(pps - Nope, I have no financial connection to the company! :-)


Product Specifications

Weight: 6.7 oz. (191g) w/Batteries, Memory Stick Media, and Wrist Strap
Imaging Device: 1/2.7" 2.0 Megapixel Super HAD CCD
Recording Media: Memory Stick Media and Memory Stick PRO Media
Minimum Focus Distance: 3.9" (0.1m)
Macro: Auto/Selectable
Shutter Speed: Auto (1/8 - 1/2000)
Manual Exposure: N/A
Color LCD: 1.0" 64K Pixels Hybrid LCD
Flash Modes: Auto, Forced On, Forced Off, Red-Eye Reduction
Flash Effective Range: 1.6 - 6.0 feet (0.5m - 1.8m)
White Balance: Auto
Picture Effects: Solarize, Black and White, Sepia, and Negative Art
ISO: Auto
Scene Modes: Soft Snap, Illumination Snap, Twilight, Active Outdoor, Vivid Nature, Underwater
Self-Timer: Yes, 10 seconds
Audio/Video Output: N/A
Still Image Mode: JPEG (Normal)
MPEG Movie Mode: MPEG Video Mail (160 x 112) without Audio. 15 second maximum clip length
Folder Create/Select: Yes
Maximum File Resolution: 1632 x 1224
USB Terminal: Yes, USB Bus Powered
Memory Stick PRO Media Compatibility: Tested to support up to 1GB media capacity; does not support high speed transfer function; does not support Access Control security function. (Available storage capacity of Memory Stick and Memory Stick PRO media may vary. A portion of the memory is used for data management functions)
Supplied Accessories: NH-AAA-DI Rechargeable NiMH Batteries, BC-CS2 NiMH Battery Charger, USB Cable, Wrist Strap, MSA-8A 8MB Memory Stick Media, Software CD-ROM
Dimensions (W/H/D): 2 3/8" x 4 3/8" x 1 3/4" (60.2 x 116.8 x 43.3mm)

[ezdoesit]

I have a question for everyone who use a digital camera I just received a new camera for Christmas click here to see it
http://exilim.casio.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=cameras.features&exp_id=05A1D55E-0063-4747-AACA-8107B4BE6C24
I need to buy a memory card(s) what one do I buy 128,256 or 512 and how many pictures will I get if it is set to the highest resolution?Any information you could give me is much needed.Than you for your time.
EZ-DOES-IT

[Frosty]

In cameras, as with most hiking gear:

Good, Cheap, Light

Pick any two

(or so it seems to me, anyway)

[Footslogger]

I have a question for everyone who use a digital camera I just received a new camera for Christmas click here to see it
http://exilim.casio.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=cameras.features&exp_id=05A1D55E-0063-4747-AACA-8107B4BE6C24
I need to buy a memory card(s) what one do I buy 128,256 or 512 and how many pictures will I get if it is set to the highest resolution?Any information you could give me is much needed.Than you for your time.
EZ-DOES-IT========================================
Well ...my own experience was to carry the smaller capacity media cards and then rotate them back and forth from home. If you put your entire collection of shots on a single media card and for some reason it gets corrupted you are totally out of luck. Just my opinion there ...

Your camera looks to be a 2 Mpixel model. That was the same resolution as mine. You should be able to get 100+ pictures on a 128 Mbyte media card, which is the equivalent of about 4 rolls of film.

'Slogger
AT 2003

[max patch]

Saw an ad for the Olympus 3 meg water resistant digital for $99 after rebates. Good camera for the money.

Those with bigger budgets may want to consider the 3 or 4 meg WATER PROOF (not resistant) pentax optio wr or possibly the 3 or 4 meg tiny pentax S that fits in an altoids tin (not water resistant though).

[hungryhowie]

This probably isn't what you want to hear, but I'd say carry the better one you already have. I just got through reading the thread about what people regret about their thruhikes and nearly every one of them said something about carrying a better camera or taking more pictures, etc. I know that I'm one of them, and now carry 5-10 pounds of photo equipment everywhere. What I carry is overkill, I know, but it shows you that we all seem to be making the same "mistakes".

$0.02

-howie