Ask Engadget: Best digital camera for the price?

Now that we got Lenny's wireless TV situation sorted last week on Ask Engadget, let's turn our attention to cameras. And of course, don't be shy about sending in your questions to ask at engadget dawt com, because life is too short to listen to your Uncle Ted's unsolicited tech advice. This one's a little vague, but it sounds to us like Ebzy here would like to take pictures of stuff, with, um, something.

"I'd like to know what are the best price vs. performance cameras out there. It would be particularly helpful if people could suggest what they think are the best cameras in each price range and category, (including DSLR). The type of memory the card takes is not an issue. Although a good UI is worthy of mention."

Alright, so that's a little broad, but if you've got a favorite shooter in your bag, be sure to shout it out in the comments.

[Tibwolf @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:03PM]

I really enjoy the Nikon D40.

You can find them for under $600 that come with a lens and sometimes a memory card. It is a great entry-level DSLR and you can always expand on it by purchasing different glass (lenses).

The only downside? Good lenses are often just as much or more expensive than the camera body itself.

[mike @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:10PM]

the entire casio exilim line of camera is pretty good for it's value
especially the ez-z75(i think its z75 i might remembered wrong) for 160 u get a lot more than u get from other companies

[mike @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:11PM]

ops didnt mean to reply 2 u

[Max Bolton @ Aug 3rd 2007 12:32PM]

Main problem with the D40 is its lack of compatibility for all Nikon lenses, as in it can't auto focus with some of the nicer glass, a big put down for me, Canon 400D is the slightly more expensive but much more versitile option for entry level DSLR's

[Ashwin @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:06PM]

For most consumers, I would recommend the Canon Powershot SD1000. It has great picture and video quality and also has very good performance. It is also reasonably priced at around $249($230 street price).

[Slvrgun @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:31PM]

SD1000. I second that......

[Francis @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:42PM]

No way. I was about to buy the SD1000 but there is a flaw. Read closely and you will find that it has problems focusing. The SD line is great, just avoid the SD1000.

[jarofchris @ Aug 2nd 2007 7:04PM]

I don't know what you were reading, but I don't really care. I have the SD1000 and I'm fairly picky about my cameras, and I love this thing. Incredibly small and fast, takes clear, colorful, sharp photos that look great. I was hesitant at first about buying it due to its small lens size, zoom and lack of Image Stabilization, but I have since discovered that it really doesn't matter. And I got it for only $220! Simply can't be beat right now.

[Yossi Kanner @ Aug 2nd 2007 7:34PM]

I third that... The SD1000 if for sure the best bang for your buck....

[Nick Miller @ Aug 2nd 2007 9:55PM]

Another vote for the Canon SD1000. No problems focusing on mine.

[Tom @ Aug 3rd 2007 8:52AM]

Another vote for the Canon SD1000. $219 at TigerDirect and its just a great camera. I can be doing 70 MPH down the highway, pull out my camera and snap a pic of something on the side of the road like im standing still.

[David @ Aug 3rd 2007 4:33PM]

SD1000.... bought mine from dell for 208.82 shipped and taxed.
I installed an 8GB SDHC card and have finally found the perfect little camera.

[Earl @ Aug 3rd 2007 9:56PM]

I bought the SD900 and it is a pretty good camera, but it does have focusing problems--a suprising number of pictures are blurry. I also had an SD550 and it always took great pictures that were in focus, so it was surprising to me that the SD900 allowed as many blurry photos to be taken. Also, the SD900 sometimes takes a very long time to take a picture, which can be very annoying.

[Scott @ Aug 6th 2007 12:26PM]

as a camera store employee, I've gotta give my vote to the SD1000.

Unmatched image quality, great face detection, good build quality, and a retro-throwback look to boot, this camera's been our top seller in the past few months.

My hat goes off to canon, once again.

[Scott @ Aug 6th 2007 9:32PM]

@ Earl

You'd've been better off with the SD850 (depending on when you bought it), unfortunately.

The SD900 "titanium" was designed to go with the business executive to put along side his "titanium" golf clubs, "titanium" powerbook, and his "titanium" statue of ... oh, you get the idea. It was a little rushed out the door when they released it (and subsequently, never updated).

In the high-end series right now, the SD850 has unmatched image quality, and 4x zoom in a compact. Can't get a much better deal than that.

Either way, it's still better than buying... a nikon, pentax, or olympus, say.

[Nate @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:07PM]

For the Point and shoot category, the Canon powershots are really good and they're small, run from 300-500 bucks I think.

[Jared Lubrico @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:09PM]

The best Point and Shoot cameras out there are DEFINITELY the Canon PowerShot Lineup. I, personally, have the SD600 ($200 on Amazon) and this bad boy works great. I think it's the #1 Point and Shoot Camera on Flickr right now. Got a 2.5" Screen, 6 megapixels, and all these nifty little features. It's upgrade just came out a while back and that's the SD1000. You get an extra megapixel, slimmer camera, and face detection for only $50 more.

But if you don't mind spending a little more, you can always opt for the Image Stabilized versions for an extra Benjamin.

I also have a Canon Digital Rebel XT but for a starter camera, I recommend a basic Point and Shoot for a 3rd of the price of a DSLR.

[PeterZ @ Aug 3rd 2007 2:50PM]

I bought one for my wife & I'm really disappointed. Granted, beautiful exposures in good lighting, but if it's other than optimum, you get lots of noise and blurred movements.

[MU_Shadow @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:09PM]

Sony DSC-W80 $250 Price Range
Great Camera with Great Features. 7.2 Megapixal

Tracks Faces so the subjects face is always in focus.
Small size with the back LCD as large as possiable.

[Jim Grover @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:24PM]

I'm in love with mine. Great lens makes great pictures and the camera mode does 640x480 30fps of joy. I don't use a camcorder anymore with a 2gb card.

[humpty @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:11PM]

D80 + 70-200 2.8 is my walkaround combo.

[jodosh @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:21PM]

I second the D80 worth the upgrade from the D40 or D40X. I have seen kits that come with 2 lenses at costco or sams (don't remember which) for only $100 more than the MSRP for the body. Also I should say for anyone researching a camera dpreview.com is a great place to get the facts and good reviews from people who know what they are talking about

[snapa @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:23PM]

That's quite the heavy combo.

I use my D80 + 18-200 for my walk around.

I'd say for the price, the best combo is the D50 + 18-200.

[humpty @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:31PM]

Yes, it is heavy.. but, i can imagine shooting with anything else. (im not into wide angle)

[Alex Moyler @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:13PM]

If you lived in England I could tell you about the prices in an Instant, I spend half my life at work selling everything from £70 cameras to SLRs. Unfortunately the prices are so different over here than the US and I'd probably just end up confusing people. :P
Few cameras I think are good are the Sony W-series and The higher end Canon ixus models and practically any Panasonic camera if you don't mind losing a viewfinder. Wouldn't touch an Olympus though if you want a decent UI, in my opinion everything from their compacts to the SLRs are hopeless. Blech.

[Ebzy @ Aug 2nd 2007 7:14PM]

@ Alex
I am in England. So it would help.

@Everyone

I'd like to thank everyone for helping me on this. And I feel I should share the reason.

I work at a charity organization in England and I'm about to go do some field work in a number of third world countries. The job includes writing reports of the situation plus a review and suggestions for improvement of current projects undertaken in these countries.

As the saying goes a picture is worth a thousand words. Hopefully I'll be able to take some good quality images to include in the reports and future publications of the charity. (yes I know this will mean lots of practice shots before hand, but I'm a quick learner)

Thanks again to all for helping.

[Trevor Clark @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:21PM]

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8K. You can buy if from onecall.com for $300 right now. It is a high-end point and shoot. 7.2MP with a 12X optical zoom. There are hundreds of ways to customize every single setting. It makes it almost like an SLR. I think, best for the price. For a hundred more, you can get the DMC-FZ18K at onecall.com as well. It is almost the same camera, but with an 18X optical zoom and 8MP.

[barrie @ Aug 2nd 2007 7:59PM]

I'm a HUGE fan of the Panasonic Lumix DMC series but FYI, DO spend the $14 on the protective silicone skin which was not an option when I bought mine which was destroyed by a mere 18" drop on a vinyl floor.

[Trevor Clark @ Aug 2nd 2007 8:59PM]

They use the best lenses ever, Leica. That company has been around since the beginning of time. No joke people out there, Barrie and I know the truth, go Lumix by Panasonic, you will not be disappointed.

[nts @ Aug 3rd 2007 12:43AM]

at amazon.com they're for about 250 even!

[Frank @ Aug 3rd 2007 7:08AM]

Go for the Panasonc fz50. It sells at 400 to 500 $ and was tested by a known German magazine as having a image quality of 98%, just after the 4000$ nikon d2x.

[Scott @ Aug 6th 2007 10:48PM]

@ barrie

Unfortunately, teh "omgz, itz a LEICA!!!```11oneoneone" doesn't hold up.

Same thing with sony and their T* Zeiss, etc...

The "high end lens" argument is bullsh*t. Those lenses for REAL cameras (SLR's) cost just about your first born child (2500$ and up for fixed zoom lenses, "primes" as they're called), so what makes you think they can magically put a lens of the same quality into a camera with a sensor no bigger than your fingernail?

I've sold cameras for years now, and I call shenannigans. They might be good lenses, but they're no better than Nikon's "ED" glass, or canon's low diffusion lens elements that they use in their point and shoots.

Just my $0.02.

Granted, the versatility of a Panasonic is much better (IS + 10-12x zoom on a lot of their models), their noise performance blows. Once they shape up their sensors, they'll be in good position to take more of the market.

[basroil @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:22PM]

in the sub 600 dslr range, the rebel xt (350d) is by far the best camera. it has better iso noise control than ANY nikon camera, including the d2xs, d200, and d80. the 8mp sensor uses a lighter low pass filer than the d40 (only other camera in the group), and accepts a much wider array of cheaper lenses (no point in supporting only the newest, most expensive lenses like the d40, which can't even use the nikkor primes)

[Maciej @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:23PM]

Casio exilim Ex-s500 or faster. I got it for approximately 200 canadian, before our dollar was so good, roughly a year ago. It's super small, compact, takes great pics and videos, and the geek cred is through the roof. When you have a digi cam that works decently well and is smaller than a deck of cards, pretty much everyone who sees it for the first time will go ape shit... I also recommend the canon point and shoots and they take great pics too!

I am eyeing the casio ex-v7, 7x optical, 7 MP, with a sliding lens cover, all in one really compact package!

just read some good reviews on steves-digicams and maybe dpreview, etc... and that should get you going... the sky's the limit, as is the price... hehe

[Jason Reese @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:26PM]

Canon Digital Elph SD1000

It's a 7.1MP digicam that takes brilliant pictures that really have a finished look to them. The screen is very bright and vivid; it also has a scratch resistant coating. The body is compact and made of sturdy metal, and the menu is logical with some nice animations. Feature-wise, it has a lot to offer in terms of manual exposure and shutter settings, as well as color adjustments. The video quality is also very good. The playback mode has many options including a red-eye removal system that actually works. Battery life on the included pack is quite good and best of all, it does all of this very quickly with Canon's excellent Digic III processor.

It's a great value at $250.

[Tim @ Aug 2nd 2007 8:18PM]

You can get all the features of the SD1000 and image stabilization with the SD800IS. Since the SD850IS was released you can get the 800IS for about the same price as the SD1000. Spending a little more for the 850IS ($350 on sale) you will get 8MP instead of the 7MP for the 1000 & 800IS.

Whatever you do stear clear of the SD750. It has a 3" screen on the back instead of the 2.5" screen on the 850IS,800IS and 1000. Canon removed the viewfinder to make room for the larger screen. While you may not use the viewfinder often it does come in handy. On a long trip you can use it while keeping he screen black to save battery power. In intense lighting conditions where the screen is almost unviewable you can still take a good photo. Or in the case of my kids, they were able to continue taking photos on vacation when they broke the screen - their own fault, not the cameras. Dont opt for the 750 just becuase it has .5" of extra screen - always look for a camera with a viewfinder.

[rothgar @ Aug 3rd 2007 12:26AM]

I love my Canon SD630 and my inlaws just got the sd750. I have no complaints with not having a viewfinder but I could see the problem if the screen broke. To me it is one of the best point and shoot for your money.

[mudlouse @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:27PM]

note that the entry level Pentax DSLR range is very affordable and on par with canon's 350d/400d in terms of value. i've owned and used an *ist DL2 and it was fantastic, well built and good kit lens - going back to compacts just doesn't cut it.

if you want even more affordable, samsung have released a range of rebranded pentax DSLRs but at reduced cost. a GX-1L is a DL and a GX-1S is a DS. you can get a GX-1S with a 18-55mm AND 55-200mm lens for £299. they're not professional lenses, but they do feel better than the plastic stuff you get with the 300d/400d.

[Mateo @ Aug 2nd 2007 7:27PM]

I'll second the Pentax dslr line. I've owned two of them . . . well, my wife has, she's an amateur photographer. Their lower end cameras are quite inexpensive, take amazing pics, and the batteries never die :-) We also have their flagship, the K10D. It is amazing. Such a professional level camera for such a low price.
I urge you to consider Pentax!

[Kenny Myers @ Aug 2nd 2007 8:00PM]

Pentax DSLRs are *much* better then similar Cannon and Nikon cameras in fetures and in price. Look around at reviews, and if you don't need to have that Canon or Nikon logo on your camera, you can do a lot better. Oh, yah, Pentax cameras and lenses are amazingly durable too...I could tell you some stories about the abuse my camera has been through (K100D).

[mullingitover @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:33PM]

The Canon S series (S2, S3, and S5) are all great bargains.

The lens is an SRL-equivalent 24-432mm, and its image stabilized sensor makes it remarkably high quality and usable in low light even at full zoom. Its minimum focus distance is zero millimeters. It can focus on something that is actually touching the lens.

The tilt-swivel LCD screen is very useful for getting shots at odd angles, be it overhead, at your feet, around corners...

It has good quality video recording with stereo microphones.

Given the power of the zoom lens, it's insanely compact. It will fit on a jacket pocket with no problems.

Trying to get an equivalent SLR with these specs isn't expensive, it's *impossible*. Trying to get something that approximates it would run in the thousands of dollars and still wouldn't offer video recording or tilt-swivel screen or live preview.

That's my vote for best digital camera for the price. I have an S2, and I also have a Canon SLR system that's stocked with L series lenses. Of the two, the S2 is by far the best bang for the buck. It cost about 1/10th of the SLR kit and can match it in most categories.

[Ben @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:58PM]

I second the S2! This was the camera I purchased a little over a year ago, and it takes amazing pictures, and definately a big bang for the bucks!

[Bob @ Aug 4th 2007 2:44AM]

I second Canon S series (owner of S2). I took a clear shot of a bee that I was touching with my lens (http://bp2.blogger.com/_B8zxsB-Xz4o/Rg9nKl5zKyI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/Pt5ZGM-UAco/s1600-h/IMG_0260.JPG) and it also survived taking photos while completely soaked in water at Victoria Falls. Been with me at 4 continents in impossible conditions and has demonstrated amazing weatherproof qualities (for which Olympus would charge you extra ;). Plus, it supports add-on lenses and filters!

[Rico Suave @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:33PM]

now that the Nikon D40 is out, the D50 is quite affordable. I actually prefer it over the D40. The pixel race is a non-issue; I have great 8x10s that look flawless with the D50's 6MP. Check out http://www.steves-digicams.com/ for a great 'best of' list in each category. They've been reviewing units for a long time now and do a great job.

[Badison @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:35PM]

I vote for the D80 as well as far as DSLRs for prosumer/non-entry level photographers go. I've been taking shots with it since last August and think it's a great camera. I post edited and unedited photos, from this camera mostly, here: www.flickr.com/photos/badison

The only distinct feature it has that the competition doesn't is probably the Auto-ISO option I think. So, you can specify minimum shutter speed and ISO range from which the camera chooses optimal settings. It can save time, although I usually like to control ISO, along wth aperture and/or shutter speed, manually.

Oh, it also has great internal software for handling its RAW files. So, you can do some modification, image overlay (similar to Multiply layer adjustments I guess?), color modification, etc. of RAW files as well as JPEGs although the overlay feature isn't available. I like to kill time and get a head start on editing pics using the in-camera editing features.

[Scotto @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:35PM]

The Kodak disposable Flash 400 camera. For the money, it takes 24 pictures of disposable quality. But the money is not so much, and so it's a great value. Then you leave it in a drawer at the hotel and forget about it, so you don't have to pay developing costs.

Also, you do not feel as bad losing it, because it's cheap. A Win-Win.

[jbseymour @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:36PM]

I would recommend a Cannon S3. I used it to take pictures of the Space Shuttle launch on 7/4/06. I was 6 miles away and still got a good shot. It has a great optical zoom and terrific image stabilization. The UI is also very intuitive. I think I got mine for around $400.00. I would definitely consider this camera as a more economical version of the Canon Rebel.

If anyone wants to see the shuttle image let me know.

[McCurdy @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:37PM]

I also highly recommend the SD1000. Takes excellent photos for the money, and has plenty of customizable features. If you want to see a little bit of what what the camera can do, you can look at a bunch of pictures I took at Disneyland over the weekend, I couldn't have been happier with the result:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10736480@N05/sets/72157601116012767/

[AirStrike X2 @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:39PM]

I have the Sony DSC-N2 10 Megapixels though I always keep it on 5mp setting since that's the best size for me. 3" Touchscreen LCD is big enough to view all my photos and uses only the Memory Stick PRO Duo but the UI is not so easy to learn. What's really impressive is its battery life. I hardly ever charge this camera, but the battery never went less than 20% even though I take many shots and do some editing within the camera. I bought it a little longer than 2 months ago and costed me around $337 including tax.

[marc @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:40PM]

I would also be interested in the best super-compact.