Cheapest Camera that I won't want to fling across the room

[dragonfly_mum]

Well, my camera had finally bit the dust. I'm looking to get a real cheapy point a shoot camera to tide me over til the summer/fall when we'll have a bit more money and I'll be able to get myself a digital SLR.

I also want to be able to get some kind of decent picture from it so I don't feel tempted to fling it across the room. We are in such a picturesque area and I'd love to get my hands on a SLR NOW but just can't. HELP!!! What's a decent cheapy that I won't feel bad about paying for to use only for a few months? Optical zoom a must.

Katrina

[Photo-John]

How much do you want to spend and what kind of pictures are you planning to take? And maybe you can tell us what would make you want to fling a camera across the room. It would be good to know that so that we can help steer you to something that will get the job done for you

[Dougjgreen]

Given your situation, I would actually suggest getting a used older model DSLR for around $250-300. Eventually, you could upgrade to a newer DSLR and keep the old one as a backup, and any lenses you get could be used on the future upgrade camera you buy:

Some good choices would be:

Canon EOS 350 also known as the Rebel XTi
Nikon D50
Olympus E-500
Pentax K100D

Any of those will be very capable DSLRs and lightly used ones sell for under $300 including the kit lens nowadays. They are not the newest, but they are plenty capable cameras, and you can grow with them.