What Camera up to £250?

[MattMF1]

Basically, A camera of costs up to £250 for general use for my dad.

Requirements:

- Prefers a better lens/sensor than actual features. Doesn't need them, would rather have better looking pictures.

- Needs to be portable and relitivly light as will be used at events and things.

That's all really, and I'm not too good at camera's so came on here for a bit of help

And I'm not sure if this is with all cameras, but his current camera runs the battery down if it is left in there when the camera is off, and drives him mad, so preferably a camera that doesnt run the battery down when it is off.

Thanks for any help.

[dontfollowme]

Panasonic LX5?

[RosscoPCole]

How about a micro four thirds camera as they have a much better quality sensor than a compact. You could get an Olympus Pen E-PL1 or a Panasonic GF2 in your budget if you hunt around.

[MattMF1]

Thank you, the replies seem to point to very good cameras

[Deluded]

Samsung nx100? Pm me if interested.

[craigjm]

Panasonic TZ30 just about within your budget

[PRTVR]

craigjm said:

Panasonic TZ30 just about within your budget

If you go for any of the panasonic tz range leave the gps switched off as it drains the battery even when the camera is switched off, that aside, they are a great little camera.

[Siko]

Just bought a TZ30 Panasonic from Comet with the online reserve and collect in store. £257 and £35 cashback to come from Panasonic, seems a really good camera sofar and for £220 I don't think there's much to beat it.

Well apart from the TZ20 at £149 all in, but let's ignore that one!

[MattMF1]

Siko said:

Just bought a TZ30 Panasonic from Comet with the online reserve and collect in store. £257 and £35 cashback to come from Panasonic, seems a really good camera sofar and for £220 I don't think there's much to beat it.

Well apart from the TZ20 at £149 all in, but let's ignore that one!

That seems really good, but how did you get the cashback?

[Roger645]

Siko said:

Just bought a TZ30 Panasonic from Comet with the online reserve and collect in store. £257 and £35 cashback to come from Panasonic, seems a really good camera sofar and for £220 I don't think there's much to beat it.

Well apart from the TZ20 at £149 all in, but let's ignore that one!

Sounds Tempting, Anyone here got one? What's it like?

[craigjm]

Roger645 said:

Sounds Tempting, Anyone here got one? What's it like?

The TZ20 is the 2011 version of what is now the slightly improved TZ30 for 2012. Great cameras I wouldn't recommend anything else. I have the Leica version the V-Lux20 and its great.

[Siko]

MattMF1 said:

That seems really good, but how did you get the cashback?

Not got it yet, but you send the receipt and bar code from the box to Panasonic to get the £35 back. Has to be UK stock and has to have been purchased between May and 31 Jul. Still think the TZ20 from Jessops at £149 (after £20 cashback) has to be the better bargain.....but I'm a snob and preferred the look of the TZ30

[Fastra]

The Gadget Show did a test of 3 cameras a few weeks ago (roughly in this price range), the video is here:

Olympus SZ031MR
Fuji F770EXR
Panasonic TZ30

http://fwd.channel5.com/gadget-show/videos/other/d...

I also find this site invaluable too - it seems to be pretty much an independent bloke that runs the same test on every camera he can lay his hands on, excellent reviews though:

http://www.cameras.co.uk/html/digital-camera-revie...

[z4me]

I'm in a similar position. Got mocked at a family do at the weekend about how old my Olympus digital camera looks (probably 7 or 8 years), especially the fact it has a proper view finder, which I quite like actually. Anyway, was thinking about going for a Canon Ixus 230 or 240, but then my eye was drawn to this :

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/panasonic-lumix-dmc-...

Probably about the same size and weight as my current camera, but will obviously give me better quality pictures. Had a quick look and can't find a bad review about the camera , and that price looks pretty good to me. Any thoughts?

[z4me]

Bugger! That was £199 a few mins ago, now up to £299

[smn159]

Second hand Canon 400d and a couple of (well OK maybe one) half decent lens? That's what i did when I wanted to move on from a bridge camera and I'm very happy with it.

[z4me]

Bugger! That was £199 a few mins ago, now up to £299

[z4me]

whoops, double post. Dixons still have it for £199. I've ordered it, let's see if they honour it

[RosscoPCole]

z4me said:

whoops, double post. Dixons still have it for £199. I've ordered it, let's see if they honour it

What lens does it come with? Is it the 14mm pancake or the 14-42mm?
I have recently purchased an Olympus E-PM1 and have been very impressed by the quality of photos it produces especially in low light without a flash.
Now saving up for some extra lenses.

Edited by RosscoPCole on Wednesday 18th July 12:04

[z4me]

I've ordered it with the pancake, which by all accounts costs nearly £200 to buy on its own!