Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Compact camera recommendations?

  1. #1
    bored out of my tiny mind malfunction's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Lurking
    Posts
    3,923
    Thanks
    191
    Thanked
    187 times in 163 posts
    • malfunction's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte G1.Sniper (with daft heatsinks and annoying Killer NIC)
      • CPU:
      • Xeon X5670 (6 core LGA 1366) @ 4.4GHz
      • Memory:
      • 48GB DDR3 1600 (6 * 8GB)
      • Storage:
      • 1TB 840 Evo + 1TB 850 Evo
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 290X
      • PSU:
      • Antec True Power New 750W
      • Case:
      • Cooltek W2
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell U2715H

    Compact camera recommendations?

    I have an aging Sony DSC P150 at the moment which is OK for my general usage - mostly holiday and family snaps - but it's terrible in low light (possibly user error, I'll admit), the battery no longer holds a good charge and the screen is tiny compared to most modern compact cameras so I'm thinking of getting something new. I really haven't kept up with the market (in fact I don't think I've looked at a camera since I bought the P150 in 2005).

    I don't particularly know what I'm doing but I do dabble with the settings on my P150 every now and again so I don't want a totally dumb camera, though it would be nice to be able to trust it to take a decent picture without playing with the settings, particularly for when my wife wants to use it as she only really wants something that's point and shoot. Similarly it would be nice if it could take a decent quality video now and again (especially since the birth of malfunction jnr ~6 months ago).

    Budget is somewhat negotiable; I'm assuming anything less than £150 is basically junk. The RX100 is tempting @ ~£370 but is probably way more camera than I need and also more than I'd ideally spend though I am somewhat flexible on budget if it's really really worth it.

    Thoughts?
    Last edited by malfunction; 07-11-2013 at 12:55 AM.

  2. #2
    Moosing about! CAT-THE-FIFTH's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Not here
    Posts
    32,039
    Thanks
    3,910
    Thanked
    5,224 times in 4,015 posts
    • CAT-THE-FIFTH's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Less E-PEEN
      • CPU:
      • Massive E-PEEN
      • Memory:
      • RGB E-PEEN
      • Storage:
      • Not in any order
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVEN BIGGER E-PEEN
      • PSU:
      • OVERSIZED
      • Case:
      • UNDERSIZED
      • Operating System:
      • DOS 6.22
      • Monitor(s):
      • NOT USUALLY ON....WHEN I POST
      • Internet:
      • FUNCTIONAL

    Re: Compact camera recommendations?

    It will be difficult to get a camera with a larger 1/1.7" or 2/3" sensor at that price.

    Cameras at under £150 will use a 1/2.3" sensor.

    I would suggest looking at a Canon SX260HS:

    http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/cameras...meras~13148681

    Amazon sell it for over £170.

    I have seen it on clearance at around £100 in my local Currys so it might be worth having a look around.

    If you can add another £50 to the budget you can get this:

    http://www.ffordes.com/product/11021109180661

    It uses a 1/1.7" sensor.

    Another option is a budget mirrorless camera or SLR for around £200 to £250.

    Edit!!

    This compact uses a 2/3" sensor:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009C9I10...SIN=B009C9I10Q
    http://www.johnlewis.com/fujifilm-xf...6a844f0bbf34d4

  3. Received thanks from:

    malfunction (07-11-2013)

  4. #3
    Studmuffin Flibb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Kent
    Posts
    4,904
    Thanks
    31
    Thanked
    324 times in 277 posts
    • Flibb's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3
      • CPU:
      • AMD FX-6300
      • Memory:
      • 16GB Crucial Ballistix DDR3 PC3-12800
      • Storage:
      • Samsung SSD 840 EVO 250G
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 3GB MSI Radeon HD 7950 Twin Frozr
      • PSU:
      • FSP
      • Operating System:
      • Win7 64bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Deffl TFT thing

    Re: Compact camera recommendations?

    Picked up a Panasonic gf5 micro 4/3 camera for £150 as a refurbished unit. Came with the standard zoom kit lens & 12 month warranty. Added a pancake prime to make it more compact. The eBay seller is a bricks and mortar shop, but plenty of other places deal in manufacturer refurbs. For the price I paid I am totally blown away with it, can be used fully manual or fully auto and anything between. Focus, metering, and the auto settings really impressed me, really handy carry when I don't want to carry the dslr, my wife has started getting a bit more interested in photography since she started using it as well.

  5. Received thanks from:

    malfunction (07-11-2013)

  6. #4
    bored out of my tiny mind malfunction's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Lurking
    Posts
    3,923
    Thanks
    191
    Thanked
    187 times in 163 posts
    • malfunction's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte G1.Sniper (with daft heatsinks and annoying Killer NIC)
      • CPU:
      • Xeon X5670 (6 core LGA 1366) @ 4.4GHz
      • Memory:
      • 48GB DDR3 1600 (6 * 8GB)
      • Storage:
      • 1TB 840 Evo + 1TB 850 Evo
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 290X
      • PSU:
      • Antec True Power New 750W
      • Case:
      • Cooltek W2
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell U2715H

    Re: Compact camera recommendations?

    Thanks. To be clear I wasn't suggesting I only want to spend £150, edging £400 (as per the RX100) seems a bit much but £200 to £300 is probably where I want to be - though I might ask Santa (no - not Hexus Santa) for a helping hand with budget seeing as it's nearly that time of year again.

  7. #5
    Goron goron Kumagoro's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Posts
    3,147
    Thanks
    37
    Thanked
    170 times in 139 posts

    Re: Compact camera recommendations?

    I have an rx100 and it works great as a point and shoot. My brother got a nex 3n which has an aps c sensor but because of the f3.5 min lens indoor photos don't come out no where near as nice.

    But it is very expensive.

    The Fuji one seems to be the next closet thing but had some weird quirks like the turn on mechanism.

  8. Received thanks from:

    malfunction (07-11-2013)

  9. #6
    bored out of my tiny mind malfunction's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Lurking
    Posts
    3,923
    Thanks
    191
    Thanked
    187 times in 163 posts
    • malfunction's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte G1.Sniper (with daft heatsinks and annoying Killer NIC)
      • CPU:
      • Xeon X5670 (6 core LGA 1366) @ 4.4GHz
      • Memory:
      • 48GB DDR3 1600 (6 * 8GB)
      • Storage:
      • 1TB 840 Evo + 1TB 850 Evo
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 290X
      • PSU:
      • Antec True Power New 750W
      • Case:
      • Cooltek W2
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell U2715H

    Re: Compact camera recommendations?

    The Fuji XF1 seems very good for the price - the missus will love it too with its retro look. I've had Sony cameras in the past (a P10 before the P150) simply because I used to be able to get discount through a family member. I'd like to step up sensor wise (the P150 is 1/1.8) but the RX100 is probably overkill - the pics in this thread:

    http://forums.hexus.net/photography-...et-rocket.html

    ...look lovely though - way more detail that I'd get with the P150.

  10. #7
    Moosing about! CAT-THE-FIFTH's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Not here
    Posts
    32,039
    Thanks
    3,910
    Thanked
    5,224 times in 4,015 posts
    • CAT-THE-FIFTH's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Less E-PEEN
      • CPU:
      • Massive E-PEEN
      • Memory:
      • RGB E-PEEN
      • Storage:
      • Not in any order
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVEN BIGGER E-PEEN
      • PSU:
      • OVERSIZED
      • Case:
      • UNDERSIZED
      • Operating System:
      • DOS 6.22
      • Monitor(s):
      • NOT USUALLY ON....WHEN I POST
      • Internet:
      • FUNCTIONAL

    Re: Compact camera recommendations?

    Don't discount the Olympus XZ1 either!!

    Edit!!

    Canon also do the S110 too:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00APEHM3...SIN=B00APEHM3O

    TBH,many of the prosumer £200 to £250 compacts should be quite capable,when compared to your old camera.

    Here are some snapshots I took with my Canon S95:

    http://forums.hexus.net/photography-...ml#post2848161
    Last edited by CAT-THE-FIFTH; 07-11-2013 at 12:57 AM.

  11. Received thanks from:

    malfunction (07-11-2013)

  12. #8
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Posts
    22
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    1 time in 1 post
    • acluacs's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI X58
      • CPU:
      • Core i7 920
      • Memory:
      • 6GB PC3-10600
      • Storage:
      • Raptor+2x1Gb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • ATI R9-290 water cooled
      • Case:
      • Lian-L PC-9Fi, black
      • Operating System:
      • Win7/64 + Gentoo
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 24" @ 1920x1200
      • Internet:
      • BT Infinity 78Mb/s

    Re: Compact camera recommendations?

    A little bit of detail on what kind of shots you take would help.

    If you take a lot indoors, especially in low-lit rooms then the RX100 may be worthwhile. Otherwise, something with a more versatile zoom may be good if you're outdoors shooting wildlife...

  13. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    London (almost)
    Posts
    1,080
    Thanks
    20
    Thanked
    34 times in 28 posts

    Re: Compact camera recommendations?

    I was enjoying the Canon SX260HS until my brother got some water on it and it is not very usable now. The zoom is very useful and is great for wildlife. When not using heavy zoom the low light performance is respectable, the aperture tails off quite rapidly so the combination of zoom and low light is a bit of a killer.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •