Recommend me a compact camera, please

Bean_Counter

Hi,

I am looking to replace my Olympus mju 700 compact camera with something newer and better. Not looking to anything more than taking family pictures.

The criteria are as follows:

Cost - £150 - £200, although may go slightly over if necessary
Must be compact enough to be carried in a pocket
As high as possible for mega-pixels and zoom

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks in advance and let me know if you need more input from me.

Lifeforms

Bean_Counter wrote: »

As high as possible for mega-pixels and zoom

Just wanted to point you to :
http://www.dansdata.com/gz059.htm
Sometimes size isn't all that matters with the compact cameras.

It's more a case of if you want the newest out there, with the highest MP on the camera, just head to Jessops, argos, anywhere like that and pick one off the shelf, but if you're looking to buy a decent one, not necessarily high MP, but good sensor range, then you need to investigate it more. (possibly go second hand, refurbs etc)

Great having an expensive camera, but a real let down compared to actual decent pictures.

penrhyn

What about a Lumix TZ18? I have one and am very pleased with it, its like the TZ20 but without the GPS.

m5rcc

Nikon Coolpix S5100 or S9100

Millionaire

Panasonic TZ20
Canon Ixus 230HS
Nikon S9100
Sony HX9V

Take your pick, although they are not as compact as your current camera.

Bean_Counter

Lifeforms wrote: »

Just wanted to point you to :
http://www.dansdata.com/gz059.htm
Sometimes size isn't all that matters with the compact cameras.

It's more a case of if you want the newest out there, with the highest MP on the camera, just head to Jessops, argos, anywhere like that and pick one off the shelf, but if you're looking to buy a decent one, not necessarily high MP, but good sensor range, then you need to investigate it more. (possibly go second hand, refurbs etc)

Great having an expensive camera, but a real let down compared to actual decent pictures.

Thanks for the link - I'll need to re-read it a couple of times for it to sink in fully.

Thanks also to the others for their thoughts - off to do some homework.

Mr_Toad

Bean_Counter wrote: »

Hi,

I am looking to replace my Olympus mju 700 compact camera with something newer and better. Not looking to anything more than taking family pictures.

The criteria are as follows:

Cost - £150 - £200, although may go slightly over if necessary
Must be compact enough to be carried in a pocket
As high as possible for mega-pixels and zoom

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks in advance and let me know if you need more input from me.

Don't get hung up on getting the most megapixels it doesn't mean better pictures.

What you need is a good sensor, as lifeforms said. and perhaps the most important thing is a good lens.

A professional photographer will spend thousands on a lens to fit to a body that costs a lot less.

The best sensor and loads of megapixels are no good if all you have is a cheap and nasty lens.