I want to buy a digital camera, but I don't know anything about them. Can anyone give me any advice?
Basically I want to get something under £200, preferably including cables and maybe extra memory card. Something easy to use and not with hundreds of features that i cant / wont use.
Digital Cameras
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17 posts
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I am not in a position to give specific 'buy this one' advice, as I am not up on the latest models that are available.
You have already mentioned extra memory card - good. The larger the better.
Also to be considered is batteries. Some of the more recent cameras are coming with Li-ion (mobile phone like) batteries. While these are good new there are lifetime problems with them (Apple iPods have had quite a big problem with batteries dying fairly quickly).
Picking a camera which takes AA batteries gives the big advantage of being able to pick up replacment ones in many places, while still giving the choice of using rechargables (though if you are using recharagble batteries pay extra for higher quality/rated ones - they last much better).
If possible get to see the cameras in action. Most shops will let you try them out. When doing so one of the main considerations is how good the screen is.
The screen can particularly become difficult to see in sunny/bright light.
Be careful when reading the zoom information. Look for ones that give decent optical zoom (that is done through the lense). Digital zoom is only possible on lower resolution photos and is not that useful (if you have a decent size memory card then you will mainly be taking photos at full resolution).
You have already mentioned extra memory card - good. The larger the better.
Also to be considered is batteries. Some of the more recent cameras are coming with Li-ion (mobile phone like) batteries. While these are good new there are lifetime problems with them (Apple iPods have had quite a big problem with batteries dying fairly quickly).
Picking a camera which takes AA batteries gives the big advantage of being able to pick up replacment ones in many places, while still giving the choice of using rechargables (though if you are using recharagble batteries pay extra for higher quality/rated ones - they last much better).
If possible get to see the cameras in action. Most shops will let you try them out. When doing so one of the main considerations is how good the screen is.
The screen can particularly become difficult to see in sunny/bright light.
Be careful when reading the zoom information. Look for ones that give decent optical zoom (that is done through the lense). Digital zoom is only possible on lower resolution photos and is not that useful (if you have a decent size memory card then you will mainly be taking photos at full resolution).
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Simon - brown
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What are you wanting to use it for? A camera thats great for fast action orienteering photos won't be the same as one thats good for boozed up comedy photos (especially at your price range). That said, I think you can get my camera (Pentax Optio S) for under £200 now and thats quite good for both. Check out http://www.dpreview.com for reviews of most digital cameras in a depth that scares me.
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PeterG - diehard
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I got into digital photos a few years ago when working with the squad. There seems to be two options... computer firms & camera firms... I went camera & got Olympus with a normal view finder like on 'real' cameras. It doesn't have a massive number of pixels - 3 million - but any number of photos have been published in compass sport... not a great number of features if you don't want.
Number of pictures is dependant on chip size... think mine is 32mb which gives 64 pictures of publishable quality
Number of pictures is dependant on chip size... think mine is 32mb which gives 64 pictures of publishable quality
- gross2004
We bought an Olympus C-200 zoom some years back and have had excellent results - i'm sure they are quite cheap now - got an extra chip to take loads of photos - quite hungry on batteries but usues rechargeable - we have since upgraded to something utterly superdooper - but i still use the olympus from time to time because it is so easy - we're hangng on to it for the little H's to use - Neville took it to Mariestad and got some decent pics (and some indecent ones too ) I would have no hesitation in recommending it
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Mrs H. - nope godmother
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I bought Mrs PFB an Olympus mju 300 in the summer which seems good, but I don't think you can get them now. It has a waterproof body too.
UK Digital Cameras are the people that I used. They have the mju 400 (which has more pixels than 300) for £189.50 (or with a case and a 128 card for £40 more) - includes postage and VAT. http://ukdigitalcameras.safeshopper.com/12/473.htm
I'm not over keen on the photo software, but I think I just need to play around with it a bit more.
UK Digital Cameras are the people that I used. They have the mju 400 (which has more pixels than 300) for £189.50 (or with a case and a 128 card for £40 more) - includes postage and VAT. http://ukdigitalcameras.safeshopper.com/12/473.htm
I'm not over keen on the photo software, but I think I just need to play around with it a bit more.
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PorkyFatBoy - diehard
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try to get one which takes AA batteries as you can buy them anywhere, so you don't have to rely upon finding a mains connection. Also a fold away screen is good as it prevents you getting scratches all over the screen which are almost unavoidable even when using a good camera case.
If you want both those features then the Canon A series(A85 is the current model I think, but the A80 also has these features) is good and costs £240 from argos
If you want both those features then the Canon A series(A85 is the current model I think, but the A80 also has these features) is good and costs £240 from argos
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David - white
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I have a Olympus mju-300 like Mrs PFB - we have had it for over a year and there have been no problems with the battery and battery life seems pretty good - it has lasted over a week abroad without recharging, although it seems to be getting worse.
We like it because it is small and waterproof which is good on beaches and up mountains etc, but the trade off is that the screen is a bit small and functionality is limited. Also I haven't fully tested the waterproofness yet, but being stupid it is only a matter of time.
I also find the Olympus software a bit of a pain - I tend to use the software we got from Bonusprint when we got our old fashioned camera pictures digitised and put on CD.
We like it because it is small and waterproof which is good on beaches and up mountains etc, but the trade off is that the screen is a bit small and functionality is limited. Also I haven't fully tested the waterproofness yet, but being stupid it is only a matter of time.
I also find the Olympus software a bit of a pain - I tend to use the software we got from Bonusprint when we got our old fashioned camera pictures digitised and put on CD.
- Neil M35
- red
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I just bought a nikon coolpix 2100 or something like that...its pretty good for someone who doesn't really know anything about the technology of it all! It's £180 in the shops but got it for £85 on internet. i'll bring it with me so you can check it out next weekend if you want gg
The ruth is on fire
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ruth - red
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OK, dragging this thread back up since I guess a few more people will have got digital cameras in the last 6 months and I'm looking to buy one in the next month... probably 5 megapixel and minimum 3x optical zoom but beyond that it's a case of looking what's going and what's value for money.
anyone got any good recommendations? (note links to british shop-sites aren't going to be too helpful as I'll be buying it in Germany!)
anyone got any good recommendations? (note links to british shop-sites aren't going to be too helpful as I'll be buying it in Germany!)
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Ed - diehard
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when i got mine i bought a what camera or digital camer or similar magazine. it knows more than people on nopesport, unbiased reviews, and it normaly has adverts for small online companies where you get them really cheap. its better to spend £3 on that then lots on a camera which just isn't you...
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mharky - team nopesport
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agreed that (shock, horror) nopesporters don't know everything - I wouldn't base a purchase just on what I read here... but one or two recommendations of models worth looking at so I've got something to go off would be a nice start - I've just been looking on http://www.dpreview.com and there's an insane number of models on there...
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Ed - diehard
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