Cameras

[Melvil]

Perhaps a little above your budget but things like this (Nikon does a similar sort of model) combine the compact camera size with decent manual control options for fiddling with if they're so inclined - it can also shoot RAW if required - lastly these tend to be built a little sturdier than the average point and shoot:

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-canon-powershot-g12-black-digital-camera/p1522443

The previous model, the G11, is also pretty good and cheaper.

A guy I know uses one as his main camera (he's likes to do travel photography) and he's very happy with it.

Cheers,

Mel.

 

[dellzeqq]

ok - we've had some discussions about colour (which isn't as important as it first seemed) and weight, and I'm heading towards this one - the Fuji Finepix HS10 - which is a chunky compact with a superduper manual zoom. If anybody has any particular knowledge, I'd be grateful.....

http://www.johnlewis.com/230908945/Product.aspx?SearchTerm=RecentlyViewedList

 

[rodgy-dodge]

I bought a Kodak DX6490 quite a few years back and still using it today. Bought it after a lot of searching for something like a digital SLR but not as expensive, although at the time I did pay around £350. You can use it like a slr by setting it to manual and alter the depth of field etc...I don't know if this model is still available but I found this on amazon in your budget.

 

[rodgy-dodge]

Found this review too http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews8637.html

 

[NickM]

thankyou for all your help.

I've been pointed in this direction... http://www.jessops.c...77965/show.html

what do we think?

It's good of its kind... but its kind falls between two stools. It is almost as bulky and awkward to carry around as a digital SLR, but although it looks rather like one it has nowhere near the same image quality (because it has a tiny sensor).

I would second the Panasonic Lumix TZ8. I bought MsM its predecessor, the TZ7, and she really likes it and has taken some very decent pictures with it, both indoors and out.

A possible alternative is the Samsung WB650. It has the biggest zoom range in a compact camera; a lovely bright AMOLED screen; very good battery life; can be charged via USB; and (like the TZ8) has manual modes which allow the user to take more control, if that is what she wants.

 

[NickM]

ok - we've had some discussions about colour (which isn't as important as it first seemed) and weight, and I'm heading towards this one - the Fuji Finepix HS10 - which is a chunky compact with a superduper manual zoom. If anybody has any particular knowledge, I'd be grateful.....

http://www.johnlewis...entlyViewedList

The Panasonic FZ45 or FZ100 would be preferred, from among cameras of that type:

http://www.dpreview....roup/page19.asp

But they are very far from compact... and don't assume that a huge zoom range will actually be useful. I would be surprised if the telephoto end of the range saw much action after the initial "wow!" response, unless the owner particularly wants to photograph wildlife. Which implies a tripod, with a lens that slow. I don't think that was what was wanted, somehow.

Whereas a camera which can be carried anywhere, anytime, is likely to get used. And 300mm is plenty for all but specialist use.

 

[NickM]

I think a Canon G12 or G11 (while a very good camera), let alone an Olympus E-PL1, is much too much camera for a casual photographer (and too much for your wallet as well).

 

[dellzeqq]

I'm so very grateful for the advice. To be honest the reason I asked about the Finepix was that the Jessops salesman seemed unduly keen on it.....

We've now worked out that having taken some very nice pics with her Blackberry phone she's looking for something a bit more adventurous. The Blackberry will go with us when we cycle, and the new camera will be for something new and different. The zoom may come in handy. So........I think it's going to be the Panasonic - which has 14.1 megapixelthingys and rates a little higher than the Fuji on the comparison website.

Thankyou once again....

 

[NickM]

Fair enough. It will make very nice pictures for display on a computer and for small prints. If I had a use for that kind of camera, that's the one I would choose (the Panasonic Lumix FZ100, which is the up-to-date version of the FZ45), partly based on a positive experience with the Panasonic TZ7.

Panasonic LCD screens are pretty good (it matters a lot for outdoor use in bright conditions), and you may well enjoy the full HD video recording capability. It's probably a more capable video camera than many dedicated video cameras.

 

[dellzeqq]

Well, she was absolutely chuffed to bits. Thanks one and all!

 

[Aperitif]

Well, she was absolutely chuffed to bits. Thanks one and all!

This thread is useless without pictures! (Not of you either, mate! )

 

[Panter]

Fabulous