Looking to pick up a digital camera, sub $100. How should I begin research?

[iCarianThoughT]

Hello,

I'm looking to pick up (preferably new, don't want to deal with possible hassle of defective used) a digital camera for a family member, looking to spend sub $100, not sure where to go for research I don't want to just grab whatever's on the self of some tech shop when I don't know what I'm buying.

Not a photography enthusiast, so she doesn't need anything fancy, nor wants it. Fairly basic and easy to use, looking for a good camera to snap shots of friends and events, whatever that would mean, not even sure what to look for or how to evaluate different options.

~Any appropriate help would be appreciated, thanks much.

[liza]

This is going to sound terrible, but try Walmart. I picked up a very small Vivitar for my child for under $100. Just remember, you get what you pay for.

[Mark_Cohran]

Quality can't be done at the price you've set.

Mark

[DanteCaspian]

Don't go less then $300.00 (my opinion). Even the camera I got for my kid, age 14, is in that price range. Anything less, even for the amature, in my opinion, will not deliver.
Hey Chrismas is coming... get a few pepole in on it and the price won't be an issue.

[Becca]

I bought my nephew a Fuji point and shoot a couple of years ago for Christmas for around $80. You might want them to wait until closer to the holidays when all the sales are going on.

[gjl711]

Hello,

I'm looking to pick up (preferably new, don't want to deal with possible hassle of defective used) a digital camera for a family member, looking to spend sub $100...
Not a photography enthusiast, so she doesn't need anything fancy, nor wants it...
Check out some of the online computer outlets like TigerDirect. A quick search on Tiger yields several pretty decent sub-$100 cameras in the 5 mega-pixel range such as the http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1706307&CatId=0 (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1706307&CatId=0). They have several others as well. I am sure that other online stores would have similar stuff.

Don't go less then $300.00 (my opinion). Even the camera I got for my kid, age 14, is in that price range. Anything less, even for the amature, in my opinion, will not deliver.

There is nothing magic about a $300 price point and a first camera sub-$100 is a great idea and there is quite a bit out there that can deliver pretty decent results.

I did this with my youngest. He showed an inclination towards photography, actually video, in that he loved taking pics with my camera and such. We got him the Mustek DV-5000 for something like $79 for Xmas and he loved it. He and his friends have put together several little movies and he used as a simple snapshot camera as well. As a first camera it is served it’s purpose and he has not moved on to one of my old HP850.

[KevC]

I'm afraid buying used is a better option in the sub-$100 category. Look in trusted forums like this one or FredMiranda...

[Sledhed]

I know it's not sub $100 but NewEgg has a Canon A430 for $125.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16830120039

[Fureinku]

A430 is an Excellent camera as well, and its close cousins, the A520 and 530 are also excellent!

[iCarianThoughT]

Wow, thanks for all the replies, quickly as I mull over the information presented here: are the more 'thin' of cameras then more expensive, as the two linked are kinda bulky to the what she has in mind?

At $300 she wouldn't want it, too much of a fuss made about it, money wise at least, and she wouldn't accept it. Really it needs to be something that's more 'ok' if it gets damaged or lost and no one has to stress over.

~Thanks again.

[Fureinku]

i think u can find a casio exilim for around 200... otherwise, "thinner" cameras will be much more than 100

[Ronald S. Jr.]

http://cgi.ebay.com/CANON-S230-DIGITAL-ELPH-CAMERA-3-2-MEGAPIXEL-256MB-CF_W0QQitemZ180036992166QQihZ008QQcategoryZ46315QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Jump on it now. One of my favorites I ever had. Fits easily into a pocket, and takes CF cards. $149. Any less money, and you're gonna get a hunk of junk that's no better than a cell phone...literally.