Compact digital camera ideas?

[mrapoc]

Hey guys

18th coming up soon and a bit stuck for what I want to buy with the monies xD

Anyway, I don't have my own camera and the family have a canon ixus 50 (5mp) between us all.

I want to do quite a bit of travelling soon especially japan. So I feel my shoddy 3.2mp nokia cameraphone wont suffice.

I think I'm right in thinking that canon generally make the best cameras (lenses). Looking for sub £200, easy to carry/store and being a novice camera user (but one who appreciates quality shots) which would you recommend?

Thanks

[john]

I need a new camera myself but it's a bit down on the priorities at the moment. My daughters have got a Canon and a Panasonic respectively and they both produce excellent results.

Other makes I'd look at are Nikon, Olympus, Minolta, Richoh and Sony (unless you really want to spend a lot and get a Leica   ).

People say it's best to buy an established camera brand rather than an electronics manufacturer as the lenses tend to be better but Panasonic's Lumixes use Leica lenses, Sony uses carl Zeis.

Don't be swayed by the pixel count, the lens is more important. I'd look for one which has a larger lens (rather than the very small compacts) as they let more light in and can take pictures in less light.

Also look at the 'optical' zoom capability and consider what best suits the type of photographs you intend to take, bearing in mind that it's often easier to get closer to a subject than get farther away i.e. when you want to take a group shot indoors in a smallish room then a wider zoom would be useful.

Finally look at the distance that the flash is usable.

There are a couple of good review sites here :

Dpreview

Steve's Digicams

and last time I checked Best Cameras seemed to have some good prices on UK branded stock. Some places like Pixmania have European stock and sell/give you a mains adapter with your order.

[Simon]

I have a Panasonic Lumix, and am very please with the results.

[Lance]

We got a canon Ixus but I can't remember if it was the 860 or the 870. It was the newest in the 8xx range either way. As an upgrade from my previous ixus 55 I've been very impressed so far. I also considered the 9xx serious but the lenses didn't have a very  wide angle lense.