NDP needs camera advice... Please

[NDPHasAKittenOnTheKeyboard]

We have a big all singing, all dancing SLR which is great but a bit bulky for everyday use.

I want a dinky, compact digi camera. My budget isn't massive but I do want a decent picture quality.

Ideally I'd like to spend less than £80 (I know, a big ask).

Thanks all

here you go. After an slr nothing is ever that good, but we have this as a little snappy when we don't want to carry the slr, and it does take nice pics.

also, the quality appears rubbish on the lcd, but once you download them, they are good pics.

that looks good choppy.

I alos like the look of the Nikon Coolpix L11 (terrible name though). It is reduced on the Curry's site from £99.99 to £79.98.

6 million pixels

Hmm, less than £80 is a challenge. You probably won't get a great lens for that - you also won't get a super slim style one (like the Canon Ixus) unless you go for a second hand one.

Best bet is to wander into Jessops in town and try them all out for size and weight and whether you can fit in pocket/bag comfortably because seeing a picture on the internet is never really that great.

Anyway, all that said, Canon do the Canon PowerShot A460 at around the £80 mark. The PowerShot series is very well respected and is likely to have a decent enough lens for the price (remember, pixels aren't everything - lens quality and sensor size are also a major factor) and is still a 5MP camera.

If you can budget £30 more then the Canon PowerShot A550 gives you 7.1MP

An extra £60 will get you a Canon Ixus 70 which is a super slim light weight camera with 7.1MP also.

But basically, go in and try some out

The Nikon is also well respected. Basically any Nikon or Canon and you're going to get a reasonable quality lens...

I've got the same problem. I love my slr but can't really carry it around all the time. I do need a new mobile phone & thought about one with a decent camera...does such a wonder exist?

thanks rubberduck

I'm at work at the mo (so shouldn't be on here, technically), I'll check back into this thread later.

Over £100 is too much, I'm afraid

Hmm, I'm just not convinced by camera phones.

My inner snob disapproves.....

Oh b%gger the inner snob! Who cares when you get that shot of the dc?

Henri C-B used to go everywhere with his Leica but then he wasn't a mum, was he?

lol

if you're only downloading to the pc - you don't need more than 3/4 mega pixels

I've got a Nokia N73 which has a Carl Zeiss lens and is 3.2MP. Not brilliant, but certainly decent enough for quick snaps when I'm too lazy to take a bulky camera out. If you're prepared to do some post-processing (like correcting white balance when using flash) then it's certainly "good enough" for posting stuff to web.

But then I also own a Canon PowerShot A620 and a Canon 400D and hubby has a Nikon D80 so we're not short of a camera or two in the house

Yes I have the Canon 400D. Brill, isn't it. Wish I could carry it around in my handbag.

Yes, gutted that it's such a faff to take out with me everywhere. Especially as my favourite lens is a 100mm macro which tends to make it a little less portable.

photos from "ordinary" people using a mere Nokia N73

photos from "ordinary" people using Canon PowerShot A460

photos from "ordinary" people using Nikon Coolpix L11

(all of which prove it's not what you got, it's what you do with it that counts )

I think the nikon is supposed to be smaller, which would prob be a big factor fr you. I'd go and try them both out, but see if you can see pics on screen too, rahter than jsut on the camera.

I tend to stick with canon, imo they are the best. Our other camera is the 350d.

Beautiful photos, rd. Who's got an extra-special talent, then?

They're not mine!

They're the "most interesting" on flickr from everyone using those cameras

I took the photo on my profile though...

Thanks for those links

The pics I'll be taking will be uploaded to the PC but I will be sending them off for processing too (I like 'real' photo's).

Rubberduck (and others, of course), thanks for your advice/ It sounds like you know what you're talking about.

Both that Nikon you like and the Canon A460 look good value for money in your price range - I would go on gut feeling on which you prefer in your hand.

Oh, remember to check the menus out in the shop too - some can be more intuitive than others and is really down to personal preference.

Hijack - sorry NDP

RD am still working on getting Sat sorted, will let you know tonight hopefullly