Crazy, but serious question regarding a CHEAP $ camera

[Charles Loy]

I have a friend asking me to find her a 200 dollar camera she can take to vacation going to Great Britain in September
I have no clue what is what in 200 dollar cameras. And I mentioned the cell phone but she said it was not going

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[John Navitsky]

i think in this range one is probably better off just getting a bit better phone

 

[jeffnles1]

I agree, get a decent cell phone. If she really wanted to take a stand alone camera, I'd have to ask her how many thousands of dollars is she spending on the trip and why go extra cheap on the camera. I have one of the Olympus Tough that I take fishing with me. It is water proof down to something like 30 feet or at least deeper than I would ever want to try to swim down to retrieve if it went in the lake. They are small and wouldn't make one look like a mark to rob any more than any other tourist would look like a mark to rob.

I don't think 200 is going to get her one unless she goes used and even then I think they are a little more.

Hope this helps.

 

[John Navitsky]

I don't think 200 is going to get her one unless she goes used and even then I think they are a little more.

and just think through the problem. not only is it duplicating the sensor and electronics in her existing phone, it has to be significantly _better_ than her phone to be worth while.

so you need the sensor, the electronics, the lens and an enclosure to put it in that's BETTER than what's in your phone... for $200.

 

[Charles Loy]

As I mentioned gentlemen, she will not take her phone.
I knew it is silly to ask this, I'll dump it directly

 

[bleirer]

$350?

https://www.adorama.com/icae360bk.html

 

[John Navitsky]

if the phone is a definite no, maybe search ebay for used cameras like the canon powershot series. they were decent, a bit dated at this point, but for their day…

 

[MartyD]

I would sit down with her and ask her why she doesn't want to take her phone. I can't imagine traveling anywhere without my cell phone. It can be a lifesaver, literally. If she is worried about cell charges, help her do a little research on travel cell plans and teach her how to put her phone in airplane mode.

I have had too many experiences trying to help people find a camera for that major trip, unfortunately since they don't use it regularly they tend to struggle with it when traveling.

 

[John Navitsky]

example: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2963262625...qO0dXYbTbO&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

i’d probably say make sure you stick with at least 12MP

with the canons, “IS” means image stabilization, not all of them have it

 

[PhotoLover]

I have a friend asking me to find her a 200 dollar camera she can take to vacation going to Great Britain in September
I have no clue what is what in 200 dollar cameras. And I mentioned the cell phone but she said it was not going

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

I agree with the other posters; why doesn't she want to take the phone? Fear of theft? Her phone plan probably has an international add-on option for that trip that will cost less than $200 unless she is there a long long time. And then she can use her phone ....

 

[MMoretti]

Nikon D3200 with an 18-55 kit lens. Maybe you already have an extra SD card laying around? Don’t forget she’ll need a charger.

 

[Charles Loy]

Hey Guys - That was my instant suggestion, use your phone.. She is NOT taking a phone with her, heck she's a woman how can I (we) change her mind once set.

 

[JAJohnson]

I have a friend asking me to find her a 200 dollar camera she can take to vacation going to Great Britain in September
I have no clue what is what in 200 dollar cameras. And I mentioned the cell phone but she said it was not going

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Refurbished Nikon COOLPIX B600: $264.

Error | Nikon USA

Shop the latest mirrorless & DSLR cameras and NIKKOR lenses from the official Nikon eCommerce site. Explore our innovations and photo equipment!

www.nikonusa.com

 

[Charles Loy]

Nikon D3200 with an 18-55 kit lens. Maybe you already have an extra SD card laying around? Don’t forget she’ll need a charger.

I have a 18-55 lens, unused and not needed - very good Idea. I'll make a quick search for the D3200

 

[Charles Loy]

$350?

https://www.adorama.com/icae360bk.html

I'll pitch this at her instantly. May be available at local best buy too.

 

[John Navitsky]

folks should remember that someone looking for this kind of camera probably doesn’t want the size or complexity of a dslr

 

[PhotoLover]

Hey Guys - That was my instant suggestion, use your phone.. She is NOT taking a phone with her, heck she's a woman how can I (we) change her mind once set.

I get that, and I'll shut up after this post, but without knowing WHY she won't take her phone ... if she hasn't traveled much internationally, she may not understand the varied options she has to take and use her phone at a very reasonable cost. No need to answer, I just wanted to beat the dead horse one more time.

Disregarding my puzzlement over the phone thing, without knowing what kind of pictures she likes to take, it's hard to make any sort of recommendation! Also, I'd assume she wants small and compact -- like the Coolpix mentioned above, or something even smaller and lighter. I.e. other than price, what are the requirements? Fits in a purse?

 

[Steve W]

Used Nikon P7800 or the Canon equivalent, can’t remember what it was, are worth a look.

 

[Charles Loy]

Used Nikon P7800 or the Canon equivalent, can’t remember what it was, are worth a look.

This is what she bought thru eBay. Not Nikon, some unknown brand. I hope she is happy with it.

 

[Ado Wolf]

I just bought a D3400 for 150$ and a 18-140mm lens for 50$.. to use at the beach, without worrying if something happens to it. It’s a light and compact set, has great battery life, and has beautiful Nikon colors and APSC quality photos. It connects as well to phones for quick photo transfer.

 

[dabhand16]

Probably a good used upmarket point and shoot like a Canon G series or equivalent will fit the bill.

 

[Vincent_VdB]

1st of April?

 

[MartyD]

Hey Guys - That was my instant suggestion, use your phone.. She is NOT taking a phone with her, heck she's a woman how can I (we) change her mind once set.

Charles, sorry I didn't mean to offend you. I would try to have her practice a simulated vacation, including what she packs, how she carries it, and how to manage the photos when she returns. While September gives her plenty of time to learn the camera it also gives her time to learn the camera and then put it aside for several months and forget. My sister is a travel agent and many people in our community travel with her often. I used to get requests to help them purchase a "good" camera to take on the trips but I refuse to do that any more. It just rarely turned out well, for them or for me.

No matter how much she wants to travel without her cell phone, I believe when September rolls around it will make the trip.

 

[jeffnles1]

Hey Guys - That was my instant suggestion, use your phone.. She is NOT taking a phone with her, heck she's a woman how can I (we) change her mind once set.

I guess she has her reasons for not taking the cell phone. I think the suggestions of point and shoot for convenience and pocket carry and the bridge cameras for better picture quality are spot on.

 

[Chris K]

1. $75 Canon 40D: https://www.mpb.com/en-us/product/canon-eos-40d
2. $57 Tamron 18-200: https://www.mpb.com/en-us/product/t...r-di-ii-ld-aspherical-if-macro-canon-ef-s-fit
3. $67 Tokina 12-24: https://www.mpb.com/en-us/product/tokina-12-24mm-f-4-at-x-pro-dx-canon-ef-s-fit
4. $84 Canon 50/1.8 II: https://www.mpb.com/en-us/product/canon-ef-50mm-f-1-8-ii?page=4

Pick any two lenses.

You could also get a smaller/cheaper Digital Rebel body… there’s a ton available for another $25 off. And you could get a less-long zoom to save more size, too, like the 17-85.

I shot with a 40D for years, and it was a fine camera when it was $1000+. $75 is downright criminal. The Tokina 12-24 is a solid UWA, and the 50/1.8 is required for any cheap Canon kit. The 18-200 doesn’t set the world on fire, but “28-300” is a great range for travel photography. Anything in this kit could easily make wall size prints, which is probably overkill.