new compact digital camera

Hi Scotty,

I bought a Canon Ixus 70 in the summer, and I'm very happy with it.

It's had some excellent reviews, and is available for just £109 now from Amazon (the rrp is £169 I think).

I can't really comment on close up shots as I've hardly taken any; but it's easy to use, very well built, looks lovely,
and takes great pictures.

10/10 from me.

I got the IXUS 800 IS about 18 months ago which I'm really pleased with.

M&F in-laws are artists/teachers & they made the rec' to us. They are deep in to digipics & have done lots of research. Does good C/Us, but no image stabiliser (that I've found anyway!).

After a few months m'boy dropped & broke the cam'. Sent it back to Cannon for repair & they did it FOC.

Have heard very good things about Olympus CDCs though (not from in-laws).

Scotty

Please make sure that a compact camera is essential. The dslr cameras have much larger sensors capable of much greater image quality - a friend bought a canon d400d at Christmas and although at the budget end, the definition was amazing.

I haven't looked at compacts in relation to close focus capability - I would be surprised if macro work was high on their priority list. But I think if I were to have to get a compact it would be hard not to go for the canon g9. Not terribly compact, but you'll be hard pressed to come close in the compact sector. They cost circa £300 on amazon.

Peter

thanks guys - any more ?

I have an Ixus too (I think mine's a 70, but I'd have to check) and am very happy with it. BUT I find it really annoying that every time I switch it on the flash is on by default. Which is annoying because a lot of the time it goes off when I don't need it or don't want it.

regards, Tam

i quite like the look of the canon ixus 75
its on pixmania for £175 with: 2 gig mem card / 2 batteries / and a leather case.
not bad !
or on its own for £140.

why ? is that a request...theres not much of interest over that dark side of the room !

right. back on track-its a toss up between the:
canon ixus 75 OR panasonic TZ3.
cant make me mind up !!

Scotty
Hang tight. Panasonic announced the TZ5 at PMA in las Vegas this month. It has the same Leica lens as the TZ3 and looks pretty much the same but has a MUCH improved VENUS image processing engine. Should be available quite soon.

thanks for the tip chris.
regards, scotty

Should be able to get a good deal on TZ3 then?

thats very true big h.
anyone using a panny camera and are they reliable ?

Scotty
It will be worth waiting. The Venus engine has generally been regarded as the weakest part of a Panasonic digicam but it is reported from the US that the new version is tons better. As you are relying on that to create your jpegs (as opposed to a RAW format where you do the processing afterwards)it is definitely worth getting the latest and greatest. The Leica lenses are very good indeed.

And I have the Leica badged version of a Panny and it is very reliable.

Chris

Interested to know what made you choose the Leica over the Panasonic given that they have the same lens and body. Do you feel that the Leica tweaks improved the performance such that the increase in cost was justified or was it more of a Leica GAS thing?

Peter

ok chris and its called the TZ5. any idea when it will be available ?
thanks, scotty

Sundigital are taking pre orders www dot sundigital dot co dot uk /products/show/panasonic-dmctz5
for stock arriving w/c 24th March £290.

thanks big h
scotty
p.s. are you going to the get together in ashford ?

Yes I plan to. See you there.

quote:

Sundigital are taking pre orders www dot sundigital dot co dot uk /products/show/panasonic-dmctz5
for stock arriving w/c 24th March £290.

But if you are going to splash out that kind of dosh, surely better to get an LX2?

ok guys - ive just ordered a panny TZ3 at:
www dot 7dayshop dot com
ive got an incredible deal on this great site where they sell mem cards and batts + cameras and all sorts of other gear.

for £210 delivered i have....
panasonic DMC-TZ3 in black
1 secure sdhc 8 gig memory card
2 extra batteries
as well as product battery / case / charger/ leads etc. (which comes as standard)

WOW! what a deal - surely cant be beat at that price and i know the TZ5 @ nearly £300 will probably be better but for what i want (taking pics of my lp12) itll do for me !!

do yourself a favour and check out this site not just for cameras but all sorts of gear - and YES i have used the site before and so have friends - its very reliable and prompt delivery.

regards, scotty

Thanks for the tip Scotty

Yep Scotty - I buy all my 35mm film and batteries from 7day - their delivery can take a while, but they offer great value.

Have fun with the new camera!

Peter

yes i will peter just watch this space.

Scotty,

I use a Nikon CoolPix P2. It was around 200$ US.
It has a nice macro feature.



A quality of lense is not that great. Nor the best resolution. But it's good enuf for me. Hell, I am not a professional photographer~

I am curious bout their new D40, tho.