calling all camera boffs.....

Basil1234

right have made a post https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2693127

and guess i should have really stuck in here instead, looking for best priced featured camera this bank hols offers anyway have a read see if anyone got any ideas please.
and replys needed by mon 30th aug really for the offers cheers

thnx basil

Marty999

There's not much to choose between the two models you have mentioned Basil, but looking at the specs on the Fuji website, the AX250 has a slightly wider maximum aperture than the JX530 so you can use a faster shutter speed in lower lighting conditions, but the JX530 includes a Li-Ion battery and the AX250 only comes with a couple of alkaline AA batteries, so I would go with the JX530 of the two.

Basil1234

marty thanks for the input was way i was thinking but have now seen a ge camera i like the look of here
but not sure of ge in ref to cameras? they list on argos is the hz15 but on the ge website looks like the x5 http://www.general-imaging.co.uk/our-cameras/power-series/x5.html now the plus's are has 15times optical zoom downside is the aa batteries but that could be a plus as an internal battery dies while you out if you see what i'm saying. my only concern is in the argos lists it as sd card but on the side they offer sdhc 16gb for £35 but really would like to know for sure is sdhc which it does state on the ge site upto 16gb which would be handy.
its just the fuji one seems they have said it does more than it actually may deliver also looks a bit delicate as well or maybe thats just me?
thoughts please.
best deal i can see for x5 with batteries and case here on amazon for £124.73 delivered minus mem card
i can get my own 16gb sdhc card for £18 delivered from somewhere else

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I've read your original post. You say you need at least 14 megapixels. Why. This is not a sign of picture quality or detail. It's more likely to make pictures worse than better especially in cheaper cameras.

You need optical image stabilization. Most cameras have some stabilization but on the cheapest it's digital which can be a dubious benefit.

Not sure why you need a 16gb unless it's for video recording.

Here's a GE X5 review which would put me off

http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/equipment/reviews/compactcameras/128500/1/ge-x5-review.html

Basil1234

ok grahawk thanks for your input so for £100-£150ish where would your money go then?

Money_Grabber13579

Personally, I would go for any of the Canon Ixus range.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_5_3?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=canon+ixus&sprefix=can

This may not be the cheapest, but it was the easiest link I could pull up at the time! They range from a little over £100, up to £300. But any of them should take good quality pictures. I've always been impressed with Canon cameras.

I would ignore the digital zoom. They aren't great to be honest and will make picture quality really poor. The optical zoom is the most important aspect. As for megapixels, this is only really important if you want to print photos out in poster format or display them on a big screen. 2 megapixels is fine for printing 6x4 photos, but obviously not many cameras are sold with only 2 these days! Around 10 should be fine, unless you want to do the above activities.

SDHC is only required for memory cards 4GB and over. 2GB will probably get you around 300 pictures on the highest quality setting on a 10MP camera. Although as far as I'm aware, all new canon camera have SDHC capability these days. Not sure about other brands, but it usually says in the specifications.

All cameras will be able to connect via a USB cable and should be able to take videos. If you can afford it, I would definitely think seriously about the IXUS 105.

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Depends if you want a bridge camera with the larger zoom or or are happy with a 5x zoom. There have been good camears like the Samsung WB500 with 10x optical zoom and 10 megapixels in that price range in recent months as they were cleared out. Might be a few around somewhere if you can find a reputable supplier. A few months ago there were other bargains klike the Panasonic TZ27 but you've probably missed those. There's also the Fuji Finepix F70EXR:

http://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk/Fuji_Finepix_F70EXR?gclid=CKSqwMaE4aMCFYlg4wodeUIaXw

For a more standard compact with a 5x zoom I would at present go for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS9 for £99 at Comet.

Savvy_Spender_South

This Sony camera seems reasonable, with some good reviews:

Sony W320 14.1MP Digital Camera - Silver

I am not a camera Buff, but i am a Sony buyer so a bit blinded by brand loyalty. under £120 for everyday use cant be bad and with TESCO offering 1000 club card points bonus, thats an extra £50 in voucher spending in your pocket.

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Savvy_Spender_South wrote: »

This Sony camera seems reasonable, with some good reviews:

Sony W320 14.1MP Digital Camera - Silver

This camera doesn't have optical image stabilisation.

Money_Grabber13579

grahawk wrote: »

Depends if you want a bridge camera with the larger zoom or or are happy with a 5x zoom. There have been good camears like the Samsung WB500 with 10x optical zoom and 10 megapixels in that price range in recent months as they were cleared out. Might be a few around somewhere if you can find a reputable supplier. A few months ago there were other bargains klike the Panasonic TZ27 but you've probably missed those. There's also the Fuji Finepix F70EXR:

http://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk/Fuji_Finepix_F70EXR?gclid=CKSqwMaE4aMCFYlg4wodeUIaXw

For a more standard compact with a 5x zoom I would at present go for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS9 for £99 at Comet.

I've got the F70EXR and I don't find it to be that great. The zoom is more like a digital zoom when it get's anywhere near 10x and picture quality is slightly grainy, especially indoors. Never had such problems with my canon.

Lirin

Grahaw's correct- anything over 7mp is generally a detriment in compacts, as the lenses are made totally differently to SLR's.... Whoever said to ignore digi zoom as well is correct- it's only handy for very short zoom- anything larger and the pic quality goes.
Optical stabilisation- I've used on a few cameras, and compacts simply usually lack the weight to make them terribly effective.
general rule of thumb I usually use with compacts (bearing in mind I'm pro, so use them only when I'm lazy and don't bring my kit out) is to find the latest model I've decided on, then go to Ebay and look for the model before. Usually there's little difference in the spec, eg, new model maybe comes with a slightly larger screen. The amount of people that buy a camera only to replace it because they 'have' to have the latest model is astounding!
Nikon do good cameras- the coolpix range- and you should be able to pick up a few for well under £100.. Canon Ixus range are brilliant, but beware the lens- while the lens is fantastic, the actual housing isn't, and the slightest knock can leave the lens trapped against the barrel. Nikon doesn't have this problem as their's is plastic (flex), but the Nikon bodies are generally plastic, where Canon use metal.