I would suggest getting a decent Canon off Craigslist for $50 - $100, and install CHDK (Canon Hackers Development Kit) on it.
It will give you all the features of a high-end Canon, including shutter without the price.
I use it on a $25 A530 for time-lapse. It works great.
(PS - Canon picture quality is as good as it gets.)
I second the CHDK Idea, but you have to get a Cannon camera that is at least Digic II and is supported (they have a list of supported cameras and working options for each). The 520 is decent enough, but all of the DSLRs are much better. To each their own I guess, but at least CHDK and a cheap camera won’t break the bank. I’ve gotten plenty of good action shots on a lesser model Cannon point and shoot camera (mostly by anticipating, timing and some luck) - I’ve also missed a lot of them as well.