compact for room photography

Have been asked to recommend a compact for taking indoor room shots.
Must be simple to use, and be able to take decent images indoors.
The person involved has no interest in photography, just needs to get some room shots of her B&B into an online brochure.
Any suggestions?

Davex.

For the first impressions of a B&B the photos in the brochure should not look like they were taken by an inexperienced tourist. At least get an enthusiast photographer to take some nice photos. You could probably "hire" such a person for less than the cost of a compact camera.

The person could also borrow a camera... Why spend the money for something that may not be used again?

Most compact cameras do not do well indoors without lots of light.
The Canon G9 & G10 should be decent, but not very compact. (Also not sure how wide angle they go.)

The only compact I've heard people say is any good in indoors low-light is the Canon S90, but its far from cheap - certainly more than paying someone to take some shots.

I would have thought anything with at least a 28mm w/a lens would be fine at the sort of sizes you generally see in online brochures... the key things being ensuring the rooms are nicely lit, using natural light rather than flash, avoiding under exposure, composing them nicely, and sharpening the shots adepquately after resizing.

Don't see why you'd buy a camera especially for this job. Couldn't you offer to do some shots with your 12-24 in return for a night's stay, Dave? ;P

Just remember to convert compact focal length to 35mm if comparing against a 35mm style lens's focal length. Compacts have focal lengths of like 3.8mm -- which is not extremely wide.

As above, get someone who IS interested in photography and already has a decent camera to take them for her in exchange for a few beers.

There's nothing worse for the first impression of a guesthouse than the advertising shots being taken by someone who clearly has no clue.

If I were in her area I'd happily deploy my K10D and 16-45 for the price of a crate of something Old and Speckled, I'm sure I'm not the only one.

I'm with Pentaxophile and Mongoose here, why not offer to do a portfolio shoot for her, it would be cheaper for her if you had a night in her guest house than buying a new camera just for a one-off reason.

Fair comments guys, the issue is she is my Mother in law

Perhaps i should make the offer.

Davex.

ooooo freebes for family? Danger Will Robinson!

I see your predicament, be careful not to set a precedent you don't want to have to keep to!

If a good brochure that attracts custom is the aim, then a compact camera will not do the trick.

A proper photographer is needed, with the appropriate kit.

Hmmm, I see it as an opportunity. "Well of course I need the 60-250mm, what happens if your mother asks me to take a picture of the .......this 55-300mm just isn't up to it. I wouldn't like to say no."

Already have a 12-24, but then have always hankered after the 10-17 fish-eye. Not sure what that would do for the images though

Davex.

Dave, once you've offered and delivered who knows what assignments you'll be commissioned for, so best get a good set of lenses for the majority of possibilities. And a spare body, you don't want to disappoint.

Suspect i have always disappointed her
Still will make the offer.

Davex.

Good luck.