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Portable/small camera under $200

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I'm thinking about a camera for taking better photos on hikes. I have a DSLR but it's bulky and drains the battery even when it's off so it hasn't seen a ton of use. My phone camera sucks. I would want something I can stow in a pocket or bag when not in use. Suggestions?
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ishaan54
5
Aug 10, 2018
sony Cybershot
Guenel
2
Aug 9, 2018
Re purchasing a replacement battery, be sure to go the extra $$ for a brand name battery. When I replaced the Nikon battery that came with my Nikon camera, I cheaped out and bought a generic or lesser known named Li-ion battery and regretted it from the start. It didn't hold the charge anywhere near as long as the original battery. I ended up replacing it within a few months with a good quality brand named battery. As my father always said "Cheap pays twice". Sigh, another time I should have listened to Dear old Dad.
AngeloR
67
Aug 10, 2018
GuenelI cheaped out too, but they're my spare battery's to my main Canon battery, so I have no problem with them
NacMacFeegle
35
Jul 26, 2018
I'd recommend a used Canon G 1 X - big sensor, excellent image quality, and great controls. I bought one used last year for around $170.
namhod
1991
Jun 17, 2018
It is a bit over your price point, but I scored a Sony A5000 for around $350 ish on amazon and it is almost as small as a point and shoot. Takes great pics, light weight, I love it.
Or get a better phone. By the time you spend the money on a camera that you will use occasionally you may as well spend a little bit more on a phone. Depending on what you are coming from. I went from a Droid Maxx recently to a Google Pixel 2. Oh my god becky, the difference in the pictures is insane.
BF_Hammer
717
Jun 15, 2018
They tend to go for more than $200 new, but in the point-n-shoot pocket camera category I really favor Panasonic LUMIX. Of course the major selling point is the Leica optics, but the sensor and features really don't take a back-seat to Canon or Nikon. I'm not going to bring up Sony, they have too many fan-boys that will shout me down. To get your price point with the better lens ranges often requires getting a recertified or a closeout model. I bought a recertified model over 7 years ago and I still use it. It is not a primary camera, but I keep it in my go-bag I stow in my car when I go out places. Before buying my Nikon D7000, it was my only video camera, and works well at that too.
Just doing a quick check, here is one on sale at Amazon right now, newer model than I have. https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-Vario-ELMAR-DMC-ZS60S-Certified-Refurbished/dp/B0747TKQQZ/ref=sr_1_11?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1529089224&sr=1-11&keywords=lumix+leica
On a side-note, if the battery in your DSLR is draining when it is turned off, I think you need to look at replacing the battery. You should be able to keep a Li-ION battery in a DSLR stored for months turned off and have most of the charge when you turn on to use.
BlueCrowned
5305
Jun 15, 2018
BF_HammerAlso thank you for the info. I don't mind buying a used or refurbished or grey market etc camera.
bobkoure
16
Jul 8, 2018
BF_HammerTo be fair, Nikon DSLRs, at least will discharge after a number of months. There's an overlay in the OVF that takes a tiny bit of power, and the built-in clock. If it runs down in a single month, yeah, I'd buy a new battery.
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