Lining amplifiers up in circuitikz

Question

I'm struggling to get amplifiers to sit nicely in my circuits. Here's the code:

\documentclass[a4paper]{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{circuitikz}

\begin{figure}[H]
    \centering
    \begin{circuitikz}
        \draw
        (0, 0) node[op amp] (opamp) {}
        (opamp.-) to[R] (-3, 0.5)
        (opamp.-) -- (-1, 2) to[C] (1, 2) -- (opamp.out)
        ;
    \end{circuitikz}
\end{figure}

\end{document}

But this is what it looks like:

I'm basically having to use trial and error to get those vertical lines to be actually vertical. Surely there is a better way than this?

Answer 1

The solution by Gonzalo works, but in my opinion, it's better to stick with the circuitikz bipoles (in this case short) so that labeling and connections can be done using the typical circuitikz notation if required:

\documentclass{standalone}
\usepackage{circuitikz}

\begin{document}
\begin{circuitikz}
  \draw
  (0, 0) node[op amp] (opamp) {}
  (opamp.-) to[R] (-3, 0.5)
  (opamp.-) to[short,*-] ++(0,1.5) coordinate (leftC)
  to[C] (leftC -| opamp.out)
  to[short,-*] (opamp.out)
;\end{circuitikz}
\end{document}

The -|/|- syntax is very similar, but it uses some labeled coordinates to find the intermediate location.

Answer 2

Use the |- ("first vertical, then horizontal"), -| ("first horizontal, then vertical") path modifiers:

\documentclass[a4paper]{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{circuitikz}

\begin{document}

\begin{figure}
    \centering
    \begin{circuitikz}
        \draw
        (0, 0) node[op amp] (opamp) {}
        (opamp.-) to[R] (-3, 0.5)
        (opamp.-) |- (-1, 2) to[C] (1, 2) -| (opamp.out)
        ;
    \end{circuitikz}
\end{figure}

\end{document}

The result:

Connectors can also be added:

\documentclass[a4paper]{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{circuitikz}

\begin{document}

\begin{figure}
    \centering
    \begin{circuitikz}
        \draw
        (0, 0) node[op amp] (opamp) {}
        (opamp.-) to[R] (-3, 0.5)
        (opamp.-) |-  (-1, 2) to[C] (1, 2) -| (opamp.out)
        ;
    \draw  (opamp.-) to[short,*-] ++(0,0);    
    \draw  (opamp.out) to[short,*-] ++(0,0);    
    \end{circuitikz}
\end{figure}

\end{document}