$100-$150 Digital Camera (Kodak vs HP)

[appleweek]

Hi,
I am a complete novice when it comes to digital cameras and in the market to urgently purchase one in the next few days and need some advise. However, I am limited to physical brick-n-mortar stores because of time constraints (only a few days) and cash sales only. My target camera is an entry level model with a pricepoint between US$100 to $150. I am fully aware of much better and more expensive cameras, but for the time being that must suffice. In my initial online shopping tour (Wal*Mart, Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA etc), I have noticed most of the cameras at these prices are populated mainly by Kodak & HP brand models with the occasional Vivitar or Polaroid. So what I would like to know, is which is the better camera between the equivalent HP and Kodak models? My preference is for higher quality shots (more MPs/detail) vs. higher optical zoom however. OS X support goes without saying, off-course.

Thanks!

 

[appleweek]

Updated:
After spending countless hours learning about the various ways to judge camera's, I have seen that a Kodak or HP mite not the the best for the buck, whereas Canon's are always highly recommended. I even noticed the Apple Store online has nothing but Canon's on their site, with the Canon PowerShot A410 as the base model. This model is available on store.apple.com for $149.95, but even cheaper on amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...8111?_encoding=UTF8&s=photo&v=glance&n=502394) at just $138.73 -- perfectly within my range. Is their camera really the best low-end camera in the market now? The reviews on amazon.com are glowing. However my last problem still is finding a brick-n-mortar retailer in South Florida who has this item in stock(cash sales only). Any recommendations?

 

[crazycat]

Very good camera, my friend has once its really cool. I would recommend this camera but if you want a better one go with any canon, since i think canon>>>>all imho.



http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ref=sr_1_8/103-5861199-2252654?_encoding=UTF8

 

[Makosuke]

In my admittedly somewhat limited experience, the budget Kodak cameras are not at all bad.

Were I spending into the midrange of prices, I'd probably get a Canon now (although I actually own an Olympus), but both my father and Brother have low-to-middle Kodaks and both are very happy with them.

On the down side, Kodak cameras don't tend to be the most compact. On the up side, the prices are usually good and the photos are at least up to par with others in the same price bracket. Both Kodaks I have firsthand experience with take good pictures, and the opinion is backed by my father who has (literally) about 50 years of photography experience. The biggest Kodak positive for me, though, is that they have a very good interface (something I certainly can't say about my own Olympus)--easy to use and speedy.

Truth is, almost any major-brand camera is probably going to do a pretty good job these days unless you're very picky or looking for some specific feature. Get whatever looks good to you and you'll probably be happy with it.

 

[Leareth]

Go with the canon
it is one sweet little camera
I had one of the 410 now have the 510 and 620 both really easy to use with fantastic results

 

[appleweek]

Go with the canon
it is one sweet little camera
I had one of the 410 now have the 510 and 620 both really easy to use with fantastic results

Just as I was getting comfortable with the Canon PowerShot A410, it looks like my preference is set to change again. The reason i am looking for a camera is to replace a Canon PowerShot A400 I used and loved which I had on loan from a friend. I was going to go for a $100 to $150 entry-level HP or Kodak for the time being, until I found the Canon PowerShot A410 for just $149 a OfficeDepot.com. However, the one feature I use often on the PowerShot A400 just happens to not be included in the PowerShot A410: A/V Output -- rendering a seemingly perfect camera featureshort! The next level up in the Canon brand that is available in retail stores seems to be the Canon PowerShot A520, which does have A/V TV output. MSRP on most sites is listed at $199.99, however I was delighted to find that walmart.com has it on special for $174.52 here. Though a little more than $150,I do also get 4 MP vs 3.2 MP and 4x optical zoom vs 3.2x. Even better, the LCD screen is 1.8" vs 1.5" and in video mode, it records audio (believe it or not, the PowerShot A410 was video only, no audio). Size & portability is important to me, so I was particularlly impressed that the A410 was smaller than its predecessor A400, however the A520 will be bigger and heavier than both.

So Leareth, how would you compare the A410 to the A520? Is it that much heavier/larger than the A410? What other differences does the A520 feature vs A410? For exp, how does the battery life compare with a larger LCD?

If only Canon didn't chop off features when replacing the A400 with the A410, the A410 would be the perfect camera for the ideal price.

 

[adk]

Canon Makes a great digital camera. Kodaks are #1 user satisfaction rating (or at least they were a year or so ago). I used to work at a camera counter, and even the most senile people can handle a Kodak.

 

[kiwi-in-uk]

Have a look on dpreview here.
It has reviews of all the cameras you have been talking about.

 

[appleweek]

Yeah, i saw that dpreview.com has some excellent overviews of tons of cameras.

I was talking to a friend of mine who is a semi-professional photographer and he recommended a new but non-Canon brand camera that he said fits all my requirements *and* is available within my pricebracket at exactly $149.00. The camera is a Fujifilm FinePix A345 which retails and local RadioShacks down here. I was checking out the Fujifilm FinePix A345 and it does meet all the requirements since it supports A/V output to TV (unlike Canon A410). Plus 4.1 MP (vs. 4.0 MP) and 3.2x (vs. 4x) optical zoom with a slighlty smaller 1.7" (vs. 1.8") LCD all for $149 -- $25 less than the PowerShot A520. Another plus is the Fujifilm has a smaller and lighter body case since portability is important. I heard Canon camera's have the best lens on the market, and low-light indoor shooting is important to me. So is the Canon PowerShot really that better of a camera to go for?

dpreview.com of FinePix A345: http://www.dpreview.com/news/0502/05020801fuji_a345a350.asp