Advice needed re. digital cameras

[TotallyAngelic]

Hi
I was wondering if any of you fantastic photographers out there would be happy to recommend a good digital camera to me. My old faithful has just lost the ability to focus, and it seems like a good excuse to invest in a new one. Thanks.

 

[Boss Hogg]

Hi
I was wondering if any of you fantastic photographers out there would be happy to recommend a good digital camera to me. My old faithful has just lost the ability to focus, and it seems like a good excuse to invest in a new one. Thanks.

What sort of thing are you after?

 

[TotallyAngelic]

Simple to use would be an advantage - I'm not the best with technology.
About £200 or less. My old one was a minolta dimage, which took good clear photos, but had a really long delay on the shutter, so that the picture you ended up with was always a few seconds behind what you were trying to take, if that makes any sense. Of course I may just have set it incorrectly!
So nothing too techy, just an everyday good value digital camera, mainly for holiday & family snaps etc. Thanks.

 

[CustardTart]

I'm always impressed with the quality of TinkTatoo's photos and I think she uses a Fuji.

 

[TotallyAngelic]

I'm always impressed with the quality of TinkTatoo's photos and I think she uses a Fuji.

I must agree that her photos are really stunning - the ones with the water theme especially - I wonder if those were taken with a Fuji camera?

 

[Tron[ADS]]

What sort of thing are you after?

Well, my golden rule is to always go for a camera from a recognised photography company, rather than one that makes everything under the sun. By recognised, I mean companies like like Fujifilm, Canon and Nikon.

However you need to decide if you want a compact or a digital SLR first of all. Then, if its a compact, are you going for small size or bigger zoom (which tends to mean bigger size). If its a DSLR your after, you also need to consider if you want any additional lenses to go with it.

Then you need to read the reviews of your chosen model at www.dpreview.com and www.steves-digicams.com

Then you need to use something like pricerunner.co.uk or froogle.co.uk to find your best price.

My personal photography needs require that I have a DSLR for my quality shots and interchangeable lenses depending on the situation......but I find that carrying a big bulky camera with a selection of lenses is just not pracitcal in a theme park where im also getting the kids saying "carry me", and having to safely store it on rides etc, so I have a really tiny Fuji F31fd that I take there, which also has the advantage of being ISO3200 and working in extremely low light "no flash photography" situations. It lacks zoom though, being only 3x.

 

[CustardTart]

I must agree that her photos are really stunning - the ones with the water theme especially - I wonder if those were taken with a Fuji camera?

They're fantastic, aren't they? I'm sure I recall her saying she'd just upgraded her old Fuji for one of QVC's recent TSVs! I'm a basic 'point n shoot' photographer but I'd be willing to make more of an effort if I could get results like that...

TinkTatoo - where are you?!

 

[wicket2005]

Well I have a Canon S3 IS and can thoroughly recommend it. It has had good reviews too. However, it is on the larger size as it is classed as a 'bridge' camera, that is, it isn't a compact but it also isn't a SLR, it falls in between. It is simple to operate and also allows you to play around with settings if you want. It also has a neat little button that you can just press and it starts taping like a camcorder which makes videoing really easy. The best thing about it, is it has a 12 x zoom which is incredible. I cannot wait to use it, in Orlando this year and get some really good close ups. It retails for about £244 on Amazon at the moment.

It also has a viewfinder which a lot of cameras don't bother with nowadays. This has already proved useful in bright light conditions. It also has an extremely good battery life about 570 photos per charge of AA size rechargable batteries.

 

[tony64]

I would recommend you go for a bridge camera as you will reduce the shutter lag that we all hate. the Canon is a very good camera and I'm sure you would enjoy it if you discided to go with that one. The Bridge cameras are similar to the DSLR but you can't change the lenses, this is not a problem unless you wish to get seriously into photography in which case you would want a DSLR which is a whole new can of worms.

 

[wicket2005]

. The Bridge cameras are similar to the DSLR but you can't change the lenses, this is not a problem unless you wish to get seriously into photography in which case you would want a DSLR which is a whole new can of worms.

Though this is true you can adapt the existing lenses with an adaptor and two other lenses, one to do wide angle and the other a greater telephoto one.

 

[Gillsfan]

The funny thing I found when I used my camera in NYC recently, that I wasnt using it properly at all! I was trying to photgraph lady liberty and couldnt get a decent shot, until a guy who had the same camera came up to me and taught me how to use it!

Whats the moral of the story, whatever you get, dont be afraid to mess about with the camera to acheive a better picture. Too many people just point and click and only end up with average photo's.

 

[Boss Hogg]

I'd agree with Tony, if you can afford it and are not averse to the size, go for a bridge camera. We used to have a fujifilm 6900 which took good pictures and could be a point and shoot if you wanted it to.

In addition to our DSLR we also have a Sony DSC-T5, which for its size takes nice pics and is easy to use.

 

[TinkTatoo]

I'm always impressed with the quality of TinkTatoo's photos and I think she uses a Fuji.

I must agree that her photos are really stunning - the ones with the water theme especially - I wonder if those were taken with a Fuji camera?

Aww thanks

All of my recent of my photo's were taken with the Fuji Finepix S5500 but I have just upgraded to the Fuji S5700 which you could pick up for around £139 on Amazon or £148 from Dixons. I haven't felt confident enough to go for a DSLR yet so the Fuji works well for me at the moment. I basically just use it as a point and shoot but I am going to experiment a bit more this summer as I've never managed to get decent fireworks photos.

You mentioned the delay thing - it was a problem on the 5500 but less so on the 5700 plus the 5700 has a setting where it will shoot off 3 (or more) photo's in rapid succession. I've used it to get photo's of the kids on the trampoline and it's great. Before I'd manage to get a photo of the bottom of their feet or the top of their head but this way I actually get them jumping in the air.

 

[TotallyAngelic]

Thanks everyone - you've all been really helpful. I will have to look into things a bit more I think before making my decision. I had never even heard of a bridge camera before!

 

[CustardTart]

...I haven't felt confident enough to go for a DSLR yet so the Fuji works well for me at the moment. I basically just use it as a point and shoot but I am going to experiment a bit more this summer as I've never managed to get decent fireworks photos.

You mentioned the delay thing - it was a problem on the 5500 but less so on the 5700 plus the 5700 has a setting where it will shoot off 3 (or more) photo's in rapid succession. I've used it to get photo's of the kids on the trampoline and it's great. Before I'd manage to get a photo of the bottom of their feet or the top of their head but this way I actually get them jumping in the air.

Sounds brilliant, Jakki! Exactly what I'm looking for as I can't justify the £££ of the Nikon DSLR camera my DH's been looking at - this is a man who only discovered photography when he got a mobile phone with an integrated camera! I'm definitely going to give the Fuji 5700 a go...

 

[DisneyJo]

We're after a new compact camera and my DH was talking to a pro photograper who shoots Take That etc and he recommended a Panasonic as the lag is miniscule, all the photography mags give them top marks too

 

[jns]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1235546

checck out this thread over on the photography board
photos taken from the Cannon S3

 

[Graeme]

Another vote for the Canon S3IS. I'd recommend it to anyone.

 

[TinkTatoo]

Sounds brilliant, Jakki! Exactly what I'm looking for as I can't justify the £££ of the Nikon DSLR camera my DH's been looking at - this is a man who only discovered photography when he got a mobile phone with an integrated camera! I'm definitely going to give the Fuji 5700 a go...

That's how I feel at the moment - I know if I went down the DSLR route I'd have to get into different lenses etc., and I just can't justify that expense at the moment. LOL at DH and his step up from camera phone to DSLR

I'm never going to be David Bailey but as long as I've got some nice pictures of my kids and our holidays I'm happy

 

[squitty]

I used to swear by Fuji camera's, they are great cameras. I agree Jakki's photos are brilliant

I used to have the Fuji 5600 which was a lovely camera, but it was a bit on the bulky side for me so I sold it and bought the Panasonic FX50 which I am looking forward to trying out properly on our trip to WDW.
I really liked the look of the Canon Ixus850
DH has just treat himself to a Canon 400D DSLR as he has discovered photography too