by Azusateach » Mon Dec 23, 2013 1:18 am
Pat, I've got the Canon SX280 HS and LOVE it. This is my second Canon point-and-shoot, and they're rugged little cameras. My old one performed flawlessly when I took my raft trip down the Colorado River -- still works great, but am now using it at school. If you do a comparison between the one you're looking at and mine, I think you'll find them quit similar, except that mine is smaller.
I have a very nice DSLR camera but find myself using the Canon more often than not. I keep it in my purse, or can even put it in my pocket if necessary. It's got a rechargeable battery that has a long life, can take video clips, and does a great job in low light. Can't remember exactly how much it cost, but it's in your ballpark.
While my iPhone can take good pictures, I really like having a "real" camera and don't mind hauling one around.
Also, I don't know if you use a desktop PC or a laptop, but either one should be able to support an SD card reader, if you don't have one on a laptop. It's far easier than trying to hook up your camera to your computer/laptop.
Happy hunting!
Laura