Camera for an Athlete that is going to the Olympics $200-$300 price range

Ok, So one of the Athletes that is going to the Olympics has asked me what camera he should buy. He leaves on Sunday so he has to buy Locally "best buy".

His budget is $200-$300 and I'm guessing he is not Camera Savvy.

What would be his best option? I'm guessing a point-n-shoot and not one that has removable lenses. Keep it simple and easy to use.

Thanks!

I would just go with something like the Canon A4000IS P&S camera.

What about a Canon PowerShot SX260 HS 12.1mp?
http://www.bestbuy.com …C+abcat0401000_​&cp=1&lp=6

Canon S100

BLD_007 wrote in post #14712292
What about a Canon PowerShot SX260 HS 12.1mp?
http://www.bestbuy.com …C+abcat0401000_​&cp=1&lp=6

That's an outstanding camera. The only limitations you'll find are that in low light it will be difficult to get action shots. But other than that, the SX 260 will make him/her very, very happy.

Don't worry about mp (megapixels). That should have nothing to do with your or his decision. All the current cameras from all the manufacturers are adequate in this area. From nine to sixteen....doesn't matter. It's all good.

What you want to consider is which camera can do the most in your budget category, and for the 200-300 dollar budget range, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better point and shoot than the Canon SX 260 IS.

The image stabilization works, and the zoom is ridiculously good. You can geotag the photos so that you can remember exactly where it was taken (if that's important to you), and that's about it.

Put it this way: For 300 bucks, you won't find many people complaining about the SX 260. Ask anyone who owns one and they'll say the same thing: It rocks.


Now, for $149 Best Buy is selling the SX 150 IS, which is just about as good as the 260. The 150's main advantage is that it takes two AA batteries, which means you don't ever have to recharge the camera battery. You recharge the batteries separately while a fresh set is in the camera. In other words, your camera is never down for charging. Just get high-quality rechargeables (the best you can get are Sanyo Eneloops...Best Buy has them).

The only negative of the SX 150 IS is that it is thicker than the 260 and, therefore, doesn't fit in the pocket as well. It will fit fine in loose pockets (cargo shorts, pants, etc.), but not a small, tight pocket like jeans.


The benefit of the SX cameras is that they can be put into fully manual mode so that you can choose what goes on.

Olympic sports tend to be fast-paced, wouldn't you agree? So, why trust the cameras that only have auto-modes to get the shot of the string release, the platform dive, or the soaring shuttlecock (can I say that online?)

TV mode at sporting events is your friend. Set it at 1/400 or faster and fire away.


By the way: your "friend." Is it like when someone goes into a pharmacy and says, "my 'friend' has a rash on his butt."


I kid, I kid. I have a few friends who are olympians. I worked with Benn Fraker's mom (she's a teacher...he is doing single-man canoe slalom).

I also know Mary Meagher (three-time gold medal in the Los Angeles Olympics and one bronze in Korea....swimming).


My personal sport, twelve-ounce curls, has consistently been denied, and it's because they know I would easily beat everyone, including the Germans, and that would be an international scandal for them. Politics can really ruin a good sport sometimes.

By the way, what sport is your friend competing in? Badminton, Archery, summer-time shallow-pool ski jumping?

This is my town's local rep and hero: Benn Fraker.

http://www.teamusa.org​/Athletes/FR/Benn-Fraker.aspx

MikeFairbanks wrote in post #14712446
By the way, what sport is your friend competing in? Badminton, Archery, summer-time shallow-pool ski jumping?

This is my town's local rep and hero: Benn Fraker.

http://www.teamusa.org​/Athletes/FR/Benn-Fraker.aspx

I wouldn't say hes a "friend" but more a player who plays for the MLS team I shoot for. He plays for Sporting KC and hes going to the Olympics for his home country. Hes going for Soccer.

Well, good luck to you and him. Have fun.

I wanted to attend the Olympics this year, but I never took the time to learn their language.

MikeFairbanks wrote in post #14712559
Well, good luck to you and him. Have fun.

I wanted to attend the Olympics this year, but I never took the time to learn their language.

I wish I was going =(

I'm covering the US Open Cup though =)

Seeing what the weather has been like I might go with one of the waterproof models

crn3371 wrote in post #14712601
Seeing what the weather has been like I might go with one of the waterproof models

yea, I was thinking something waterproof

Maybe one of the Olympus Tough series. Water, and shock, resistant. Beer and ale resistant too.

I might add, I think he wants something to document his trip and not cover a sport like the getty photographers =)

why not just use iphone camera? its comparable to most of the cheap p&s out there

Brupikk wrote in post #14712333
Canon S100

+2 for this