Reddit reviews Pentax X-5 silver 16 Digital Camera with 26x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 3-Inch LCD (Silver)
We found 2 Reddit comments about Pentax X-5 silver 16 Digital Camera with 26x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 3-Inch LCD (Silver). Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
16 megapixel backlit CMOS sensorA large 26X optical zoom (22.3-580mm equivalent) lensLarge 3" tiltable LCD screen for easy shooting at any angle and electronic viewfinder with 230k pixels and diopterSensor shift image stabilization1080p video @ 30 FPS with h.264 compression
It was a bit less than $200 when I bought it. Here's a video I took the day I bought it, it has some trouble focusing at parts but the overall video quality is pretty good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_akveX3ysw
I saw the box for it in that video, here's the exact model
http://www.amazon.com/Pentax-X-5-silver-Digital-Stabilized/dp/B0091TC3OC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1421779835&sr=8-2&keywords=pentax+x5+camera&pebp=1421779863424&peasin=B0091TC3OC
I went with a http://www.amazon.com/Sony-DSC-RX100-Sensor-Digital-Camera/dp/B00889ST2G
It's very small, does low light well, and can do pretty decent zoom. It's what I'm bringing to con
This thing fits in a pocket so easily.
Unfortunately, it plus a large memory card is going to way bust your budget. Then again, since getting it, I've taken it many places I'd not have done so beforehand.
I recommend this book on it if you do get one:
http://www.amazon.com/Photographers-Guide-DSC-RX100-Alexander-White/dp/193798608X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376431070&sr=1-1&keywords=RX100+book
You might be able to find a used 5N and some cheap lenses of Ebay, but that's going to take some work:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B005IHAIMA/ref=sr_1_3_olp?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1376431152&sr=1-3&keywords=5N&condition=used
and will be a bit of an issue to lug about.
Now, if this is really more of a hard budget than a "trying to save money on a hobby", something like a http://www.amazon.com/Pentax-X-5-silver-Digital-Stabilized/dp/B0091TC3OC will get you the zoom shots (it's not a DSLR, but looks like one), but I have no idea on any of the rest of your requirements.
Perhaps visit a camera store near you that stocks both, and check them out?
That said, read a book about shutter speeds, etc, so you learn how to eek out every little bit out of your camera. A little knowledge will make your camera considerably better than it's 'mode' settings may do for your condition. Practice before the con.