A novice & the Sony RX100

[a4cabrio]

I want to buy a new camers and have absolutely zero knowledge to help me decide what to go for, my budget is around the £250 mark, my criteria was just something that's easy to use and which will last a while. After doing some research on the net and also on here, I'm kind of swaying towards the RX100 MK1 which I can get for £260,

What I'd like to ask is, is the RX100 an easy camera to use for a novice?? It's just a camera to use for holidays and other occasions

[a4cabrio]

garyhun said:

Basically, yes.

If you put it in program (auto) mode it will do everything for you. But as you get more experienced/creative you have as much control over the process as you want.

I just bought a Mark 3 - it's a superb camera and the Mark 1 is too.

Thankyou, I just didn't want to end up with a complicated camera and not have a clue how to use it, as you say I can have a play around with it when I suss out the basics..

Are they a fragile camera or are they a bit robust and can handle a knock or 2?? I just ask as my mrs tends to be a tad clumsy and likes to drop phones, cups etc etc lol that's another reason why I'd never look at anything in the mk3 bracket

[a4cabrio]

Thanks for the advice about the camera and the case suggestions, I went to John Lewis today to look at the RX100 and was impressed with it, the quality of the pictures impressed me straight away. I had a chat with a store assistant who did nothing to put me off the RX100, but they did also suggest the Nikon S9700 as an alternative, I asked why and their reply was it was a more up to date camera with a better spec and also £120 cheaper in store. I would be buying the RX100 elsewhere so their price difference didn't really bother me as I could pick up the RX100 for £30 more than they were charging for the Nikon.

So would the Nikon S9700 be a good alternative, or should I just stick with the RX100??