Cheap Digital Camera deals discussion

alared

metrochick15 wrote: »

Yesterday at Currys and Dixons online they were advertising the Canon A480 for 59.99 in silver for free home delivery. Don't know whether this will go up now Argos offer is over.

Gone up in currys to £99-99 and none in dixons.

That`s the ruthless cut throat competition in recession hit Britain for you.
They all follow each other and charge the same prices.

isofa

misssaver12 wrote: »

Any suggestions - I'd like to bring back picture memories of the trip with pictures that are good - so an all round camera for a person with an interest but minimum knowledge in cameras at a price for if its lost or stolen.
Any links or suggestions would be appreciated

(did look at the argos camera in the tips and was could not get on the argos site last night - this morning retailing at 129.99 at my local store )

The Canon Ixus 95 is currently at £137.08 probably the best compact at under £150.

www.camerapricebuster.co.uk

Price is at Amazon (+ reviews): http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001T9NH5G/ and lots of other retailers.

theonlyrick

Cameras that use AA batteries are only more expensive to run if you buy non-rechargeables. Which would be very, very silly. And it would be particularly silly - if not stupid - to use the cheapest batteries you can find (ie those big packs of batteries in Poundland). The camera just won't last any time at all on those.

Low drain, zinc chloride batteries:
Very cheap, but pointless. Avoid at all costs!

Alkaline (normal) batteries:
Medium battery life, but expensive. Only use them if you have to.

NiMH (normal rechargeable) batteries:
Best battery life, plus you can recharge them afterwards, so they work out MUCH cheaper!
Also, 'cos they're relatively cheap, you can carry a spare pair round with you.


When cameras have those rectangular inbuilt batteries (Li-Ion), they are small and put out a lot of power.
Unfortunately, if you need to replace them they're pretty expensive, and if you're not going to be able to recharge the camera, you're stuck.
Not a problem with AAs (the normal cylindrical batteries) - they're cheap enough to keep a backup set with you.


Here comes the science bit:
Although normal alkaline batts (eg say Duracell or Energizer) can put out more energy in total than a rechargeable batt, they can't provide the spike of power that digital cameras need. This means that an alkaline will seems like it's dead, even though it still has plenty of juice in it. Alkaline batteries are like having a car that can go a long way on a tank of petrol, but doesn't have the power to climb a hill.

lfuller58

Have just seen this morning that Sainsburys are advertising this camera on their website for £79.99. Tesco Direct price as per main article - £89.

isofa

theonlyrick wrote: »

Cameras that use AA batteries are only more expensive to run if you buy non-rechargeables. Which would be very, very silly. And it would be particularly silly - if not stupid - to use the cheapest batteries you can find (ie those big packs of batteries in Poundland). The camera just won't last any time at all on those.

I shoot professionally, and have never had a problem with a camera with a Li-Ion battery failing, and although have spares, none have ever died as yet, my oldest is from 4-5 years ago, still going strong. Seeing as they provide power for 400 to 800 shots, they aren't recharged constantly either so have a longer life.

They are infinitely better than AA batteries, I'll avoid the science bit...

If you can find me a camera that can shoot 500-800 shots on one charge running AA's I'll eat my hat – compact or otherwise. I shot a wedding a few weeks ago, about 900 shots, all on one single battery in a DSLR – incredible performance. OK so it's a pro series, but the principle is the same. Our compact Ixus has no problem shooting 400 to 500 out of one charge, if I was using the screen to compose, this would be more like 200 to 400.

It's also a common misconception that spare Li-Ion batteries are expensive, if you buy compatible spare batteries like those from Energiser (rather than official Canon/Nikon spares), they are virtually no difference in price to a couple of sets of good AA rechargeables (and you'd not buy poor quality ones would you?!). I've provided links for good suppliers in other posts.

For a general user, who probably only takes a few hundred shots a month, they are only likely to recharge their compact every month, meaning it'll last years and years before the battery fails, they are good for several hundred charges.

Another factor to consider is the bulk – AA batteries are also larger and heavier, and the cameras have to have a large chamber to accommodate, (just imagine if a matchbox sized Ixus had to take 2 AAs!). Li-Ions are manufactured to fit the camera, usually as a light and small rectangle in a compact, making the camera lighter and far better designed.

Whilst I agree AAs are cheap, unless you use a quality delta-V charger and decent batteries you'll not get the best from them anyway, a good d-V charger will be £30+ too, so factor that in.

As with everything, you get what you pay for.

Axel-

The PowerShot A480 doesn't have Image Stabilisation.

dogmaryxx

£100 off Samsung ES20 10MP Camera - Silver

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5593127.htm?storeId=10001&referredURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.argos.co.uk%2Fstatic%2FProduct%2FpartNumber%2F5593127.htm&jspStoreDir=argos&referrer=COJUN&cmpid=COJUN

nomoneytoday

AA batteries suck for digi cameras IMHO. My Nikon battery gives 600 pics as standard, as does it's spare. It also charges quickly, fits like a glove and above all "just works"

Liveview screens, slow shutter times, poor quality lenses and AA batteries may be cheap, but they are not "moneysaving" IMHO. They are compromises which impact the quality of the end result. Point and shoots are fine for facebook, but I sure wouldn't film a wedding, surf show or motor race with one

entina

Samsung ES20 10mp camera was 159.99 now 59.99 at Argos

alared

Samsung ES55 is £75 at Asda and £69-95 at Dixons

Update: after comparing the two, the current offer at £59-99 for the ES20 looks a great deal and you can add a 4gb card for half price at £9-99

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5593127.htm?storeId=10001&referredURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.argos.co.uk%2Fstatic%2FProduct%2FpartNumber%2F5593127.htm&jspStoreDir=argos&referrer=COJUN&cmpid=COJUN