Point and Shoot for Under $200?

[b0rf]

Hey guys--

I'm looking for a simple point and shoot digital camera that I can have with me at all times. I'll use it primarily for social gatherings (snap-shots of people)....

Currently I'm looking to order the Canon A400.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=347917&is=REG

Good choice?

Priorities:
-3.2mp
-Quick focusing and good flash (will be used in low lighting situations)
-Redeye Reduction
-Pocket-sized


Thanks

[Caimin]

I don't have any experience of the A400 but I can recommend the A70. It's perhaps a little bulkier and heavier than you might want. My only real complaint is that there's no battery meter - but since the batteries last and last that's no real problem. I took all the photos on http://www.secretrome.com with an A70.

[pcasciola]

I've owned at least a dozen digital cameras, and there is only one that I would consider having with me at all times in the $200 price range (Not counting a 1.2MP cell phone cam). The Casio Exilim EX-S3. The Canon PowerShot SD20 and Sony DSC-T1 are better, but still not small enough for me, and over double the price. The Exilim is only 11mm thick (.4 inches). It's 3MP, has a really nice, bright LCD display, and is pretty fast too. The downsides are there is no zoom, and red eye is definitely an issue as it is with any camera this small because the flash is right next to the lens. The other downside is, I'm pretty sure it's discontinued, and the newer models are almost double the thickness like all the other ones. They can still be found new on ebay for around $150-200.

Here's a shot I dug up from last year that was taken in a dimly lit restaurant. Not the greatest shot, but I can't think of any other camera I would have had with me in this situation.

http://www.casciola.com/pics/nick_crab.jpg

[shutterbug79]

I got a SD110 to keep with me since I can't always have my Digital Rebel at my side. It's quite a bit smaller than the A400. I keep the digital zoom turned off since I don't like the results (no different than my G2 or any digital; digital zoom is a crock), but overall it is a very good camera. You can't beat Canon optics, no matter what model you get. SD110 is just under $200 on Amazon, which is where I got mine. Good luck.
Karen in NC

[love811]

Hi! I think the powershot a75 or the recently released powershot a510 is a better choice. I bought the powershot a75 because I take pictures mostly of people ... usually of my family on different occasions. The powershot a75 and the a510 are both 3 megapixels but are a little bit larger than the a400 but picture quality of indoor shots of people are better with the a75 as per my experience. The a75, a510 and a400 have almost identical feautures except that the a400 does not have an option for you to attach additional lenses or a zoom flash feature that is new to the a510.

If I were you, try reading the reviews of the a75 and the a510 vs. the a400. Otherwise, if you're not that picky, the a400 will fit you well as it is smaller, more fashionable and cheaper than the a75 and a510.

here are some links you might want to visit:

a510 - http://www.steves-digicams.com/pr/canon_01202005_a510_pr.html
a75 - http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_a75-review/index.shtml
a400 - http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_a400-review/

[gary_hendricks]

Hey guys--

I'm looking for a simple point and shoot digital camera that I can have with me at all times. I'll use it primarily for social gatherings (snap-shots of people)....

Currently I'm looking to order the Canon A400.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=347917&is=REG

Good choice?

Priorities:
-3.2mp
-Quick focusing and good flash (will be used in low lighting situations)
-Redeye Reduction
-Pocket-sized


Thanks

If you want to explore some other choices, then check out this list of cameras (http://www.basic-digital-photography.com/top-10-popular-digital-cameras-under-300.html).