Cheap, good compact.

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Not for myself, I've got too many cameras already! A friend has asked me to help her buy a cheap but good compact. The brief is not Fuji (her last one was a Tesco Fuji special and carped out/disintegrated), AA batteries, OVF (if possible), handbaggable, easy to use (P&P, manual control not wanted/needed).

I've bought a copy of WDC as they usually have the best list of specs of lots of options but any first hand experience of this end of the market would be most welcome! On Wednesday, I'll find out if GAS can be satisfied vicariously!!!
 
My wife has always got good results from her Canon Ixus 75, but that's getting on a bit now. My Mother has a newer Ixus and also gets great photos, so perhaps that's a good place to start.

I'm not sure about the AA batteries part though... Our compacts have always taken block rechargeable batteries and they've always lasted ages. Plus additional batteries are cheap over ebay if necessary.

Chris
 
The lady in question insists on AAs since they're available almost anywhere. Pretty sure she'd end up with however many rechargeables she had all flat at once! Off to look at that WDC now, thanks for the input.
 
Nod said:
The lady in question insists on AAs since they're available almost anywhere. Pretty sure she'd end up with however many rechargeables she had all flat at once! Off to look at that WDC now, thanks for the input.
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I would say why not get an older camera, for example maybe a Canon ixus ? Great little cameras, I have a Canon ixus 980 bought second hand for a really low price, it's a cracking little camera, produces good images and even has a view finder. It does not use AA batteries but has a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery.

Yes you can get AA batteries anywhere, that's what I thought when I bought a Canon powershot, but soon regretted it. Batteries die very quickly, and replacing them becomes costly. Whereas my little compact lasts about 400 to 500 shots, between charges. I would probably have gotten through about two or three sets of AA batteries, at that rate.

I would say have a look in Cash Converters/ Cash Generators, some good compacts at reasonable prices.
 
My missus has the Canon 82IS Compact uses a Li-ion battery, it's an older camera not made anymore, but can be found in places mentioned above for low prices. The camera even has a view finder and again produces great images. She has it in her bag and when anything arises she is always prepared, she sometimes does not use it for months, but it still holds the charge.
 
I've explained the battery situation to her but she won't be moved on that point! IIRC, she has a birthday coming up soon so I'll get her a set of Eneloops and a charger but expect they'll end up all flat! She's insisting on new, otherwise I'd let her have an extended loan of my old Coolpix 3100 which fits the brief perfectly...

Again, thanks for the input.
 
tell her to forget the camera and just get an iphone (it won't be cheap but hey she's replacing her phone as well)
 
She doesn't have, want or need a mobile phone, otherwise that wouldn't be such a bad idea (although I believe there are better cams in other phones...)
 
Nod said:
She doesn't have, want or need a mobile phone, otherwise that wouldn't be such a bad idea (although I believe there are better cams in other phones...)
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Aaah, yes, but..........


........they don't take AA batteries! :D
 
What is the budget? My thoughts are that any new camera that takes AA batteries is going to be on the bottom end of the manufacturers lineup and will likely be poorly built and not great image quality.

From the people I know who have had cheap cameras and their experience of them, I couldn't recommend one of that type.

I know this doesn't fit with the requirements but in my opinion, the best value compact cameras (all around quality at a lowish price) are the Canon Ixus range. I don't think they've brought out a bad one in all the years they've had the Ixus brand.

I just don't think a good new camera exists that takes AA and especially with an OVF.

Colin
 
:lol: Heather!

Colin, ultimate IQ isn't needed - I can't see any getting bigger than 7x5, if that. I'm pretty sure she'll have to make some compromises on her wants but I doubt I'll shift her from her (supposed) needs. There's a Nikon that meets most of the specs and is under £100 (no real fixed budget, just as cheap as possible to get what she wants), so I'll probably steer her towards that.
 
Phall82 said:
From the people I know who have had cheap cameras and their experience of them, I couldn't recommend one of that type.

I know this doesn't fit with the requirements but in my opinion, the best value compact cameras (all around quality at a lowish price) are the Canon Ixus range. I don't think they've brought out a bad one in all the years they've had the Ixus brand.

I just don't think a good new camera exists that takes AA and especially with an OVF.

Colin
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I have had a few Canon compacts, I had an old powershot that did take AA batteries, great images and lovely to use. Just it kept dying very quickly, even with high end rechargeable batteries, I soon got fed up of it. I would never have another camera that uses renewable AA or other size batteries.

Newer Li-ion batteries are just so good now, and they last for ages and really easy to re charge. Why would someone not want a proper dedicated battery?
 
:shrug::shrug:
 
I like the Canon compacts. My old A640 still gives superb results and battery life is quite good, but it uses x 4 AAs which makes the camera heavier and bulkier. My experience with other makes is limited. AA batteries? I use rechargeables, but you can buy ordinary AAs just about anywhere, which is a plus if you go to out of the way places. The lithium ion batteries most compacts use are small and light, but don't always last very long between charges, and they're a bit more expensive if you want a backup.
 
Nod said:
:lol: Heather!

Colin, ultimate IQ isn't needed - I can't see any getting bigger than 7x5, if that. I'm pretty sure she'll have to make some compromises on her wants but I doubt I'll shift her from her (supposed) needs. There's a Nikon that meets most of the specs and is under £100 (no real fixed budget, just as cheap as possible to get what she wants), so I'll probably steer her towards that.
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I didn't really mean Ixus would give ultimate image quality but its a reliable point and shoot with easy to use interface in a well built small package. Image quality is nnot bad at all on them.

My wife has one and she loves it because its simple to use and tiny, but solid.

If image quality, build aren't an issue then I'd just pick the cheapest camera that takes AA batteries.
 
Hmm... Fuji S3 DSLR? Takes 4x AAs, Has optical viewfinder and naturally fantastic IQ, as cheap as a compact and a cheapo old AF standard lens can be had for peanuts...

Ticks all boxes apart from being compact!
 
Well, she ended up with a Nikon S9500 (I think!) I know, it doesn't take AAs and it hasn't got an OVF but it does appear to take decent pics and be idiotproof which was deemed to be more important than either of the original "must be" points! Far more features than she needs but as we agreed, it's better to have something you don't need than to need something you don't have.

Not 100% sure why she needed me to tag along apart from my rugged good looks - the small discount I managed to get for her was more than negated by the lunch she insisted on buying me!

Makes getting her a birthday present easy now - spare battery!!!
 
Nod said:
Makes getting her a birthday present easy now - spare battery!!!
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you old romantic

she may prefer sexy lingerie ;)
 
Had you been on B beach earlier, you would have seen my wife walking past with a friend - the lady I was with for lunch and camera shopping is an ex (and yes, Mrs Nod is completely aware of my whereabouts and whoabouts!)
 
Nod said:
Had you been on B beach earlier, you would have seen my wife walking past with a friend - the lady I was with for lunch and camera shopping is an ex (and yes, Mrs Nod is completely aware of my whereabouts and whoabouts!)
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Like I said she may prefer sexy lingerie :naughty:

( I haven't been in branscombe today, so it seems I've missed the chance to hit on say hi to Mrs Nod )
 
No benefit in that for me!!!
 
well if you are going to start buying your exes expensive presents, there's got to be more 'benefit' in Victoria's secret than in Jessops :lol:
 
No Jessops in Exeter Pete! (Or VS!!!)
 
use online :naughty:
 
The only times I've used the online side was for collection in store. First time they couldn't supply the goods even though the shop had them in stock (collect in store was £20 cheaper and they couldn't/wouldn't match the price...) so I went to Comet's select and collect instead. Second time, the dumb ***ch manageress wouldn't accept that they had got me the wrong item, despite being shown the difference on their site. I know it's a different company now but it's rather telling that the woman isn't employed in any of the remaining stores in town.
 
I was talking about Victoria's secret ;) :lol:
 
I don't have a couple of days to spare browsing the VS site... Choices like that shouldn't be rushed (or made when there's a chance Mrs Nod could come home at any moment!!!)
 
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