Digital Cameras > 7 to 9 x Digital Cameras > 160 GBP to 240 GBP

Advantages: Excellent picture quality, range of functions, lens quality, anti shake function
Disadvantages: Viewfinder not the best, low light autofocus

Although Konica Minolta have now ceased making cameras, there are still a few of these around (and warranty/service has been handed over to Sony). The A200 is the last of KM bridge mount digital cameras in the pro-sumer market. It has a 8m pixel CCD and 28 to 200 (35mm equivalent) manual zoom lens - much better than a motor driven lens which tend to have noticeable "stops". Although fairly big (not quite as big as a D-SLR) and quite heavy, the range ...
...a number of programme modes in between means that you get pretty much all the benefits of a D-SLR in a smaller, more convenient package. It's no pocket camera however. A number of items standout:- the excellent quality lens (which has very little barrel distortion or vignetting) and which can take both wide-angle and telephoto adaptors the multi angle display which makes self portraits (with remote) or taking pictures from unusual angles (like above ... Read review

Advantages: Produces great pictures, comfortable to use.
Disadvantages: Lots of settings could get complicated for first time digital buyers.

This has got to be the best digital camera I've had so far. It creates beautiful pictures of times I want to remember. The camera itself is well designed and the shape is created for ease of use, which it definately achieves. You can take pictures one handed, and find your thumb fits automatically over the zoom button. This has got to be a highlight of the design. The camera does have a very slow start-up, and take quite a while to actually take ...
...cause severly blurred pictures. Having said that, it is also very capable of taking incredibly sharp pictures. The optical zoom, of 8.3 is almost unheard of on cameras of this price range. And performs beauitfully. It is definately one of the best features on this camera. The features of this camera are many. This could get confusing, but it definately aids to the quality of picture. It puts the person behind the camera in control, unlike many other ... Read review

Advantages: value, zoom, features
Disadvantages: probably not to good for advanced photography

...and he reccomended me this panasonic lumix camera. I have been more than happy with his reccomendation ever since, having found the camera very easy to use, but also capable of taking very high quality photographs. I would reccomend this above Samsung and Fuji cameras I have had in the past. The zoom is excellent, very defined, and the camera offers a burst feature, which allows you to take a series of photos, excellent for a moving object, and ...
...than £80 equivalent I am very pleased to have chosen this camera, as for someone who wants photos of travels and everyday life, it has more than i need, but is not at all confusing. It also comes in a range of colours so you can customise it as you wish, and once bought you will be snapping away without having to carry the manual with you for when you get confused. ... Read review

Advantages: Easy to use, Simple design, Clear shots with bonus anti shake.
Disadvantages: none that i can think of!

Best Compact Camera! This is one of the best cameras i've ever owned! I wanted a compact digital camera that was easy to use and understand, not too small for my shaky hands and one for best quality for value. After trying many different types in various shops, this one i instantly liked. It feels sturdy and less breakable than other types. The instruction manual made it easy for me (who isn't camera minded at all!) to understand and it is ...
...memory card, so when in emergencies i'd run out of space, i could borrow my partners card! I have lots of fun with this camera and it takes outstanding pictures without lots of hassle with different buttons. There are lots of features i have yet to use, but this is to be expected, unlike other cameras which have features i'd never use! ... Read review

Advantages: Excellent build quality, superb CMOS sensor, low noise at high ISO.
Disadvantages: Poor kit lenses

...shortcomings of investing in this Canon system. Given the superb performance of the CMOS image sensor, particularly at high sensitivity settings, the lenses offered by Canon as 'kit' lenses are somewhat of a let-down and disappointment for the following reasons: The camera body does not have image stabilisation. If you wish to have this facility each lens you buy has to have it built in. This makes the lenses inherently more expensive than similar ...
...of polarising filters difficult. Canon do not supply lens hoods with their lenses and, unless you opt for cheap alternatives, are quite expensive to add on. To get the best from the resolving capabilities of this excellent camera one really needs to go for the more up-market Canon lenses and they don't come cheap. So beware, you may end up spending quite a lot of money getting this camera kitted out to your satisfaction. ... Read review