Please help me find a digital camera..

gghh

Thanks for all replies, you've all been very helpful.
I'm not looking into a new phone as my one is not very old and I want the optical zoom feature.
Can I just ask, what does "reconditioned" or "refurbished" actually mean, I have had a look around on ebay and have seen these words a lot but not sure what difference this makes to the camera.
I am being drawn to the Canon Powershot SX200 at the moment, just need to go into a shop to have a proper look at one, the prices seem to differ so much though!

*manda*

Why not take a look at the Panasonic Lumix TZ range. They are small cameras with fantastic optical zoom. I have had one for several years and have no gripes at all. Mine has x10 optical zoom which is fantastic for gigs (And trust me, I go to enough to know all about them...) Being small it is still discrete so you wont get hassle from security as venues are tightening up a lot on the use of professional cameras and as a blanket rule, if they don't like the look if it they'll take it off you. I've never had this one confiscated.

cheeswright

reconditioned / refurbished -usually means its been sent back to the manufacturer
either by a shop - or a customer
either with a fault or unacceptable cosmetic damage
( the customer will probably have had a new replacement item or money back)
so if the thing can be repaired or have the damaged part replaced economically it can be sold on at a discount rather than dumped
often the packaing has gone - so it comes in a plain box

some people dont like to buy things that arnt 'factory perfect' and distrust 'repaired' items - its a personal choice -
I like the environmentaly friendly aspect of this way of buying - as well as the money saving.
hope this clarifies

cheeswright

oh - and *manda* is quite right
the lumix tz is excellent theyre the ones i very nearly bought - but its also around £200
this camera
https://secure.fujifilm.co.uk/shop/consumer/digital/digital-cameras/d-slr-long-zoom/finepix-s2000hd
is £ 135 refurbished with a better spec and still 10x optical zoom
(around £100 off) but complex

https://secure.fujifilm.co.uk/shop/consumer/digital/digital-cameras/fun-and-easy/finepix-j150w

this one is super easy to use - ...and and around £50 below retail
have fun:D

ClareEmily

My sister and I both have the Canon Digital IXUS 80IS, I love it, take it everywhere with me, it is compact, has a good zoom and takes fab piccys.

http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Cameras/Digital_Camera/IXUS/Digital_IXUS_80_IS/index.asp

It has clever functions on it, or just use the auto and point and click.

I got mine as a present but it would not have been more than £200.

davetrousers

gghh wrote: »

I want something with a good zoom feature, I went to a gig last month and had to take all pictures zoomed in but they just came out blurry,

This'll be because it's dark at gigs, and as a result the shutter needs to be open longer, and longer shutter times means more blurry due to camera shake and the subject moving. A high level of zoom can also accentuate blurriness.

The flash on a compact digi. camera won't be overly powerful, but even if you were close enough for the flash to be effective, it would mean that the gig lighting would be largely lost in your photo.

To take pics at a gig you need a bigger lens so that more light can get in. And so you looking at DSLR cameras. You also need to be near to the subject.

rosekitten

why not try a sony the charge in them
lasts for ages,they are also quite kid
proof as well.Mines about 8mp and
the images are really sharp.i have
had mine about 5 years and am now
thinking of handing it over to the kids
and getting a new one,the other that
would be worth looking at is a Cannon
they seem really good as well.

jamtart6

lumix panasonic, can't reccomend them highly enough. if mine broke id buy another one without a second thought. have a ridiculously fab zoom on them under £200