some advice needed....

...again!

I'm after a compact that my wife can use for taking pics of the children that's also small enough to go in the pocket. Not bothered by zoom length, but after good quality capabilities for the least money really.

Anyone have any experience and suggestions wiht regards to small compacts?

Graeme

Hi Graeme

My wife has a Canon Powershot A40 (only 3 mega pixels and about 3 years old) which produces high quality prints up to 9" x 6". My son has a newer model (I think 4 or 5 mega pixels) and that produces high quality A4 prints. I am sure that any from the Canon range would more than meet your expectations as would I am sure any of the other well known brands like Nikon, Pentax & Sony etc.

David

Canon Ixus60.

Superb little (and little is the word) camera with a huge 2.5" display. Big + with it is the very economical battery life. Photo quality is amazing with surprisingly little fringing or noise. Super fine detail in landscapes is a touch mushy, but we're not talking 1Ds11 here. Group shots of people (weddings, sports teams, school plays etc) are very detailed.
Pick them up new from WE for about £170 or new on Ebay for £140.

John

i bought my wife an olympus 700, it's 7 megapixels (whatever that means ) and it's so small i don't even notice when she tells me her trousers don't have pockets and i have to carry it and it's so simple, even i can use it gives very clear shots.

it alleges to also have all weather capabilities, which i have to report, we haven't tested the extents of, as it's instilled in my brain that cameras and water don't mix (unless in an overpriced housing system) but who knows, maybe it's a good feature.

cost was about 200 new.

mark

Thanks for the replies. I currently have a Canon A70 which in it's day was pretty good. It seems that my perception of pretty good now has gone up a bit!!

Thanks, I'll do some more investigation on the models suggested.

Graeme

Hi Graeme

I have a Fuji F11 which is a small pocket size compact, the newer model is the F30. I like it, excellent image quality, useable high ISO, just enough manual controls and exposure compensation for when auto mode is not getting it right. Always comes out well in online reviews.

DPReview of F30

cheers

Sean

Thanks Sean. I have had my eye on that one actually.

Graeme

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0602/06021503pentaxw10.aspent

Pentax W10 - ok so you may not want to do underwater shots, but this makes it weather/swimming/paddling pool/kid proof. Lots of other features that are of use too. My work (RSPCA) has just done field trials of several models (by both proficient and novice users) and this one came head and shoulders above the rest.

A

THanks all. Got the W10 in the end. It's all at trade off at this range of camera and it's a shame you can't buy one that just takes a good pic without the all the useless features that they seem to pack inside them these days..... !!!