Best Travel Compact Around £200?

Matt-P

Matt-P

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Looking for a few ideas on a simple to use compact camera for my mother in her 70's to take with her when she goes on trips abroad. Needs to be new (as it will be a present), fairly simple to operate, and take better pictures than an iPad / mobile phone.

What are your suggestions, or is this an impossible brief?
 
How discerning is she? I've a Panasonic LUMIX TZ60 (which isn't the current iteration) that I use on my holidays and it's great, but it's got enough features to confuse an experienced DSLR user like me, and the screen is covered with icons to indicate different features. If she's a technophobe, there's something to be said for buying the simplest product available.

I'd recommend heading down to Currys on Boxing Day and see what they have in the sale that fits the budget. The model replacement cycle on these things is pretty short and while they are expensive at launch, there can be some good deals on older models.
 
Thanks of the thoughts. Simplicity is best - I had thought of a TZ60 but good to get you feedback on the interface. The fewer buttons / options the better.

Saw a Sony WX350 that seems to have a fair write up - don't know if anyone's got any experience of this model?
 
When buying a camera for someone else, especially someone who has less interest in photography, it's easier to transplant your own preferences ahead of theirs. e.g. It must have great high ISO, a 1.8 lens and L glass quality lens, etc.

I don't know how much of a photographer your mother is, but my experience of choosing a camera for a parent was that ease of use was paramount, and a nice big screen on the back. And that was it. They weren't bothered about film simulation modes and wifi and GPS, etc.

To that end, don't get bogged down in reviews as you'll start nit-picking about details that may be important to you as a photographer, but less so to anyone else. Go and get your hands on some, ideally with her, and have a play!

Incidentally, X20/X30 isn't a bad idea - not the smallest camera but quite easy to use, if a little over budget, unless you want one a few years old.
 
Have you thought about a simple second hand 35mm film compact. Load it up with Fuji 400 and away you go. Send the film off for d&p. Most people with digital never make prints. Maybe I'm just feeling nostalgic. :pompous:
 
Thanks for the thoughts. Fair to say mum has no interest in photography but likes taking pictures of where she's been. Digital is the preferred option as she likes to put the pictures on her computer and email them to her friends (and she's happily in the habit of taking hundreds of shots).

A good point on the type of camera, far to easy to get carried away. I think if it had a clear screen and a single big button to take the photo in auto she'd be happy. Any more complexity results in phone calls about what to press and how to use it, probably best avoided [emoji3]
 
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