Help/recommendations for a Digital Camera

Bargainbabe_2

My good ole' Kodak ES CX7530 has finally died. It served me well, but it's time to move on. My budget is around £100.

My basic requirements are:

Good optical zoom (at least 5x)
Good quality pics indoors as well as out.
Face Detection facility
Not concerned about size of camera..although I don't like the tiny type.
Relatively easy to use.
Comes with a rechargeable battery.

I will mainly be using it for baby/child/family pics, mini videos, holiday pics, one or 2 macro shots, etc..general use basically.

Thanks in advance for any help offered

isofa

I'd have a search, this question comes up 2 or 3 times a week, and is usually answered with similar advice...

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/search.html

My usual advice is read reviews at:

https://www.dpreview.com
https://www.stevesdigicams.com
https://www.cameralabs.com

and check prices for comparison at: https://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk

Everyone has a different recommendation, so you need to shortlist, try and and choose what you think is best.

Bargainbabe_2

Hi thanks,

I have searched, I always do before posting, but I have slightly different requirements to others. I have been looking around for a couple of days now, but I am so indecisive, just wanted a couple of suggestions really. (BTW, I find that offersoftheday.co.uk comes up with cheaper prices. )

I am quite keen on the Panasonic Lumix TZ3, I think it's the 10x zoom and the fact that's not huge that is attracting me but it's slightly out of my price range. I've also read that it doesn't take very good indoor pics?
I am also leaning towards another Kodak, it's just which one! My old kodak took great pics. Argh decisions, decisions.

BillScarab

I've got a TZ3, it cost £150 including a 1Gb card. To me the indoor pictures look OK, as good as most compact cameras anyway. The wide angle and 10x zoom is very useful.

I'd have a look at https://www.dpreview.com and select a manufacturer in their database and then scan through and find which cameras have 5x zoom or more. It doesn't have face recognition though. I think the Canon A720is is suppsoed to be OK and is 6x zoom but no wide angle and again I don't think ti has face recognition.

https://www.trustedreviews.co.uk is also pretty good.

Bargainbabe_2

Hi Bill,

Did you buy it from 7dayshop? I thought £150 for the camera and the card was a really good deal and definitely the cheapest I could find. Shame about the face recognition though? May I ask you what made you go for this camera in particular?

BillScarab

Yes, I got it from 7day shop.

I bought it because of the 28mm wide angle lens, the 10x zoom was also a factor. I only got it a coupel of weeks ago so it hasn't had that much use apart from a trip to the tank museum but I'm happy with the results so far. Although I still want a DSLR when funds allow.

If yiou can hang on for a while it should drop in price a fair bit as the the TZ5 has just been launched to replace it.

isofa

Personally I'd avoid the Kodak, in most tests, Kodak cameras fair worse than the other brands, Canon, Nikon, Panasonic etc. But maybe I'm biased, because most of my cameras in the last 10 years have been Canon! Might be worth having a look in a digital camera mag too...

I think with the budget you are going to struggle to get the best, add another £50 and it'd open up more options.