Thursday, September 25, 2008

Camera Woes....

(This is not my dream camera, it is just a picture of a camera from the internet.)So...you all know how I lament about my camera all the time right? How I dislike it; it's the bain of my existence; my life would be so much better if I had my dream camera...yada yada yada.
Well, two nights ago, Eric accidentally knocked it off of the computer desk, and it appears that it is broken, so why am I so disappointed?
The answer to that is : because I don not have the money to fork out for my dream camera right now, but I must have a camera!
I am trying to decide if I should just charge it (my dream camera), on my credit card and pay for it later, or if I should just buy a little cheapie camera to get me by until it is tax return time.
The problem is that I don not know how "cheap" a cheapie little camera is, and it might be about 1/2 -or close to 1/2, of what I want to spend on my 'forever' camera.

I have survived the past two years with an awful camera, and I am pretty sure that even an inexpensive camera will take better quality pics than my last one.
What do you guys think?? Can you recommend an inexpensive camera (I am thinking one that is under $150)? There has to be something out there that I can use to get me by, and who knows...maybe I will love my new little camera!
(It seems like there are a lot of us in blogging land who are seeking the advice of others right now. I wonder what is up??)

12 comments:

Andrea said...

There are a lot of good cameras out there. I really want a Digital SLR!! A cannon or a Nikon, I won't be picky.

But as far as a cheap on?? Let me see, Kodak has a good one. And Nikon has a good one. I would hit up Target or Wal Mart and see what they have and then just go from there. I do know that the Kodak easy share takes good pictures.

I think if you have a digital SLR you still need a good point and shoot.

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

OH bummer. You've been having such trouble with cameras this year.
I feel for ya, Melanie. My camera is like an extra appendage. It's painful not to have it with me. :-O

You've probably love my digital camera. It's a Canon Power Shot A560. Has 4X Optical Zoom and 7.1 Mega Pixels.
It's not the cheapest, but it's not the most expensive. It's a good starter and intermediate camera and is so simple and fun to use.
I believe my husband paid about $140.00 for it last year. It was a birthday gift. Lucky me :)

Here's a link to a review for more info:
Canon Power Shot A560 Review

Hang in there! :)
~Lisa

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Canon A560 Independant Review

This review gives a complete overview of all of the cameras features. Really interesting!
I even learned a few new things :)

~Lisa

cdncowgirl said...

Prices will be different where you are than where I am, pretty sure they'll be lower for you. That said I'll recommend to basic, simple but still decent cameras I have.
#1 The Nikon Coolpix S210, small - fits in my jeans pocket! and most pics on my blog are from it. It was under $200 at London Drugs up here in Canada.
#2 Just bought Pie a camera, Pentax Optio M50, small - just a bit thicker than the Nikon, easy and seems to take decent pics (just got it so haven't really used it much yet). Under $180 here.

Grey Horse Matters said...

I don't know much about cameras and am usually trying to keep my thumbs out of the pictures. I have a Canon Rebel which is bigger and not easy to carry around for quick pictures, so you might not want something like that. However, my husband who is also a point and shoot kind of guy has a Sony Cybershot which is a pretty nice little camera, I don't know how much it is but it takes great pictures and is easy to slip in your pocket.

Melanie said...

Ooooh...thanks you guys!!! I am going out to dinner with all of the girls from my old work tonight, and it looks like I have a lot of camera-comparison shopping to do when I get back....that and homework...lol!!!

Thanks for all of your input! :)

Dressage Nomad said...

I really like the website www.dpreview.com for camera shopping. What is your dream camera? I don't know what I'd do if my camera broke, I would probably cry, I haven't taken much in the way of pictures lately, but knowing that I *can*, if I want to, is comforting.

BrownEyed Cowgirl said...

I was just camera shopping at Wal-Mart and there are quite a few at or under $150. Seems like pretty nice ones with at least 7 megapixels too. But I don't recommend the Samsung. That is the one that Chris bought Megan and that is why I am camera shopping. The lens started getting sticky(not wanting to come all the way out) and now I have officially killed it. Or at least I can't get it to do anything. It is only a year old.
Honest, we took good care of it too-always kept it in a camera bag, made sure not to leave it in the pickup in the heat, but it sure didn't hold up after going to a few rodeos. I'm pretty sure the dust is what ruined it.
Chris has a Kodak Easyshare and he has hauled it all over the world-literally! for several years now and it still works great.

So I am in the same boat as you-I need to replace the digital camera and can't decide whether to go with a cheapy($89-$129) or spend and extra $100 bucks and get a better quality one.

Unknown said...

I am not sure what your dream camera is but - as someone who takes pictures professionally for work - and is an avid amateur photographer at home I see most people buying way too much camera than they will ever use. I would recommend a Cannon or Kodak any day - although their are a few settings on my Cannon at home that I need to figure out....but I have used those cameras all my life, they are durable user friendly, and you get alot for what you pay for no matter what model you get.

What I also really like about Cannon and Kodak is that their computer to camera connection is always easy I have never had to look for a driver or install special software...they just work.

Of course I have a Mac at home and at work and that makes just about everything I do with my photography, video, music or art easier.

The Cannon Power shot listed by LOR is a great affordable camera - not knowing your budget...

Costco happens to have the Kodak M1033 10 Mega Pixel Camera on sale now with a coupon for $150.00 - only 3X optical zoom but that's pretty good for the average everyday person's use.

Most folks I see have a big fancy camera and only use 2 or 3 of the settings if that. Guys, its seems, like to brag about their camera and its almost like trucks - the guy with the most fancy camera is the coolest, then if he knows nothing about it and will leave it on the auto setting for his entire life. He knows it has X amount of mega pixels and X amount of zoom - and that's about it.

But the reality is mega pixels don't make your pictures better. A person can take very nice professional pictures with a 5 mega pixel camera or even 3 depending on its uses...

Unknown said...

PS that Kodak from Costco comes with a 2 GB memory card - coupon is only good through the 28th - any costco member should have the coupon...

It came in the coupon book they sent out at the beginning of the month...

Melanie said...

Too All-
Thank you SO much for your input and knowledge about cameras! I went into the store armed with knowledge for once...I felt so smart...lol!!

Carolynn Anctil said...

I LOVE my camera. It's small, lightweight, has excellent 10x optical zoom capabilities, as well as macro (although I'm still figuring out that feature). It's a Panasonic DMC-TZ1. I don't recall what I paid for it, but I don't have a large budget either, so it wasn't much. It's super easy to use, too.
Carolynn