Best, "fast" digital camera for less than $300?

[swbsam]

I work at a shelter and it's pretty impossible to take pictures of the animals using our current gear, since they're always on the move.

Any good, quick camera out there that's less than $300?

Thanks!

Moved thread to the Digital and Video Camera forum (right after I replied) -Anandtech Moderator DrPizza

 

[P0pinjay]

Any of the canon SD series cameras are great for any casual user. I just got an SD1100IS for about 220 from Dell and it works great.

 

[MmmSkyscraper]

Try asking in the Digital and Video Cameras forum.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: MmmSkyscraper
Try asking in the Digital and Video Cameras forum.

This.

KT

 

[mugs]

You may need more light more than you need a better camera.

Also, try using your camera's highest ISO setting if it has such a setting.

 

[dainthomas]

My 850IS actually has a "kids and animals" scene mode. Speeds up the shutter or something. I think it runs close to the same as the 1100IS, maybe a little cheaper.

 

[syee]

Originally posted by: mugs
You may need more light more than you need a better camera.

Also, try using your camera's highest ISO setting if it has such a setting.

What mugs said.

The problem is probably that the shutter's closing slower due to low light. Try get one of those 500W halogens with a stand and shine it in the area you want to take a picture then. The extra light will allow the shutter to use a faster mode, and hence, less blurry pictures.

Higher ISO might be a good idea as long as your camera allows the setting, and the sensor is decent enough not to give you a noisy picture. Most P&S cameras won't give you a clean picture above ISO 400.

 

[Throckmorton]

He probably doesn't want to bother the animals with a 500W light.. The camera does matter because the bigger the lens the more light hits the sensor.

 

[alkemyst]

What are you currently using...may be user error.

 

[DrPizza]

I know how difficult it is. From the description, I don't think the OP's problem is blurred photos, but rather a problem with shutter lag. We have to take a lot of pictures of our animals for use on our website. The babies are the toughest to photograph because the "kodak moment" is really just that - a moment. And, especially younger animals don't like "posing" for the camera. Unfortunately, the shutter lag = "moment + 0.1 seconds." Of course, one of the cameras we use is much better than the others, but it seems the biggest problem is the time it takes to automatically focus. I'll leave it up to others to make specific recommendations.

However, here are some tips I've found, having taken thousands of shots of animals:
1. I recommend taking the photos outdoors where the natural light is better; and many cameras auto-focus faster with the brighter light.
2. On many cameras, if you hold the shutter button down halfway while you're the distance away at which you're taking your picture, it will pre-focus. Then, at that moment, press it the rest of the way.
3. Take lots of pictures of each animal; pretend it's like one of those shoots of models where the camera is just taking picture upon picture upon picture. Look at all the pictures afterward & pick the best photo; don't just rely on 1 or 2 shots.

edit: by "at that moment" in #2, I don't mean the moment the camera is focused; I mean the moment when the animal is posed just right.

Also, fwiw, I had an older Fuji camera that was quite fast; I think it was only a 3MP camera. Rather than looking at the brand new market for a faster camera, you might want to take a look at the used market (particularly since you said animal shelter & I know they're not exactly rolling in the dough.)