Best 35mm camera for $100?

[spankyj]

My wife is graduating in about a month, and I want to buy a camera for her. I'm only looking to spend around $100 or so, not ready for a digital camera at this point either. Does anyone have any good recommendations of camera's?, websites to check out?, etc? Much thanks!

 

[MazerRackham]

Dude just to to Costco and buy whatever costs around $100 there... you won't be able to go wrong

 

[spankyj]

Any suggestions?

 

[Lucky]

I can help you.

Lets narrow down what you are trying to get:

1. Is a compact size important to you?
2. Do you want zoom? Or no zoom?
3. Is it super-important that the camera be "dummy-proof" (in terms of loading film, etc)?
4. Less importantly, does the color (black, silver, gold) of the camera matter?

 

[spankyj]

1. Is a compact size important to you?

Not particularly. As long as it is transportable and not too awkward, that'll be ok. I'm not looking for the smallest camera on the market if that is what you are asking.

2. Do you want zoom? Or no zoom?

I'm looking for zoom. I can't imagine having to take pictures without being able to adjust the frame.

3. Is it super-important that the camera be "dummy-proof" (in terms of loading film, etc)?

Not really. I generally read the manuals to make sure that I know what I'm doing, so as long as someone with that experience can operate it, then I am happy.

4. Less importantly, does the color (black, silver, gold) of the camera matter?

Not at all. I'm just looking for quality picture taking.


Thanks for the help too Lucky!

 

[Lucky]

sorry it took so long to reply.



Based on your reponses, here are what I think might be some good choices:

Nikon - One Touch Zoom 90 Quartz Date 35mm Compact Zoom Camera- $99 or so

FujiFilm - Discovery S1050 Zoom Date Camera Outfit

Note: The fuji, at least at Ritz camera (where I worked for several years), comes with a wireless remote, the battery, and film. The Nikon does NOT come with the battery (or for that matter, the remote either), which will cost you another $10 or so.



I think the Nikon is a little more stylish and compact, but the fuji has the edge in film loading-it pulls out all the film at the start and rewinds it back into the cannister, so if you accidentally open the back, the film you shot already is safe. Also, its drop in loading and has a slightly longer zoom (105mm vs. 90mm).

Both are solid camera with excellent reliability in my experience. (At least prior models did, I havent had hands on experience with either one, just their recent predeccesors.)

There are other options if you dont like either one of the above.

 

[mikebb]

I'd recommend the Olympus Stylus Epic (the non-zoom version.) You can find it for under $100. Big zooms may look nifty, but the longer the zoom, the crummier the lens (at least in this price range.) The Stylus is super small, easy to use, and takes awesome pictures. The only other camera in this range I'd recommend is the Yashica T-4, which is a bit more money. Check out this site for more info on buying a P&S camera: PhotoNet

 

[Lucky]

mikebb, I have the epic as well. I love the camera, but he said he needs a zoom and the 35mm lens on the epic does not seem suited to him.

 

[spankyj]

So when you mention that is has no zoom, does that mean that my picture will be confined to how far away I am from the object I am photographing? For instance, and a really poor instance at that, say I want to photograph a squirrel on a limb. Now with a zoomable camera, I'd be able to get a closer picture, even if I am far away. The epic that you are speaking of would require me to physically get closer to the squirrel, correct? And how much would it cost to get a lens for the epic?

Hope I'm not being a pain to you fellas, I really do appreciate the help. Thanks again.

 

[Lucky]

You are correct. With a camera like the epic (which I must admit is probably in the 3-5 five point and shoots made, and a steal @ $80), you have to "zoom" with your feet. Which can be a problem if you need zoom because its 35mm angle lens is on the wide-angle side of things (we see at 50mm). I like it because its an extremely small camera with an excellent lens that is able to shoot in low-light conditions w/out a flash. You cannot get a "lens" for it. Its one focal length, thats it.

With the other cameras, you rock a button back and forth and the lens with zoom in on the squirrel.

A comment on the quality of the lenses: If you are shooting print film (with negative you take to walmart, for example) you wont notice any difference in quality if you normally just get 4x6 prints or whatever. The quality of the picture with negative film developed at consumer labs is far more dependent on the lab itself, not the camera. If you start making 8x10's or 11x14's, you might be able to notice a difference, but probably only between a camera like the stylus epic (non-zoom) compared to a zoom camera. Optical differences between zoom cameras in the price range, being used like 98% of consumers use them (4x6-8x10 prints) are not likely to be noticed.

 

[cipher00]

Gotta like the Nikon. But why no to digital?

 

[spankyj]

No digital because I'm not too high on the quality of the pictures from what I've seen. Plus, for the amount I am willing to spend, getting a digital camera doesn't make much sense.

 

[mikebb]

<< A comment on the quality of the lenses: If you are shooting print film (with negative you take to walmart, for example) you wont notice any difference in quality if you normally just get 4x6 prints or whatever. The quality of the picture with negative film developed at consumer labs is far more dependent on the lab itself, not the camera. If you start making 8x10's or 11x14's, you might be able to notice a difference, but probably only between a camera like the stylus epic (non-zoom) compared to a zoom camera. Optical differences between zoom cameras in the price range, being used like 98% of consumers use them (4x6-8x10 prints) are not likely to be noticed. >>



True, quality is not the only problem with P&S cameras with long zooms. The other problem is that the lenses almost always have a smaller maximum aperture than a comparable non-zoom camera, which, simply stated, means that less light can get into the lens at its maximum opening. The result of this is that you'll be using the flash more often on the zoom camera, or risk blurry pics. Consider this carefully. How many pics are you gonna miss because you couldn't "zoom" by moving yourself (squirrel in tree example) compared to how many pics the camera will miss because the flash ruined them or they came out blurry. (think beautiful sunset pic.)

That being said, if you're stuck on the idea of zoom, stay with a reasonable zoom range (35-70mm for example) Shorter zooms are a good compromise if you want some zoom, but still have halfway decent lenses.