Mini Digital cameras?

[arapahoepark]

Anybody know of good, yet cheap mini digital cameras? I am sure if buying an older smart phone is worth it, though I'd like the ability to see what I am taking a picture of. (By the way, I do not have a smart phone, no point in using data if I won't use it)

 

[Edward]

What do you mean by 'cheap'? And, along the same lines, what do you mean by 'good'?

Nikon has some decent fixed lens pocket cameras in the hundred dollar range that use cheap SD cards. Wifi is going to cost more. Removable lenses will run the price up even more. (And, remember, some events won't let you take in 'professional cameras' which they may define as those with removable lenses and SLR functionality.)

Here are the pocket cameras. You should be able to find them cheaper at retail. https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/compact-digital-cameras/budget-friendly.page (I prefer the ones that use regular batteries to the ones that use custom rechargeables (I have one of each, and it's a pain looking for the charger every time I need it and keeping up with it while traveling). I still use mine, although I finally got a decent digital to replace my bag full of film bodies and lenses.

If you are looking much cheaper than $100, quality is going to drop off and you will probably have a plastic lens.

SLRs in the $350 - $550 range, I'd look at either Canon or Nikon.

 

[jwithnell]

Long-time Nikon user here -- I love the company's loyalty to its SLR users, but have found their consumer-grade equipment wanting.

We've had decent small cameras from Sony (one had a Zeiss lens). But my phone camera is so good I've stopped looking at the smaller cameras.

I would love to find a small camera that allows you to compose like you're using a phone camera, but has a bigger sensor and larger data files. I really enjoy composing on my phone screen.

 

[Ed Walsh]

But my phone camera is so good I've stopped looking at the smaller cameras.

That was going to be my point. I have a Samsung Galaxy 6 that I am in no hurry to upgrade. It takes great photos and movies.
It takes up to 5312x2988 (about 16 Meg) Depending on the memory it should cost you about $200± Then you would probably have to pay a data charge of around $10/month. Maybe you can get a better deal on data.

Just some information.

Ed

 

[JimmyH]

Regarding smart phones and data. I have a plan affording me 1 gig of data and never come close because I only use the internet with my device when I am on a wireless connection. Just a point of information. It doesn't have to be excessively expensive to use.

 

[jwithnell]

Ed, I have the S6 too. Love it, but switch to my DSLR for any serious work.

 

[Jake]

For what it's worth, there are many ways to get a smartphone without data. After much looking, my wife and I went with Republic Wireless (although now my employer provides me a phone). It's $15/month for unlimited talk and text without data, though of course you can connect to Wi-Fi. They also have some very reasonable phones. My wife has the Moto G4 Play which was $150 flat and it's just as good as my phone which cost my employer 3x that much (which is normal for a lot of the top-of-the-line smartphones). I had an older model of this phone I got for $100 and really liked it as well. It was at least 95% as good as my much more expensive newest Samsung Galaxy and even had better battery life.

 

[jwithnell]

I did a direct comparison between the S6 and Moto Z and wasn't impressed photo-wise. I was having trouble charging the Samsung and thinking I'd have to jump phones.

I think it might be possible to pick up a used phone and transfer photos via wi-fi.