What's new
TerraForums Venus Flytrap, Nepenthes, Drosera and more talk

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Cheap camera?

My camera seems to have gone walkabout, so I'm looking to replace it.
I hike a fair bit, so my camera gets most use on the trail. That's why I'm looking cheap rather than great... if I lose it on the trail it's not a big loss. I would also like something that takes fair macro shots for plant closeups.
A friend has a Nikon COOLPIX S6300 that she always brags about. It fits nicely under the $200 mark. Anyone here have one? Care to comment or recommend something else?
 
I have owned several generations of Nikon Coolpix's and have always been very impressed with them.
 
I have an S8100. It takes nice enough pictures but I have to say that the autofocus features don't work very well for macro shots. There's no lens ring to speak of so macro lenses are not an option - as far as I can tell. The 6300 appears to be a similar design. Very nice point and shoot camera. Excellent sharpness.

Since I now have my Lumix GF3, I am looking to sell my S8100 for about $100 if interested.
 
I mentioned this to Wife and she hinted strongly that I should wait until after my birthday.
Hmmm... now whatever could she have meant by that?
 
Probably more than you want to spend (around $350 MSRP) is the Pentax WG-2 Optio. 16mp with a manual focus option. The macro sounds good from the specs on paper. 6 Built-in LEDs for a macro "ring" light. It's ruggedized and touted as Water/Dust/Cold/Crush/Shock proof (waterproof to 40 feet). Comes with a caribiner on the strap. For $50 more you can add GPS.
 
I have been looking to get a rough and tumble point and shoot for situations I don't want to use my expensive camera. I may just get that Pentax, looks perfect!

Thanks NAN!
 
Last year, I was in a similar situation - I wanted a camera to tuck in my back pocket when I was on long bike rides as I often saw stuff on the rides but didn't want to expose expensive stuff to sweat, vibration nor did I want the extra weight. My wife got me a cheap Panasonic Lumix DMC-F2 - which I think she got for under $100. While this model is not around anymore, there are other small, quasi-disposable cameras in the same price range that work very well. Here's one that looks like it fits the bill ... ??? If you search on Amazon for Lumix, you'll find several new for under $100.

While it never feels good to trash a camera, these are light enough to want to bring along, very functional for 95% of everything you want it for & cheap enough so you don't commit suicide when you drop it off a cliff (like you would with a $350 unit). :0o:
 
Oh yeah, I have an old $300 canon that I dropped in a pond. It actually still works... I want something with great macro and megapixels but that is at least waterproof. Because, well, I want a waterproof camera...

---------- Post added at 06:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:46 PM ----------

For giggles:


It was underwater for like, a minute. It has minor staining on the inside of the lens and a bit of damage on the LCD. I paid maybe three hundred for it, but you may be able to get an equivalent model for half that now.

It took some nice photos while it was in its heyday.

Photo was took on iPad, which is why it sucks...
 
  • #10
Canon PowerShots are really awesome. One I use to use, (still use on things like hikes) before getting a dslr was the PowerShot SD1400IS, and I used it HEAVILY for macro. I purchased it almost a year and a half ago at $200, should be a little under that by now.

Photos I've taken with Canon PowerShot SD1400IS
http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb451/ShesCrofty/Random/IMG_4100.jpg
http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb451/ShesCrofty/Random/IMG_4012.jpg
http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb451/ShesCrofty/IMG_6571.jpg
http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb451/ShesCrofty/Random/IMG_3783.jpg
http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb451/ShesCrofty/IMG_6494.jpg
http://wecravegamestoo.com/forums/imagehosting/29424f247ea9d61b3.jpg
 
  • #11
The older WG-1 is about $100 less. 14mp and 720p video but the rest of the specs are pretty much the same.
 
  • #12
Oh! Thanks for pointing that out! That will serve my needs and my pocket perfectly!
 
  • #13
Hey, Crofthulhu, those macro shots are pretty good for a point & shoot. I'll check it out.
 
Back
Top