We here at Camp Hunt - Indiana, are looking into getting a digital camera for taking various photos around camp. Most of the photos taken would include people with outdoor backgrounds. However, we also would be taking a lot of close up pictures of campers and groups photos. We have less then 800 dollars we can spend for a camera. We already have a Easy Photo ImageWave and a picture quality printer with software to run it. Maybe you maybe aware of an organization that would donate such a camera, since we are a camp which offers free camps for inner city families. Thanks

-- tim stenlicht (camphunt1@juno.com), February 20, 1999

Answers

Some of the camera companies have remaindered units of older models that come back from their demo/eval pool when the models are discontinued. These might be a possible source of donated cameras. While it's known to be "soft" when focused at infinity, the Kodak DC210 Plus is very simple to use, takes decent pictures, and is reasonably cheap. Another possibility might be if you can find a Toshiba PDR-M1 or Fuji MX-500. No zoom lens, but 1.5 megapixels for great resolution and good color too. These were on sale a while back for $399 and below. Reportedly hard to get now, but I think you might still find some MX-500s around. Check our "Deals" page, for a couple of reports by readers who had success finding them recently. Good Luck!

Oh - on the donation front: The thing to do there would be to call the companies to find out who the PR firms are that their accounts, and call them to explain your needs.

-- Dave Etchells (web@imaging-resource.com), February 25, 1999.