Digital Cameras

[BRobson]

I want to buy a new digital camera and wondered did anyone have any suggestions. I would like really good quality photos so not to phased with the price.

My dad has an SLR which I fancied but found it too heavy and big for little old me

So suggestions welcome

 

[Cyrano]

I love my Canon DLSR but the battery would not hold power this trip so I used Diane's Ricoh Caplio R6 more often. Probably old hat now as it is 7.2Megapixels, but takes excellent photos. Zoom is effectively 28 - 200mm - 7 x optical zoom.
Fits easily into a pocket/handbag

 

[gemmybear83]

I have a Samsung L313MP camera from Argos - I got it earlier this year and I love, it was only £99.99 for an 13m pixel camera - it also gets really good reviews. http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produ...cameras|12109607/Trail/searchtext>SAMSUNG.htm

 

[tennisfan]

I love my Canon DLSR but the battery would not hold power this trip so I used Diane's Ricoh Caplio R6 more often. Probably old hat now as it is 7.2Megapixels, but takes excellent photos. Zoom is effectively 28 - 200mm - 7 x optical zoom.
Fits easily into a pocket/handbag

My Canon DSLR was like that so I bought a replacement & it has been fine evr since. I have read that temperatures affect battery life, so they may have caused the problem.

Going back to the question. I have A DLSR & have recently purchased a little compact one, I have the Canon Powershot A470, I love it & it takes good photos

 

[Pinky166]

We have a DSLR which is big & bulky so I know what you mean but we enjoy photography.

I also have a Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ3 point & shoot which we bought last summer, it is small & is a really good little camera. It has 10x optical zoom.

I think a newer version is out now the TZ5.

 

[BRobson]

We have a DSLR which is big & bulky so I know what you mean but we enjoy photography.

I also have a Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ3 point & shoot which we bought last summer, it is small & is a really good little camera. It has 10x optical zoom.

I think a newer version is out now the TZ5.

It is a Panasonic Lumix tz 6 or 7 I have my eye on!!!! My dad has a Canon DSLR but my hands are so little I cant handle it well so thats why I want a really decent camera as I love taking photos

 

[Danauk]

I love my Nikkon D40x DSLR, I too have small hands (I play the piano and I can't span 8 notes on the keyboard) and don't have any issues with it. Although you say you don't want a DSLR as it is too bulky, I don't find this to be be bulky at all. I usually have my 18 - 200mm lens on so it has good wide angle and great zoom. We also take with us our kodak point and shoot which I really like too. We have had it for a few years now and it wasn't a cheap one when we got it and although it does take great pictures I can tell the difference between that and my DSLR.

 

[x.laura.x]

I love my casio exlim 10.1mp, its very small and lightweigh but durable ( have dropped it more than once lol). I also love my fujifilm Z33, its waterproof and has a ton of shooting modes for indoor, portrait, underwater ect...will be trying it out in florida in 8 days time =D

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

I love my Sony Cybershot, it takes really good video and photos. Bit pricey for a point and shoot but it was money well spent.

 

[ukstitch]

I love my casio exlim 10.1mp, its very small and lightweigh but durable ( have dropped it more than once lol). I also love my fujifilm Z33, its waterproof and has a ton of shooting modes for indoor, portrait, underwater ect...will be trying it out in florida in 8 days time =D

I second the vote for the casio - I've got a spare battery for mine as well, although one battery lasts pretty well.

The casio is my "secondary" camera - I use it in situations where my main one is just too big and impractical. My main camera is a Sony Alpha 300 (think that's the one anyway). I really like the fact that I can change between using the view finder or the screen with a flick of a switch and it's also got a huge battery life that easily sees me through the day.

 

[T16GEM]

Glad I found this thread. I am looking for a new camera - similar to the OP I want something light and with a good zoom facility. I'm going to go and have a look at the ones you have all suggested. Are there any particular features that I should be looking for? I would like to be able to take good pics of fireworks and shoot at night (the camera I have now doesn't do well in the dark at all!)

Gems

 

[Cyrano]

Let us know what camera you decide on

 

[wayneg]

I Pm'ed Jackie a couple of nights ago rather than posting on this thread. Its DS (Matt) birthday tomorrow and he was getting a new camera from his Grandma (now recieved)
I know Matt would have read the post and spoilt the surprise.
Anyone looking for a camera I spent about 2 full days researching and the one Jackie was considering came out top for me, Panasonic/Lumix TZ7. Its not cheap at £270 delivered but is getting great reviews.
Not read any instructions just out the box and been playing today. The HDMI movies are amazing quality, on my 19" monitor full screen its crystal clear. Uploaded the 1st clip to Youtube but its rubbish on there, loses all the quality. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_w0u-REJcU (sorry about the vac noise in background for 1st few seconds)

Pics I just asked Matt to take a few sample pics and very happy with results so far. Looking forward to trying in Disney in 2 weeks
1st pic pub is about half mile from our back door so good zoom, you can see the white building to left of the shed on the other pic.

2nd & 3rd shot from back door across the garden zoomed right out then all the way in.

and a couple of shots messing with Macro

 

[BRobson]

Thanks Wayne - just what I wanted to hear

Decision made

 

[wayneg]

Matt has been learning how to take clips and put on Youtube, shame the quality is downgraded so much because on my monitor its outstanding.
Some of his pin collection if anyone is interested, probably needs better lighting in his beroom to do this.
http://www.youtube.com/user/StitchMatt

 

[Aardvarks]

In general

1 Don't get caught up in pixel wars.......10meg is more than enough....more than this on a small sensor can lead to lots of noise at higher iso which you would use in low light conditions

2 Dont get caught in shutter speed wars. Anything from 5 sec to 1/1000 should be ok

3 Do look for optical image stabilisation, it is more effective than digital

4 Do not get fooled by 'Which reports' they dont always score on the things that are important to YOU.

5 Dont get fooled by brand fan boys of one particular make over another. Most manufacturers made at least one really good model and usually one duffer as well

6 Do go and get a hold of the cameras you are considering. See how fast they switch on, and see how fast they can focus and take a shot when you press the shutter. Shutter lag is probaly the biggest annoyance for capturing those spontaneous moments.

Do aim to spend from about £130

Have a look at the following brands and types

Canon shureshot
Panasonic Lumix
Olympus
Samsung higher spec models ( they are similar in spec and performance to the higher spec Lumix models)

At home we have the following

Samsung GX20 plus range of lenses and flash 14.7mpix
Olympus E520 plus lenses and flash 8mpix
Olympus compact digital 8mpix
Panasonic Lumix FS7 10mpix
Fuji finepix compact digital 9mpix

We are all happy with our choices and there isnt much to choose between them under good light conditions.