Recommend Me A Cheap Digital P&S

[cidereye]

After selling off most of my photo gear including my Nikon D2X that I used for detailed eBay shots I have nothing left digital wise to take photos for my eBay ads. Only digital camera I now own is a Leica M8 which is not really suitable for close up plus I have no flash for indoors shots anyway.

I've got to admit that something like say a Canon G11 does interest me (owned a G9 a few years back and liked it) but they go for about £300 in the UK, I've just noticed I can now buy a nice Sony A700 DSLR for that sort of money and the lenses are cheap in Minolta mount so why would I even consider spending that sort of money on a P&S?

So, what I am looking for is a relatively cheapish digital P&S with macro capabilities and a decent-ish inbuilt flash. I don't mind buying used, in fact I prefer it, and would prefer a camera with RAW capabilities. Any recommendations? 🙂

 

[jesse1dog]

How about a Panasonic Lumix FZ5?
Used, of course, and probably around £50.

jesse

 

[jsrockit]

Sony TX9 does macro really well believe it or not. I saw someone take photos of serial numbers within the f-holes of vintage violins... and the exposure was dead on. Outside of that, you can't go wrong with the Canon P&S cameras in general...even the cheap ones.

 

[bacchus]

How about Ricoh GRD 2 for around 250 Dollars on ebay…
RAW, Flash Hot Shoe if needed and as well something serious to play with …

 

[Glenn2]

I've found the Canon Powershot series to be quite good. Some have a viewfinder of sorts, even if it's only 70% coverage.

It's also possible to tweak the internal software on the Canons to do all sorts of added things.
Link---> http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK

Glenn

 

[ChipMcD]

Canon S95 or S90. Both are very versatile for a point and shoot.

 

[whitecat]

Canon G10 is pretty good.

 

[BillBingham2]

+1 for the GRD II or for a bit more try a III.

If you have to go zoom try the GX 100/200 used, also Ricoh.

B2 (;->

 

[Krosya]

If Ebay and some snaps here and there - you really dont need to blow much money on it.
And you dont need all those pixels either. I just picked up an old Olympus 4MP just for the same reason and it works very nice. Total cost - camera and a card - under $20 USD. And it can do close-ups and movies too.
Here is a sample pic:

 

[kuvvy]

Cidereye, I use the G11 for my ebay shots as it does macro so well. Other than that it's other main use is as my holiday camera so I'm considering selling it should you be interested. I'll pm you.

 

[bgb]

I still have my old Konica Minolta Dimage Z2 all 4mp of it and it has excellent macro, might be worth almost nothing on e-bay now but it still works as well as it did when new so i have never replaced it
Cool little camera 🙂

 

[zumbido]

Just get a cheap Powershot and be done with it. Even one from 2003 will do excellent macro and overall good quality if you're not concerned about shooting by candlelight or making 11x14 prints. They have by far the best reliability, quality, and ease-of-use of any of the point-and-shoots. Some Olympus and some Panasonic are okay, Nikon are almost all outrageous, infuriating trash.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

There is a Fuji Finepix S1800 along those lines. It has a mighty zoom, EV and macro capabilities... and it retails for about $180 in my town.

 

[Justin Smith]

Like some of the other posters, I'll vote for an older Canon Powershot. Plenty of resolution for web use, and good color balance. I still miss my Canon A70 from 2003 🙁

 

[imajypsee]

Nikon Coolpix S8100

Nikon Coolpix S8100

Really cheap (currently $228 on Amazon) and 1080p HD video if you like.

I did a mini review of it here. I bought a Western Digital hard drive case to use with it and a mini pod I had in my bag and here's my new carry everywhere kit:

 

[cidereye]

Thanks for all the suggestions, really appreciate them!

Situation sorted now but in a strange way as I've ended up buying another DSLR. Ffordes had a used Samsung GX10 on sale for £139 all fine & boxed, 6 month guarantee, reason it was so cheap is a hairline crack on the back of the casing. Brand new Pentax 18-55mm from Park Cameras @ £25 too add.

With the added flexibility a DSLR offers I'm sure you can understand why I went for it at that price.

 

[Red Robin]

I found a Sony cyber-shot for 5 bucks at good-willies. had to buy a battery +a uni-charger. did a up-grade from 1gig to 8 gig. This little 7.2 MP does all my Flee-Bay pics as well as all my non-film work quite handily. Really small too!

 

[retro]

So, what I am looking for is a relatively cheapish digital P&S with macro capabilities and a decent-ish inbuilt flash.

Is there a digital camera that isn't P&S?