Need a cheap digital camera - Help!!!

ephmynus · April 18th, 2001, 03:09 PM

Hey guys. I'm looking for a digital camera in the $200-$300 range. I know that won't get me spectacular but I need something that's just going to take some decent pictures. I really would like a camera with cheap media such as 3.5" disk media. Anybody have any suggestions?

ShAzAm · April 18th, 2001, 05:12 PM

Go ahead and get you a SONY MAVICA FD-75. You can get them on mysimon.com for around $325.00. It's worth the extra money and they run on 3.5" floppies. Or...try to find one on E-bay.
Happy hunting my friend......

UsePost2000 · April 18th, 2001, 10:39 PM

i bought a fd73 from sears 1 year ago for 200...they might have come down even more..

LPetrarca · April 19th, 2001, 05:30 AM

I just bought a Fuji FinePix 1300 for $238 at Ritz Camera. It's functional and affordable. It uses Smart Media though instead of floppies.

I went the Smart Media route because two friends of mine have Mavica's (different models) and both had the same complaint upon returning from vacation. They both complained about having to lug around a bag full of floppies. I bought an extra 32Mb Smart Media chip which, in hi-res mode, is allegedly the equivalent of 4 rolls of 24 exp. 35mm film.

Since I take my laptop with me on vacation so the kids can play games and everyone can keep up on e-mail, I can simply transfer the pix to my laptop at the end of the day and start the next day with 4 fresh rolls of film in the camera.

Triumph · April 19th, 2001, 09:33 AM

I have an HP C200 with a 16 meg Compact FLash card and I do the same thing, copy the pictures to my laptop. It is kool because it came wit ha video cable and I can give the family a slide show on the TV too.

ephmynus · April 19th, 2001, 10:44 AM

Thanks for the info everyone. Does anyone have any experience with the Fuji Finepix 1400? It has some better features than the 1300 and I've heard good things for the money. Anybody?

MacGyver · April 19th, 2001, 10:55 AM

My original post got deleted, so here's my 0.02

Start by going to CNET and checking out their camera section, they have loads of reviews and you can compare prices.

You can also check these sites for more info: http://www.dcresource.com/ http://www.dpreview.com/ http://www.megapixel.net/

My advice is to not cheap out on a digital camera, once you start using it you will want to do more with it and may even consider using it exclusively instead of film based cameras. A well appointed digital camera is a joy to work with, a cheap one is a pain to use. Whatever you decide, make sure you try it out first before you buy it.

And when I say "Try it" I don't mean take it out of the box and look at it. Really use it, take some pictures both inside and outside, with flash and without, transfer the pictures to PC and see what they look like. How well does the camera handle details, action shots, etc. Commision-paid salesmen should be happy to help you in this endeavor.

cyberhh · April 19th, 2001, 11:30 AM

Personally I have the HP (I paid $300) and I love it - it does use CF cars, but the readers are real cheap, and I am working on a battery powered cf to hdd portable xfer device - so that your 8/16/32 cf card can effectively be used in the field to take thousands of photos.

MacGyver · April 19th, 2001, 11:35 AM

Here is another link for you all to try:
http://www.henrys.com/buyingtips/digital.htm

April 18th, 2001, 03:09 PM	#1
ephmynus Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: 127.0.0.1 Posts: 1,998	Need a cheap digital camera - Help!!! Hey guys. I'm looking for a digital camera in the $200-$300 range. I know that won't get me spectacular but I need something that's just going to take some decent pictures. I really would like a camera with cheap media such as 3.5" disk media. Anybody have any suggestions? __________________ The Artisan formerly known as A+Tech.

April 18th, 2001, 05:12 PM	#2
ShAzAm Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Longview, Texas USA Posts: 26	Go ahead and get you a SONY MAVICA FD-75. You can get them on mysimon.com for around $325.00. It's worth the extra money and they run on 3.5" floppies. Or...try to find one on E-bay. Happy hunting my friend...... __________________ "Good advice is only good if followed." *poof*ShAzAm vanished!

April 18th, 2001, 10:39 PM	#3
UsePost2000 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: New York, New York 10001 Posts: 116	i bought a fd73 from sears 1 year ago for 200...they might have come down even more.. __________________ UsePost2000 IT Consultant A+, MCP, MCP+I, MCSA, MCSE, MCSE2000, MCDBA, MCT, CCNA, CCNP

April 19th, 2001, 05:30 AM	#4
LPetrarca Registered User Join Date: May 1999 Location: Outside Providence Posts: 258	I just bought a Fuji FinePix 1300 for $238 at Ritz Camera. It's functional and affordable. It uses Smart Media though instead of floppies. I went the Smart Media route because two friends of mine have Mavica's (different models) and both had the same complaint upon returning from vacation. They both complained about having to lug around a bag full of floppies. I bought an extra 32Mb Smart Media chip which, in hi-res mode, is allegedly the equivalent of 4 rolls of 24 exp. 35mm film. Since I take my laptop with me on vacation so the kids can play games and everyone can keep up on e-mail, I can simply transfer the pix to my laptop at the end of the day and start the next day with 4 fresh rolls of film in the camera. __________________ "what'dya mean I hosed the whole thing? Is that bad?"

April 19th, 2001, 09:33 AM	#5
Triumph Registered User Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Providence, RI USA Posts: 198	I have an HP C200 with a 16 meg Compact FLash card and I do the same thing, copy the pictures to my laptop. It is kool because it came wit ha video cable and I can give the family a slide show on the TV too. __________________ "What happened to coffee flavored coffee?"

April 19th, 2001, 10:44 AM	#6
ephmynus Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: 127.0.0.1 Posts: 1,998	Thanks for the info everyone. Does anyone have any experience with the Fuji Finepix 1400? It has some better features than the 1300 and I've heard good things for the money. Anybody? __________________ The Artisan formerly known as A+Tech.

April 19th, 2001, 10:55 AM	#7
MacGyver Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Ottawa Posts: 4,231	My original post got deleted, so here's my 0.02 Start by going to CNET and checking out their camera section, they have loads of reviews and you can compare prices. You can also check these sites for more info: http://www.dcresource.com/ http://www.dpreview.com/ http://www.megapixel.net/ My advice is to not cheap out on a digital camera, once you start using it you will want to do more with it and may even consider using it exclusively instead of film based cameras. A well appointed digital camera is a joy to work with, a cheap one is a pain to use. Whatever you decide, make sure you try it out first before you buy it. And when I say "Try it" I don't mean take it out of the box and look at it. Really use it, take some pictures both inside and outside, with flash and without, transfer the pictures to PC and see what they look like. How well does the camera handle details, action shots, etc. Commision-paid salesmen should be happy to help you in this endeavor.

April 19th, 2001, 11:30 AM	#8
cyberhh Registered User Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Huntington Beach, CA, USA Posts: 1,515	Personally I have the HP (I paid $300) and I love it - it does use CF cars, but the readers are real cheap, and I am working on a battery powered cf to hdd portable xfer device - so that your 8/16/32 cf card can effectively be used in the field to take thousands of photos. __________________ Death is lighter than a feather - duty heavier than a mountian. The answer to your question is: 00110100 00110010

April 19th, 2001, 11:35 AM	#9
MacGyver Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Ottawa Posts: 4,231	Here is another link for you all to try: http://www.henrys.com/buyingtips/digital.htm

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode