I hate to ask a digital camera question ...

... but if a bloke wanted a cheap and simple, point and click
machine - what about one of these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000NUWJNS/30000168-21/?m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

(Canon IXUS 70)

Seems to have a reasonable spec and decent reviews - any informed
opinions about?

 

I got one when I broke my casio Exilim.

Lovely interface and very tiny, image wise it's not as good as the casio
was - just a bit more noise, and worse low-light performance.. but for
the size that's fair. The big plus is I managed to get a pair of extra
generic batteries for £10 from 7dayshop, which are also tiny - so a few
days of shooting fit into a single pocket.

Does the job ok, all in all.

 

'Ello mate reading the photohog press the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 has been
coming out on top of the compact digital zooms. Normally a bit more
expensive than the Ixus 70 but I happened to notice:

www.digitalrev.com/en/product_details.php?item_id=1853 putting it bang in
the frame. It has a nice wide angle capability and Leica lens 28-280mm

The online press seems to be agreeing with the terrestial reviews
www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_tz3-review/
www.cameralabs.com/reviews/PanasonicTZ3/

Actually at that price I shall sleep on it then perhaps finally buy one.

 

I wouldn't have any reservations about an ixus, my missus still uses my
one to this day. In fact google this very topic, it's been discussed
here before.

 

Bought one for Rachel. Tiny, good quality photos (IMHO) simple to use,
well made. We think it's great.

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Can't say about this Ixus model particularly, but I've had an Ixus 400
for the last few years and got excellent results from it. I use it
mostly for scuba these days, in a waterproof case. It's robust, the
interface is simple and good and the results speak for themselves.
There are probably other cameras wioth more gizmos these days but
you'll struggle to find a better small lens than on a Canon/Nikon.

All these were taken with it:

http://www.takkatakka.co.uk/landscape3.jpg
http://www.takkatakka.co.uk/diving.html
http://www.takkatakka.co.uk/galapagos3.jpg


Other half has an even more 'basic' Ixus 5i which gets results lilke
this.

http://www.takkatakka.co.uk/galapagos4.jpg

Ixus cameras rock.

 

You may find that 3x optical zoom is quite limiting.

The Ricoh R6 has 7x zoom and image stabilzer for a very similar price.
I'll let you know what it's like when mine arrives today

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ricoh-Capli...2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1199093597&sr=1-2

 

I've been dithering over these recently. Like yourself I found they
had good reviews, and a few knowledgeable mates gave them the thumbs
up.

The best price I found was surprisingly for the 75, £119 at PC World
but it didn't seem to be in stock for delivery, so you'd have to rely
on there being one in a store near you.

 

I have to say , thst looks good .... but not in red

 

Ah there we go when I had a chance to sit down. I knew it had this years
award in the Compact camera sector.
www.panasonic.co.uk/news/tipatz3.html
The TIPA website seems to be borked though.

 

Shitty-link couldn't understand the large sign written on the door of our
office telling them to knock on the window to make the delivery , so I'll
let you know on wednesday now :0(

I had a play with one in a shop before ordering online and it seems a very
well made and specced bit of kit.

Ah :0)

 

I've got an Ixus 50 and an Ixus 60 and I like 'em both. Good point
and shoot. Only drawback is actually the lack of weight, makes it
hard to hold them steady for landscapes.

 

Oh you need a Panasonic 67MkII then ;o)

 

I've used (please note 'used', not 'owned') various Ixii in the past
few years and was impressed enough to get Ann an Ixus 60 when she
wanted an easy to use, decent digicam. I'm notoriously finicky about
image quality so I probably wouldn't buy one myself, but then again
I'm one of those film dinosaurs...

So yes, I'd say it's a pretty decent choice.

 

No, I need a Canon 400d SLR.

Oh, what's that I spy on my shelf next to the Ixus'...

 

<can't be arsed reading up on it>
Does it
a) Take decent "moving" shots
b) night shots ?

(the 2 things I want improving over my Olympus)
</cbaruoi>

 

<finds it impossible to resist>

Bruce, this is called "Video".

 

<sigh>
Decent stills of moving action
</s>

 

Point and shoot = shutter lag. Some are bad, some are worse, but if you
want to take motion shots buy a (d)SLR.

 

Shutter speeds from 8s down to 1/2000th , so it should be ok.
I'll let you know on wednesday when it arrives