This is my current cam, i've had it about 2 years and basically like it because it's only 4" wide and easy to carry around.
It cost me about £110 (140 US dollars) and has got a good 10x zoom and the aperture/shutter speeds can be operated on full automatic or manual overide-

BUT

  the focus is always fully-automatic and can't be manually overridden, and it's driving me crazy!
For example, I hear the sound of a low-flying aircraft, grab the cam, switch it on and point it at the plane or helo but the auto-focus often takes 5 or more seconds to settle down, during which time the viewfinder image keeps blurring because the stupid autofocus is hunting around for the correct focus, and by then the plane has flown out of sight!
Also, if I try to video something from my TV or monitor screen, the autofocus keeps blurring like crazy and never settles down!
So I'm looking to buy a cam that has a manual focus overide so i can leave it set at infinity for aircraft shots, which would stop it hunting for the focus, right?
Likewise when filming from a screen I could set the focus to say 2 feet and it should never blur, right?

I'll go up to around £200 (250 USD) for a new cam, but it must be small and must have at least 10x zoom, plus of course everything must have a manual overide including the focus.
Any recomendations for what cam i should consider?

PS- here's a pic of Plymouth Sound at 10x zoom taken with my current cam (Eddystone lighthouse is on the horizon 14 miles away), as you can see it's a good cam apart from the fact that the sluggish autofocus takes so long to lock onto the subject.

I recommend the Nikon P510. I have the P500, which is the previous version. It is basically just one step away from a DSLR Camera. It has amazing zoom, and takes great photos, 99% of the time not using any flash. The lens is wide angle and it processes photos quickly. It also takes amazing HD Video with good sound, the HDR feature is nice too. There is really too much to explain on it, but the price dropped from what I paid, $500 to either $350 or $399, I can't remember. Anyhow, here is a photo I took in Florida with some of the settings tuned up.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7080/7159548721_ae9bff51ac_b.jpg

The camera basically almost goes anywhere I do, it's completely worth every cent it costs.

Here's a couple more.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8012/7159556081_5362fefb54_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7053/7116365315_d612790f5f_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8155/7001300938_12fac2b2a9_c.jpg

The resolution and quality choices are excellent on it as well. Here is a full size photo of a Cessna 421.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8158/7116377745_bf69eb680d_o.jpg

And another of the GA lineup at a local airport.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7216/6970296026_3452d255d6_o.jpg

Here is the link to the camera on Nikon's site so you can read up on it. I really couldn't recommend it anymore.

http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/coolpix/performance/p510/

I've messed with the new small camera with interchangeable lenses as well, they are awesome cameras. Basically DSLR in compact form.

http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/acil/index.htm

Good luck with the choice, the P500 is my first Nikon, my first camera really and I wouldn't ever go with another brand, this camera hasn't failed me yet.


I modified your post, linking images slows the forum down for users on slow connections, please review the guidelines for posting images.  Thanks      -BigTruck-

I recommend getting a DSLR. even a cheap one.

Yeah I might decide to splash out on something expensive with through-the lens viewfinding because digital viewfinder screens are almost impossible to see in bright daylight; i've got a flip-up hood on mine but it's still hard to see.

If you are still open to suggestions, there is a new compact DSLR style camera out that is pretty sweet. Small in size, but has the power of a full size DLSR.

This one is really cool IMO. I played with it and compared it to a Nikon DSLR at Best Buy, amazing camera with interchangeable lenses, like a DSLR. I'm normally one of those people who say that stuff like a DSLR cannot be replaced by newer, compact things, but in this case it has done a great job.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Sony+-+NEX-5N+16.1-Megapixel+Digital+Camera+with+18-...