So, recently I decided that I need a digital camera. However, being the poor student that I am, I don't have that much money to waste on this.
Also, having never purchased a digital camera before, I really know nothing about them.
So, what kind of camera would you recommend in the ~$130 and less price range? I'm willing to go a bit over if coupons would bring it to about that in the end (I have a 12% off anything and a $15 off anything coupon for Staples.) but not for rebates.
Also, what kind of features should I look for? I'm considering buying the HP Photosmart M415 on sale at Staples right now, since it seems to have a decent amount of megapixels and zoom for around that price (and a LCD!) but, I'm not sure about it.
-Random Anonymous
What kind of resolution are you looking for? Good enough to share on email/websites, enough for printing on normal sizes, or enough to match 35mm film?
Don't touch digital zoom with a 10 foot clown pole. Rather, ignore its presence on any features list. Optical zoom is the only one that matters.
Also keep in mind you'll need to buy a memory card if one doesn't come with the camera. The internal memory is usually only good for a handful of shots.
> Optical zoom is the only one that matters.
Seconded. I have a camera with optical and digital zoom. The optical zoom is teh win, but the digital zoom gives the crappiest pics i've ever seen.
>>1
If you're going for something extremely cheap, easy, and no-frills, I saw a $15 keychain digital camera at Walley World, among other places.
I think this is it:
http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?PAGE=PRODUCT&PROD_ID=744856&cid=25608&fp=F
>>What kind of resolution are you looking for? Good enough to share on email/websites, enough for printing on normal sizes, or enough to match 35mm film?
Hmm... well I guess as close as possible to matching 35mm film at that price. I definitely plan to share some websites. And I might want to print them at the normal 3x5 size.
>Don't touch digital zoom with a 10 foot clown pole. Rather, ignore its presence on any features list. Optical zoom is the only one that matters.
Thanks for the tip. Reseached your comment a bit, and I see what you mean. Heh, unfortunately most of the digital cameras with good optical zoom are expensive.
>Also keep in mind you'll need to buy a memory card if one doesn't come with the camera. The internal memory is usually only good for a handful of shots.
Yep, I've heard the same. The one I was considering came with a free 256 card.
>If you're going for something extremely cheap, easy, and no-frills, I saw a $15 keychain digital camera at Walley World, among other places.
Thanks for the link, but... that probably wouldn't be as clear/big of a picture as I want.
> >If you're going for something extremely cheap, easy, and no-frills, I saw a $15 keychain digital camera at Walley World, among other places.
>
>Thanks for the link, but... that probably wouldn't be as clear/big of a picture as I want.
Judging from what you're looking for, I'd say not. Those kinds of things are for folks who don't care how small or crappy the pictures look as long as it's fast and cheap.