Digital cameras

[pitstopbunny]

My father is giving me �50 for Christmas and I want to buy a digital camera with it. I want one that is compact and light enough to carry around on a daily basis in my handbag, memory size is not too important because I will download and delete as I use it, so I don't need to store loads of pictures on it. I want to be able to come home, plug it into my PC, download and print off what I want.......
Can anyone recommend one for about �50 (maybe a little more), that takes good quality pictures and is simple to use.....and where I can buy it?

[vehelpfulguy]

I have had a look at the cameras Argos sell and around your price range I would say the Olympus FE130 at �65 fits the bill.

Olympus is a quality camera aker, it is a 5Mp camera (so good quality pictures), 3x optical zoom.

This is the cheapest camera they do with optical zoom.

There are two types of zoom, digital zoom and optical zoom.

Digital zoom is a "fake" zoom which does not really zoom, so you get poor quality pictures when you zoom in.

Optical zoom is "proper" zoom, where the lens actually goes in and out. This means you get just as good a quality if you are fully zoomed in or zoomed out.

Even if you do not buy that camera, do NOT take any notice if it says the camera has digital zoom. Try to get one with optical zoom.

There are some good deals at the moment so look in the daily papers for adverts from Staples, PC world, Comet etc.

[vehelpfulguy]

Whoops, here is a link to the camera on the Argos web site.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumb er/5605321/Trail/C%24cip%3D42463.Photography%3 EC%24cip%3D42472.Digital%2Bcameras.htm

[pitstopbunny]

Thank you for that, I wouldn't have known the difference between the different zooms...I'd sooner add the difference and get a half decent one as I don't plan on buying another in the future!!

[vehelpfulguy]

A search round the web shows this camera has been discontinued at other sites, so Argos probably bought up all their stock.

This is quite common, as camera technology moves on so fast companies often want to offload their previous models.

As it sold for over �100 a while ago it seems it is a good deal now. I would go and get one at Argos before they sell out.

Amazon have the same camera at �92

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Olympus-Digital-Camera -Optical-Zoom/dp/B000EBP6N6

This site has it at �99

http://www.fotosense.co.uk/shop_details.asp?pr oductID=1851

[vehelpfulguy]

A word on camera batteries.

Most cheaper digital cameras use AAA or AA batteries. These are the small round batteries that go in things like TV remote controls.

The problem is that digital cameras "eat" AAA and AA batteries, you are forever replacing them.

The best sort of batteries are Lithium Ion, the type they use in video cameras.

But at your price point you are unlikely to be able to get Lithium Ion.

Bear in mind that if you get one that uses AAA or AA you may have the extra cost of buying re-chargable batteries and a charger.

[Evorg Enaj]

I have an Olympus Camedia C-460 Zoom which is 4mp and 3x optical zoom which you can have for �50 + p&p if you are too far away for me to drop it off. It is absolutely as new, does everything that you want and very much more (Google for full details), is dead easy to use and is complete in box with everything. I am only selling because I have heard that a grandchild is coming with a digital camera for me for Xmas not knowing that I bought this one a few months ago. I'll post an e-mail address on here for contact if you are interested.

[pitstopbunny]

Evorg Enaj, thank you for the very kind offer. Knowing my dad though, he will prefer to buy a new one, simply because of the warrenty that most new goods come with...but thank you once again!

[Evorg Enaj]

Not at all. It was a spur of the moment posting, I regretted making it immediately afterwards but you can't cancel postings on Answerbank!