Cheap compact camera

[Dee Athwal]

Hi guy,

Sorry to ask but I've been asked to buy a cheap compact for £150 to use at work as the Samsung L74 wide that we were using has just died.

I was wondering if you could give me some options on what to look for.

The main thing it needs is a wide angle lens as the photos will be taken in enclosed areas, the ability to take photos at low light would be good and something simple to use as some of the other users aren't very good with cameras.

I take it I won't be able to buy something that has a full manual mode for this price?

Thanks in advance for your help and sorry for asking about such basic kit.

 

[Krichton]

Panasonic lx7

 

[seriousrikk]

I have been on the search for a decent compact recently. I've tried a couple before settling on the Powershot S110 from Canon - although that is a bit over your budget.

In your budget you can pick up a Canon SX240HS which is not a bad little camera at all. Offers manual controls and a pretty good wide angle (25mm equiv). Also works fairly well in low light at the wider zoom ranges. I had the model two down from this until last year and it really was a good little camera.

Little above your budget is the Lumix TZ35, also a good camera and is essentially the TZ40 minus wifi/gps.

Panasonic lx7

Go on, tell us where that can be had for £150

 

[stu.artd]

Panasonic tz25 for under £120 from argos?

 

[Krichton]

I have been on the search for a decent compact recently. I've tried a couple before settling on the Powershot S110 from Canon - although that is a bit over your budget.

In your budget you can pick up a Canon SX240HS which is not a bad little camera at all. Offers manual controls and a pretty good wide angle (25mm equiv). Also works fairly well in low light at the wider zoom ranges. I had the model two down from this until last year and it really was a good little camera.

Little above your budget is the Lumix TZ35, also a good camera and is essentially the TZ40 minus wifi/gps.



Go on, tell us where that can be had for £150

Is buying used completely out of the question? :shrug:

 

[jo30]

As Richard said above, I'd also recommend one of the Canon Powershots. I've got the model down from the one he mentioned and have always been happy with it.
Easy to use and provides some good images.

 

[MartynK]

Canon have always offered good compacts at various levels. I still get excellent photographs out of my old A640. A bit bulky for what it is, because of the 4 x AA batteries, but a very good camera. My wife has a Panasonic TZ9, basically a TZ10 without the GPS, which has a pretty big zoom range, but I prefer the IQ of the older Canon.

 

[seriousrikk]

Is buying used completely out of the question? :shrug:

Not at all, although a business generally will get a better deal buying new especially if they can recover vat.

But I still doubt an LX7 would be £150 used.

 

[Jim_Tod]

I've recently bought a FUJI F660EXR for just over £100. My use is for work on construction sites which in some areas flash isn't allowed and I have requirement for reasonable wide angle and a decent tele.
This has built in flash and best of all the EXR mode appears to increase the dynamic range when flash isn't appropriate.