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From your specs/requirements, I'd *really* recommend a digital SLR, rather than a point-and-shoot, but there's not much out there in the SLR world for less than $400. You could get a lightly-used Nikon D50 and a general-purpose lens for about $475, though, perhaps cheaper if you can wait on a bargain to crop up.
If you're going to be doing motion photography, especially motion photography at night, you want something with the ability to go to higher ISO settings without getting a bunch of noise, and/or the ability to use a lens with a large maximum aperture to gather as much light as possible.
I don't know what your timeframe is for getting a camera, but I bet that once the new Nikon D3 and D300 begin to ship next month, there will probably be some D50's and D70's hitting the used market shortly afterward.
$400 will buy you a very lightly used Canon Rebel XT.
Try the Buy and Sell Forum at fredmiranda.com
Also investigate a 50 f1.8 for low light
Yep - I have a 50mm f1.8 for my Nikon, and it's a great lens. It gathers a huge amount of light, so you can shoot in low light and still use a fast-enough shutter speed to capture the action. Plus, since it's a fixed-focus lens rather than a zoom, it's actually my sharpest lens, even compared to lenses I have that cost ten times more.
You can find used 50mm f1.8's all day for about $80-100.
I'll also second the S5IS. I would add though that you may still be able to find the S3IS for $270~ish if you look around. It's 6MP and doesn't have a hot-shoe for an external flash. Example on Amazon:
Also, the S3IS (DigicII) has a RAW hack available for download. The S5 uses the DigicIII processor, so you can't use the RAW hack for it. If you haven't shot RAW and post processed, there's a whole new world of options waiting for ya, including B&W's. It will create .CRW files which you can then demosaic and adjust to your heart's content.
Here's where you can find out more about the S3IS and other RAW hacks:
I have the brand new Canon PowerShot G9 - has many advanced features available on DSLRs. The price is a bit steep (it will set you back about $499.00), but I said I had to buy this camera because I love photography and I have not purchased a camera since about 2000, and now's the time, and I went ahead and got it! Some of Canon's DSLRs come with cr@ppy lenses, so this was the one to get!
If your looking for a small DSLR in size and around 6meg. Try for a Nikon D40. If you have some more $$ to spend then the D40X which is over 8 meg. It is a good starter DSLR and fits the hand well, smaller than the D70s.
Also, I like the Canon S5 IS and the Olympus 5050, they both have some nice features and fit in your price point. Not DSLR, but they are worthy if you want a little more than point and shoot.
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Have a Sanyo CG6 I was using before my Canon G9. Walmart has it for $299. It is kinda neat, unique shape, very compact, took great shots for such a cheap camcorder\camera. The only thing I wasn't too keen about was the lcd screen. It is very picky at the angle you view it at, but when you view the picture results on a hi def screen, the pictures are great. I keep it at all times in my glove box, just in case an opportunity presents itself. It uses SD memory cards.
The Canon G9 is really superb, as Zoomer says. It's as close to professional as I care to get, or spend. The big lcd is super clear and bright and viewable at extreme angles, but fixed to the camera. I paid $479, on sale, at Circuit City, and it was worth every penny. If you have some skills at manually operating a camera, this is the digital to get, "if" you want at least one arm left, after the checkout. Love it!
What Cannon are you using now? I'm a Nikon fan so I don't now for sure but you might be able to use the lense (or lenses) from your current Cannon on a new digital SLR-the digital Rebel seems packed with value.
I like DSLR's, I shoot with a Nikon D200 & various lenses. There are times when a DSLR is just to big to lug around. I've been looking at the Canon G9 as a walk about camera. Amazon has the best price at around $450.
I just bought an S5 last week and I love it! I didn't want to spend a huge amount and got mine at a camera store in Muncie Indiana. It was $399 and I got $40 trade-in for the lens from my worthless Pentax (12 yrs) It probably has more features than I will use, but who knows. Not a bad choice IMHO.
__________________
Sgt Pepper, an '06 MCSc, PW/G, Premium, Sport, Cold Weather, green leather, anthracite interior, clear bra, window tint, "S" sticker covers for ugly yellow air bag sticker (from Aestheticcreations), M7 STB, M7 USS, M7 air diverter, Texas Speedwerks engine damper. When you're born, you're crying and everyone else is smiling. Live so that when you die everyone else is crying and you're the one who's smiling!
Some of Canon's DSLRs come with cr@ppy lenses, so this was the one to get!
When you're born, you're crying and everyone else is smiling. Live so that when you die everyone else is crying and you're the one who's smiling!
