Compact camera advice please

[PH5121]

I have no knowledge of cameras and photography, so would appreciate a little advice from those who do please.

Last night at my youngest sons Nativity performance my wife who was taking pictures with her phone said that she wished she had a little camera she could use on occasions such as this. So I would like to get her one as a Christmas present.

I have a modest budget of £150 in mind as I have already bought her other gifts, but would be grateful if anyone could point me in the direction of decent product that fulfills the point and shoot role.

Thanks

Edited by PH5121 on Friday 11th December 09:02

[littleredrooster]

Mrs Rooster has one of the earlier versions of these and it produces good results.

However, in most cases, a decent phone (iPhone 5 onwards, recent Samsungs etc.) will do snapshot-type stuff just as well if not better.

[PH5121]

Thanks for that, I will have a look at them.

My wife has used her phones for the past few years as a camera, but she isn't happy with her latest Samsung.

[PH5121]

I have been having a look at a Canon Ixus 275, I can get it with a case and memory card for my budget.

I am a little confused by the memory card options. I can get a 32GB with 60MB read speed for a very similar cost to a 64GB one with a 40MB read speed - the problem is I don't know what read speed means. In my ignorance I would assume that twice the capacity for a similar cost would be a good thing, but am I wrong?

[sjg]

My wife's been through a few generations of the Canon Powershot SX cameras, she likes the big optical zoom in a compact body with some manual controls and decent battery life (the Ixus range tends to have pretty small batteries). They shoot decent video too, although the mic on the camera is a bit limited. SX610 is around the £130 mark.

[PH5121]

sjg said:

My wife's been through a few generations of the Canon Powershot SX cameras, she likes the big optical zoom in a compact body with some manual controls and decent battery life (the Ixus range tends to have pretty small batteries). They shoot decent video too, although the mic on the camera is a bit limited. SX610 is around the £130 mark.

Thanks for that recommendation, the SX610 looks good, is the Powershot a step up from the Ixus range?

[RobinOakapple]

PH5121 said:

I am a little confused by the memory card options. I can get a 32GB with 60MB read speed for a very similar cost to a 64GB one with a 40MB read speed - the problem is I don't know what read speed means. In my ignorance I would assume that twice the capacity for a similar cost would be a good thing, but am I wrong?

That's a lot of capacity for a compact camera. Read/write speed shouldn't be a big problem for a snap-shooter either. Buy a cheaper one to start with and later get one that addresses any problems that crop up, thought I doubt any will, assuming it's a decent make.

[PH5121]

RobinOakapple said:

That's a lot of capacity for a compact camera. Read/write speed shouldn't be a big problem for a snap-shooter either. Buy a cheaper one to start with and later get one that addresses any problems that crop up, thought I doubt any will, assuming it's a decent make.

I was looking at Scandisk as they seem widely available, but don't know if they could be classed as a decent make.

[RobinOakapple]

PH5121 said:

RobinOakapple said:

That's a lot of capacity for a compact camera. Read/write speed shouldn't be a big problem for a snap-shooter either. Buy a cheaper one to start with and later get one that addresses any problems that crop up, thought I doubt any will, assuming it's a decent make.

I was looking at Scandisk as they seem widely available, but don't know if they could be classed as a decent make.

I'm using one of these, shooting RAW in a Canon 70D, no problems so far.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/eMemoryCards-64GIG-Ultra-C...

[sjg]

PH5121 said:

Thanks for that recommendation, the SX610 looks good, is the Powershot a step up from the Ixus range?

Just different.

Generally Ixus is about compact size above everything else, so compromises are made on size of the lens, optical zoom, battery, flash, etc. Usually not a lot in the way of manual controls, and what you can fiddle with is buried away in menus.

Powershot range doesn't have that obsession with size or simplicity so fit in your hands better, more controls exposed as buttons, bigger batteries can take more photos without running out, etc.

Back in the days before very competent smartphone cameras, Ixus cameras were a good choice for someone who just wanted good quality snapshots and didn't want any extra bulk. Now if it's an extra camera for shots that are tricky with a phone (like a nativity play with lower light, bigger zoom needed, etc) then I think the extra bulk is worth it.

[PH5121]

Thanks for the recommendation. I will be picking up a Canon SX160 today for the princely sum of £128.00 so money left in the 'kitty' for a memory card and perhaps a case too.