Cheap and simple digital camera recommendations

[LeMarchand]

Can anyone recommend a digital camera <£50 (preferably).

It's for teacher/child use so the fewer options/more simple to use it is, the better.

If possible:

• SD card slot
• Batteries can be charged "in camera"
• Batteries not AA/AAA (or they'll get pulled out and used elsewhere/lost)
• NO optical zoom (they keep "snapping off" the lens when it's extended)
• Built-in flash

I've tried a Vivitar low end camera which was pretty close to what was needed (apart from being AA powered) but the flash was so powerful everything was "over exposed".

[elsiegee40]

We use Tuff Cam in our Pre-School and Reception classes.

It's about £80, but is robust, simple and meets your other requirements, I think

[LeMarchand]

Cheers! I'll pass this on, but I think that the staff may baulk at using the cams (purely based on their look).

[elsiegee40]

Cheers! I'll pass this on, but I think that the staff may baulk at using the cams (purely based on their look).

What do they want? iPhones?

They may not be the most pretty things to look at, but they are designed with small children in mind. Our Early Years staff chose them for their robustness and suitability for the children. On this occasion this was a purchase not discussed with me that I actually approve of!

[LeMarchand]

They may not be the most pretty things to look at, but they are designed with small children in mind.

I think that they seem like a good idea but I suspect that their looks (in the staff's eyes) would classify them as "toys". Mind you they'd be much less likely to see "home use" by staff who "can't afford" their own camera on wages that are at least 50% more than mine...

[ICT_GUY]

See my canon a470 thread, cant beat them with any similar priced camera. AVI video and super macro, normals pics are ace.

[ICT_GUY]

Canon a470

Heads up, these a470s are fantastic little cameras, fantastic quality pics, Argos are giving the away at £50. I have bought 12 for school and one for myself. Why? How about this pic.



This has been resized down to a 500kb file from an 4mb and is at a far lower resolution. The original is very much better. This from a camera that costs about the same as the bag I put my 50D in. It also takes great quality video in AVI format and supports SDHC. It has a tilt sensor and face recognition. You can also hack it with CHDK A470 - CHDK Wiki to make it do all sorts of fun stuff, like shooting in raw.

Really this is a bargain, and even has a DIGIC III Processor! The same as a 450d SLR.

[LeMarchand]

See my canon a470 thread

They have traditionally been using Canons, but have had two "zoomed out" lenses whacked so that they no longer move in the last 6 months, hence the thought that cameras without optical zooms would be better.

[K.C.Leblanc]

Canon a470

can I come out from under my desk now?

We have a few Canons. They are surtainly robust enough for secondary use.

[ICT_GUY]

We have 4 that still work after 4 years (older versions)