Looking for small and light digital camera 1.3 megapixel

[Bob_Katayama]

I am interested in getting a 1.3 megapixel credit card camera or USB pen style camera.

I would like to mount this camera and take aerial photo's thus weight is very important.

looking for these specs:
1: Good 1.3 megapixel image reproduction outdoors.
2: At least 1/2000 minimum shutter speed
3: USB file transfer
4: SD memory slot or at least 16 megs memory built in
5: No LCD
6: $150 USD or less

Any suggestions?

[Andy Manea]

My actual digicam is too big to always lug around, so I bought one that is as small as the smallest Sony. It's the Aiptek PocketCamX, cost me 99US$ at Target two months ago. For 100 bucks I did not expect much from it, but it's way better than I thought it would be and it's so small that I can always put it in some pocket, but it IS bigger than a USB stick.

It requires 2AAA batteries, which last forever even though it does not have a viewer, so you have to always have the screen on. With rechargeables and a 15Minute charger it's the lightest independet camera I can think of. With a USB stick-cam you don't have that independance, since it requires a computer to charge.

It has 3.somethin' MP, 4Xdigital zoom (forget about it!), movie mode, USB, SDcard slot AND internal memory ... It takes crappy pictures in the dark but great ones (for the price and size) outside. I even used it as an external hard drive in times of need.

- - -
Oops, I just noticed that you wrote "no LCD", in that case, forget my post.

[PeterB666]

No real suggestions on credit card cameras as quality ones of these don't come cheap. Maybe you can find a superceded Casio or Minolta.

Most cheap cameras will only offer programmed automatic, so while you can get a camera that has a top shutter speed of 1/2000, it may not want to use such a speed. Your best chance is to manually set the ISO rating to 50. This should help a little bit (but not much).

Virtually all come with an LCD. Basically a digital camera without one is useless to most people. On most cameras that also have an optical viewfinder, you can turn the LCD off.

One option would be the Pentax Optio 30 which tops out at 1/2000 and offers ISO50 as well as manual focus and infinity focus which may assist you in what you want to do. You can shoot at .3 mp, 1, 2 or 3 mp. It weighs in at just over 6 oz.

You may find a Pentax Optio S30. These are generally no longer available but will give you all of the above in a smaller and lighter package.

Another choice is the Nikon Coolpix 2200 altough this may be a bit above your budget. The Nikon has less manual options, e.g. you cannot set the ISO rating.