Yo yo yo.
So in this month’s Photography 101, I thought I would make a small list of what I personally think are the best compact cameras under £200. For those of you who are beauty/fashion bloggers or if you’re a photography enthusiast in general and you don’t want to fork out a few hundred quid for a camera (because lets face it, you don’t need an SLR camera to be a blogger!) then take a look at the options below! Even very cheap digital cameras now have the technology that once commanded high price tags.
This list is the product of perusing the isles of electrical stores and trying out all the cameras on this list and testing the functions, as well as reading and watching a plethora of consumer as well as expert reviews so I hope you enjoy!
How many megapixels do I need?
While cheaper digital cameras may have smaller resolutions of around 10Mp or less, those with resolutions of 12, 14, or even 16Mp don’t guarantee better picture quality.
High resolutions are only really useful if you’re enlarging printed photos. For a standard 6×4-inch print, 2.2Mp is all you’ll need, so don’t be put off if a cheap digital camera has a smaller resolution.
1. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX77
The likes of Canon and Nikon may rule when it comes to cameras, but Panasonic also does some great things. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX77 here is stylish little camera with a 12.1-megapixel sensor, 5x zoom and and a 3.5-inch touchscreen viewer. It also records video in full HD. For those who love to swatch, this camera has a great Macro lens!
2. Samsung MV800
This little snapper is a camera that’s great for having fun with. The Samsung MV800 has a range of shooting modes and digital photo effects, a cool flip out monitor shoots HD video. It also has a 16.1-megapixel camera and a 5x optical zoom. For £119 the Samsung MV800 is decent value.
3. Canon PowerShot SX230 HS
The Canon PowerShotSX230 HS isn’t the newest Canon shooter on the block, but for under £200 you’ll be getting a camera with few faults. The PowerShotSX230 HS features a 12.1-megapixel camera, 14x optical zoom, image stabilisation, and Canon’s typically easy-to-use menus. A great bet for a very reliable camera that offers superb quality photo quality.
4. Nikon CoolPix S9300
You can find the Nikon Coolpix S9100 for around £160, making it one of the cheapest of our bargain picks. Full HD video recording, an 18x optical zoom and some cool photography modes make the Nikon Coolpix S9100worth checking out.
5. Sony CyberShot W520
Fun in-camera retouching functions mean you can crop and fix redeye without the need for any computer software too.
A large 2.7in, 230k-dot LCD screen with a wide viewing angle makes it easy to hold the camera at unusual angles whilst still being able to compose on screen.
The Cyber-shot W520 has a 25-125mm 5x optical zoom lens to snap a range of shots, further complimented by the Face Detection mode that’s capable of picking out faces in the scene to maintain focus.
Should it get dark, the Sony Cyber-shot W520 also comes with high sensitivity ISO 3200 for low light performance, though do expect some image quality deterioration. Sony’s SteadyShot image stabilisation helps reduce blur when shooting handheld too, another compliment for low light performance.
6. Canon PowerShot A1200
Ok, now this is a GREAT camera for amazing value. The Canon PowerShot A1200 features the company’s DIGIC 4 processor, meaning image quality is of the highest order.
A 3cm from lens macro function means you can shoot super-close to subject, plus Scene modes cover all the options to shoot, well, pretty much anything.
Add Smart Auto and Easy modes and a 720p movie mode and the Canon A1200 certainly comes kitted out with an array of features. Face Detection with autofocus also ensures faces are recognised in the frame and kept sharp too. Blur Reduction technology will detect movement in a scene and change the ISO sensitivity accordingly to a level that will keep subjects crisply frozen in motion. Very clever.
7. Olympus VR-310
An excellent value point-and-shoot compact that looks and performs far more impressively than its budget price tag might suggest. Plenty of built-in menu options add to the picture-taking appeal provided by the capable 14-megapixel sensor. Add on HD movie functionality, a cool range of colours plus plenty of pocket appeal and you’ve got a winner.
So there we have it! Please keep in mind that you can get these camera from other retailers – I used Amazon as they normally have the cheapest prices.
I hope some of you find this useful. 🙂 If you have any questions or comments, please leave a comment below!
It's very true you don't need a SLR to be a blogger I think a lot think you need an expensive camera but my digital camera which was a Samsung NV100 served me really well and still does when I don't want to lug my Canon about. Good post x
Great post so helpful, me thinks I'm in need of a new camera hehe!
That was so useful! Especially since my camera died and I've been looking for a new one! 🙂
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