Looking for small/inexpensive point-and-shoot recs

I have a Toshiba right now that has manual and auto controls. I love it, but I
am looking for a small and inexpensive point-and-shoot camera that I can throw
in a purse to keep with me "just in case". Nothing fancy, but something that
does a decent job that I can print 4x6 if desired.

I am looking at the Nikon Coolpix 2500. There is a rebate going on right now
too, which makes it desireable. I had originally thought about the Sony U20
but a review I read said the pics weren't that good. Any comments on either of
these or something similar. This is going to be a knock-around camera, so I'm
not looking to pay more than $200. Would like at least 2 mps. Thanks.

Tina

 

Tina,

have a look at these if you're really interested in small ones.

Only 1.3 Megapixels, but cute:

http://www.jandr.com/JRProductPage....chant_Id=1&Section_Id=1000&Product_Id=3709801


2 Megapixels and much larger, but still very small:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0305/03052801sonydscu30u60.asp
http://www.goodguys.com/adtemplate....07358610582&bfinfo=0-0-0-0-mxwzy&catky=764354

Then have a look at the mobile phones and personal organizers
(Sony Cliè etc.) that have a camera built in. If you carry a
mobile phone anyway, the camera may have an effective size of
zero. And you can immediately send your photo off as an MMS or
email.

Hans-Georg

 

Hi Tina,

www.buydig.com has the Canon A60 for $202 shipped. 2MP, 3x optical, Auto,
Program, Aperture or Shutter priority, full manual, lots of scene modes. We
bought one for the same reason you're looking -- a "take everywhere" camera
to complement our Canon 10D.

The A60/A70 series has taken some hits for flat pictures and some for focus
problems.
We found easy solutions: select "Vivid" for picture mode if you want the pix
print ready out of the camera and shut off the 5 point Autofocusing -- just
use the center focus point. Heck, we shut off the 7 point autofocus on our
10D for the same reason.

Many people have problems with multi-point focusing systems because they
don't pay attention to what the camera has chosen as the focus point(s).
Easiest solution is to turn it off.

Takes great pictures!

 

At the suggestion of HRosita on the newsgroup I just purchased a Fuji
A303 from NewEgg.com for $225.00 with free shipping. It doesn't have all
of the bells and whistles of some of the more expensive models, but it
does everything I need, it's a 3.24 meg camera, and it's small enough to
fit in a shirtpocket.

Don