Might have to buy a new camera!

[Spinning]

Ok Usually this makes me very excited ..but not too sure this time!
I currently own a fuji s5100. I love it. the problem is where you put the batteries into the camera. A small piece broke off and it will now occassionally pop open. The camera works fine...but the fear of being some where and all of a sudden I can't keep it locked...
So what do I do? I don't want to spend a ton....at one point I posted about maybe getting an SLR but I have really thought about it and feel it isn't worth it for me. I won't use all of the features. I need something that has a good lens, nice flash and is very easy to use. The things I loved about this current camera:
worked well in low light,
loved the feel in my hands.
Captured most pictures
great weight felt very secure
Most of the picture I took I liked.
Fairly easy to use even with some of the more "techie" stuff

 

[pxlbarrel]

Will duct tape work to keep it closed? (I don't know exactly what's wrong with it so I'm guessing here...)

Seems a shame to spend money on a camera just because a little part fell off it its working otherwise. Now...if it's an "excuse" to buy a new camera...that's a whole different thing.

 

[Spinning]

yes duct tape will keep it shut. But I am afraid when we go on vacation or something it could stop working. I have had the camera for almost 3 years. The cost to replace it with an S5200 is only about $300 so I would rather not worry on vacation that I will be stuck with no camera. Or I am on a ride and the batteries fall out.
Granted it does make for a good excuse to buy a new one. But we are headed on vacation in april. and to me my camera has to be working perfect.
I also use my camera at least 3-4 times a week. So it is really important for me to have one.

 

[pxlbarrel]

Ah, ok...for piece of mind...a few hundred bucks is worth it then.

I'm a Canonphile so I push anything Canon because I believe their cameras are rather easy to use without having to read a 1 inch manual. To me, their cameras are intuitive and you don't have to remember too much to do some of the special features.

People seem to like the Canon Powershot S3 IS. My friend, whose only exposure to digital cameras is being the subject of them, bought one after Christmas and is taking great photos already. It's got image stabilization and it's got a really good optical zoom on it. It's a tad bulky so I'm not sure if you're looking for light or not.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I was going to suggest taping it too, but it sounds like maybe you want to get a new camera. If you like the Fuji, why not start looking there? It would probably help that you're already familiar with their controls, and relatively happy with performance.

Just be forewarned, there may be things about the new camera you're not happy with, even if it's the same make. That's what happened to me last year. I was perfectly happy with my camera for several years, but I'd dropped it and the shutter sometimes wouldn't open. Long story short, I decided to get a new camera, and went with the same brand for the same reasons I mentioned above. I would have thought this camera would be better, but it wasn't. I was very unhappy on our last trip when the batteries kept running out and the recovery time between shots was unacceptable. So I researched other brands and bought another camera altogether.

Spend some time researching brands and models. Then get into the stores and do some hands on. If you keep the camera with you a lot, take size and portability into consideration. If you decide to get a bigger, better model, remember, you can always keep your taped Fuji with you and carry the new model for important shots. Good luck!

 

[jann1033]

i'll post my usual

www.steves-digicams.com/hardware_reviews.html

i really do like his reviews though cause they are pretty easy to follow and he separates them by name, type etc. plus they have purdy pictures

i was going to third the duct tape but ....

 

[MarkBarbieri]

If you are really happy with the camera and don't mind looking like a dork (I never have), use duck tape. It'll do just fine. I don't think that you want it fixed though.

 

[DueyDooDah]

If you are really happy with the camera and don't mind looking like a dork (I never have), use duck tape.

In this case, I think Mark refers to the definition:

Dork = super professional or photog guru

You know, those people that walking around with the box camera from the early days of film. The ones we think "OMG, I'll never be as good as him. I wonder if I've seen his stuff in magazines. Should I get his photograph?"

 

[Spinning]

LOL! I don't mind the dork look. But I think that it is time to replace it. We used it alot the past 2 days for my son's birthday party sleep over and many of the pictures were blurred. The blurring started over Christmas but I thought it was because it was late in the day after lots of picture taking and the batteries were close to dying. But after today and last night....I just feel it would be risking it to go on a vacation with a camera that isn't totally up to full speed. Plus I am looking to spend aroudn $400 or less...in the big picture that isn't much. This camera I orginally paid only $249 they had a great deal...on sale, $50 rebate and a $40 gift card at the time. So it has served me well.
But I will be duct taping it till I figure out which one I want!

jann1033 I have been reading and reading on that site for awhile now. and also using this one for comparison: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sidebyside.asp

Just so many things to look at and consider!

 

[Gdad]

If you are really happy with the camera and don't mind looking like a dork (I never have), use duck tape. It'll do just fine. I don't think that you want it fixed though.

I have used clear packing tape myself in the past.

 

[YEKCIM]

The cost to replace it with an S5200 is only about $300...

You can get a new S5200 for $234 at butterflyphoto.com and use existing memory cards and batt's. I bought mine from butterfly and had no issues with them, other than the typical upsell phone call, which was not rude or pushy in any way. Overall, very satisfied with them.

Or...if you wanted to move up to newer model/technology, the S6000fd is available from same online dealer for $363, which is still under your budget and compatible with existing memory and batts.

~YEKCIM

 

[ukcatfan]

I have used clear packing tape myself in the past.

I don't know if it is available everywhere, but my Walmart has clear duct tape. It was Duck Tape brand. They have other colors that could match the camera case.

 

[Groucho]

If you are really happy with the camera and don't mind looking like a dork (I never have), use duck tape. It'll do just fine. I don't think that you want it fixed though.

You never have... looked like a dork, or minded looking like a dork?

My father has been using a Canon A-series held together with duct tape for a few years now, after dropping it and breaking the battery door.

 

[jann1033]

If you are really happy with the camera and don't mind looking like a dork (I never have), use duck tape. It'll do just fine. I don't think that you want it fixed though.

i'm confused mark...have you never looked like a dork or don't mind looking like a dork...: ( just kidding had to start off my day with a smart comment)
edited cause...
holy crow groucho... i didn't look at the rest of the posts and just saw yours when mine came up.... while i'd like to think great minds agree i think it's more likely really "smart alecs ( sp?)" agree

another option for op would be band aids with Disney characters...don't go for the clear nondescript route, make it an accessory :0

 

[Groucho]

Great smart-alecks (there's another term but this is a family board) do think alike.

My wife got me some black pirate band-aids for Christmas (no, that wasn't the only thing) but I haven't dropped any of my camera equipment so I can't see how well they'd work for holding a battery door closed...........

I did stick a Mickey sticker (from one of those Disney movie club mailings) on the back of my Tic-Tac shutter release - that'd be sure to further confuse anyone who wonders what in the world it is!

 

[Spinning]

just so everyone knows...I did put clear duct tape on it...and it still popped a little! The camera worked but not sure the tape will cut it for me! LOL!

 

[lovesdumbo]

You should read the reviews for the Sony H5 (7mp) or H2(6mp) with 12x optical zoom. The H2 was recently on sale for $299. A really great camera for the price.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

 

[jann1033]

mark is this a photo of ancient dorks? those could very likely be rolls of duct tape on the bottom of his headdress

 

[dr50ca05]

One thing to consider when buying a new camera is the amount of memory media you currently have. Take for example my Sony W-1 Camera. I had purchased a bunch of memory sticks for that camera. When time came to replace that camera, i was limited to purchasing a Sony brand camera due to the amount of media. Your Fuji camera is kind of the same thing like my Sony. I eventually got a Sony W-100 which was a much better camera in the long run. After my Disneyland trip in August, all my pictures started blurring on the W-1. I think that there is a certain amount before the camera dies.