Best Camera for $200?

[LegMaker]

Just to get some input before I do the research for a friend, what do you guys think is the best compact digital camera you can get for no more than $200 ?
I have a friend who can only pay this much for x-mas and asked my opinion, yet I'm not familiar with alot of the compact cameras out there.
Thanks for the input.

[stopbath]

I don't know either, but a gift certificate at the store might just be cool. The recipient can then pick and choose on thier own (or with help) (and even add some to upgrade.) Downside is the price ($200) is not very well hidden from the recipient...

[pradeep1]

LegMaker,

I'd go for a decent Canon A60. It's $175 online with a 256 MB compact flash card, which is about $40 online with rebates.

It's a good 2 megapixel camera with a 3X optical zoom. You can put out good 5"X7" prints with this baby. You can store about 200-250 high quality pictures on the 256MB compact flash card. The camera uses regular AA batteries (so figure another $25.00 for rechargeable batteries and a charger). You can find this camera at most Walmarts for around $194.00, so at least check it out once before you buy it.

You can get it cheap at this reputable dealer (I've purchased both a G3 and an A80 with them):

http://www.beachcamera.com/shop/Product.asp?ProdTypeList=&Sku=CNPSA60

If the $200 is a strict limit, I'd skimp on the card instead of on the camera.

Hope this helps.


Here a bunch of reviews of the camera:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/a60.html

and here

http://www.digitalcamera-hq.com/canon-powershot-a60-reviews.html

But remember, this is a Canon forum, so we are naturally biased to Canons, but the Nikon Coolpix 2100 is a comparable camera at a comparable rate.

Good Luck,