Any camera boffins out there?

[Ciorsdah]

back to the battery issue, I HATE having to change the battery in any camera so I have always bought the wee point and shoot cameras that have the litium batteries that slip into a charger and plug into the wall every few days.

I'm slowly pulling together a list of features that are musts on my new camera, WiFi really isnt one of them as I feel thats a bit beyond my technological knowledge!!

Its amazing just how many different variations of the same product there are out there.

 

[2Tiggies]

back to the battery issue, I HATE having to change the battery in any camera so I have always bought the wee point and shoot cameras that have the litium batteries that slip into a charger and plug into the wall every few days.

I'm slowly pulling together a list of features that are musts on my new camera, WiFi really isnt one of them as I feel thats a bit beyond my technological knowledge!!

Its amazing just how many different variations of the same product there are out there.

The list is a good idea, as I think you've probably been given more info on here than you bargained for

Most cameras come with Lithium batteries now which generally have a long life. I have, for years now, always checked the make and model number of my battery and ordered a spare so that I always have one with me. My DSLR battery lasts ages! I can easily be out all day and night and not need to charge it even the next day. I also tend to leave it on pretty much all the time, rather than turning it off after I've used it. I must admit I use the viewfinder and rarely use the LCD which I'm sure has something to do with it and never use the video function on it, or the built in flash. I think you also have to consider HOW you use your camera when deciding if a back up is necessary. I just found it much easier to have one charging every night and one in the camera and would just switch them over in the morning, taking the spare with me. But I hear you on the battery story. I refuse to buy DD any more cameras and gadgets that use them because they're too much hassle for me

 

[bazzanoid]

Most cameras come with Lithium batteries now

Interestingly enough, I was putting the Fuji S4400 bridge on display in work the other day, and was shocked to notice it takes AA's!! You would think with something like that it would be lithium all the way.....

 

[2Tiggies]

Interestingly enough, I was putting the Fuji S4400 bridge on display in work the other day, and was shocked to notice it takes AA's!! You would think with something like that it would be lithium all the way.....

Oddly, for some reason, the bridge cameras DO tend to use AA batteries. It was the only reason I changed cameras when I did. I loved the one I had but I'd had my fill of being ready with the camera right at that unmissable moment for a rare photo op and ..... batteries would just die, suddenly and camera would shut down. Fortunately I didn't destroy the gadget in frustration at any point, but it irritated me so much that I decided once the lithium Digital ones I had were finished, the camera was moving on.

Fuji in particular have for some reason retained the AA batteries. Now SOME (but not all and you need to do your homework) will actually take a lithium rechargable version of the AA. Some of them look like 2 x AA stuck together and those have a great lifespan. But mine was an older one and not compatible unfortunately

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

I too was a Canon person but began to find they were dropping behind on some of the extra features yet charging more than anyone else. It's like their DSLRs, they are not the best quality unless you spend a fortune, they have generally fewer features and image quality is slightly better than middle of the road.

In camera's I'm a Sony convert now, what they lack in heritage they make up for in innovation and technological progress. A friend has one of their point and shoots and just little things like doing a panoramic shot by just turning round, it takes the shots for you so no lining up or stitching required. Another friend has a NEX model and while it doesn't appeal to me as the balance feels all wrong (small body with huge lens on the front) they are cracking cameras. The SLTs which I've got are fantastic by working like an SLR but without a moving mirror or prism that has to flip out of the way for every shot, they are extremely fast at focussing.

From what I've read of the wifi cameras, it's far from being a must have feature, they are difficult to configure and more likely to cause you grief, I've got the iphone/ipad camera connection adapter ( I got the real one as I had a voucher to spend but there are loads of cheaper clones on ebay) which gets any of my photos onto the phone and emailable in seconds. I'd argue it will be much quicker than the wifi.

The only thing with wifi I think sounds interesting is the potential to have it set to allow the iphone (other phones are available ) to act as a shutter release, however, not all cameras allow that so check. If you have a camera with a shutter release socket then there is https://triggertrap.com/ which I can't wait to get for doing time lapse photography.

Finally, this is what I'm waiting for, it's a concept camera at the moment but a lot of people are praying it will be made at some point!
http://www.redmondpie.com/great-concept-of-how-apple-would-hit-the-photography-market-images/

Ok so I took your advice onboard and started looking at Sony compacts and came up with this http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/84358/show.html

What do you think ..... or for that matter what does anybody think ????? TIA

 

[london75]

If you're ok waiting until tomorrow, the person at work that owns a Sony compact sits opposite me, I'll ask him which he has.

In fact just looked at Wayne's reply from earlier and think he has the same camera as Wayne
http://www.jessops.com/online.store...ops.com/online.store/products/80208/show.html

It's quite a bit better than the one you linked to but again is bigger. The slenderness of the one you selected does look good and will certainly make it more pocketable. The videos are limited to 720p so they won't look as good or sharp as full HD but if you only want them from youtube or a normal laptop at home then full HD is overkill and the file sizes are a pain in the bottom.

Struggling to find any reviews of the W690 so assume it's brand new. I don't think you can go wrong with that sort of camera especially from a big brand. As mentioned before, try and get into a Jessops or even Tesco and turn it on, see how fast it's ready for the first shot, that's one of the things that normally indicates how fast the camera is going to be over all. Then try snapping as quickly as possible over and over and see how it copes. Some cameras will take snap after snap and not freeze up, some take one shot then go for a snooze and that's important on a holiday where every memory is important.

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

If you're ok waiting until tomorrow, the person at work that owns a Sony compact sits opposite me, I'll ask him which he has.

In fact just looked at Wayne's reply from earlier and think he has the same camera as Wayne
http://www.jessops.com/online.store...ops.com/online.store/products/80208/show.html

It's quite a bit better than the one you linked to but again is bigger. The slenderness of the one you selected does look good and will certainly make it more pocketable. The videos are limited to 720p so they won't look as good or sharp as full HD but if you only want them from youtube or a normal laptop at home then full HD is overkill and the file sizes are a pain in the bottom.

Struggling to find any reviews of the W690 so assume it's brand new. I don't think you can go wrong with that sort of camera especially from a big brand. As mentioned before, try and get into a Jessops or even Tesco and turn it on, see how fast it's ready for the first shot, that's one of the things that normally indicates how fast the camera is going to be over all. Then try snapping as quickly as possible over and over and see how it copes. Some cameras will take snap after snap and not freeze up, some take one shot then go for a snooze and that's important on a holiday where every memory is important.

Wonderful thank you so much I'll go into Jessops tomorrow and have a play. Shooting video is not something I'm really into but the panoramic auto stitching looks really cool

 

[london75]

Sorry for the late reply, the chap at work actually has a Sony HX5v which came before the HX9v which came before the HX10v! (Think there is an HX7V as well!)

He highly recommends it and an ex-display one is available here for £145 with 12 month warranty http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sony-Cybe...CS%2BUFI%2BIIUM&otn=8&pmod=360457626780&ps=54

Otherwise they are pretty much out of stock now.

The HX9v won awards when it came out but a quick look at the 10v and I think I prefer the 5 or 9 as the 10v has gone too high in the megapixel war (18.2). That's just too many for a small sensor. that's an opinion not necessarily fact though as there can be other factors such as sensor design etc.

 

[Epcot650]

I recommend using an SLR, the less expensive ones here in the USA cost about $400-$450 US, about 280-300 pounds in your currency. They are rugged, the batteries last forever, the picture quality is superb and they perform much better in low light scenarios. Lastly, they have more in the way of manual functionality when you want more control over shooting.

Megapixels mean nothing, the size of the sensor is much more important and few compact cameras have reasonably sized ones.

They haven't perfected video in cameras, not all have video autofocus, many models overheat and they still have that 29 minute continuous shooting limitation (due to European regulations).

 

[wayneg]

Anyone looking for a compact then the TZ20 is on offer at Jessops. £149 after £20 cashback from Panasonic less 4% Quidco = £143.15 (If Quidco tracks on £169.95) & free next day Del.
http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/80675/show.html

 

[DISWolves]

The Sony TX10 is also worth a look at.
Zoom range is small but the lens does not protrude out of the front, which is a big plus for me with a compact. 720P HD video - shock proof - use underwater - panoramic sweep - 3D etc. I have the previous model to this for 2 years (TX5) and are more than happy with it

 

[princess jackson]

Anyone got or used the fujifilm s4400. Or the new Samsung wifi cameras.

Not sure whether to go for pnt and shoot or the bridge type cameras