What Camera? £200

Joshy · 3 Apr 2011 at 10:24

Hi guys, I'm after a new camera (and I have searched here but couldn't find much recent relevant information)

Mainly after something to take pictures of cars (statically) with, so I guess I'm going to be wanting some sort of tripod as well?

Doesn't need to be amazing, just a bit better than the mobile phone pictures people usually use to advertise cars. Oh, and something with a good 'Auto' mode is a must as I'm too thick to properly understand all of the fancy customisable settings on slightly posher cameras

.

I've got a £100 voucher for use at Jessops, and can stick on maybe another £100. Ideally I'd like to get from Jessops but if my £200ish budget would buy be something much better on the second hand market then I'll give it some thought.

Thanks.

Steve M · 3 Apr 2011 at 11:12

On ebay you can pick up a Panasonic G1 and a lens for £200. Fantastic camera for the money and simple to use.

I have one and here are a few shots i took with it, all in auto mode: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevemillward/sets/72157626358331692/

Joshy · 3 Apr 2011 at 12:07

Wow, those are some nice very nice shots for auto mode. Just the sort of quality I'm after.

What are opinions of the Panasonic FZ45? At £260 it is stretching the budget to the max, but people seem to have spoken very highly of it's predecessor the FZ38.

And am I going a bit OTT with spending so much money on something that'll mainly be used for taking pictures of parked cars?

Would a typical point and shoot camera be good enough? I ask as I had a use of a Fuji that was a bit of a step up from your average point and shooter but I always thought the picture quality (particularly in low light) was a bit crap which has got me thinking that I'll be needing something even better.

Steve M · 3 Apr 2011 at 19:20

I'd still go for the G1, but yeah, probably overkill for what you will be doing with it.

Stuff · 3 Apr 2011 at 19:27

Lumix TZ10?

Stupot_ · 3 Apr 2011 at 19:29

A typical point and shoot camera will be plenty good enough. A canon ixus will give you great, vibrant pictures, its simple too use and the ones we've had in my family have lasted really well.

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/80198/show.html
http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/80199/show.html

eric2906 · 4 Apr 2011 at 11:30

I think Panasonic FZ10 is good enough for the requirement. Even if you want something cheaper than can consider Canon SX130.

kidloco · 4 Apr 2011 at 16:24

Personally id stay away from the Ixus range, last few I have had have been pretty dire. Bought the Ixus 130 for the misus for christmas, was that bad it got sent back. Bought a TZ7 instead. Great point and shoot.

Those G1 shots are nice though.

Stupot_ · 5 Apr 2011 at 02:16

kidloco said:
Personally id stay away from the Ixus range, last few I have had have been pretty dire. Bought the Ixus 130 for the misus for christmas, was that bad it got sent back. Bought a TZ7 instead. Great point and shoot.

Those G1 shots are nice though.

What was wrong with it? Ixus's are generally regarded as the best point and shoots you can get (trading places with pannys) for the price and excel at being simple to use for novices whilst still having extra functions should you want to fiddle. Ok yeh I am a fan (every member of my family has one!) But I think it's deserved

kidloco · 5 Apr 2011 at 09:15

Stupot_ said:
What was wrong with it? Ixus's are generally regarded as the best point and shoots you can get (trading places with pannys) for the price and excel at being simple to use for novices whilst still having extra functions should you want to fiddle. Ok yeh I am a fan (every member of my family has one!) But I think it's deserved

It was just incapable to taking a sharp shot in anything other then gloriously bright sunshine. Tried every setting available to me. When that didnt work did a factory reset just in case. After coming back from a day out and pretty much every pic being soft I gave up and sent it back.

Reading up afterwards I was not alone. Seems in the rush for megapixels they are forgetting how to make a camera that not only looks great but can take great pics. My 5 year old ixus was a great camera. the 130 was meh at best IMO. Whilst the TZ7 isnt as pretty or dinky as the Ixus 130 is does take consistantly good sharp images. Which for a travel point and shoot is all I ask for.

Stupot_ · 5 Apr 2011 at 10:42

kidloco said:
Reading up afterwards I was not alone. Seems in the rush for megapixels they are forgetting how to make a camera that not only looks great but can take great pics. My 5 year old ixus was a great camera. the 130 was meh at best IMO. Whilst the TZ7 isnt as pretty or dinky as the Ixus 130 is does take consistantly good sharp images. Which for a travel point and shoot is all I ask for.

Well in all honesty I haven't used the last couple of generations

The ixus 70 is the latest I've used, nobody should need more than 7 megapixels in a compact but they still insist on ramming it down our throats

Joshy · 8 Apr 2011 at 14:21

Here a few that I like the look of

Olympus SP610 - £180
Canon SX130 - £150
Fuji S1900 - £130

Any thoughts?

I prefer the bulker type camera like those more than your bog standard compacts