Cheap Digital Camera

[Sailor (The other one)]

Anyone have any experience with a cheap (about $100) digital camera I could use for a two-week AT trip next month? Not looking for a lot of features, doesn't need to be waterproof, would like it to use AA batteries, to zoom and take decent photos.
Thanks.

[bigcranky]

This Canon camera would work. (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/542275-REG/Canon_2504B001_Powershot_A470_Digital_Camera.html)

[bigcranky]

As would this. (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/545370-REG/Panasonic_DMC_LS80K_Lumix_DMC_LS80_Digital_Camera. html)

[gearfreak]

I use a Sanyo similiar to this (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5634184). It weighs 4.4 oz. :cool:

[Dances with Mice]

Wal-Mart has some blister pack digital cameras for about $80 - $90. About 7meg as I recall, maybe 5. I bought one once when the wife took the good camera on a long business trip. Generic name: "Digital" or something similar.

Good news, bad news - The good news is it takes decent landscape and outdoor photos. Can't complain about that. It uses AA batteries. It's small.

Bad news - the default settings are for low resolution and you have to manually change it to high resolution to get 7meg photos. The default settings return every time you turn the camera off, so each time you turn it on you have to go into the menu and redo the settings. The flash really sux, don't even bother using it indoors. You'll need to buy a memory card, but that's SOP with any camera. The LED screen is tiny and hard to see in daylight.

I used it as a backup until it got wet during a rainforest tour in Costa Rica. It never recovered so I flipped it in the trash. Had it for about a year, so I got my money's worth.

[Lyle]

I just got the Canon A590. So far I love it. A bit more than you wanted to pay, but it gets excellent reviews for photo quality - I assume that's what is most important to folks who want to record their adventures. See this thread for more details.

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=41011&highlight=Canon+A590

[weary]

As would this. (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/545370-REG/Panasonic_DMC_LS80K_Lumix_DMC_LS80_Digital_Camera. html)
I'm a fan of the Panasonic cameras. The reviews suggest that Panasonic has the best Optical Image Stabilizer in the business. I know my Panasonic makes photography for me still possible. My camera has combined optical and electronic zoom of 48X, (12 and 6, I believe) and the stabilization makes hand held animal and bird shots possible. I'm amazed at how well it works.

If I can catch the object in the view finder -- increasingly difficult these days with my shaky hands -- I can still get some decent photos.

Weary

[briarpatch]

I've not been a fan of AA and AAA powered cameras. They eat batteries like they are going out of style. I would recommend getting one with a viewfinder in addition to the bigger LED and turning the LED off to save on battery life.

[Rain Man]

This is the latest iteration of the digital camera I currently use...

Nikon Coolpix L18 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/542421-REG/Nikon_25597_Coolpix_L18_Digital_Camera.html)

You can pick it (or a prior iteration) up on sale at Wal-Mart, Office Depot, etc., for around $100, cheaper on eBay, Craig's List, etc. You do have to pay extra for a good memory card.

Neither a great nor a bad camera. I very much like the fact that it uses AA batteries, as that gives you another multi-use item in your pack. The lithium AAs last a long, long time for me.

Rain:sunMan

.

[Blissful]

We used the Samsung S630 (http://www.samsungcamera.com/product/pro_view.asp?prol_uid=2699&cat_uid=11)on our entire hike last year. Good pictures, held up great.

[Feral Bill]

You might consider something used, a bit outdated with good fundamentals.

[Bob S]

I've not been a fan of AA and AAA powered cameras. They eat batteries like they are going out of style.

I thought this till I started using lithium AA. With them I get hundreds of pictures compared to 40 or so with alkaline batts.

[smaaax]

I thought this till I started using lithium AA. With them I get hundreds of pictures compared to 40 or so with alkaline batts.

I disagree unless you are taking flash pictures (you aren't 99% of the time on the trail)

Alkaline batteries were lasting me about 200 shots each, even in the cold. This adds up to far more pictures than a camera with a built in battery.

[Sailor (The other one)]

Thanks everyone.