If I was getting a camera for taking pix of stuff for listings, I'd want a real optical zoom lens with macro feature. Your pix will have much better perspective (items will look more natural) if you set the lens to the 35mm equivalent of 100mm telephoto (3 to 4x optical zoom on digicams) and the macro lets you get tight shots of small objects. Places like
http://www.geeks.com usually have many good refurb digicams with those features for under $100. and you really don't need more than 3 to 4 magapixels for the purposes you mentioned. I also recommend cameras that take standard or NiMH rechargeable AA batteries (perhaps in addition to a proprietary power pack) so you have power options in an emergency. And that take common memory card formats like SD or Compact Flash as they are also available just about everywhere if an emergent need arises.
I see that the Kodak C330/Cw330 there meets those bullet points with ease - $80. plus shipping.
And the HP R707 is even better with 5 Megapixel and all the bullet points except the 2 second self-timer option. Still under $100. + shipping (listed in the 4 megapixel section for some reason.
Geeks also has a mini-tripod (often $2.00 or less and a full-sized tripod (usually under $10. on their frequent "sales" like today, that is the same, as far as I can tell, as the Sunpak that sells for $25.00 at WallyWorld). You need the tripods to prevent blurring of the pictures when in macro and 100mm modes. The self-timer features of these cameras let them trip the "shutter" themselves thus eliminating the human factor in shaking the camera - some cameras have both a short delay (like 2 seconds) for use on tripods to avoid jiggling so you don't have to wait. and a longer ( perhaps 10 second) delay so you can get into the pic yourself. The short delay is VERY useful in taking pix for listings - ten seconds in that situation seems like forever...
To protect it you will also want a camera bag. You want to avoid crushing your camera so you will want a well-padded hard case to put inside your school bag, otherwise get a soft-padded case and clip it to the outside of your bag with one of those screw-locked oval rings (carabiner - don't use the spring-clip type as those are too easy to open and grab your camera bag ) that are all the rage these days. Most of that type of bag will also have a belt tunnel on it (so you can wear it on your belt) and a shoulder strap. Most also have zipped or velcroed pockets to hold accys like extra batteries and Flash memory cards. A decent padded soft case should cost around $10. and a hard case will be considerably higher. When you're in places like K-Mart, WalMart, Target, BestBuy etc. be sure to take a look at what they have - don't forget to look in the clearance items too. Wouldn't be too hard to make a hard case if you want to go that way.
A good book for learning the ins and outs of photography is the recently published "The Joy of Digital Photography" (I found it cheap on eBay). Just as essential today as "The Joy of Photography" was in the day of film cameras for newbie photographers. If you can afford it (also found this and "More Joy.." cheap on eBay), get both (or all three) for full coverage and historical perspective. And Kim Komando has a CD book of digital photography Tips and Tricks, but be careful, Kim often thinks she knows more than she really does and doesn't verify her "facts" before passing them on (
www.komando.com). I am qualified to comment on that as I occasionally do it myself...
😱
.bh.
