Best Low-Cost Digital Cam for Sports Photography?

[The Worst Photographer]

I was hoping somebody a lot smarter than me could help me. I am a sports reporter for a small weekly newspaper and since we are small, we are expected to cover the game and snap pictures as well. They're forcing me to take sports photos with a really old Canon 35mm film camera, and I am very close to talking my boss into buying a digital for the paper. But on a budget of $150-$700, what would be the best camera to buy? I want a digital that, more than anything, can be manipulated to take good high school football photos and have a decent zoom. Any help would be appreciated.

[Ouvinen]

I'd use that budget for a longer lens and a pile of film for the camera that you have. You are not going to get a digicam that is capable of your demands for that price.

[Sleeper]

All p&s digital cameras have the same problem, shutter lag, which immediately rules them out for reliable sports photography. Stick to film, if you have an SLR, and upgrade your lenses. If you want to try digital manipulation, get your film processed onto a cd-rom rather than printed and go from there.

Tell your boss that if he wants you to do your job properly he will have to supply you with the right equipment, and that means a digital SLR.

[Banzai]

Your best bet is to probably look for a used Digital Rebel with the lens kit or a used 10D and consumer level lens 75-300. It wont give you spectacular shots, but it's a start.

[SmartWombat]

If you can find one second hand, buy a digital body and the best lens you can afford.
I don't think you'll get a new body and lens for $700

I have got some excellent results with P&S cameras, the Minolta Z1 is amazing for the price and its 10x zoom makes it more useful than it's more expensive bigger brothers - the A1 and A2.
I haven'r tried the new Z series (Z2, Z10) but they're now increasing resolution and adding image stablisation from the A series so those should be even better.

With a P&S camera you will have to use manual pre-focus, set manual exposure, and then that gets rid of almost all the shutter lag. At the expense of flexibility.

With a digital body like the 300D you'll get adequate autofocus for football I think, but probably not for motorsport. I'm holding out for the new 20D as my DSLR body.