Good camera for real estate under $200 ??

[snjbrian]

Hi all,
This will be my first dig cam purchase.

My criteria -
1 - Runs on AA batteries(I want to use rechargeables and hate proprietary batteries)
2 - Takes excellent INDOOR and OUTDOOR pics.
3 - A decent, small or compact size !!!
4 - Around $200 or less.
5 - (Optional) Does great with red-eye, macros and would be great for me to use outside of my real estate sales.

I would love something like the Canon A75. It meets all my criteria except the infamous CANON "Powershot E18 error" history, which scares me to death so I refuse to purchase it! Canon has China making a lot of their stuff now instead of Japan so I am leary of anything Canon, but I do love the quality when they do it right!

I do not like Sony either because they force you to use the proprietary "memory stick".

I will be posting these house pictures to websites and showing them to clients so I need a easy to use, inexpensive model in case of theft or damage (I went through a few cameras in the past 3 or 4 years! lol)


Thanks a million for all suggestions!

snjbrian

[Geoff Chandler]

I would urge you to re-think on the A75 as it really DOES fit your criteria. I have not heard of any problems with it and now it should be cheap as chips as it is more or less being replaced. I am very happy with my little Olympus - but the wide angle end is not so usefull indoors, but it's not much less wide than the A75. It's discontinued now, so it might be available at a price to suit you... The replacements often use proprietry batteries. Have you looked at the Fuji E500? That's got an equivalent 28mm wide lens which is great for indoor shots. It's a 4mp camera - maybe not a leader in the quality stakes but respectable.
I hope you find something to suit
Best wishes

[snjbrian]

Thanks Geoff,

I will look into the Fuji you mentioned.

I won't go near the Canon A75. See for yourself the problems with it by doing a GOOGLE search for the powershot E18 error and also, go to a site like amamzon.com, look up the A75 sort the customer reviews by LOWEST RANK then read all the reviews about the E18 error. There are many angry people with heavy repair bills. The internet searches reveal even more staggering info on angry and upset consumers. Too risky for me. lol

[speaklightly]

snjbrian-

However, if you want digital photos like this one, then perhaps you are going to have to spend more than $(US) 200.00.

Sarah Joyce

[snjbrian]

An update.

I read the reviews on this site(which I love, this site is awesome!) and decided to try the Canon A510.

So far, I am impressed. I got it for $180 at a local retail store. I just goofed around with it today, using all the auto settings and letting the camera do all the work for me. Everything has been crisp and sharp. Very satisfactory for me.
I can only imagine how well it will do once I learn to use the features properly.

For my own personal use and for recreation, in the fall I plan on getting the Canon SD500 for it's excellent performance and compact size.

[speaklightly]

snjbrian-

I apologize for intruding. But, if you will look at the photo example that I posted for you. The SD-500 and most other digital cameras will not produce that digital photo. I am attempting to awake you to the fact that just perhaps, you might, need a real wide angle digital camera. The Canon SD-500 is not that digital camera. That realization could save you a lot of money. Believe me, I am not at all attempting to b e difficult.

Sarah Joyce

[snjbrian]

Hi Sarah,
I did not think you were being difficult at all. I hope my responses were not rude toward you, they were just basic responses. Nothing more.

Any way, you bring up a very important and valid thought for me. I tested it on my own home last night. Not too bad, but not great either.

Canon does offer an accessory Wide Angle lens. Here is the info. for it. Do you think this will cut it, so to speak? lol

Wide-angle lens WC-DC52 $80 Brings the wide end of the lens down by 0.7X to 24.5 mm; requires conversion lens adapter

[speaklightly]

snjbrian-

I do a lot of interior shots of model homes. Over time I have learned that my customers are, by and large, much happier with wide angle shots. The shot I showed was a simple shot in our great room.

The wide angle supplementary or accessory lens for your A-510 would most probably give you the broad view that you probably desire. Personally I have no experience with accessory lenses so I can't offer you much in the way of hands on experience.

There is most probably also an accessory lens for the SD-500. Wouldn't it be nice if the SD-500 was to use the very same accessory lens. That would be a real plus for you.

Sarah Joyce