Camera under $250

[bigmacfan]

I am interested in getting a new digital camera and would appreciate some help. I am not a big photographer at all, so I do not want to spend much money. I am hoping to stay around $250. I will not be doing enlargements, only snapshots. I really don't want to print them from my printer, but would rather have something that I can take the memory card to Walgreen's and print out the ones I want. However, I will want to use the camera to take pictures for selling things on e-bay, so I will need to be able to load them to my PC. I want the absolute smallest camera I can get with the best quality for my money.

Recommendations please!

Thanks in advance for your help!

[propwash]

The Nikon CoolPix 3200 is currently going for under $200. This is a very small camera with lots of features, including a focus assist lamp. It uses SD cards and two AA batteries. If you have a store in your area that has one of these, check it out. My daughter has been using one for almost a year and she really likes it. It's small enough to fit into her very small purse, so she takes it everywhere.

[Puck]

Also take a look at the Canon A75. It's small and sells for $199 (less at some internet sites). That leaves some money for a charger, Nimh batteries and a larger CF memory card. I've bought them for my mom, my daughter and my sister-in-law. All of these ladies are point and shoot picture takers and get very nice pictures with the A75. In addition to the auto mode this camera has a full set of features to appeal to more advanced photographers.

[EAP]

You might want to look at the Reviews & Info part of this site. You can plug in all your parameters, including price, and take a look at all the cameras that meet your criteria.

[PhilR.]

I am hoping to stay around $250.

How about half of that? Right now there is a $100 rebate on the Nikon 3700, and you can get one for $219 at butterflyphoto.com. This is a 3.2mp camera with metal body, 3x zoom lens, focus assist light, and very good macro and movie mode. You won't be able to find anything else that good for anywhere near that price. Take a look at the reviews here and at the Steve's digicams site......

Otherwise, besides the great suggestions above, you might also look at the replacement for the A75, called the Canon A510. It uses only two AA's as opposed to the 75's four, and if I remember correctly is slightly smaller too. You will get quite a lot of camera for $199. I don't know when they are supposed to hit the shelves, but it is listed on the butterflyphoto site....

PhilR.

[bigmacfan]

I purchased a Nikon coolpix 4100. Actually, I bought the 3200 for $179 first. I used this for the day and was happy with it. However, the Sunday paper had an ad for a store having the 4100 on sale for $199 with a bonus of a $25 gift card to be used later. I was very happy! I really wanted a 4 MP and wanted AA batteries....this camera offered both and at a great savings. The regular price at that store was $279!

Thanks so much for all of the help and advice...I don't think I would have purchased a Nikon if it weren't for the recommendations, which prompted further research in the options.

Thanks again!