New "point and shoot" camera - Olympus FE-340?

WelshBluebird · 08-04-2008, 5:41 PM

Basically I'm going to uni later this year, so I won't have a camera available for me (as I can't take the family camera).

Not looking for much, just something that can take good photos, has a good zoom (for a point and shoot), and can fit into my jean pocket. Preferably under £120. Will be used for gigs and sports events, and just random photos lol.

Having had a quick chat with a friend (who's into more professional cameras really, so shes not as sure on point and shoot cameras), I've found the Olympus FE-340. 8MP and 5x optical zoom.

Seems pretty good (as most point and shoot's I've seen are either a 3x or 4x zoom). Not too sure though as I'm not really an expert.
Any opinions of it, or recommendations for me? Cheers

WelshBluebird · 09-04-2008, 8:29 PM

anyone?
Have noticed the FE-340 is limited to 10 seconds recording video which kinda puts me off.

I've found quite a few others, but it seems a lot of them have various problems which kinda put me off.

Any other reccomendations for something under £130, thats quite small, has at least a 4x zoom, is at least 7MP, and can record a good few mins of video (audio too if possible).

Thanks

Pirate!! · 10-04-2008, 5:40 AM

Compact or pocket cam? If pocket cam . . . sorry, I have no idea, Compact . . . Canon A720 IS.

WelshBluebird · 10-04-2008, 8:34 AM

Ideally I'd like it to be smaller than my current camera (Casio QVR40), which is around 88 x 60 x 33 mm. So preferably a pocket cam.
Gonna have a look around later, I imagine I will probably have to sacrafice something though, be it size, or something else.

TarMoo · 10-04-2008, 9:55 AM

For compact digital cameras you probably wont need more than 7 megapixels. The newer cameras with more pixels tend to have problems like noise and poor battery life. See www.6mpixel.org/en.

Maybe something like the Canon IXUS 75 (£109 on amazon) would be good.

Hades · 10-04-2008, 3:49 PM

I bought the FE-340 a couple of weeks ago.... bloody awful camera. Terrible barrel distortion. Yes these things can be corrected in software etc... but I don't like messing around with software. So I returned it for a full refund and bought the Canon A720IS = result

NewBeetle · 10-04-2008, 3:57 PM

Just got a panasonic FX33 its fantastic and one of the best made tiny cameras around.

http://www.camerabox.co.uk/product1....ProductID=3257

WelshBluebird · 10-04-2008, 6:10 PM

Thanks for the replies.
Really do want a better optical zoom than 3x though, as I find my current camera can't get close enough.

Any opinions on the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W120? Seems to fit the bill (7.2MP, 4x optical zoom, small, no silly 10 second limit on video, £125).

NewBeetle · 10-04-2008, 6:13 PM

If you want zoom, then you if you can stretch your budget an extra tenner the panasonic TZ3 is highly thought of.

http://www.camerabox.co.uk/product1.asp?ProductID=2875

WelshBluebird · 27-04-2008, 2:15 PM

sorry to bump an oldish thread, but I've had a look, and I think its going to be between two cameras.
The Sony DSC-W120 or the Fuji Finepix Z100fd. Both seem to have generally good reviews (though I've only been able to find a couple of opinons about the sony one).

Anyone here got opinions on either of them?
Thanks.