Spend more or not worth it?

[EliteRetard]

Freind is doing school in japan for a few months and they require a camera. Is it worth it to get a "junk" 75$ camera, try to half ass it with a phone camera, or get something nicer? Ive seen a few cameras come out that say they can do HD video, do they actually work and/or are they worth it? Are they hard to use or limited to a 5min clip or take gigabyte sized videos in some unreadable format, or have they gotten good yet? I got my sister a sony a few years back that took 480p 30fps and it was easy to use/watch and didnt take up a ton of space...but you didnt have any zoom or adjustments and had to take video in a well lit room to get decent video. If I can get the simplicity with better quality for not a bad price would it be worth it? Im just thinking that a trip like this may be worth recording...but he is a student on a really tight budget so if features like this just dont work good I think hell want to skip it. Im thinking size is probably important too, trying to tour japan with a 10lb camera in your pocket and 30 memory cards would be a pain. He doesnt need to have the camera untill september, so if you know of any upcoming models that might be worth it Ill put them in the list.

Another struggle is trying to find a 500$ laptop with good battery life that can handle HD video and stuff like photoshop. Thats why we were thinking of just skipping a camera all together. Its pathetic that with all the advances made you still have to pay 700$+ to be able to play youtube videos and get 4 (or more) hours of battery life. Cmon i3 CULV!

 

[slashbinslashbash]

I would say that any "real" camera is better than a phone camera. If he can't spend $150-$200 then get something used for under $100 that's still quality (Canon or Panasonic). If he goes for a used older model, he probably won't get HD video but will get 480p quality. I have a Canon SD780IS that I paid $200 for in January and has dropped a bit since (it was reported in this forum earlier that Best Buy had them on clearance for $115 over the weekend). I am very satisfied with such a small camera. The 720p video is very passable (although I am not a video freak so I don't have much to compare it to). It can't zoom when recording, but the file sizes and compatibility were fine (although I use Macs, so YMMV). Pretty much any small camera will have problems with video in low light.... that goes for a lot of bigger cameras too. I used a cheap 8GB memory card (I think it was $20) and never felt the need for more space. I think it is limited to like 45mins of 720p video for that size of card. Pretty good IMO. And 8GB is room for PLENTY of photos.... like, thousands.

In general I would recommend anything in the Canon SD line (3-digit model numbers = better than 4-digit model numbers; IS is highly recommended) or something like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1. $150-$200 for a new point and shoot is the sweet spot IMO for someone who is not really into photography.

 

[EliteRetard]

So it sounds like a vote for a "junk" camera. Is it really a good idea to buy used or is that like buying a used laptop?

 

[slashbinslashbash]

I wouldn't say junk.

Buying used.... I've bought all of my DSLR's used. But then a DSLR is generally built pretty well, and the typical DSLR user is a little better on his gear than your average consumer. But I wouldn't have any problem buying a used point-and-shoot camera that I could verify is in good working condition. Test out all the functions: power on, lens extends with no funny noises, lens zooms in and out with no problems, the screen and all the buttons on the back work, the shutter works, the flash works, playback of pictures and video works. Check for cosmetic issues, especially problems with the screen. And don't overpay (personally, if I'm buying a 2-year-old point-and-shoot, it's got to be 1/2 the price or less than a comparable new model). Sometimes you can find somebody who's taken good care of their camera, has upgraded and just wants to get rid of their old one. That's the kind of person you should buy from.

 

[angry hampster]

I wouldn't say junk.

Buying used.... I've bought all of my DSLR's used. But then a DSLR is generally built pretty well, and the typical DSLR user is a little better on his gear than your average consumer.

My three year old 5D has a LOT more scratches/nicks/gouges than my 5-year-old A85 point and shoot. All depends on how much the gear has been used.

 

[slashbinslashbash]

My three year old 5D has a LOT more scratches/nicks/gouges than my 5-year-old A85 point and shoot. All depends on how much the gear has been used.

Sure, DSLR's can be heavily used... but use is different from abuse/neglect, which I would argue is more harmful, and more prevalent for P&S's. You might drop your 5D from time to time, or accidentally bang it on a rock when you're trying to find the right angle looking through the viewfinder, but I doubt you'd throw it in a purse or backpack to mix freely with keys/loose change/etc., or stick it in your back pocket and sit on it, or leave it at the bottom of your car console where it attracts crumbs, drink spills, etc..... I doubt you would hand it to drunk guys at bars to take a photo of you and your friends, and said drunk guy accidentally spills his beer on it. I have never heard of someone dropping their DSLR into a urinal.

I have seen a lot of things happen to P&S's that just wouldn't happen to a DSLR. They are cheap, and for many people, somewhat disposable, and they take them places and do things with them that they wouldn't do to a more expensive piece of equipment. Just as a basic example: most DSLR owners have some sort of a bag or case that they usually put their DSLR into for storage and transport. I very rarely see someone with a dedicated case or bag for their P&S, especially a lower-end and/or compact one.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

Just get a point-and-shoot. Why do you need HD video with a camera?