digital camera help

So my poor little Olympus point-and-shoot finally died this week (aside - it's been a bad week for electronics and things of a mechanical nature here... I suspect a gremlin!).

While I'd love something new and fancy, what I really need is something that will take decent snap shots of my kids and family AND has a macro setting so I can take close-ups of the crafts I sell online.

My old camera is this one (bought it probably 8 years ago):

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_archived_product_details.asp?id=912

I want something like it or better. I was always happy with the quality of the photos I got from this. I'm happy to buy used but don't know who is reliable or what to look for. I can't spend more than $40-$50 so used it probably my only option right now.

Is Ebay my best bet or are there other places to look?

I used to work for the art department of a large engineering company. Many years ago, when digital cameras were relatively new, we hosted a "shoot out" -- we invited a retailer to bring one of everything and we took lots of pictures and compared them. Images from the Olympus were easily the best.

I stuck with Olympus for many years after. The picture quality was undeniably better, though I do think they are a bit fragile. Most of mine developed a mechanical fault before I had quite outgrown them.

Anyway, I used a dSLR now. Um, don't know anything about the used camera market; just flapping my gums.

I normally rate Canon compacts and Sony Compacts over other brands, then it's just a case of picking a price point and trying to find the best one in that price point.
I would probably go with ebay if I knew what camera I wanted and Canon has an official ebay outlet which has some bargains on it.

Although saying that with coupons and rebates and all that jazz, the online stores of the big chains can offer some great deals Somewhere like Newegg is probably a good bet or you could watch Woot.com

If you want a really great, but slightly larger camera, something like the Canon G6 or G7 would probably be less than $200 on ebay and would give you some fantastic results, you could shoot it in point and click mode, or learn a few of the bells and whistles if you wanted without the fuss of a DSLR.

If you want a really great, but slightly larger camera, something like the Canon G6 or G7 would probably be less than $200 on ebay and would give you some fantastic results, you could shoot it in point and click mode, or learn a few of the bells and whistles if you wanted without the fuss of a DSLR.

I have a G10 and they're really fabulous cameras. I agree that a second-hand G7 or so should serve you very well.

Hi

I think the cold summer weather is getting to the ladies above! I think they need to go to Specsavers

Here's a good website I like to 'watch' thats US side for prices and products availability etc. There are 86 cameras to choose from between $20-50 USD. Perhaps many will be refurbished units, but rather a refurbished unit from a well known and quality brand than some unbranded cheapy from the far east ...

http://www.ecost.com/s/Cameras?rch&n=msc-search&cc=LAKB&prc=%5B20%20TO%2050%5D&includeImage=true

if that link above doesn't work, then here's the home page to ecost.com

http://www.ecost.com/home

take a look at overstock.com as well - http://www.overstock.com/

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Hi

I think the cold summer weather is getting to the ladies above! I think they need to go to Specsavers

Here's a good website I like to 'watch' thats US side for prices and products availability etc. There are 86 cameras to choose from between $20-50 USD. Perhaps many will be refurbished units, but rather a refurbished unit from a well known and quality brand than some unbranded cheapy from the far east ...

http://www.ecost.com/s/Cameras?rch&n=msc-search&cc=LAKB&prc=%5B20%20TO%2050%5D&includeImage=true

if that link above doesn't work, then here's the home page to ecost.com

http://www.ecost.com/home

take a look at overstock.com as well - http://www.overstock.com/

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

I'm sorry but I find the way you've referred to me really patronising. Would you have referred to me in such a way if I was a man?

The link you've posted above refers to such well known quality brands such as Sekar, Vivitar, Vivicam, Thurstmaster etc.

Whilst I've referred to links from cameras from Sony and Canon, which by any standards are two of the leading brands. They're hardly "unbranded cheapies" from the Far East.
The "G" series of cameras are used by professionals as a secondary camera, and they have really high quality optics.

I'm not really sure what your point is. 

Mine would be, you're better with a high quality camera from 3-4 years ago then a throwaway compact with terrible optics.

No, he probably wouldn't call you a lady if you were a man. I can envision him using "gentlemen" in the same sentence, however.

Hi

No no !  Cheesebiscuit, I didn't mean to be patronising or negative in anyway !

The reason I said that initial line of going to specsavers, with a wink was to point out that the OP mentioned a max budget of $50 !

I've never heard of brands such as Thrustmaster or Sakar when it comes to quality photographic performance for consumer product lines, that said, perhaps they have a 'better' reputation in other markets of the world? at the price level they're at, I'll rephrase to 'budget offerings' and in that context, I stand by what I say in that I'd rather a refurbished unit from a more well known and quality brand - the mid to higher level of the market.

I'm within the Consumer Electronics industry (as an extension of my IT consulting), and my 'bias' is for mid to higher level brands which have those all important quality aspects of higher optics, technologies, build quality and performance. Although I'm not in the photographic sector, I've spoken with manufacturers direct at the CES show as well as a few other industry/trade only events, and it's well known within the industry where the budget products are actually made and their quality levels. I'm sure yourself, as a photographer will know about the higher performing brands out there etc and going back to the OP's post, it sounds like the image quality that can be provided by a $50 camera will suffice - even though yourself and myself will know a nice DSLR from 3-4 years ago for more money will provide some excellent pictures.

Cheers, DtM!

I don't see where Dennis was being patronizing. Is the use of the word 'ladies' patronizing? I think he was right - the OP said her max budget was $40-50.

The reason I said that initial line of going to specsavers, with a wink was to point out that the OP mentioned a max budget of $50 !

Ooops! I missed that bit! I got too excited about my Canon G10! 

I'm surprised my DF hasn't replied to this, she's really into her photography   I'm no expert, but I know exactly what she'd say... "Get a Canon"!

Thanks everyone! 

Um, don't know anything about the used camera market; just flapping my gums.

I really did LOL!

You have my interest so last night when I was in Target I checked digital cameras and it seems they have gone up in price because they were north of a hundred dollars.
I will check Walmart but on line they were up there.
I can use my iphone for now.
Cheers

I'm surprised my DF hasn't replied to this, she's really into her photography   I'm no expert, but I know exactly what she'd say... "Get a Canon"!

I'm a busy girl today.    He's right though...I LOVE Canon.  I've owned everything from point and shoots to digital SLRs, all Canon.  I'd recommend a Canon Powershot ELPH.  Anything from the ELPH series is a nice camera.  There are some used ones on Amazon for around $50.