I presently use a camcorder for primary purposes when on vacation. I would like to use as a secondary source a 35MM camera. Can anyone recommend a camera for under $200, nothing fancy, and pocket size, just one for general picture taking. Also what is the general pricing regarding film and processing.
Thanks!

Check out Olympus or Canon. They have some decent cameras at that price. If you are willing to spend a little more, say $250-300, you'll be able to get a model with a much better zoom lens.

HowardR is absolutely right-- Olympus and Canon offer the best combination of features and compact size in that price range. I have a Minolta point-and-shoot that I'm very happy with (very good lens), and I spent a mere $100 at an independent camera shop in South Beach. It's big, so I say go a bit higher in price and get a smaller camera body. Olympus and Canon usually put very good lenses on all of their cameras (the main factor in the camera's quality at this range).

Film runs about $4-6 if you get it at Wal-Mart. Processing, Wal Mart is cheap but quality varies, probably <$10 per roll for one-hour. I pay $8/roll at a pro lab, just negatives, no prints.

I bought the Canon Sure Shot Z155 a couple of months ago (saw it in a "photographic" magazine as a good and popular buy). I'm really happy with it. It's compact with several shooting modes, a zoom lens (the range is pretty good by the way), autoflash, etc... If I remember correctly, I paid around $195 for it.
Other ones listed in the magazine in your price range:
Minolta Freedom Zoom 160
Nikon Lite-Touch Zoom 140 ED/QD
Olympus Stylus Epic Zoom 200 Deluxe(that one is around $270).
Regarding processing, it all depends where you live/go and whether you pick one-hour processing or next day.
I go to Target (in NJ) for my films because they use Kodak paper which I personally like best. One-hour processing for 36 exp. is $14 (but I have paid as low as $8..I think that was for 24 exp. next day processing).
It is usually cheaper to get your film processed at a drug store or grocery store than at a regular film/photo store. Not all drug stores do a good job though..Took me a while to discover that Target did a great job.
Good luck.

Oh and you'll get doubles at Target for the prices I listed.

I have paid $3-$4 a roll for double prints at Sam's Club.

Just a thought: If you go digital, you can later have real prints (on regular photo paper) made at Walmart of the images you desire. Price ranges from .29 for a 4x6 to about three bucks for an 8x10.

Just before our trip to Italy this September I bought my wife a Nikon 150 ED. The pictures are excellent. It has some useful gimmicks. The one that I like best is the flash that works when necessary but not all the time or not at all as in some. Zoom = 38 to 150
I can't remember the exact price but some place just under $200.

Costco has film packs of 4 24's and 2 36's for $21+. We have been able to get rebates of $12.00 !!!

Savon( = Osco)has processing of 24's for
$7.99 and 36's for $9.99 They are shipped to Kodak for processing and come out great.
This price is for the top of line. Kodak Perfect Touch which is definitely worth it.

The same day processing is one dollar less (go figure) and equally good. The difference being no date on the print and slightly less heavy paper.

Doubles cost about $2.00 more.

Both the Perfect Touch and Same Day come with Index prints.:-B

I forgot to add that it is quite compact. :-B

Thanks for all your responses. I'm thinking of getting the Canon sure shot Z155. I see at advertised at B&H Photo for around $160. Any particular film I should purchase for this.. Kodak etc.

Just a note regarding B&H Photo in NY.

I have purchased several items from them and found them to be very reputable.

Many of the other NY Camera dealers have awful reputations. Check out their complaint record through a rating service or the NY Office of Consumer Affairs.

$160?? Good for you!!
Anyway, Dick is right about B&H being a reputable company. My photography professor turned me on to that company to purchase whatever I needed for the class and I had no complaints (photography is a hobby of mine, I'm not a professional by any means).
You can't go wrong with Kodak or Fujicolor. I myself use Kodak Max Versatility 400 Film (good for all conditions) which you can find anywhere.
Another of my "photographic" magazine lists the best 35 mm films out there (may 2002 issue) - Here's some of them:
-Konica Impresa 50
-Afga Vista 100
-Fujicolor Superior 100
-Kodak Professional Supra 100
-Kodak Max Versatility 400 (what I use)
-Kodak Royal Gold 100
-Fujicolor NPS 160

Fujicolor NPS 160 is a "soft" film, great for portrait and "people" photography, but I find it a little too soft for scenery.

As I posted my wife has a Nikon 150 ED. I use a Nikon N 80 with a Sigma 28- 300 Zoom. We use Max 400. tbis is a general purpose film for all of the situations that you will find in traveling:-B

Ed..I have a Nikon N80 too with a couple of lenses..don't you just love it?? It has given me some beautiful scenic vacation pix. So bulky though, that's why I got the compact cam for times I don't feel like lugging around the N80.

caribtraveler--

Yeah, lugging the N80 around is a bit of a chore but I think that it is worth it (I may be deluding myself). I had a 6006 before and I find the controls are much easier to use.

When we went to China in September 2001 (but that's another story) I took 28 rolls but only 19 in Italy this fall. Surprisingly ther were only a few throw-aways. :-B

I got my daughter the Minolta Freedom 180 (I think) at J and R off the internet. She really likes it and it was a great price - about $115.

Just bought the 35 mm Warehouse Film pack from Costco 22.99 with 12.00 rebate :-B

Before you buy a new camera, check out KEH on the web. It is the largest dealer in used equipment in the US.
You can look on the web for like new equipment. I have bought lenses and cameras from them at great savings.
Nikon, Olympus, Cannon and Minolta all make good cameras. I think you would want one for a zoom lens, probably 35 mm to 105mm. The 35 is wide angle; the 105 is a short telephoto.