First digital camera
Discussion
Where the hell do I start??
I reckon it'll be a replacement for my compact, but I've no real idea where to start. I'd look at a budget equivalent to about GBP300-400. I use a couple for work, a Sony P32 Cybershot and a Nikon of a similar value. The Nikon seems more intuitive to use, but I really have little experience here.
I'll use it mainly for travel snaps, but would like some decent features to grow into. What I'm after are recommendations and pitfalls, all help appreciated
Thanks
PB
I reckon it'll be a replacement for my compact, but I've no real idea where to start. I'd look at a budget equivalent to about GBP300-400. I use a couple for work, a Sony P32 Cybershot and a Nikon of a similar value. The Nikon seems more intuitive to use, but I really have little experience here.
I'll use it mainly for travel snaps, but would like some decent features to grow into. What I'm after are recommendations and pitfalls, all help appreciated
Thanks
PB
When I started taking pictures 2 and a bit years ago I used a Fuji A202, a very bog standard camera which was pretty much useless for what I wanted of it, but it did provide to make me interested 
Then I moved to my Canon A70 which I still use. The only problems I have with this camera are 1) the images aren't pin-sharp, 2) there is only 3x optical zoom and 3) the apertures are of a wide enough range. I'm looking to move up to a dSLR sometime this year and for £400 you can pick up a Canon eos300D...
Then I moved to my Canon A70 which I still use. The only problems I have with this camera are 1) the images aren't pin-sharp, 2) there is only 3x optical zoom and 3) the apertures are of a wide enough range. I'm looking to move up to a dSLR sometime this year and for £400 you can pick up a Canon eos300D...
Prepared a longish response to this and lost it on posting!
Grrrr!
Summary.
Work out what you want as minimum capability.
If you are travelling a lot I recommend very small cameras as the quality can be excellent and they are always available if you keep them in your shirt pocket or equivalent. You will get better value from the investment if it is accessible. Even better if you know it starts up quickly or those sudden opportunities.
I have a couple of small cams - one non-zoom Sony 2 Megapixel device and a zoom enabled Pentax Optio S5i. (See pmanson thread
http://pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=169505&f=109&h=0
for some travel shot examples with the same model)
S5i is now down to 175 UK pounds. Was 250 street price (300 list price) when launched last November.
New model is S5n which is street priced at about 195 pounds.
Budget around 30 to 40 for a large memory card - 256Mb as a minimum I would suggest.
Very small, very convenient. I carry mine everywhere I go.
You can go on from there and spend more money but size will likely increase somewhat. Not really a problem but if it discourages you from pocketing the thing the investment has less benefit.
Hope this helps.
>> Edited by LongQ on Tuesday 12th April 10:53
Grrrr!
Summary.
Work out what you want as minimum capability.
If you are travelling a lot I recommend very small cameras as the quality can be excellent and they are always available if you keep them in your shirt pocket or equivalent. You will get better value from the investment if it is accessible. Even better if you know it starts up quickly or those sudden opportunities.
I have a couple of small cams - one non-zoom Sony 2 Megapixel device and a zoom enabled Pentax Optio S5i. (See pmanson thread
http://pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=169505&f=109&h=0
for some travel shot examples with the same model)
S5i is now down to 175 UK pounds. Was 250 street price (300 list price) when launched last November.
New model is S5n which is street priced at about 195 pounds.
Budget around 30 to 40 for a large memory card - 256Mb as a minimum I would suggest.
Very small, very convenient. I carry mine everywhere I go.
You can go on from there and spend more money but size will likely increase somewhat. Not really a problem but if it discourages you from pocketing the thing the investment has less benefit.
Hope this helps.
>> Edited by LongQ on Tuesday 12th April 10:53
Apart from some nice helpful people suggesting you get a "Canikon" dSLR and people like me jumping up and down and saying don't forget the Panasonic FZ20 or the this-that-and-the-other.
Get yourself round to a Jessops (WITHOUT your credit card at this stage) or the like, or find a friend or relative and actually handle something.
The likely worst scenario is that you buy something because it looks good on paper, or everyone says "you gotta getta..." and you find it has controls which are too small and fiddly, or it's got an incomprehensible menu system.....
Get yourself round to a Jessops (WITHOUT your credit card at this stage) or the like, or find a friend or relative and actually handle something.
The likely worst scenario is that you buy something because it looks good on paper, or everyone says "you gotta getta..." and you find it has controls which are too small and fiddly, or it's got an incomprehensible menu system.....
Can second the Canon A70,I've had this one a couple of years.I bought the tele-adapter for it to extend zoom range.
Am also using a Minolta A1 (prob pick one up in your budget these days)The minolta is a very capable camera,with tons of good features.My main gripe with it is that the auto focus speed is a little slow(the manual focus is also tricky to use),compared to a DSLR.
Am also using a Minolta A1 (prob pick one up in your budget these days)The minolta is a very capable camera,with tons of good features.My main gripe with it is that the auto focus speed is a little slow(the manual focus is also tricky to use),compared to a DSLR.
www.dpreview.com is a good review site for cameras, though it doesn't compare them against each other so you'll have to get a reccomendation then check it.
If you're going to take it on holiday, you may want to check what batteries it takes - in some places 4 AAs are going to be easier to find than a power socket!
If you're going to take it on holiday, you may want to check what batteries it takes - in some places 4 AAs are going to be easier to find than a power socket!
for the Panasonic FZ20 
Following a spell of indecision (oh, really...) I bought a Canon A95 a couple of weeks ago, and am impressed. Easy to use, clear digital screen, quality feel, 5 megapixels, full manual mode to keep me interested.
It takes 4 AA batteries rather than the small lithium (?) type, and has a fairly healthy appetite for them, but it does mean that when the power goes, most places sell AAs.
Cost AU$550, which is about GBP240, and I reckon anyone looking at this price should take one for a test drive.
It takes 4 AA batteries rather than the small lithium (?) type, and has a fairly healthy appetite for them, but it does mean that when the power goes, most places sell AAs.
Cost AU$550, which is about GBP240, and I reckon anyone looking at this price should take one for a test drive.
Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff