Or, more accurately, what to use?

I'm looking for an inexpensive digital camera <$200, with decent optical zoom, good resolution, and manual focus. Anyone have good/bad experiences? Right now the Canon A75 is the leading candidate - it's only downfall is non-rechargeable power supply

 

I have the Canon A70 (which is the older version of the A75). I bought the energizer rechargable batteries and charger which last a long time, plus a spare set of batteries. Great camera!!

 

I don't think you'll find a true manual focus on any camera under $200.


We've got an A75 in our department and it's done a very good job. Battery life was a non-issue though, since we rarely take more than 4 or 5 pictures at a time. We have two sets of rechargable AAs and they get the job done for that.

 

My Canon G3 (about $500) supposedly has manual focus, but it's not very good (it's hard to see if something is *really* in focus on the LCD display).

If you really want manual focus, I'd think that SLRs are your only choice (~$1000 for a low end camera).

 

Thanks for the quick replies. The manual focus feature comes in handy at Daytona - you can set the focus on a specific part of the corner, then catch the cars as they hit that spot. Auto-focus takes too damn long.

 

That's definitely a feature you won't get below the $700-800 price point.

You can try Canon's "speed" mode and run 1600 simulated ISO and you *should* get ok results for the cars in the corner. I've used it at S2000 meets and about 1/2 the pictures turn out well - and the ones that do are very cool. Though if you're trying to shoot a high speed corner (> 100 MPH) with the zoom extended, it won't happen.

 

I guess here's something you could do:
Aim your camera at an object at the corner (well before the car gets there). Press the shutter button half way down, so that the camera focuses on the object, but doesn't take a picture. Wait for car to arrive at the spot, and press the button all the way down.

 

yep, I've resorted to that technique before.

 

Cheapskate! Spend some money!! At the very least you need ISO adjustments and shutter speed. I My Canon S400

 

Cheap indeed! If I'm going to spend $$ on camera equipment, it would be for more lenses for my 35mm SLR! I want something that, if dropped in the infield, or in a bar, won't make me