My idea is that there isn't such a creature. The nicest digital trail cams are going to run you $500+ and even those have some problems. Homemade trail cameras are probably the best if you have the ability to make them.

If you will let us know what you are going to be using it for and how often you will be checking up on it we might be able to help you narrow it down though. Is the camera going to be set up on a trail or over a feeder or water source? Some of the less expensive cameras will work decent over a feeder but they are almost worthless set up on a trail. Some of the better trail cameras with fast trigger times eat up batteries every couple weeks. There isn't one perfect camera for every situation, especially if you are looking to spend under $200.

I just bought a Moultrie Gamespy 200 with a solar panel and a 6v rechargeable battery to set out over a feeder and I also bought a Stealth I390 with a rechargeable 6v battery and I'm trying to use it on a trail pointed parrellel to the direction that the animals will be traveling. Both of those cameras review as taking good pictures but their trigger times aren't very good. The Moultrie has a reputation for needing the animal to walk back and forth in front of the camera several times before triggering so really it is only good in front of a feeder. The Stealth is supposed to trigger dependably and has a burst mode so I'm trying it on a trail and seeing if it will trigger fast enough. With it pointed down the trail I'm hoping it will be effective. Both of those setups cost under $200 including the rechargeable batteries and the solar panel for the Moultrie. Both should last over a month between charges which will be good for me because I live 100 miles from where the cameras will be placed.

The other camera I got is the Bushnell trailscout. 19200 I think the model was. It was cheap ($135 including shipping) and seems to get good reviews as having a good trigger (it routinely takes the most pictures of animals even compared to some more expensive ones), but it does have some issues with eating up batteries in a couple weeks and sometimes it will go into sleep mode and the trigger speed will slow down. I figure for the price I put it out on a trail and will see what I get pictures of before the batteries run out.

One other thing to consider is that the manufacturers seem to be refining these on a yearly basis and if you wait until this summer the 2007 models will probably be better and faster.

FWIW, Nathan