Recommend me a compact digital camera for £150-£300.

tomstickland

I'm on the lookout for a decent compact camera.
Some considerations:
It's often going to be used in low light situations to capture action.
Image quality is my primary concern. The largest lens and sensor within the constraint of being compact would be good.
I can't carry a large or heavy camera.
I won't have much time to set it up.
I'm happy to post process using Gimp.

I realise that some of my requirements will mean a compromise is needed.
I've had a look at one of these and it looks pretty good to me:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-Coolpix-P300-Digital-Camera/dp/tech-data/B004LRO71Q/ref=de_a_smtd

Canon Ixus is another name that was recommended to me.

wdw2003

Canon S95 or brand new Ixus 310 both have f2 lenses, which is almost as bright as you'll get in a compact. I'm going to get the 310 because of the 24mm lens. Wasn't aware of the Nikon as I've been blindly buying Canons for years, but it looks similar. Probably not much in it, but a comparison test would be interesting if one exists.

darich

Anything in the Panasonic Lumix range would be a good purchase.
I have a DMC FZ28 (now replaced by the FZ38) - it's a bridge camera but with 18x optical zoom, raw images, li ion battery and 10mp you'll get good quality images from it.
It also does HD video although you don't say if that's a requirement.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_15?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=panasonic+lumix&sprefix=panasonic+lumix

darich

wdw2003 wrote: »

I'm going to get the 310 because of the 24mm lens.

24mm isn't necessarily wide angle - the size of the sensor plays a major part in the focal length in determining wide angle.

wdw2003

darich wrote: »

24mm isn't necessarily wide angle - the size of the sensor plays a major part in the focal length in determining wide angle.

I had the G10 with the 28mm (and possibly larger sensor), but appreciate more the 24mm of the Ixus 200 I've been using for the last 18 months and would definitely prefer to hang on to the 24mm for my next camera. For me that's preferable to more at the other end.

darich

wdw2003 wrote: »

I had the G10 with the 28mm (and possibly larger sensor), but appreciate more the 24mm of the Ixus 200 I've been using for the last 18 months and would definitely prefer to hang on to the 24mm for my next camera. For me that's preferable to more at the other end.

4mm at the bottom end makes a much larger difference than 4mm at the top end.
It depends on your favoured subject as to whether you want the longer lens or the wider one.;)

globalds

Sony NEX 3

http://www.bestbuy.co.uk/product/1000132949/sony-cybershot-black-nex-3-compact-system-camera-18-55mm.aspx

£319 at Best buy ..But they have 8% Quidco at the moment ..Thats £25.52 cash back ,so just in budget.

Yolina

darich wrote: »

Anything in the Panasonic Lumix range would be a good purchase.
I have a DMC FZ28 (now replaced by the FZ38)

I'll second the Panasonic Lumix recommendation

I have a DMC-TZ8, it's rather good as an all-round point and squirt £170 on Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-Lumix-TZ8-Digital-Camera/dp/B0031MA10I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1304368578&sr=8-1

There's a newer model (TZ18) available for £224

darich

tomstickland wrote: »

being compact would be good.
I can't carry a large or heavy camera.
I won't have much time to set it up.

globalds wrote: »

Sony NEX 3

I'm not doubting the ability of the camera but I don't think it's what the OP is after.

globalds

darich wrote: »

I'm not doubting the ability of the camera but I don't think it's what the OP is after.

It never really hurts to throw a few things in the mix..

It has hasn't cost any of us anything ,but your opinion has been noted.

darich

globalds wrote: »

It never really hurts to throw a few things in the mix..

It has hasn't cost any of us anything ,but your opinion has been noted.

You're absolutely right - ideas in the mix is always good.