Recommend me a Compact Digital Camera

[Barreti]

Hi chaps,

I've got a colleague who is looking for a new compact camera to replace a knackered Yashika T4 35mm

My experience tells me to look for something which is good at taking indoor party shots as they get used mostly for this and pretty much anything takes a reasonable shot in good light.

Jury is out on Sony Cybershot W55 / Pentax A30 - both of which look OK but reviews a bit pants (her words LOL)

£150 max to spend. Yashika was £112 14 years ago

Any ideas?

[davidd]

I was about to buy a new compact for the Missus, and was thinking about the sony as amazon have it for £116

They also have a sony dscW80 for £130, not sure if it is any better though...

Anyone got a useful opinion?

Cheers

D

[cian]

The Panasonic Lumix range is well worth a look. Plenty features, easy to use and good quality results.

[Mrs Fish]

Fish has just bought me a Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ3 - I have been playing with it today and its fab. Out of the budget price though.

[fish]

If you are after indoor party shots the Fujifilm range are apparently excellant with superb low light performance.

Do a google and you can find a Fujifilm F31FD with 1 gig card and case for about £150...

Superb little camera.

Review here;

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilmf31fd/ 

Bundle;

http://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk/Mod/Products/Fuji_F31fd_Bundle_1?gclid=CMHn5M_C_o0CFQpaMAodiRgvNw 

I HAVE NEVER USED CLIFTON SO CANNOT COMMENT IT WAS MERELY THE FIRST I FOUND ON GOOGLE.


Hope that helps. While Lisa's Lumix is good it isn't the best camera for low light and party shots. The Fujifilms with Super CCD have about sewn it up. Sony's aren't bad too but a bit more expensive.

[DavidY]

The Panasonics aren't the be all and end all in low light however some have a wider angle lens which can be very useful for indoor party shots. My wife has a Panasonic DMC FX-01 in Pink! For the money I think it's a cracking camera, came new from an eBay seller earlier in the year for about £145 in memory card.

davidy

[lowdrag]

No contest here. Have a look at the Ricoh Caplio R6. 28mm (so useful indoors) at the wide end and 200mm at the long end and all available at around £150. Compact, better at higher ISO (apparently) than the Panasonics, and a greatly underrated camera.

[fish]

I had a very long look at the Ricoh before going for the LUmix with lisa. I agree the specs read very well but in the limited play I had I found the TFT very grainy, light metering no where near as accurate as the Lumix and the build somewhat average. granted the camera is alot cheaper than the Lumix and I'm sure is very good for the spec but it just didn't do it for me I'm afraid.

That does sound like I've slated it, don't get me wrong I still like it a s a good product for the spec and price range...but....

[KatyB]

Thanks for all your help folks! After a few lunchtime reccies to Boots, Currys, Jessops et al, I've discovered:

- FujiFinepix F40 has fab white balance & simple to use altho' lens looks very basic.
- Sony Cybershot has the best lens but not so good at night. And the "rich" setting turns grass lime coloured!
- Pentax A30 is still a great handbag camera but soooo sloooooow
- Lumix is lovely [thanks Mrs Fish] but over budget & on my Xmas list
- Canon are taking the mick a bit with prices

Keep recommending please as all input is very welcome. Overall, it's worth upping your budget and buy what you love.