PC Review Forums Computing Digital Imaging and Photography Recommend a good budget digtal camera.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread
Old 31-03-2005, 10:19 PM   #1
Cache-man
Wannabe Webmaster
 
Cache-man's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Grimsby, UK
Posts: 841
Send a message via MSN to Cache-man
Trader Rating: (0)
Question Recommend a good budget digtal camera.

I'm in the market for a digital camera, I don't want to spend any more than about £60 (I'm a poor student on a tight budget), and I want to be able to take good close up, and general photos with it for transfering to the pc and onto the web.

Can anyone recommend a good model for my budget, and/or a good place to look for one.
__________________
Cache-man is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31-03-2005, 10:28 PM   #2
floppybootstomp
sugar 'n spikes
Super Moderator
 
floppybootstomp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Greenwich
Posts: 12,293
Send a message via ICQ to floppybootstomp Send a message via MSN to floppybootstomp Send a message via Yahoo to floppybootstomp
Trader Rating: (15)
Default

You gonna be a bit pushed for sixty quid, to be honest, but I expect there's something that meets your needs.

I always recommend Canon or Nikon for Digital Cameras. I expect Pentax are good too, but I have no experience of their digital models myself.

For that price, probably going to be 2 or 3 mp.

Have a look on Steve's Digicams to note a few models, then search for a price on Amazon (recommended) or Google.
__________________

Asus P5B Deluxe Motherboard; Intel Core 2 duo 6600 2.4Ghz CPU; Zalman CNPS9500 Cooler; 4Gb Corsair 6400C4 Memory; BFG Nvidia 9800 GTX 512Mb; Auzentech Prelude X-Fi Sound Card; 2 x Western Digital 150Gb Velicoraptors in RAID 0; Samsung 500Gb HDD; Antec 900 Gamers Case; Corsair 620W modular PSU; NEC SATA Lightscribe DVDRW; Asus SATA DVD-ROM; Linksys Wireless WAG200G Router; Logi G5 Mouse; Logi G15 Keyboard; Samsung 245_B 24" Black Monitor; Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit.
floppybootstomp is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 31-03-2005, 11:46 PM   #3
Cache-man
Wannabe Webmaster
 
Cache-man's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Grimsby, UK
Posts: 841
Send a message via MSN to Cache-man
Trader Rating: (0)
Default

Cheers flops, i'll look there.
I know it's not really a lot to be spending on a camera, but i do not use cameras all that often atm, so i can't justify the expense.
Maybe when i start using a digi cam I may get into it a bit more, but untill then a cheapo one will have to suffice.
__________________
Cache-man is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2005, 12:34 AM   #4
Ian Cunningham
Rocket Scientist
Administrator
 
Ian Cunningham's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 13,522
Trader Rating: (0)
Default

I've bought good cameras for about £100 about a year ago, so you may be able to pick up a 2nd hand bargain from e-bay for a good 3MP digital camera.

I'd recommend getting a 2nd hand or refurbished camera from a better make than a generic digital camera from a no-frills company.
__________________
PC Review - Editor-in-Chief
Ian Cunningham is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2005, 12:40 AM   #5
Cache-man
Wannabe Webmaster
 
Cache-man's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Grimsby, UK
Posts: 841
Send a message via MSN to Cache-man
Trader Rating: (0)
Default

2nd hand you say, thats a great idea....why didn't i think of that.
Cheers Ian
__________________
Cache-man is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2005, 01:22 PM   #6
Cache-man
Wannabe Webmaster
 
Cache-man's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Grimsby, UK
Posts: 841
Send a message via MSN to Cache-man
Trader Rating: (0)
Default

OK folks. I went into DIXONS today for some advice on buying my new digital camera and ended up buying one from them. It's an Olympyus muju u410 with the following specs:
Weatherproof metal body
4 Mega pixels
3x Optical zoom
8 scene programs
Movie function with sound
32MB XD Card
Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery
It set me back £145 which was over my budget (but i've done loads of overtime recently) but very reasonable.
I also ended up buying 4 years of warranty for another £49. I usually never go for these extra warranties, but this covers against accidental damage too, there is no excess if i do have to claim, and if it needs replacing dixons will give me vouchers for the full value which i can then get whatever camera i want - so if it breaks 3 1/2 years down the line, I would then be able to get a newer model (prices are dropping and features increasing) which would be better.

I will issue a small review for you all in the user review section, once i have tried it out, and let you know how i get on with it.
__________________
Cache-man is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2005, 01:37 PM   #7
Quadophile
Hon. Acoustical Engineer
Super Moderator
 
Quadophile's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Sugar Land, TX
Posts: 3,929
Trader Rating: (0)
Default

An excellent purchase, I had considered this particular model at one time when someone asked me for advise. Going from £60 to £145 did surprise me though. Anyway, I hope you enjoy your new toy and very much looking forward to your opinion on same soon. By the way, did you consider getting another memory card? I think a 256 MB one would suit you fine to go with this model.

(this is what folks on the far end are supposed to do when you are shooting them )
__________________
"Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character, it becomes destiny. "

Forum Guidelines and Etiquette

Quadophile is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2005, 02:14 PM   #8
muckshifter
Captain Crunchie, Retired
Super Moderator
 
muckshifter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: In a Hovel
Posts: 17,435
Send a message via MSN to muckshifter
Trader Rating: (1)
Cool

Great buy, enjoy!


I would not have bothered with the extended warrantee though ... you household insurance will more than cover it.
__________________
I'm not grouchy by nature, it takes constant effort.



Flickr

Every day I beat my own previous record for number of consecutive days I've stayed alive.
muckshifter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2005, 03:29 PM   #9
Cache-man
Wannabe Webmaster
 
Cache-man's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Grimsby, UK
Posts: 841
Send a message via MSN to Cache-man
Trader Rating: (0)
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Quadophile
By the way, did you consider getting another memory card? I think a 256 MB one would suit you fine to go with this model.


I have stayed with the 32Mb card for now, and if i need more space I'll order a new one from online.
The main reason for the camera is to photograph HQ review items for my new website, and maybe for some reviews here. So I will not be too far from the pc to transfer them if the card gets full. I will also be using the camera for general holiday snaps too, although i doubt they'll be on highest resolution, and i'll probabally get a spare to take away with me anyways.
__________________
Cache-man is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2005, 08:19 PM   #10
floppybootstomp
sugar 'n spikes
Super Moderator
 
floppybootstomp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Greenwich
Posts: 12,293
Send a message via ICQ to floppybootstomp Send a message via MSN to floppybootstomp Send a message via Yahoo to floppybootstomp
Trader Rating: (15)
Default

Consider Crucial UK for extra card - good prices, quality memory, next day delivery, delivery included in quoted price and no hassle if you get a problem.

And don't forget to format it prior to use

Congrats on your purchase

And I agree with Mucks about the warranty, you must have encountered a really good sales person
__________________

Asus P5B Deluxe Motherboard; Intel Core 2 duo 6600 2.4Ghz CPU; Zalman CNPS9500 Cooler; 4Gb Corsair 6400C4 Memory; BFG Nvidia 9800 GTX 512Mb; Auzentech Prelude X-Fi Sound Card; 2 x Western Digital 150Gb Velicoraptors in RAID 0; Samsung 500Gb HDD; Antec 900 Gamers Case; Corsair 620W modular PSU; NEC SATA Lightscribe DVDRW; Asus SATA DVD-ROM; Linksys Wireless WAG200G Router; Logi G5 Mouse; Logi G15 Keyboard; Samsung 245_B 24" Black Monitor; Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit.
floppybootstomp is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply



Thread Tools
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off