pocketable, sub $200 camera

[slackerinabox]

I have a pentax d-slr that I love and a fuji finepix something or the other that I recently broke. I need a new, pocketable, sub $200 camera that I can just keep in my bag/pocket. Something I can lose without feeling too guilty about, yet takes decent enough photos for family use.

The Lumix line seems pretty tempting but no one talks about the sub-$300 lumixes. I'd also get a Canon but, at least in the past, the value line canons had econobox build quality, which I want to avoid (since I'm admittedly clumsy).

Here are my preferences:
1. Better than 5 mega pixel
2. Good build quality
3. Easy to use

I could up my budget to say $250 in case it does 720p video, but I already have a kodak ZI8 (so +$50 would be for the sake of convenience).

 

[extra]

As I posted in the other thread, Panasonic ZR1. It's a tiny bit over your budget. You can buy one for $225 from Adorama.

Canon SD780 is nice and can be had for under $200. Get it in black the other colors are fugly lol. Good IQ (about the same as the Panny). Much less useful zoom range than the Panasonic. It does HD video but bright lights will make annoying lines in the video. Here's a cool video that was made with it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g1Lb5fFBYE

 

[heymrdj]

If you can up your budget to what extra recommended, the ZR1, i'd recommend it. I've played with one and it's a very nice pocket camera.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Sd1200, sd780

 

[shortylickens]

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/

In the middle of the page are three graphical links for group reviews and one text link for a group review. They are a year old now, but in the world of photography that doesnt mean much. Especially if budget is your main concern.

The reason I keep pushing that link over and over again is most "recommend me a camera" threads wouldnt need to be created if more folks just read this page first.
If you dont wanna read them, the Panasonic Lumix line constantly gets good reviews, BUT NOT EVERY CAMERA IN THE LINE.
Which ones are the best?
Yur on yur own.

 

[thescreensavers]

I am in the same boat as you OP, it seems the Pana ZR1 is the best in this price range. 225 + 3.99 next day shipping on amazon is making it very appealing for me, I need it before Thursday

 

[Tiamat]

I am in the same boat as you OP, it seems the Pana ZR1 is the best in this price range. 225 + 3.99 next day shipping on amazon is making it very appealing for me, I need it before Thursday

I just ordered it through Amazon. Will arrive wednesday.

 

[slackerinabox]

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/

In the middle of the page are three graphical links for group reviews and one text link for a group review. They are a year old now, but in the world of photography that doesnt mean much. Especially if budget is your main concern.

The reason I keep pushing that link over and over again is most "recommend me a camera" threads wouldnt need to be created if more folks just read this page first.
If you dont wanna read them, the Panasonic Lumix line constantly gets good reviews, BUT NOT EVERY CAMERA IN THE LINE.
Which ones are the best?
Yur on yur own.

Thanks - I know of dpreview and will take your advice and check out some reviews, but I really value the opinion of every day users vs reviewers in some cases. I mean, some gadgets I've bought are awesome out of the box, but long term reliability can';t be judged via a review..

 

[shortylickens]

Good point, those reviews are a year old now. Anybody who bought them back then could talk to you about how they are faring a year later. For reference, the LX3 is still getting accolades.

 

[slackerinabox]

If I could get the LX3 in my budget that would be the first choice - any hear good things about the fuji F70EXR? The samples from it look great (much better than sample I've found of the zr1) and it's HDR mode seems interesting, BUT the reviews on the zr1 are much better

 

[thescreensavers]

If I could get the LX3 in my budget that would be the first choice - any hear good things about the fuji F70EXR? The samples from it look great (much better than sample I've found of the zr1) and it's HDR mode seems interesting, BUT the reviews on the zr1 are much better

Do you have a link to both samples?

 

[slackerinabox]

Do you have a link to both samples?

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=fuji+f70

http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&q=panasonic+zr1&m=text

 

[thescreensavers]

I just ordered it through Amazon. Will arrive wednesday.

Just got it, 5 bucks less then you ha!

 

[adairusmc]

I picked up a Canon SD780 IS last night, to have something to keep in my pocket when snowmobiling this winter, and it seems to do pretty good so far. It is super tiny too. It is right at your $200 mark, but it does do 720p video.

 

[OptotsshorP]

I am looking to purchase a digital camera with a small form factor so that it will easily fit into a pocket, and in the price range of

I was currently looking at the Kodak EasyShare M381 and the Canon SD1200 IS, as they have seemed to be getting pretty good reviews. I like the fact that the Kodak M381 has a 5X optical zoom, whereas the Canon only has a 3X.

Are there any thoughts on these options, or would you recommend something else?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[whoiswes]

I am looking to purchase a digital camera with a small form factor so that it will easily fit into a pocket, and in the price range of

I was currently looking at the Kodak EasyShare M381 and the Canon SD1200 IS, as they have seemed to be getting pretty good reviews. I like the fact that the Kodak M381 has a 5X optical zoom, whereas the Canon only has a 3X.

Are there any thoughts on these options, or would you recommend something else?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

I've had 4 of the Panasonic Lumix megazooms - the most recent being the ZS3. My wife mainly uses it at work (she's a wildlife rehabilitator and educator, is always being exposed to interesting situations) but the older models were my primary camera before I moved to SLR. I can't recommend them enough - in good light they take pictures that rivaled my D40. The long optical zoom is indispensable. Form factor is nice and they're well built. My only complaint is low-light performance but there are very few P&S's that do even tolerable low light work.

HTH.

 

[slackerinabox]

FYI, I delayed my purchase a bit and just bought a samsung sl420 - $98 (half my budget) and all the camera I'll need to supplement an D-slr. Hope to get it soon!

Sample photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/samsungzone/sets/72157622759959849/