Compact Digital Camera

Your reccomendations?

[limbo]

Hi folks

I'm buying a gift for someone special and I'm looking for some advice. I don't have much knowledge of the compact market having had the luxury of a D70 for a couple of years - the last camera I bought in that range was about 6 years ago - a 1.5 mega pixel Cybershot.

Optical Zoom would be a plus.

I'm looking to spend between £100-200 - any suggestions?

[centime]

on the gadget show, on channel 5 TV in the UK, they tested some digital camera's, canon, fuji an 1 other famous brand

Apparently the fuji won,

Check channel 5 gadget shop website,

I have a recent interest in digital camera's , so i'll observe your responses with interest

please delete the link if inappropriate

[gadgetshow.five.tv...]

[weeks]

David Pogue, the tech writer for the New York Times, keeps up with this better than anyone. He did a top 10 list before Christmas. Check out his recommendations. Nikon and Cannon both have excellent values. (Funny thing that is happening is that the quality of the lens is again becoming a deciding factor in cameras, just like the old days.)

[lgn1]

that the quality of the lens is again becoming a deciding factor in cameras

Also at 8 Megapixels, you are going to hit a theoritical wall defined by the Raleigh Criteria. Anything over 8 Megapixels is a waste of time, unless you have a large format digital camera (ie big bucks).

[Lobo]

personally if your budget can stretch to it, I'd go for the Sony Cybershot, it is compact 5.1mb 3xoptical zoom and has a good range of features..

I use it extensively, for updating web images and found it to be perfect...

[Woz]

I bought myself was a Canon Ixus 400 (also called a Powershot 400 believe) some years ago priamrily to cover Trade Shows and also for family happy snaps. 4Mp/3xs Optical, the current models run to 10Mp, although the Ixus 850 with 7.1Mp and 3.7xs zoom looks like the top of the range at the moment. I have found it to be excellent, great quality shots and small enough to be non-obtrusive at either business or family events. Infact, sometimes I think I getter better shots with the Ixus then my DSLR.

Before buying any of my digital cameras I spent hours on [dpreview.com...] pouring over the reviews and user comments, an inventment which proved to be invaluable.

Onya
Woz

[lawman]

Not compact, but I have a Sony DSC H1 that has 5mp, 12 optical zoom (I don't use the digital zoom), a large screen, a flash that seems to put out more light than my trusty old Vivitar 283, and more features than I care to use.

It's been replaced by the H2 with 6mp.

[giggle]

DON'T go for the Nikon Coolpix S6.

I bought one a few months ago - great 3" screen at the back but terrible pictures. It's kind of like being back at the turn of the century: If the lighting isn't great then everyone has to be absolutely still otherwise the picture comes out blurred. Not great for parties!

[engine]

I plumped for the Panasonic Lumix FX01, mainly becuase it offers a 28mm wide angle Leica zoom lens, and has an optical image stabiliser. The wide angle is a boon when taking shots of groups of people, and the stabiliser helps with my poor photographic skills. The stabliser doesn't work miracles, but it has improved my photographic results.

It's also one of the smallest compact cameras with a 3.6 x optical zoom, and a macro facility down to 5cm.

It starts up real fast, and takes a picture with the minimum of delay. Some similar cameras seemed to take an age from button press to actually taking the picture.

[limbo]

Thanks for your time folks. Appreciate it :)