>>4272203I'm looking for something small, somewhat cheap on the used market (let's say under ~$300 max arbitrarily), that won't up and die on me. If it can fit in a pouch around 3"x2.5" and 6.5" tall (76.2mm x 63.5mm x 165.1mm), even better, though I should really get a nice padded pouch instead. I like the 30x optical zoom of my old camera. I like that it can go up to 120x with digital to supplement the zoom on my binoculars/monocular so I can check out "that thing" 500+yds away (usually a weird clump of grass) without having to walk over there or keep huge binoculars on me. On one hand, I'd like to get another compact camera. On the other, I think the same thing would happen to that one as well. Yes I need autofocus; I'm not taking minutes to take pictures in raw, then editing them for hours. They're mostly "picture of thing", "picture of place" timed self portrait, or "picture of (animal I have 3 seconds to get a photo of)"; they're not works of art, just memories. I wouldn't be against getting a DSLR either but again, I need (optional) autofocus, good zoom, something that won't stick out from my belt too far or break easy, especially if I catch it on a tree or fall, and it needs to be somewhat cheap used. I know the Canon 5D is and has been a /p/ recommendation but I'd also need a lens with good zoom on top of that. I want my photos to look better, I want to get a not-shit camera, but I also like my quick-and-easy junky compact camera, even if autofocus and the other auto settings can suck at times and totally fuck a photo up (thanks Sony). Sometimes I'd like to take some time setting up a photo, sure, but I also need to be able to just snap a picture quick and get back to walking more often than that.
I don't even know where to start, I just need some recommendations. I've used compact, I've used other people's DSLRs, I've even used film cameras. But I haven't looked into a new daily camera (which I guess would kind of be a "beater" camera) for years.
