Advice on budget compact please.....

StevieP · 3 Feb 2011 at 11:17

I've recently lost my compact camera and with a little 'un on the way, I want to get a replacement so I'm not carting my Panasonic FZ38 around everywhere!

I've done a search and there is a few people recommending the IXUS 130 at around £140 but the threads were a few months old - is this still a decent camera around that price point or is there any others I should be looking at?

Budget between £100 and £150 I'd have thought and ideally I'd like it to be fairly small!

I quite like the Sony DSCT99B Cybershot but the missus isnt keen and I'm a little worried about the lens/zoom not being great since its fixed in the camera as opposed to extending out!?!? :confused:

Any advice welcome....

Cheers,

StevieP

suj999 · 3 Feb 2011 at 11:21

look out for the Panasonics too.. very good cameras

kidloco · 3 Feb 2011 at 12:17

Personaly id stay away from the Ixus 130. Sent mine back as it image quality was very poor. Actual camera was lovely though.

Picked up a mint Panasonic TZ7 for £120 instead. nice camera

StevieP · 3 Feb 2011 at 13:21

kidloco said:
Personaly id stay away from the Ixus 130. Sent mine back as it image quality was very poor. Actual camera was lovely though.

Picked up a mint Panasonic TZ7 for £120 instead. nice camera

Am I right in saying the only difference between the TZ7 and TZ8 is the GPS on the TZ8??

Also, if you can link or e-mail via trust, can I ask where you got it from for that price?

Thanks....

StevieP

kidloco · 3 Feb 2011 at 17:54

StevieP said:
Am I right in saying the only difference between the TZ7 and TZ8 is the GPS on the TZ8??

Also, if you can link or e-mail via trust, can I ask where you got it from for that price?

Thanks....

StevieP

No quite. The TZ10 is the replacement for the TZ7. Exactly the same except for the GPS that is supposed to drain the battery like mad. Quite a few people also seem to think that that TZ7 has the better image quality as well. The TZ8 is a model down.

I bought mine from the bay. Lots on there so just make sure you do a few checks. If you use the bay a bit as I do its quite easy to spot a genuine seller that you can tell looks after things. Send them emails asking for more details, close up pics of the camer ect.

Mine had clearly been barely used. the manual, cables charger etc were still sealed in there bags!

Just got lucky I guess.

There are also quite a few shops selling 'refurbished' TZ7s. Supposed to be 'as good as new'. They go for around £140. I did buy one of these first as they come with a guarentee. Had nothing but trouble. First one was great, until you tried to switch it off. It then went into a power cycle loop which you could only stop by pulling the battery out. They sent a replacement, that was even worse, every picture was blurred. I gave up in the end and sent it back, and got my refund.

Nearly gave up on the TZ7 but gave it one lst chance and ordered from a private seller. Have to say im really happy with it. For a compact its very good. Ive tried so many new compacts lately and havent been happy with any of them. But hte Tz7 will be a handy companion for my DSLR when im on my travels and cant be bothered lugging the DSLR around.