View Full Version : Cameras and Photography
Now i know there are some folk on here who are really into photography and im not just talking about taking pictures on hols etc. Ive got a Nikon Coolpix point n shoot job, however im looking to get something a little better, with more manual functions however i wasnt looking to go as far as the dslr route. For those in the know, is it worth me going for the prosumer large zoom slr like bodied cameras which are coming in at the high end of digi cams?
Hi Rob,
Difficult to say without knowing what your budget is and which cameras you have in mind. Share the details!
It also totally depends what you will use it for. Myself, I'm a 'trying to go pro' and have a canon dslr, which is awesome, takes superb pics, and has a huge range of lenses to choose from (not many of which I own, unfortunately!) and that works for me, but if you just want your everyday snapshots to be better quality, a smaller format camera would be better. My camera bag weighs in at abou 5 kilos, so if you want to take pics of your mates in the pub, forget it!
Sorry, bit of a ramble, but give us some idea what you will use it for, and how much moolah you have to blow on it, and I'll try and be more specific!
Jelster
21-08-06, 07:09 PM
I had (still have) an Olympus C5050Zoom
http://www.setonline.com.ua/.db/w200/8970/C5050ZOOM.jpg
Which has taken great pictures, but you can't beat the combination of the quality optics (lenses), quality CCD and large image size that a DSLR offers. And cameras like the D350 are now about the same price as the other ones you're looking at.
.
If you want to 'play' more with the more creative side of photography there are many fixed lens cameras out there that offer this ability with an astounding zoom range. These cameras tend to resembl a small SLR and are all pretty much of similar spec. Lots of pixels and a short sensitivity range (due to small sensor size).
If you really want to play then the DSLR is the way, they are about the same price as some of the above but have a shorter zoom lens as standard.
The Nikon D70 although expensive is in the process of being relaced by a higher spec D80 so expect prices to fall on the D70 (a cracking DSLR that I've used for the last three years for many.. err. jobs). Don't be fooled by the number of pixels, the higher sensitivity of a DSLR sensor over the fixed lens cameras means that you have to use flash far less also and there is a lot less noise.
Buying from new it would be hard to choose between the Canon 350D (probably about to be replaced) and the Nikon D50 IMHO a better kit with a far superior kit lens.
My money (if I had some) would go on the new D80.
Good luck!
Remember though that it's the glass in front of the sensor that is the most important thing and not the number if pixels.
Canon have always been close to number 1 products and were highly recommended when I last looked about - 2 months ago. I met a good sales guy and walked out with a camcorder instead - Canon though - which also takes good digi pics. I also have a coolpix so couldnt justify another but wanted something to take small vids as well.
Oh forgot, personally I still use film using my rangefinder cameras for my personal work. Leica, Bronica and Voigtlander stuff. The pixels earn the money though, faster workflow.
OK I'm a luddite :oops:
yeah, sorry didnt really go into any specifics. The coolpix is fine for capturing a moment etc but im looking at something which will produce quality pics. I like landscape photography and find myself having a go at that. If i set myself a budget of £200-£300 would i be allowing enough for a decent cam? Panasonic DMC FZ7? Fujifilm S5600? The Panasonic has a Leica lens
I picked a canon d30 up of ebay for £265.00 ,its like new... i have 2 lenses a 28-70-mm and a 70-220mm,a good mixture as i like going to my local track and getting some nice action shots of the bikes thrashing round,try to go for a digital slr,u can pick one up real cheap now,and just experiment..some times i get good shots sometimes not.just delete the one's which are cack thats the beauty of diggy stuff.
I just got the new Pentax K100D that has shake reduction technology and great low noise ability. I tried the Canon 350D and that felt like a toy in my hands and i found too many faults with it. A friend got the Nikon D50 and that was a better camera than the Canon but it is now a year old and i wanted something different. So i got the Pentax....which has sold out in Japan! This camera will put Pentax dslr's on the map once again as they finally improved on the jpeg quality which has been a bit of a prob on previous dslr's from them.
Not everyone wants to carry lenses and stuff around and so i got a Canon A540 too which has good manual controls and 4 x zoom and is compact but you could also have a look at the A700 with its bigger zoom. There are just too many choices to choose from so i suggest having a look on www.dpreview.com and have a look at the forums on there as a lot ask the same question as u and there is a wealth of knowledge on there
yeah, sorry didnt really go into any specifics. The coolpix is fine for capturing a moment etc but im looking at something which will produce quality pics. I like landscape photography and find myself having a go at that. If i set myself a budget of £200-£300 would i be allowing enough for a decent cam? Panasonic DMC FZ7? Fujifilm S5600? The Panasonic has a Leica lens
I think there is a new Fuji replacing that one and i also think Panasonic produce noisy images (like film grain) at high iso settings. Dslr's (well most) produce much cleaner images at high iso settings so much better low light ability. Check that link out and u will find the camera for you from reading posts and asking questions on there
I think im gonna go down the slr-like route. Its too easy going for the best in SLR and spending a fortune but is it not like when people go into Currys and buy the top spec computer costing thousands when all they want to do is surf and play solitaire? I figure that i should buy something where it gives me the features to experiment, yet at the same time i should be thinking more about the shot and not the features of the camera?
I think im gonna go down the slr-like route. Its too easy going for the best in SLR and spending a fortune but is it not like when people go into Currys and buy the top spec computer costing thousands when all they want to do is surf and play solitaire? I figure that i should buy something where it gives me the features to experiment, yet at the same time i should be thinking more about the shot and not the features of the camera?
With the money you're talking about spending, I think you would be very lucky to get a decent DSLR and a couple of lenses. But it's always worth a go! If you get a compact, your money wil def get you something respectable.
As TC3 sayes, check DPreview, they're great.
Just as a totally different idea, have you thought about getting a film SLR just for the creative stuff? They're WAY cheap, have a look on ebay. At least that way you can find out if you like it for not too much money.
wyrdness
22-08-06, 09:52 AM
I've just got a Nikon D50 which is 6 megapixels. The picture quality is far, far better than my 5 megapixel compact camera. It's not so much the number of pixels that makes the difference, so much as the quality of the lenses on an SLR. You have far more control with an SLR than you do with a compact camera. Now that digital SLRs are under £500 (the D50 is £400) it's really worth getting one if you're interested in photography.
Filipe M.
22-08-06, 11:16 AM
The Fuji S5600 is a very cool "toy" for it's price. Good features and quality in an affordable package. The S6500 is supposed to come out soon, but I still don't know anything about it yet, apart from what's stated on the site.
Now for the S9500... cracking cam. Not DSLR yet, it's a "bridge" camera, but oh boy... I wants one. :cry:
Just dont start reading reviews. You will end up sooooo confused that probably like me, you give up on the idea.
Any of the top 4 DSLRs will blow your socks off compared to a point and shoot. Just down to money and money really.
Aye im after a "Bridge" cam thats why i said SLR-like. The reviews are baffling because at the moment im just using the cam for P&S. Once i get a cam with more functionality then ill be able to pick up stuff as i go along.
Filipe - can the 5600 be considered good enough to use as a bridge cam or is it too close to the compact which i already have? It seems very affordable as it can be had for less than £200
Amanda M
22-08-06, 01:10 PM
Someone at work got a Sony Cybershot H2 (6MP, 12x optical zoom) and I've seen some of the pics he got from it and they're really good. I think you can get them for just over £200 off amazon or pixmania. Would that be any good for you? :D I was tempted by one of those myself but ended up getting a better point-and-shoot camera instead (Casio Exilim EX-Z60) which I'm dead chuffed with 8)
Someone at work got a Sony Cybershot H2 (6MP, 12x optical zoom) and I've seen some of the pics he got from it and they're really good. I think you can get them for just over £200 off amazon or pixmania. Would that be any good for you? :D I was tempted by one of those myself but ended up getting a better point-and-shoot camera instead (Casio Exilim EX-Z60) which I'm dead chuffed with 8)
Thats the one we are getting 8)
Amanda M
22-08-06, 01:13 PM
Someone at work got a Sony Cybershot H2 (6MP, 12x optical zoom) and I've seen some of the pics he got from it and they're really good. I think you can get them for just over £200 off amazon or pixmania. Would that be any good for you? :D I was tempted by one of those myself but ended up getting a better point-and-shoot camera instead (Casio Exilim EX-Z60) which I'm dead chuffed with 8)
Thats the one we are getting 8)
Cool!! I'll have to have look at that when you get it :)
No probs Amazon have some great deals at the min
Amanda M
22-08-06, 01:15 PM
No probs Amazon have some great deals at the min
I got mine off amazon - turned up the day after I ordered it 8)
I want this one
Canon IXUS 800 IS
http://www.canon.co.uk/Images/14_344326.jpg
Is the image stabiliser property actually useful? Is there another camera better for roughly the same price?
I want this one
Canon IXUS 800 IS
http://www.canon.co.uk/Images/14_344326.jpg
Is the image stabiliser property actually useful? Is there another camera better for roughly the same price?
how much is it?
£266.00 from Amazon which was a lot cheaper than what I saw in Jessops.
yeah amazon is the place for them i think at the min competitive prices
yeah amazon is the place for them i think at the min competitive prices
Ooo, Amazon are giving away a £10 Lowepro Z5 pouch this month with the IXUS 800, Casio Exilim etc.
Like its been said, the reviews can just baffle you. Ive been looking around and one mans dream camera is anothers nightmare. Ive looked at the Fuji s5600 which can be had for under £170, the Panasonic FZ7, Sony DSC H2 etc. Confusing to say the least
Like its been said, the reviews can just baffle you. Ive been looking around and one mans dream camera is anothers nightmare. Ive looked at the Fuji s5600 which can be had for under £170, the Panasonic FZ7, Sony DSC H2 etc. Confusing to say the least
From your list, the Panasonic would be the clincher for me.
Beenz is that due to the Leica lens? The downside with the Pan is that it doesnt take AA batts
Beenz is that due to the Leica lens? The downside with the Pan is that it doesnt take AA batts
I read the Amateur Photographer regularly amongst others and the Panasonics although not always winning comparative reviews they tend to be consistently in the higher score area. The Leica (designed) lens is made by Panasonic under licence, it is not really a Lieca Germany optic (hand built to very tight tollerances and silly prices). The lens on is own would pop the price up by a grand or two if it was.
From memory, the Fuji has some odd usability quirks and to be honest the Sony does not cut it in this company IIRC.
For info Sony sometimes have Zeiss lenses, again made under licence.
I'll try and find out a bit more info.
JUST DONT BUY FROM PIXMANIA.
Horrible horrible comapny to deal with. Ok, if they are in stock, but if they aint, then forget it, and order over the phone NOT on the website.
Had a bad experience can you tell.
Out of the 8mp compacts, the Mju800 is better than the Ixus. The ixus also has a poor flash range that much i do know!!
The S9500 is a cracking 'bridgecam' Mate has one and uses it more than his DSLR :?
I currently have vernas Coolpix4300 which is a cracking camera, much better than my Ixus. I would, if i had the money, get the topothelline Coolpix.
Just another point to consider. The camera should be easy to use, will it fit in the had, can you work the controls and are the controls well positioned. If you can try the different cameras. You rightly pointed out that reviews are one thing and tend to be one persons point of view. Whats very good to one lot may be poor to another.
Just as a matter of interest, I have an IXUS 5 MP thing, its very small, feels solid but had little manual override. Flash is OK for party shots. Its very hany to have around though. Images are much better than a phone (even new ones). I still have an older Olympus compact which in my view handles much better with full manual and external flash shoe. It's quite a bit bigger to fit in a leather bike jacket pocket though.
Finally, if you can, go for one that has an optical viewfinder as well as the rear screen. These things are hard to see in bright light although I'm sure some will disagree.
So the IXUS isn't that great? What other 6MP compact cameras are there that have the anti-shake technology, smallish, and are good for holiday/party pics?
So the IXUS isn't that great? What other 6MP compact cameras are there that have the anti-shake technology, smallish, and are good for holiday/party pics?
My IXUS 5 mega wotsit is fine for parties, really small and is a no brainer to use, I got it right :lol:
The stabilised things creeping into the market are very good for compact cameras that have loads of (small) pixels that are not the most sensitive compared to the DSLR (bigger pixels) cousins. Youl'll be fine using it.
They fall down a tad when it comes to creativity changing the relationship between aperture (that affects whats in focus) and the shutter speed. Digital compacts have small focal length lenses (yes even zooms) compared to DSLRs so will tent to render more areas in focus anyway.
Just realised I'm waffling. Hope this helps and does not confuse even more (more likely) :?
JUST DONT BUY FROM PIXMANIA.
Horrible horrible comapny to deal with. Ok, if they are in stock, but if they aint, then forget it, and order over the phone NOT on the website.
Had a bad experience can you tell.
Out of the 8mp compacts, the Mju800 is better than the Ixus. The ixus also has a poor flash range that much i do know!!
The S9500 is a cracking 'bridgecam' Mate has one and uses it more than his DSLR :?
I currently have vernas Coolpix4300 which is a cracking camera, much better than my Ixus. I would, if i had the money, get the topothelline Coolpix.
I have ordered 4 cameras from Pixmania in the past 3 years and not one bit of trouble with em. They are pretty well priced and give a 2nd year of warranty free. I got my Pentax K100D from them 2 weeks ago and they still not avaliable in UK!!
OR...
You could be a complete techno phobe and go for SLR and print your own!!!
I'm still resisting the technology and still managing to earn a decent crust from the portfolio - landscape and portraiture/glamour.
Get your hands on a really cheape normally SLR and play about with it before going up to digital. Its the best way to go.
I have access to a Canon DSLR but also end up using my twon canon bodies. In fact Ill be using them on Sunday to produce photos for BHF.
PS Anyone know anyone who still uses film?? Need a wedding photographer who does not do digital??
Edit. Taken out a ton of waffle off topic I wrote last night :oops: .
Amanda M
23-08-06, 07:43 AM
So the IXUS isn't that great? What other 6MP compact cameras are there that have the anti-shake technology, smallish, and are good for holiday/party pics?
Law, I've got a casio exilim ex-z60 and it's fantastic for holiday/party pics. It's got anti-shake and it's tiny, really tiny :D Had it since March and I can't fault it. They're not very expensive either.
vBulletin® , Copyright ©2000-2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.