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Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
Best consumer camera under $500

GmElliott
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Feb 5, 2006, 9:50 PM

Post #1 of 13 (1696 views)
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Best consumer camera under $500	Can't Post

What's the best consumer camera under $500. I'm looking to purchase a camera for my girlfriend for Valentines Day. Things that are important are optical zoom range, 5 megapixels or more, and maybe a decent contstant burst shooting rate along with possible optical image stabilization.

There are soooo many choices in the consumer camera class it's hard to know where to start.

Thanks in advance.

Glen Elliott
http://www.GmElliottVideo.com

rodovideo
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Feb 5, 2006, 10:04 PM

Post #2 of 13 (1688 views)
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Re: [GmElliott] Best consumer camera under $500 [In reply to]	Can't Post

Ease of use.... Sony Cybershot's DSC-P200 or similar ... fit nicely into the smallest of purses. We've got the P100 (I think) and it's been used & loved by my wife. She takes it everywhere. I have to download the files though... not a big deal for us. Unless she's into all the "stuff".... then I wouldn't look to much further.

I beleive that Kodak or HP's with docking stations are for the people who are looking for real ease of use.

This is our second sony digital and we are satisfied with the image quality (5mp). Our first Sony digital got killed when my wife and daughter were at the beach in Florida before moving home. A rip tide came in and snagged my daughter while my wife was taking pictures of her at the shore break area.... needless to say my wife went in with the camera .... and that was the end of the camera... but wife and daughter are fine. Smile

That's a sure fire way to make leaving Florida a lot easier....

Look toward the Son, and you will not see the shadows

sample images from RODO PHOTO

Rodo Media BLOG

Jordan O.
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Feb 5, 2006, 11:18 PM

Post #3 of 13 (1686 views)
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Re: [GmElliott] Best consumer camera under $500 [In reply to]	Can't Post

Just make sure the shutter isn't too loud Tongue

Cheers,
Jordan

okspyder
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Feb 6, 2006, 1:08 PM

Post #4 of 13 (1664 views)
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Re: [GmElliott] Best consumer camera under $500 [In reply to]	Can't Post

Glen,
I bought the SONY DSC-W7 for my wife for christmas. Takes great photos, large lcd, easy to use. She loves it.

Anthony

Darryl
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Feb 6, 2006, 2:12 PM

Post #5 of 13 (1656 views)
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Re: [GmElliott] Best consumer camera under $500 [In reply to]	Can't Post

i bought a canon SD500 for my wife. 7mp. compact body. ~$300. there's an SD550 now. search techbargains.com
........................................................
Darryl

GmElliott
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Feb 6, 2006, 5:02 PM

Post #6 of 13 (1642 views)
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Re: [GmElliott] Best consumer camera under $500 [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks everyone for the input. I ended up going with:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...e=categoryNavigation

Glen Elliott
http://www.GmElliottVideo.com

observerXP
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Feb 7, 2006, 4:18 AM

Post #7 of 13 (1606 views)
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Re: [GmElliott] Best consumer camera under $500 [In reply to]	Can't Post

Great choice~

FX1, DVC30, XH A1, VX2000

Nikon D50, SB-600, Nikkor 18-55, Tamron 28-75
Nikon FM2, Nikkor 50mm F1.4

RustyB
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Feb 7, 2006, 11:16 PM

Post #8 of 13 (1572 views)
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Re: [GmElliott] Best consumer camera under $500 [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Thanks everyone for the input. I ended up going with:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...e=categoryNavigation

Ah, to bad. I'd have cut you a great deal on this awesome "interpolated megapixel" Sony Mavica floppy disk camera, with genuine fake leather case, and a FREE FLOPPY DISK!!! Laugh

j/k! That LUMIX looks pretty cool for the price! 5megapixel, OIS, 12x zoom, awesome!

The cats are getting a fresh bag of Meow Mix, and a more toy mice...'cause god know I ain't got enough toy mice stuffed under the couch and refridgerator. Laugh

the People's Video Collective blog
wedding video and the means of production

GmElliott
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Feb 8, 2006, 12:20 AM

Post #9 of 13 (1568 views)
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Re: [RustyB] Best consumer camera under $500 [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hhahha the Digital Mavica was my frist digital camera. I donated it to my girlfriend- the Pansonic Lumix is actually replacing it. The model is Sony Mavica FD-88.

Glen Elliott
http://www.GmElliottVideo.com

RustyB
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Feb 8, 2006, 12:45 AM

Post #10 of 13 (1561 views)
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Re: [GmElliott] Best consumer camera under $500 [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Hhahha the Digital Mavica was my frist digital camera. I donated it to my girlfriend- the Pansonic Lumix is actually replacing it. The model is Sony Mavica FD-88.

yeah, mine is the similar FD-83...the only digital camera I've owned until I finally got the new Olympus. I was about to eBay my trusty old FD-83, but the battery charger it came with, which I use to charge my VX2000/FX1 batteries, is cost more new than the whole camera+charger is worth on eBay. I paid at several thousand+ dollars for the camera new, and now they're going for $20-$100.

If only I could get that many years of service out of a video camera!

the People's Video Collective blog
wedding video and the means of production

GmElliott
Veteran

Feb 8, 2006, 12:50 AM

Post #11 of 13 (1557 views)
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Re: [RustyB] Best consumer camera under $500 [In reply to]	Can't Post

To think...back in the day saving directly to 3.5 floppy was CONVENIENT! lol

Glen Elliott
http://www.GmElliottVideo.com

Mathew
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Feb 9, 2006, 9:21 PM

Post #12 of 13 (1514 views)
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Re: [GmElliott] Best consumer camera under $500 [In reply to]	Can't Post

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...dedTroughType=search

It shoots in native 16:9 at 28mm which is cool. I think you'll see more cameras switching to this format as it's fun to gather around the tv to view photos. The images probably look awesome in HD.

GmElliott
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Feb 14, 2006, 12:59 PM

Post #13 of 13 (1447 views)
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Re: [GmElliott] Best consumer camera under $500 [In reply to]	Can't Post

UPDATE: The Lumix is pretty nice. Very VERY small- though I'm used to luging around a Canon 1-body. Very light- all plastic build. Unsure

However my girlfriend absolutely loves it- and that's what counts.

I miss my old Sony F717 the best digital point n' shoot in the past several years IMO.

Glen Elliott
http://www.GmElliottVideo.com