£200 camera

[alan1572]

i'm looking to spend around £200 on a camera for my daughter, not adversed to a good 2nd hand one but it needs to be relatively simple, what should i be looking at?

[Geoff I]

So are you looking for a DSLR camera or a bridge camera that has plenty of zoom on it, and when you say relatively simple to use I think you need to look for one that does a good job in auto, are you looking for a  Small or Large Camera.

I am sure there are plenty to choose from out there.

ie Olympus E-520 this camera has onboard camera shake and a great little camera, I had the E-510 but the E-520 is a lot better, basic lenses are quite cheap, but a good start into DSLR.

Canon EOS 450 D these go for about £250 second hand.

Problem getting a decent DSLR  camera for the £200 mark is you need to get it at the right time and may have to wait for the price you want to pay.

Nikon D3000 I have seen these go for around the £200 mark on ebay.



You could even get a new Bridge camera around the £200 mark.

[alan1572]

a bridge camera will be best ..with a decent zoom, it's for her school trip to NY, CHEERS, I WILL CHECK OUT YOU SUGGESTIONS ..DAMN caps

[Hinfrance]

Well, if it's a bridge, then I can recommend the Fuji HS20EXR. I just bought mine (around £220 as the new X-S1 is coming out and will be heroically priced) and provided that you a) don't bother with the RAWs (you don't need to, the jpgs are perfectly OK), b) turn off in camera sharpening,  c) use it in 'A' setting mostly and avoid going above ISO200 then it gives great results. The EXR mode 'Resolution Priority' in GOOD LIGHT is outstanding. The lens is really good (sharp enough and hardly any CA) and has an enormous zoom range. I have really been enjoying using it. Flash sync even with non dedicated flashes is incredible - up to 1/1500 sec.

With so many pixels packed on a small sensor high ISOs are not a strong point, not at all. I've been using my HS20 exclusively for this month so I could get used to it.

As it goes, I got it to take on holiday later this year, to avoid lugging a DSLR around . . New York 

PS - as it runs on AA batteries there will never be a power problem. I'm using 2500 rechargeables and after 400 shots I still haven't had to change them - alkalines didn't last half that.
PPS - I don't know if the dog or cat face recognition works.