3.2MP digital camera with photo printer

[Garibaldi]

Well since Christmas draws near I need to think about some gifts. One thing on my list is a digitial camera. I would like to buy one that is 3.2MP (I don't need any more) with digital and optical zoom, and that you can hook up (either via dock or plugging the flash card into) a photo printer for 4x6s. I would like one with a removeable memory card (compact flash, SD, xD, whatever is fine) so I can always upgrade if necessary. Do you have any recommendations on what would be a good model to get?

[redwudz]

For something simple and easy to use, maybe a Kodak Easyshare camera with printer. Costco and other major chains carry them.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7292486&type=product&id=1118840867059

I believe HP also has either the same or a similar system. Be sure to check the price of photo paper if they use something unique and the price of ink cartridges or whatever they use. Sometimes when a printer seems a bargain, the cost of the consumables offset it.

If you want something more high end, there are a 'million' of them out there, along with many printers that accept the camera cards directly with no computer needed for printing.

[Garibaldi]

Well judging by how much it comes out to print pictures with that type of setup (after doing a little research) it seems it would just be easier to print them at Sams or Walgreens. In this case, what would you recommend for just a 3.2MP camera? I have a fujifilm, what other brands have you found to be reliable and easy to use?

[aanaravs]

I personally have used only Nikons and Canons and am truly impressed. If you hang out at slickdeals.net for a while, you can pick up a decent Canon camera for < $200.

And yes, you are right about printing pictures with an actual photo printer. From my calculations, it cost me about $.30 per print and I can get the same thing for $.12 from snapfish.

[enstg8er]

photo printers can be cheaper than 1 hour places- walgreens, walmart and so forth. also better prints, sooner.

mail order prints are still cheapest. also have better archival properties.

[redwudz]

Yes, I came to the same conclusion with the price of printing. At least for the small sizes. I print 8X10's with my HP printer because I have better control.

A lot of one-hour photo places now accept the digital flash cards from digital cameras and print your photos from them. You can get good prices that way as no developing costs are involved.

I bought 10 Nikon 5600 Coolpix cameras for my supervisors for documenting incidents and projects. We got away from the film cameras because of the film and developing costs, plus the time involved. We've had no problems with them in four months of use. The guys have had no problems figuring out how to use them. Here's a review:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/nikon5600.html

One of the pluses with this camera is that it uses standard AA batteries so you never have to worry about recharging batteries or not being able to use it because of having a dead battery if you leave it in the glovebox for a month.

Get a 512MB storage card and you will run out of batteries before you run out of pictures.

Most all of these newer digital cameras are tiny. Get a good padded case for it. I use a Lowepro case. You can drop the camera with little worry of damage with one of these.

http://www.ebags.com/lowepro/d_res_8s/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=18492