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[Closed] moon on a stick content - recommend me a camera

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as above really, I thinking about asking for a new camera for christmas. part of me really wants a DLSR but I know for the budget thats not really an option, but I do like the idea of being able to have a fair amount of control over the picture I'm taking.

budget £200

criteria - in approximate order of importance

fairly small so i can slip it into a pocket - if i'm not getting an dlsr i'll go for the convenience
fast shutter response (ie press button take picture immediately - no delay)
good amount of optical zoom
face detection
battery life
not too many bells and whistles as I never get round to using them

anyone got any recommendations?


 
Posted : 10/12/2009 11:00 pm
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Gotta be something from the canon ixus range


 
Posted : 10/12/2009 11:02 pm
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you don't get fast shutter response on cheap compacts - eg Ixus autofocus takes a second or so..


 
Posted : 10/12/2009 11:10 pm
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Got an Ixus myself, can't fault it for the money.


 
Posted : 10/12/2009 11:25 pm
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I think you're going to have to look at a dslr, perhaps just asking for money to go towards the purchase? I recently bought a Nikon D60 for £260, with a kit lens, which was a demo model with no battery. You might find something similar, but if you try finding a compact with manual override, you'll get a relatively small zoom range, and pay well over £200. At least one of the Lumix cameras has manual, the LX30, possibly. Could be wrong on the model, but the one I'm thinking of only has around 5x optical zoom, compared to the 12x of the TZ7. Difficult call, a compact is perfect for those quick shots when you're out and about, but a dslr gives you so much more option wise. Still, it's the camera you have with you that's the important one, and I don't carry my Lumix TZ3 around, or my Nikon, generally speaking, but I always have my 2Mp phone, and I can do panoramas with it, and post straight to Flickr and Facebook, so I could argue it's the best camera I have. It could be worth looking secondhand, good camera shops do sell s/h stuff, and you could land a bargain. This is one area I wouldn't go to eBay for, however.


 
Posted : 10/12/2009 11:35 pm
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Panasonic LX3?

Here's a review, but its over budget.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/PanasonicDMCLX3/

Or a Panasonic TZ7 would come in at budget, my TZ5 has been fantastic.


 
Posted : 10/12/2009 11:38 pm
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Thanks for the input 🙂

Anyone from the daytime shift have any further ideas?


 
Posted : 11/12/2009 1:56 pm
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fast shutter response (ie press button take picture immediately - no delay)

Ha ha ha

Seriously my GF got a TZ6 recently for £175, seems ideal.


 
Posted : 11/12/2009 1:59 pm
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fast shutter response (ie press button take picture immediately - no delay)

That's your problem. You just won't get this without buying an SLR (unless I'm mistaken).


 
Posted : 11/12/2009 2:23 pm
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I know that I'll never get DSLR response times from a compact but some cameras are better than others in this regard. Certainly my current one is painfully slow. with a good second between pressing the button and the shutter clicking.


 
Posted : 11/12/2009 2:40 pm
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Tough and Waterproof as well?

http://www.camerabox.co.uk/product1.asp?ProductName=Olympus-Mju-Tough-8000-Silver-%28A-Grade%29&ProductID=10551

Or cracking wee lumix:
http://www.camerabox.co.uk/product1.asp?ProductName=Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZX1-Black&ProductID=9333

I just bough from these guys - they delivered in under 18 hours...


 
Posted : 11/12/2009 2:49 pm
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I just bought one of the Olympus Tough cameras from Camera Box. Seems good value for the money, but shutter speed may not be fast enough for OP. It is for me!!!


 
Posted : 11/12/2009 3:38 pm
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My IXUS had pretty fast shutter response (IXUS 800is).

Certainly quicker than my current Nikon.


 
Posted : 11/12/2009 4:05 pm