On Photography
By Robert de Gast, Jan, 5 2007

Digital doings, comings and goings

Nokia, the Finnish cell phone company, is now the largest digital camera manufacturer in the world.

In 2005, 94 million digital cameras were sold worldwide (24.7 million sold in the US, up from nearly 2 million in 1999), but the number of cell phone cameras reached 381 million. Cell phone images, of course, are of awful quality, but small point-and-shoot cameras have continued to improve and prices continue to tumble.

High-end digital SLRs that cost more than US$1,000 a year or so ago now can be found for nearly half that. Six-, seven-, or eight-megapixel cameras go for less than $300. Can we go lower yet and find some good cameras? 

Here are a half-dozen digital camera bargains for less than US$200 that were field-tested by the editors of PC Magazine (to read the full reviews go to www.go.pcmag.com/cheapcameras ):


Canon PowerShot A430, on sale for $130

HP Photosmart M425, $150

Nikon Coolpix L4, $135

Fuji Finepix A500, on sale for $150

Kodak EasyShare V530, on sale for $140

Kodak EasyShare-One, on sale for $199



All these cameras are in the 4- to 5-megapixel range, yield decent results, use AA batteries, offer a 3× to 4× optical zoom and have LCD screens in the 1.8- to 3-inch range; several, though, have no optical viewfinder.

Although these cameras can be bought online, there are some things to consider before pushing the “Buy Now” button:

—Shipping to San Miguel is expensive whether direct (DHL, for example) or via one of our mail centers. Customs import charges hover around 35 percent. Carry your new camera in your luggage on your next trip or ask a friend to deliver it.

—Even if you buy online, try to handle the camera in a store before making a decision. If the camera does not have an optical viewfinder, take it out in bright sunlight to see if the LCD display looks washed out.

—Don’t be seduced by the megapixel hype. Four megapixels probably should be the minimum and there is little reason, for most users, to go beyond six. The human eye cannot really distinguish between six or seven megapixels.

—Check e-Bay for bargains. Select a reliable seller, and if the camera is used, get a fairly recent model.

—If you’re interested in the video function that some cameras tout, be sure that it also offers audio with it.

—Skip the digital zoom. It just crops your images. You’re better off doing that on your PC.

—When trying out the camera, be sure to check how much (or little) shutter delay there is—one of the most annoying problems with lower-end digital cameras.

In the end, what counts is the pleasure that a digital camera can give you and whether it is a pleasure to use it. As for the money, the average shooter pays for the camera in a matter of months, not having to buy film or order processing.

Robert de Gast, a widely published magazine photographer, offers hourly photography coaching sessions. He can be reached at 152-7396 or robertdegast@hotmail.com