camera help please - which one?? urgent

moneypooh

I need to get a new camera for my teenage daughter but I'm so confused. I've been looking at the panasonic range but no idea which one to get. I have about £200 to spend so would like the best I can get.
Ideally it would take great photos in any conditions, like parties etc...
any advice would be appreciated as I need to get one this week.

thanks

wallbash

Quote for my teenage daughter

She is big enough to have her own mind ( from a father of two teen daughters)
TAKE her to shop where she can handle the cameras, looking at pictures is not good enough.

I have a Panasonic TZ but my daughters like smaller models??

ALL cameras from the big boys now take great photographs.

Budget for a better case and more memory

DCodd

Cannon Ixus is what my o/h Daughter chose, performs very well, is solid and built well and is smallish and light but I think the most important thing for her was that it was PINK!:D

moneypooh

As it's a big surprise she doesn't get the chance to choose, and she is 15 and has no idea about cameras. She borrows my TZ and finds it OK, but I'd like to know if which TZ is better, and if there is an alternative to the TZ range.

elsien

I have the TZ3 and really like it, but if I probably wouldn't if I were a teenage girl wanting to take it out and about. It's too bulky to fit comfortably into a pocket or small bag, and the case makes it even bigger. My recommendation would be for something more slimline.

pir

Look at the canon ixus range. Really great cameras, good build quality, excellent pictures, great battery life, decent video (for a regular camera), range of colours and fits easily into a pocket.

I cannot post links as I'm new to the forum but type canon ixus into amazon to see what is available. They are coming under £200 so that means you have extra for SD cards, a camera bag and possibly an extra battery. I have an extra battery for mine but the battery life on the canon is amazing so the only times I really need to use it is if I'm away at a festival without power for 5 days and have been taking lots of video and photos.

pir

Another thought is that if you already have a certain type of camera and get her one there is less of a novelty in it. She's already seen it, used it but if you get something different you get that extra bit of novelty excitement for your money.

MORPH3US

The TZ's are the super zooms right? I would never get anyone one of those for the type of use I think she would need. (And thats coming from someone who would LOVE a TZ7 )

I have to agree with everyone saying to get a small compact around 8 megapixel, 3x zoom, image stabilisation / anti shake / anti blur if possible. Canon are good, Sony are good (I have a small Sony and everyone complements me on how small it is)

I would imagine she wants something small and light to fit in her handbag to take to parties, not a brick with a 12x optical zoom... IMHO.

wallbash

and she is 15

Am impressed that she still takes advice from her dad.... mine stopped years ago

What ever camera you go for , keep the invoice and asked about returning it , JUST IN CASE .

I have the TZ3 and really like it, but if I probably wouldn't if I were a teenage girl wanting to take it out and about. It's too bulky to fit comfortably into a pocket or small bag, and the case makes it even bigger. My recommendation would be for something more slimline.

Great advice , main reason my girls have their own and don't borrow dads.

MORPH3US

Should also add... you obviously know her better than me, but is she likely to want to carry an extra camera around to parties... might you be better off getting her (or contributing to) a new mobile phone with decent flash and lens (if such a phone exists).

isofa

Panasonic or the Canon Ixus range, read some reviews. E.g. here: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/digital-cameras/351427/canon-digital-ixus-120-is

They are very small and compact (go and have a look in a good shop like John Lewis, who will price match other stores).

Personally I'd go for the Canon, but them I have thousands of pounds of Canon equipment! But the Panasonic's are also excellent.