Help with finding a camera

[cyvash]

Okay, i need help with getting a camera for better quality pictures. Atm all i got is a nitendo dsi for pictures, my sister has one of those fancy cameras but she can never find all the peices to use it when i ask for pictures. Now I'm looking for a reletivly easy camera to use, that can take decent enough pics that people can tell what they are, my buget limit is about $100.
My reason for this is becasue these are the best quality i can reach with my nitendo dsi, they not be the best, but they are what i have on my photobucket atm.

 

[Amuse Me]

Im not a buying camera expert, but i do know that cheaper (even more expensive) cameras will rally struggle in low light. Find a lamp or some sort of portable light source (not a roof light). Set this lamp up pointing at the front of the model (not dead on, a bit to the side), and you will find the pictures look a lot better. On the first photo, you can see the blotchiness, and this comes from not enough light.

Second pointer, the photo of the single skeleton is out of focus, that's why it doesn't look very good, this has nothing to do with the camera. Im not going to go into the details, but every camera has a minimum range. Go inside this range and the camera cant focus on the object, and so it looks blurry. Mess around, and find this limit.

Third pointer is stillness. I dont know if this is a symptom, but make sure the camera is still when taking the photo. Even $1000 will take blurry photos when they are moving.

Compare these two photos. One was taken with a lamp, one without. This was a bit more of an expensive camera, so it doesnt struggle as much, but you can see how much more pleasant the photo is.

Try these before buying a camera, you may find you dont even need it! Hope i was (somewhat) helpful.

 

[Monkey's_Uncle]

I have to agree with Amuse Me on those pointers, but if I remember correctly the camera on the DS is 640x480, which is frankly awful.

While better lighting and focus will improve you photo's immensely, you still won't be able to see too much in the way of detail. I'm not an expert on cheap camera's, but any compact by Canon, Pentax, Olypus or Fugifilm should be a decent investment.

One thing to bear in mind is not to be lulled in by fancy specs. A 5 megapixel camera should be more than sufficient for taking photo's of models, and a 3x optical zoom should also be fine.
If possible get one from Pentax or Canon, as they make good cameras (my DSLR is a Pentax, and it's great!).

Hope this helps, Monkey

EDIT: Forgot to mention Nikon, they make decent cameras too.
Also, whatever you use, try and prop the device on something to reduce movement. A tripod is best, but anything from books to chair backs can be used at a push, and is far more stable than you just holding it.

 

[cyvash]

Well finally got acces to a decent camera, i took some test pics here's a edited and unedited version... now i have to remfaillarize myself with photoediting.

 

[Amuse Me]

Looks good!