Recommend me a cheap digital compact?

[parapaul]

Looking to get one for the OH for her birthday - she loves to snap away, but is far from being interested in an expensive DSLR or anything like that. So, my requirements are:

• Price up to £150
• At least 7 or 8MP
• Must have at least 3x optical zoom
• No need for any internal memory, I'll get a separate card
• No real need for many settings or options, just 'point & shoot'
• LCD display as large as possible

I haven't started looking myself yet, will be going out this week, but it would be nice to be armed with some suggestions.

And obviously, the cheaper, the better - I can spend any that's left over on other presents - quantity is FAR more important than quality, eh?

TIA

Edited by parapaul on Saturday 19th April 15:59

[miniman]

Very happy with my Ricoh Caplio R7 -

http://www.purelygadgets.co.uk/showproduct.php?pro...

(and that's £30 less than I paid for it at Xmas!)

[Greendubber]

Lumix TZ3, can be had for under £150 now.

My compact weapon of choice!.

[sidaorb]

Just bought myself a Lumix LS80 fits all your spec. Really impressed with it so far.

[miniman]

As an aside, don't worry so much about megapixels unless you plan on printing images at larger than A3 size or so.