What Digital Camera?

[joshwa]

Hi,

Gonna get a digital camera up to about £300 from internetcamerasdirect.co.uk - want :

• at least 3x optical zoom
• at least 3 megapixels
• preferably smaller rather than large

thinking either:

fuji s304 (6x optical , 3mp, 1.8" TFT) - 279
casio exilim z3 (3x opt, 3mp, 2" TFT) - 306 *
pentax optio S (3x opt, 3mp, 1.6" TFT) - 298 *
kyocera finecam s5 (3x opt, 5mp, 1.6" TFT) - 275

* these 2 seem to have identical lenses, both by pentax

currently i'm thinking the casio seems the best as it's got a neat docking station and the 2" tft (as i wear glasses and those little view holes are a bit horrible), and uses a pentax lense. i also wasn't that impressed with sample images for the kyocera, on "steves digicams" site. (all 4 are reviewed their the fuji s304 called a 3800) also i think the s304 is a bit bulky compared to the others.

what would you recommend - any others that i haven't considered?

i'd also quite like to be able to take fairly close up images...

another q - which is cheaper for ram for them? 7dayshop or internetcamerasdirect?

Josh

[Agent]

Saracen is your man for anything photographic

http://www.digi-darkroom.com/ is his forums for anything photo related

[Howard]

Canon A70 (No rechargable battery though)
Olympus MJU300 (Pretty much the same quality but with a nice rechargable battery)

Those are the two I'd consider.

I was considering the Kyocera but looked at sample images of similar models and wasn't impressed.

[fondie]

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/ex-z3.html

steve likes the casio one too, and rates it just above the Olympus Stylus Digital 300 and the Pentax Optio S. it was the one i was considering getting.

[Sk!mD4Rk]

That Casio one is smart. They're quick in use, tiny and well made.

They came out in Japan last year and i had a play with one and if i were buying now it would be my choice.

[PriestJPN]

Which? magazine (Consumers Association) tested digital cameras this month (Sept 2K3) and the 2 best sub-£300 cameras were are follow:

Nikon Coolpix 3100: £280 Argos / £227 www.unbeatable.co.uk
Sony Cybershot DSC-P72: £280 Comet / £209 www.prcdirect.co.uk

Hope that is of some use...

[directhex]

i'd pick a canon or fuji anytime

--jo

[Trash Man]

I know it has not got the 3MP you are after Josh, but the Fuji Finepix 2800Z is am amazing camera, as I am sure Caged and Skii will tell you also

6X optical Zoom and it is quite a small camera as well.

[joshwa]

Originally posted by Trash Man
I know it has not got the 3MP you are after Josh, but the Fuji Finepix 2800Z is am amazing camera, as I am sure Caged and Skii will tell you also

6X optical Zoom and it is quite a small camera as well.

does sound good price wise seen it for £199 in john lewis, and £198 at internetcamerasdirect.co.uk - have you seen it anywhere else cheaper?

[Skii]

yep - its a beauty (makes excellent little mpegs as well )

[fondie]

steve's v.positive review of the 2800Z :-

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2001_.../fuji2800.html

it's not half as small as the casio exilim z3 though, if you were looking for something that would fit in your pocket without getting strange looks from the ladies!

[Howard]

My Olympus MJU300 will arrive on Wednesday hopefully, so if you like I'll post some sample images.

[BoB_DoG]

I got a Canon Ixus V3. 3MP, but only 2x optical zoom, but its a great little camera (well to my hands its small). All metal case, and in my opinion its probably the sturdiest design. no slide mechanisms to hide lens, so less chance of getting clogged up with crap (in my opinion).

Was over 300, but should be below by now.

Give it a look if you dont mind the 2x optical zoom (+3x digital, but that obviously isnt gread due to reduction in quality).

Just my 2c

BoB_DoG

[Jonny M]

Fuji 2800Z, only downside to it is the dark display in low-light conditions. Apart from that, very nice camera. Got mine from Digital-Depot in Stevenage, £199 with a Fuji case, 64MB card, Fujifilm maglite and SmartMedia reader.

[Skii]

Originally posted by Caged
Fuji 2800Z, only downside to it is the dark display in low-light conditions. Apart from that, very nice camera. Got mine from Digital-Depot in Stevenage, £199 with a Fuji case, 64MB card, Fujifilm maglite and SmartMedia reader.

Only problem I have with it is the quality of pictures using the flash - they have a yellowish tint, and often turn out quite blurred (then again its probably my set up )

[siu99spj]

Originally posted by PriestJPN
Sony Cybershot DSC-P72: £280 Comet / £209 www.prcdirect.co.uk

I got a Cybershot DSC-P72 and I have to say its excellent. Don't have any pics to hand but just have to say its one of the best digital cameras I've ever used. Yes the Nikon D1 was nicer (SLR) but most people don't have £1000 to spend on a camera (Me included).

Incidentally, I manged to grab the P72 and 64MB Memory Stick for a mere £130, some helluva bargain