Best Camera £200

[Marcos]

I can safely say that for the £238 I paid for the Sony P200 I have got one hell of a camera. easy to use, top notch quality. got it at Jessops and it was cheaper than anywhere else, icluding on-line, and its great! GET ONE! need proof? [shameless plug] go here [/shameless plug]
http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=42349

I wanted a Sony too, but the lack of manual controls and proprietary batteries was annoying. Not to mention the most expensive flash memory

[Andy]

surprised no 1 has mentioned the panasonic fz20 and fz5 cameras which both have very good image quality both 5mp and both 12X stabilised zooms also they have plenty of manual options

I have an FZ20 and its fantastic. It was a difficult call between the FZ20 and a DSLR but in the end the money talked. The Lecia lens is top quality and the zoom is out of this world!

[shiato storm]

I wanted a Sony too, but the lack of manual controls and proprietary batteries was annoying. Not to mention the most expensive flash memory

not if you get it off ebay, i can give a very reliable source if requested. I got a memory stick pro 1gig for less than £60...i hear its meant to be about double that...?

manual controls? lack of? its got manual controls. its menu system is jam-packed with options and custom-ability. it has a manual exposure setting a P-mode, an auto mode, a video mode, a scene select mode...its got all you need and for the price its a real steal!.

[yamangman]

Top thread, what a helpful bunch

Does anyone know where I can find a "similarly" priced digi-cam, 4mp, high IQ, 6x zoom or more? Similar to the s3000 but with higher IQ.

Thanks

[subucni]

In the same way that scanners have an actual optical resolution and a much higher interpolated resolution, so do cameras. Basically, the effective pixels are the actual number of pixels that the camera can physically "see"; the physical resolution of the sensor in the camera. It then enhances the image up to (in the example you give) 12 million by "interpolating" - basically, it looks at adjacent pixels and works out what would be a sensible shade for a pixel that would be in between them. Fuji are actually pretty good at this - have a look at their flash demo for how their sensor and enhancement work at http://www.fujifilm.co.uk/digital/ca...eras/range.php.

Forgot i even posted that, hehe. thanks a lot for the answer

[davidstone28]

If absolute picture quality is important to you, I would suggest that you avoid the Pentax Optio and Casio Exilm range of cameras. They're great for quick snapshots, are very tiny/very conveniently sized but they both suffer from soft images. If you want a matchbox camera, the Canon Ixuses would be a better bet.

Looking towards more rounded camera with a degree of manual adjustments, have a look at the Canon A510/520 which are the successors to the A75/A85/A95 etc.

The Panasonic FZ-3 is also supposed to be very good - I'm sure you could have alot of fun with that ultra zoom lens.

[Marcos]

not if you get it off ebay, i can give a very reliable source if requested. I got a memory stick pro 1gig for less than £60...i hear its meant to be about double that...?

manual controls? lack of? its got manual controls. its menu system is jam-packed with options and custom-ability. it has a manual exposure setting a P-mode, an auto mode, a video mode, a scene select mode...its got all you need and for the price its a real steal!.

Sony must have changed quite a bit in the past 2 years then, just realised its been 2 years since i bought my A70.

And i'd like to take a look at that link

[shiato storm]

have mixed feeling about canon digi-cams after hiccups I had. Sony is solid.
I wouldn't got for fuji as its not TRUE megapixel count they give but an interpolated value. clever to do yes, but misleading.

[shiato storm]

Sony must have changed quite a bit in the past 2 years then, just realised its been 2 years since i bought my A70.

And i'd like to take a look at that link

i got mine after seeing the quality of my bro's P100. the P200 is 7megapixels, image quality is fantastic!! there's really no need to go any bigger on that side of things. trust me when these things are blown up they're pin sharp and vast!

here's the linky for you again

[kushtibari]

Very impressed with that lot. Might just look at updating my A70 as well now.

[Stoo]

If the Canon 300D drops any more you'll be able to get that and have a "proper" camera for the money

[shiato storm]

wait a few years and whats out there now is going to be dirt cheap...

[Stoo]

Yeah, that's what I was hinting at, the 300D can already be had for around the £400 mark (nearly half what I paid for it less than a year ago!)

[da_ging]

then all you need is another what, say 10 grand for lenses to match the fz20's constant 2.8 and range

the camera may be dirt cheap now but it aint about the camera its about the glass you stick on it with dslr's aint it and i cant see that getting cheap anytime soon

[joshwa]

I've got the Panasonic DMC-FZ3 - and it's LOVELY jubbly, really really nice. Only 3mp, but it beats the Konica Minolta Dimage Z2 (4mp) according to dpreview.com resolution tests. Definitely one I want to hang on to.

In short supply now, as it's being replaced by the FZ4 (4mp) and FZ5 (5mp).