Cheap POS is your best bet. Any typical camera will do the job, unless you want to film the Moonbats being really stupid. It’s not hard to scan the photos in later. most developement places will hook you up with that.

Taking pictures with a video camera is not a good idea, unless you use an HD camera. However, with an HD, you can pull any frame out of the video get very nice results.

But HD video has a whole additional set of issues. You need editing software, higher performance system, etc, etc.

I don’t recommend going the video route unless you are doing it to work with video. If you want pictures, buy a camera.

I wouldn’t bring a good camera to a rally. There are gonna be bad guys who may want to hit you and as a result hit your nice camera as well. A DSLR will be big and bulky (there are NO small ones) and be a better target for them.

Be discrete, carry something small. Go with a Canon, they come in all sorts of price ranges. I don’t care for video. I would go with something that can shoot fast and many frames at a time. If you want to catch them this is better than video since quality is not so hot in the cameras and don’t even think of taking pictures with a video camera, plus you’re looking at a higher investment in one of those.

So go with highest mega-pixel you can,find, one that has a fast turn around speed and I think you’re good to go. Stay away from DSLR cause it makes you an easier target to hit!

Take a wander over to your local WalMart and check out the Cannon line of Power Shot cameras.

From a low end of around $100 to ~$250 for a pretty decent point and shooter. Throw in another $20 for a SD memory card, they come with a small one but you’ll want more on line storage and some rechargeable batteries.

Watch the mega pixels, more is better, image stabilization is handy for shooting long distance.

Lastly, Steve’s Camera review, good resource, and no I’m not that Steve.

Cheap, like under $125 from Walmart or other place. No point in buying better you never know when the mob will get violent.

A pocket camera is best. Just put in a big media card so you can do limited video.

They have the best prices than anywhere I have seen. I highly recomend the Canon Power Shot.

I bought a Samsung for ~200.00 total Saturday, and that’s with a 3 yr no questions asked extended warrantee that means if it gets stomped flat by a goonion thug, meh. It will do 2 hours of 640×480 @30 FPS video with audio on an 8 Gb memory card and has anti shake stabilization so I’m all set to go to a greenhouse (TH) event.

Odds are really long that Parker Griffin will stay in hiding though.

(sorry)

Anyway, I’m looking for a new camera, too. My old one works, but it’s aging and sucks the batteries dry quicker than Obama changes his story.

I would choose a camera that has a lens that moves in/out (so you can have manual zoom and not just digital zoom). I wouldn’t go with a video camera, even HD video. Unless the light is really good, still pictures aren’t nearly as good as a still camera, but the still camera can have video that works in a pinch with just the flip of a switch.

We had a Kodak Easyshare 883 (until my wife dropped it on the tile floor….) and the still pictures were good (not DSLR good, but decent), and the video was good for a point & shoot. We also own a Canon HD video camera, but the still pictures aren’t as good – video is great, especially for videos sent to grandparents.

Anyways, I recommend the Easyshare, you can get good pictures, but also video if you need it, plus the battery life was incredible.

Great DSLR – 12 megapixel
and does 720p HD video.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/615725-REG/Nikon_25454_D5000_Digital_SLR_Camera.html

and I certainly don’t have a fancy camera.

I’ve got a Canon PowerShot S2 IS. It’s only 5 megapixels with a 12X digital zoom. I’ve had the camera for about four years and the only time I haven’t been happy with it is when I forgot to clean the lens and my pictures turned out blurry.

For video, I would stick with a cheap camera unless you intend to put out high quality, fully-edited stuff. For the typical point and shoot stuff I would recommend going with a Flip video camera. They are cheap, small and pretty easy to use.

Like Dave said higher up, if you really want to get into the video thing big time, you can find smaller HD cameras. You will need some serious hardware and software to do the editing and production though.

I use a FlipVideo that has 25 minutes worth of capacity for digital video. About $89 on sale in March 2008.

If I use that up, I then switch to the Casio, which shoots pretty good video (actually, I think it’s better than the FlipVideo, but the FV is easier to use overall). And, the Casio takes still photos (but, not very good ones — I should probably read the manual). About $100 on sale in Dec. 2008.

As a backup, I use my Blackberry Curve. Take pretty good photos and shoots grainy video. Free with rebate from AT&T with 2 year service agreement.

Hope that helps.

Thank you.

ColdWarrior

I just bought this one from Amazon for $125 (It’s now $116):

http://www.amazon.com/HD345-Definition-resolution-Interpolation-Megapixels/dp/B001W24TN4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1250146765&sr=8-2

Smaller than a PDA/Cell phone and does 12 megapixels still (plus voice recording, mp3 player and some kinda game). The big prob with a camera this tiny and light is holding it steady – be sure to turn on the image stabilizer. This goes into your pocket easily. You can film unobtrusively by turning at right angles to your subject and putting your thumbs on the playback controls, and it looks like you are texting insteadt of ‘taping’

The only thing I regret about the purchase is that it does not have a socket for a tripod screw.

But it shoots great HD video.

Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTs9PNy6HDU (click HD and go full screen)

It uses an SD chip which I can yank and put in my computer, but the USB interface works fine, too. I’m using a 2 Gb chip in mine.

I bought this instead of the $65 cam recommended on Redstate a few days ago….

that is my boat and travel camera. It is only 7.1mp but it is shock and water resistant, a good thing for cameras that see much use outdoors. The digitals are very water sensitive and I’ve ruined a couple with rain and splashing on the boat. Likewise a drop to a hard surface will kill most of them as well. So far the Olympus has held up well to some pretty hard service, takes sharp pictures, and has a good mechanical and optical zoom. The 7.1 mp is more than adequate up to about 8 x 10.

Get the best compromise (that wont feel like one) and buy the Canon Powershot SX1 IS.

It has many of the features found of DSLR’s but with 1080 (30p) video with CD quality stereo sound.

I think this would give you the most options!

Oh, heck yeah. The moderatley priced point n’ shoot digital cameras take great photographs. Very high quality.

The tradeoff is size/style versus battery life. I prefer to use Nickle Metal Hydride rechargeable AA batteries — we have a bunch of sets and chargers for them, so they are more convenient and much cheaper than proprietary batteries. Plus, if you forget to bring your spares, you can always buy a set of Duracells in a pinch. These cameras eat batteries and the NiMH batteries are good for hundreds and hundreds of shots. So, with that AA requirement, we’ve had three Canon PowerShots over the years. It’s a little bigger camera, which I like, over the shirt pocket size. Gives you something to grip. The most recent one we bought has a swivel screen. If you remember to set them to the viewer mode so you don’t accidentally turn them on and jam tne lens as it extends into the camera pouch, they are even reliable for a few years at least.

The other thing I like is that Canon lets you choose any combination of pixels and JPG compression level (Fine, SuperFine, etc.), so you have lot so selectivity in quality versus file size tradeoffs. A lot of brands just give you some presets — if you want the least compression (for quality), you have to also go with the biggest pixel choice, which may be more pixels than you need. Magazine quality printing only requires 300 pixels per inch or 1600 pixels by 1200 pixels for a 5 inch by 4 inch professional color magazine photo. That’s only a 2 megapixel photo. You can double that size to 8 x 10 for a decent color print. A 7 megapixel image is enough for pro quality color magazine printing. Most point and shoot users don’t need that much data — it’s just producing monster file sizes for no reason. We have a 7 megapixel camera, but use it at the 3 megapixel setting (2048×1536) most of the time. That produces a 1600 kB file, a 900 kB file, or a 500 kB file with minimum, mid, or max JPEG compression. So we shoot fewer pixels (enough for 7 inch by 5 inch magazine printing and really high quality 8 by 10 color prints, with maximum JPEG quality. We aren’t going to blowing stuff up to poster size, so there’s not much reason to shoot more pixels. As it is, I have to downsize everthing before sending it in emails and stuff, because 2000 pixels across is double the size of most computer monitors, so it won’t come close to fitting on a screen. I take that size down by 50% for sending to relatives and stuff.

If you prefer the ultra small size and stylish colors, etc. Then either the cute little Canons or the Nikon Coolpix would be good options. I think all of those take proprietary rechargeable batteries so you have to use a separate charger and buy extra batteries.

This is another interesting choice. The thing is small, easily carried in your pocket, and in some models waterproof. What I like about it is the pistol grip styling, and ease of carrying. You are way more likely to take pictures and video with it because of its size and shape. Plus most models have HD 720, or even HD 1080.

One thing it is not is a camera for actual photography. The pictures are okay, but nothing to be bragging about. But would do fine with hostile crowds.

I take mine to concerts normally, as well as film stuff for my youth group. Like I said its easy to carry and has taken a beating in my backpack at amusement parks, hiking trips, canoe trips, ect….

I have one and it takes great photos but there is sometimes a gap between when it is ready to take the next shot. It does video but i have never figured it out and it is a bit bulky not fitting that easily ito the palm of your hand. I think I am going for the little guy on AMazon.

Go to CraigsList, find and buy this camera. It is super easy to use and is the best DSLR for the money.

If you read the Manual on manual settings, you will be able to take professionalt pictures everytime. If you can find a lens with IS (image sabilization) for cheap, get it.

If you buy this camera and take a little time to learn how to use it, you will suddenly become addicted to it. I promise.

check out my pictures on my blog for evidence

http://impudent.blognation.us/blog

….Nikon. I’m probably the exception to the rule, but I’ve never had good luck with that brand.

My current Nikon point-n-shoot digital is sloooww to cycle between shots. When using it’s grossly anemic internal flash, it adds many circular artifacts to the photo which Nikon says is “dust” but I suspect is actually more related to the pretty chrome bezel they put around the lens catching the too-close flash.

I’m going to also make an argument for the ancient technology of film. With film, you can have it all–prints, an electronic copy, and the original negative which could be handy if someone started crying that a photo was altered. People are practically giving away high-end film 35mm’s on Ebay.

Having been sent a sample of what they can do, that seems good enough to me.

Thank you to all who helped.

I just read this at Newsmax Technology section-

http://www.physorg.com/news169133727.html

We must demand paper back up systems for voting before 2010!!!!!

I just read this at Newsmax Technology section-

http://www.physorg.com/news169133727.html

We must demand paper back up systems for voting before 2010!!!!!

Tom Brady returns tonight:

The quality seems great, and it’s at a price that were something to happen to it, I wouldn’t be mortified. Unhappy, but not devastated.