Need to buy a digital camera - please help!

[icb]

Hi everybody,

I'm brand new to this forum, I found it this morning and think it's great.

I need to buy a new compact digital camera, mainly for taking pictures on holidays (outdoor) and clubs (low light).

I have been to a few shops and the Canon Ixus 82, 80 and 75 come highly recommended, some people mentioned the Panasonic Lumix FX33 and TZ3 too.
Reading this forum it looks like the Fuji perform very well in low light....

Is it worth me spending a lot more to get the newest models considering a mainly want a point and shoot and I'm not fussed with manual adjustments and that I'm not going to print the pictures in huge sizes?

Can somebody please help me to make a decision??

many thanks

ICB

[Pirate!!]

Canon Powershot A720 IS looks good. Reviews are positive and price is affordable.

[icb]

thanks for that.

[icb]

Hi Pirate,

I've now had a little more time to read other threads on this site and I have noticed you were thinking of buying the Canon A720 IS. Did you? What do you think?
I am torn between the Canon Powershot A720, the IXUS 80 IS and the Panasonic DMC TZ3 (that also seemed to get quite a few of you very excited).
is there much between them?


Cheers
ICB

[Pirate!!]

I was looking to get a decent camera for not a lot of money with good IQ, OIS, zoom and a big LCD for the missus. The A720 IS that camera and no, I haven't got it as yet, though for £110.00 delivered makes great VFM.

There is also a firmware add-on for it (sits on your memory card) that will give all sorts of additional functionality and the ability to shoot in RAW mode. Called CHDK.

I can't comment further as my choice was already made. Maybe others would give an opinion.

[Strobe]

A couple of people on here have the TZ3 and have voice good things about it.

For my last couple of point and shoots, I have used Canon Ixuses. I have an Ixus 800IS at the moment. It's a bit dated now but built like a mini tank, gets a fair amount of abuse, and takes great snaps. I bought a cheap Olympus mju 720 for work use a few months back (£130 odd from memory) and build/picture quality wise it's not a patch on the Ixus.

www.dpreview.com is always a good place to start for digicam reviews.