What is the best $150-250 digital camera for my needs?

I'm looking for an slr-style (designed like one with the right-hand grip-I hate those little square cameras that I cannot hold onto) point-and-shoot camera for $150-225.

Things that matter most:
LOW NOISE!!!
Great night/sunset shots
Great photo quality/sensor
hand grip
uses SD cards
uses AA bateries


Things that matter least:
zoom
megapixels (only need 4)

I'm interested in an ergonomical camera that produces high quality, small shots (3x5 - 4x6).

Thanks!

Second guy: you are SO getting 10 points!!! I never thought to look at the old DSLRs!!!


THANK YOU!!

Your set of criteria would probably be best met by a used high-end camera more than most new models. In particular, I'd recommend getting an Olympus E-10 or E-20 off Ebay or similar.

They have low image noise and great quality, and a serious handgrip. (They actually are SLR's- you see through the lens when you look in the viewfinder. They just don't take interchangeable lenses.) They run on any type of AAA or CRV3 battery. Unfortunately, they don't meet the SD card criteria- they have double card slots, that take the (now obsolete) Smartmedia, and they can also use Compact Flash (CF) cards.

Another camera that would have excellent photographic performance to meet your needs in your price range would be a very early DSLR like a Canon D30. Especially because you could get a very bright, high-quality prime lens for it cheaply, since you don't care about zoom. But they use Lithium Ion Batteries and CF cards.

In terms of new cameras- there's a handy digital camera finder at Imaging Resource that allows you to plug in all of your criteria and it returns matching models- the battery type, price range, SLR-style body, card type, zoom, pretty much everything except noise is featured there.

You can plug your preferences in yourself here:
http://www.myproductadvisor.com/mpa/came...

I tried filling in your preferences for you, which you can see here:
http://www.myproductadvisor.com/mpa/came...

It came up with several good recommendations.

If you find some you like, you can then look here:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/DIGCAM01...
or elsewhere online for reviews with actual example shots at various ISO's to get a feel fro what the noise level is like.

Good luck.

id say a kodak easy share..youll have to check their models for one that takes double a's tho