Which compact digital??

[tobeee]

Heeelllppp! I'm dithering over the purchase of a new digital camera (5mpx min, small and light, and absolute max. £300). I've got the choice down to the following:

Sony Cybershot DSC-T1
Sony Cybershot DSC-P93
Sony Cybershot DSC-P100
Nikon Coolpix 5200
Fujifilm FinePix F610
HP Photosmart R707

Please can anyone help me make the final choice, or even suggest another (as long as this is accompanied by a good reason!). My wife's going to kill me if I don't make a decision on this soon, as I'm turning into a photographic anorak!

[luca brazzi]

tobeee said:

Heeelllppp Sony Cybershot DSC-T1 Sony Cybershot DSC-P93 Sony Cybershot DSC-P100 Nikon Coolpix 5200 Fujifilm FinePix F610 HP Photosmart R707

Sony Cybershot DSC-P120 - same as -100 except in black. Special offer - extra battery (54.99) plus leather case (24.99), got it on Monday from Jessops for Mrs. Brazzi, price matched to Warehouse Express or Amazon, .......... £309. Incredible camera.

5mp
Video + Audio - at very good quality.
Excellent point and shoot, but also very capable when using manual settings. Very fast (<2 secs) startup time, big screen, tiny camera....GO GET IT.

Got a 256Mb Memory stick Pro from Warehouse express (Sandisk - 49.99)

LB
Very, very pleased....lots of brownie points too.

www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00022LVCW/qid=1091177578/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_11_1/026-1155902-5139622





>> Edited by luca brazzi on Friday 30th July 09:54

[murph7355]

Sony stuff is OK, but so much proprietary kit can make life awkward...crap software, expensive memory etc...

Why 5Mp?

My advice, and I'm very biased, but get yourself an Ixus.

The 400-430 should be in your price range and is an awesome bit of kit. It takes CF (cheaper than memory stick) and you can print out up to A3 (though it's doubtful you'll ever do this unless you have your own printer!).

[EmmaP]

Canon Power Shot S50 is fantastic. It has 5 mega pixels and does movies. It takes compact flash cards, which I strongly recommend, and lithium batteries. This camera has been replaced by the S60, but you may well be able to pick them up still. Jacobs were selling off all their stock at £250. I paid £350 equivalent in NY last October.
For unbiased reviews and downloadable test shots go to www.dpreview.com

[ErnestM]

luca brazzi said:

Lotsa good stuff about the cybershot P100/120

...Or you can get one in the same colour as your car



Thinking about replacing my DSC-P9 soon. Actually the T1 is topping my list just for the fact that I could carry it in my pocket without the "bulge". The blue P100 is second, however.


ErnestM

[Rob P]

Ixus

Great little camera, have not looked around since I brought mine but www.internetcamerasdirect.com were fantastic.

[rich-uk]

The Pentax Optio S4i is the best small digital camera I've seen. The image quality is excellent, it's full of features and it's tiny!

[simpo two]

Oh dear - I think this is turning into a 'What camera have you got?' thread...

[murph7355]

simpo two said:

Oh dear - I think this is turning into a 'What camera have you got?' thread...

It'd be a bit daft recommending the ones you didn't buy, wouldn't it

Unless your requirements were different I guess...

[rich-uk]

I haven't got one, but I know 2 people with the Pentax, and I will be buying one as soon as I can afford it/need one

[murph7355]

I know one person with the Pentax and it's a great gadget in every sense.

My only concern with one would be fragility. I have no evidence of them being delicate, but they feel a lot less solid than the Canon Ixus range, which you'd expect with the thinness of them.

I'm sure they have a trick lens mechanism too, to enable them to be so thin.

[tobeee]

Thanks for all your comments and recommendations! I've pondered this some more, and reckon that the overriding requirement is for the camera to be small/light enough for me to bother taking it everywhere, rather than just lugging one round for special occasions. For this reason, I'm getting close to the Pentax Optio S4i or perhaps the Sony T1... comments on these would be helpful...

Rob P - Are the "next day" delivery times reliable from InternaetCamerasDirect?

[simpo two]

tobeee said:

I've pondered this some more, and reckon that the overriding requirement is for the camera to be small/light enough for me to bother taking it everywhere

Minolta Dimage, Casio Exilim?

[murph7355]

Of those two, the Pentax.

I have a Sony video camera, which is great. Just feel that image quality from other brands' stills products is better. And the fact that other brands use more "convenient" memory formats.

[alan_driver]

simpo two said:

tobeee said: I've pondered this some more, and reckon that the overriding requirement is for the camera to be small/light enough for me to bother taking it everywhere Minolta Dimage, Casio Exilim?

I recently got a Minolta Dimage G600.
6 mega Pixel
3x optical Zoom
Very fast start up
Compact

all for £209 + £30 for a memory card.
I haven’t used it loads yet, but I am very impressed with it so far and would recommend it. Unfortunately the place i got it from has put their prices up, because of tax, but look here for more details:
www.7dayshop.com/catalog/default.php?cPath=777_4_409_40904
If you require some sample images, check out Steve’s site, www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/dimage_g600_samples.html or email me and I will send you some.
its a very nice camera and matches your requirements with money left over.

[chris.mapey]

murph7355 said:

I know one person with the Pentax and it's a great gadget in every sense. My only concern with one would be fragility.

I have the old version, Optio 330. Absolutely brilliant, can't break it. It's been dropped, checked in my briefcase & pockets, and I even let my fiance use it

Best wishes with whatever you choose.

Chris

[golfman]

rich-uk said:

The Pentax Optio S4i is the best small digital camera I've seen. The image quality is excellent, it's full of features and it's tiny!

This came top in a recent magazine review I saw. Thinking of getting one myself.

www.pentax.co.uk/active_photo.htm