The best digi for under $200? - DPChallenge Forums

11/14/2005 09:02:23 PM · #1

I made the biggest mistake spending upwards of 500bucks on a Minolta. It sux! (I got a Dimage then all the accoutrements...hence 500bucks) The camera is so not working anymore - focus problems up the wazoo, lag time, no more warranty...eh.

I am very broke, but I'm setting aside 200bucks of my student loan check (teehee) for a simple digi...me need photography...argh!

I'd really like to buy Canon, since from what I've read/heard/seen they're just the better camera makers...so I'm wondering if anyone can recommend an all-around good digi that's still under 200bucks?

Also, I've got all these SD cards from my Minolta, so if I could keep using these, then yay!

Any suggestions out there? I'd like to head to B&H this week and get snappin' again!

Thanks in advance,
Katy

saintaugust

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

11/14/2005 09:03:51 PM · #2

another minolta bites the dust, eh?

hmm...

i'd get a .... canon.. sd200? not sure how much they are these days.

11/14/2005 09:12:01 PM · #3

Originally posted by saintaugust:

another minolta bites the dust, eh?

hmm...

i'd get a .... canon.. sd200? not sure how much they are these days.

Thanks for replying with the quickness!

I checked out B&H for that model, but they don't have it...the SD300 and SD400, though, are a little more than I can spend...more towards $300 and I just can't justify that hehehe. (edit to add: justify it? yes, I can...I can justify spending a billion dollars, but it's loan money heh, so I'm trying to be......responsible with it eheh)

But yeah, another Minolta bites the dust...and what a shame! The camera still works, but it's SUCH a pain in the ass, it isn't even worth the effort.....

Message edited by author 2005-11-14 21:12:55.

Katmystiry

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

11/14/2005 09:12:20 PM · #4

Played with the Canon A520 this weekend and I have to say I was very impressed and it was only $179 ... it has all manual modes and many auto modes too .. very impressive for the money

saintaugust

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

11/14/2005 09:13:35 PM · #5

Originally posted by mystopia:

Played with the Canon A520 this weekend and I have to say I was very impressed and it was only $179 ... it has all manual modes and many auto modes too .. very impressive for the money

i'd agree a good cam for the price

with manual features

11/14/2005 09:18:13 PM · #6

That's actually the one that drew my eye while surfing the B&H site....it's a pretty good price, and manual features are a HUGE plus, if not a requirement!

I'm gonna go check out folks' photos with that camera.... dpc rox!

Katmystiry

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

11/14/2005 09:19:57 PM · #7

I am getting 4 of them for Christmas presents! All our kids now have the photo bug :)

11/14/2005 09:24:57 PM · #8

Originally posted by mystopia:

I am getting 4 of them for Christmas presents! All our kids now have the photo bug :)

Aww, just adopt me and make it 5 ;)

That's really cool, though - I love hearing of parents encouraging the creative bug! Good for you :)

saintaugust

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

11/14/2005 09:36:04 PM · #9

Originally posted by mystopia:

I am getting 4 of them for Christmas presents! All our kids now have the photo bug :)

hopefully you swing a deal for buying 4.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/14/2005 09:53:56 PM · #10

I'm reading up on the A520, and one thing that keeps coming up is the operation speed - it seems to be quite slow and it was mentioned on many user reviews... Anyone out there got anything to say bout that?

particular A520 user review on dpreview

Katmystiry

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

11/14/2005 09:54:42 PM · #11

I am an avid shopper at CompUSA. They know me VERY well and are always cutting me sweeeeet deals!! I should be able to get the 3 yr warranties for free on all the cameras. Giving them to the kids, I'll need them :)

kdkaboom ... I'd adopt you if I could :)

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

11/14/2005 10:07:30 PM · #12

Originally posted by saintaugust:

Originally posted by mystopia:
Played with the Canon A520 this weekend and I have to say I was very impressed and it was only $179 ... it has all manual modes and many auto modes too .. very impressive for the money

i'd agree a good cam for the price

with manual features

Me too - I got one for my parents a while back and was pretty impressed. I found the speed not too bad (ok it's not the same as my 20D). The delay is better than I had used before - a little long to recycle when using the flash due to using AA batteries (can be helped by using rechargables with moire grunt).

My advice is to run down to Best Buy/Target/Whatever and have a play. Plenty of stores have them on display.

Message edited by author 2005-11-14 22:09:55.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

11/15/2005 10:57:09 AM · #13

Originally posted by robs:

Thanks, Robs! I'm glad to hear your thoughts on this...I'm planning on playing with one for a bit, for shizzle! :)

And yeah, I'm stocked up on rechargables cuz the Minolta was a guzzler, so I think I'm all ready one up in that department.

henning

Nikon D50

11/15/2005 08:42:15 PM · #14

If you are concerned about speed you might want to check out the A510, as well. I think I read somewhere that its shot to shot speed is faster than the A520's because it has to write less to the buffer/card.
I own a A510 and have to say that its speed is not something to brag about. Especially the flash takes forever to recycle (as has been mentioned before). Other than that it is a great camera and has a really impressive amount of manual controls for such a cheap camera(shutter priority, aperture priority, full manual modes, white balance, focus).

Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX Aspherical DG DF RF for Canon

11/16/2005 11:01:04 AM · #15

Originally posted by henning:

Thanks for this info, henning! I'm a bit concerned about the speed, but I imagine I'm just getting what I pay for! I appreciate your comments!

I'm open to other brands, of course, so if anyone has other suggestions, I'm totally easy to sway ;)

Thanks very much, all of you -

Katy

armoryjake

Canon EOS-20D

11/16/2005 02:11:52 PM · #16

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