[Norton Sharley]

Any recommendations for a cheap compact camera for Mrs Sharley to use?  You know the score, she wants perfect photos at the press of a single button.  Video is preferable but optional.

We've used an Olympus mju for years but it has finally stopped focusing properly.  Any real life reviews welcome.  Ta.

[nik at work]

I still really like my Canon Ixus-some-number-or-other...

Point and shoot whilst still having a bit of control stuff if you're feeling keeny beany, small, battery lasts about forever. I think when this has been asked before Canon have generally been well regarded whilst at the same time the "it doesn't really matter they're all pretty much equally good (or bad)" type sentiment has been common.
It's a few years old now so I'd guess the current equivalent would probably do HD video.

[SA Chris]

Latest Panasonic Lumix or Canon Ixus seem to be the most popular choices. If these are a bit too expensive, look around for the second to latest. Or third to latest. Etc....

Almost all recent compacts have video to some extent or another.

(Just reread that and it's a bit vague and shit - sorry)

[Dolly]

Agree re the Canon Ixus -had one for years and its been very reliable

[slackline]

How cheap is cheap?

[The Aaronator]

I saw this in my local ASDA, Bolton...

Pentax Optio LS1000 14MP Digital Camera (in store) £49.99

...seems like a good deal and they have bucket loads.

[slackline]

I saw this in my local ASDA, Bolton...

Pentax Optio LS1000 14MP Digital Camera (in store) £49.99

...seems like a good deal and they have bucket loads.

Online too.

[Norton Sharley]

14MP for £50    Shirley there must be some catch? 

That would meet my requirement for "cheap" which is needed because either Mrs Sharley will drop the camera or Shortun Sharley will lob it out of the pram!

[Dolly]

gets mixed reviews on Amazon

[Bubba]

14MP for £50    Shirley there must be some catch? 

Greater number of megapixels does not mean "better camera"

[slackline]

gets mixed reviews on Amazon

I've had a hunt around and read a few reviews (non user based though).  Just been to look at these on Amazon and there do not appear to be any reviews on Amazon.co.uk and searching amazon.com doesn't return any hits except accessories? 

Greater number of megapixels does not mean "better camera"

  Its all about the glass man!

[iain]

I really like the Samsung ST70 I got recently. £90 after a bit of hunting around, gets mostly very good reviews and I think the point and click picture quality is great, (although my picture taking is not,) and does good quality 720p video too.

Downsides are it can't focus properly at <1ft, takes a few seconds between pictures using the flash and it needs a MicroSD card.

I'd definitely recommend it though.

[Norton Sharley]

Slackers - http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=pentax+optio+ls1000&tag=googhydr-21&index=electronics&hvadid=7740177526&ref=pd_sl_8vggtiehdx_e

Agreed re megapixies and quality. 

So the question I should ask is has anyone got a sub £100 compact that takes pictures at least as good as a £300+ compact?  If so what is it? 

[Paul B]

and does good quality 720p video too.

is that not the 1100?

[slackline]

Slackers - http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=pentax+optio+ls1000&tag=googhydr-21&index=electronics&hvadid=7740177526&ref=pd_sl_8vggtiehdx_e

Cheers Norton, I'd already linked to the Amazon.co.uk page for the LS1000 in this...

Just been to look at these on Amazon and there do not appear to be any reviews on Amazon.co.uk and searching amazon.com doesn't return any hits except accessories? 

There are (generally good) reviews of the LS1100 that your search also returned but I can't find the user reviews of the LS1000.

[iain]

is that not the 1100?

Definitely 720p video, are you meaning the Pentax?


Some reviews (and a reasonable price) here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B00361ECB8/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

[Norton Sharley]

and does good quality 720p video too.

is that not the 1100?

Fair point, both of you, but I'd pay the extra £3.96 for the extra hundred whatevertheyare.

However £60 for a L22 is looking good based on IO2's info, cheers Toby.  Those twelve million pixies are certainly working hard.

[slackline]

Confusingly the ASDA page lists the item as the LS1000 but the description harps on about the LS1100 

[stevej]

In my remarkably little experience watching my mates' little compacts I came to the conclusion that anything with AA batteries was a total waste of space and the lithium jobbies were the way forward.

Was happy with an old casio exilim ex-somethingorother until it was dropped down an icefall by my partner. Even after years of use the batteries held shitloads of charge, think I charged them up once, maybe twice max, over the course of a month in the alps (probably a couple of hundred frames, must have spent its time swinging between +25° and -10° too). Decent colour reproduction for the price, easy to use, pretty solid (even lots of the cheaper ones have a fair amount of metal). Looks like they're sold to a pricepoint so the new ones look pretty similar, just more megapixels.

[Fultonius]

and does good quality 720p video too.

is that not the 1100?

Fair point, both of you, but I'd pay the extra £3.96 for the extra hundred whatevertheyare.

However £60 for a L22 is looking good based on IO2's info, cheers Toby.  Those twelve million pixies are certainly working hard.

We're using the L20/L22 at work. They're 'ok' but they're not all that though (I've broken 2) but they're not too bad. Pretty woefull in tricky lighting, but take a reasonable picture in decent light.

The alternative is the Fuji AX200, which has a 28mm 5x zoom and is meant to take OKish pictures. AA batteries too (we need AA batteries as we use them on site and recharging is a PITA) Chuck some Energizer Lithiums in and it'll last a good 400 shots.