Need help buying a digital camera!!

[Typhon]

Mine has broken and I want a new, better camera. I would like one that can take clear pictures at night too. Which would you go/not go for and why?

Here are my choices...

1) FUJIFILM FINEPIX E500 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA - www.jessops.com/search/viewproduct.cfm?PRODUCT=FUJFPE500

2) HP PHOTOSMART R707 DIGITAL CAMERA - www.jessops.com/search/viewproduct.cfm?PRODUCT=HEWPSR707

3) KODAK EASYSHARE CX7530 DIGITAL CAMERA - www.jessops.com/search/viewproduct.cfm?PRODUCT=KODCX7530

4) KODAK EASYSHARE DX6440 - www.jessops.com/search/viewproduct.cfm?PRODUCT=KODDX6440

5) OLYMPUS CAMEDIA C-745 DIGITAL CAMERA - www.jessops.com/search/viewproduct.cfm?PRODUCT=OLYC745

6) PANASONIC LUMIX DMC-FX1 DIGITAL CAMERA - www.jessops.com/search/viewproduct.cfm?PRODUCT=PANDMCFX1B

7) RICOH CAPLIO R1 DIGITAL CAMERA - www.jessops.com/search/viewproduct.cfm?PRODUCT=RICDR1

8) SAMSUNG DIGIMAX A5 DIGITAL CAMERA - www.jessops.com/search/viewproduct.cfm?PRODUCT=SAMDA5

9) SAMSUNG DIGIMAX U-CA4 DIGITAL CAMERA - www.jessops.com/search/viewproduct.cfm?PRODUCT=SAMDUCA4

10) SAMSUNG DIGIMAX V4000 DIGITAL CAMERA - www.jessops.com/search/viewproduct.cfm?PRODUCT=SAMDV4000

I will edit out any that you think are not worth buying. Thx in advance.

>>> Edited by Typhon on Tuesday 23 November 00:25

[thepeoplespal]

What did you have before? (so we can see where you coming from, see if we can reuse the media etc.)

What did you like about it? (size, ease of use etc)

What did you not like about? (battery life, picture, media price etc)

None of ones you've picked immediately spring to mind as ones I think people would recommend as first pick, but I could be wrong.

[DustyC]

Typhon, have a look at the PENTAX range and go to warehouseexpress.co.uk for some excellent bargins.

Also try dpreview.com to compare the cameras.

The Pentax S4, S40 and S50 all match your budget and have excellent specs.

[simpo two]

Typhon said:

I would like one that can take clear pictures at night too.

Can you be more specific? Landscapes could be tricky!

[beano500]

thepeoplespal said:

None of ones you've picked immediately spring to mind as ones I think people would recommend as first pick, but I could be wrong.

Off the top of my head the Panasonic has a Leica lens? If so - it would be on my list....

[Typhon]

thepeoplespal said:

What did you have before? (so we can see where you coming from, see if we can reuse the media etc.)

My last camera (and my first) was a Konica Minolta DiMAGE X31. I only had it for about 2 weeks. I took it back because it broke.

thepeoplespal said:

What did you like about it?

I got that camera because it was quite small, and I could carry it in my pocket. I also liked the fact that it had a fast start up.

thepeoplespal said:

What did you not like about?

The X31 had an extremely short batter life. I went through 3 sets of batteries at MPH'04. It would have been more if I had used the flash. The picture was reall bad, and not that sharp compared to most other cameras. It never focused on objects when it's dark, or even in places that are extremely well lit up by street lamps. I know that I have to focus on a bright source of light first, but it couldn't focus on a street lamp itself. A lot of my photos from MPH'04 were blurry, and it wasn't dark there.

thepeoplespal said:

None of ones you've picked immediately spring to mind as ones I think people would recommend as first pick, but I could be wrong.

I don't know a lot about digital cameras. I just chose the cameras in my price range that look like they have a good spec.

DustyC said:

Typhon, have a look at the PENTAX range and go to warehouseexpress.co.uk for some excellent bargins. Also try dpreview.com to compare the cameras. The Pentax S4, S40 and S50 all match your budget and have excellent specs.

I will have a look at all of those, but the thing is, I can only buy from an actual shop (e.g. Jessops, Dixons), not from the internet.

simpo two said:

Can you be more specific? Landscapes could be tricky!

I use my camera more for taking photos of cars, and occasionally landscaped, and the X31 that I had was useless at taking pics in dark places. It just wouldn't focus on anything.

Why could landscapes be tricky?

beano500 said:

Off the top of my head the Panasonic has a Leica lens? If so - it would be on my list....

Can you explain what a Lecia lens it please, as I don't know muck about cameras.

______________________________________________________

Basically I want a pocket sized camera that can take clear pictures at night. Also It needs to be able to take clear and sharp pictures. (My last camera didn't)
I would like it to have a fast start-up like my last camera too. Other people have recommended that I get a camera woth a manual shutter/aparture adjustment.

Canon, Sony and Nikon seem to be the best, in other people's views, but from my list people have said that they would take the Olympus.

So if someone can help my find a camera that costs no more that £200, matching my needs and that is available in a store (Nottingham), I would be really greatful.

Also, Optical zoom is a must.

[DustyC]

Typhon said:

So if someone can help my find a camera that costs no more that £200, matching my needs and that is available in a store (Nottingham), I would be really greatful. Also, Optical zoom is a must.

Bloody hell what are you trying to do, take my PH role over?

Those Pentax models I mentioned are about the size of a pack of cards (or perhaps smaller) and all have 3x optical zoom as well as digital zoom.
They are available in the shops and 2 of them will be below £200 in the highstreet.

[Typhon]

Just had another look based on other people's comments.

This Sony looks like it's good and the S50 is definatley an option.

SONY CYBER-SHOT DSC-P73 DIGITAL CAMERA - www.jessops.com/search/viewproduct.cfm?PRODUCT=SONDSCP73

NIKON COOLPIX 4100 DIGITAL CAMERA - www.jessops.com/search/viewproduct.cfm?PRODUCT=NIKC4100

PENTAX OPTIO S50 DIGITAL CAMERA - www.jessops.com/search/viewproduct.cfm?PRODUCT=PENOS50

Are there any that I should get rid from my list straight away?

Edit: Links

>> Edited by Typhon on Tuesday 23 November 11:30

[Mrs Fish]

I have just got a Sony Cybershot DSC-P150.

It is 7.2 million pixels, has an incredibly fast start up, has unlimited Mpeg movie capability (well as long as your memory card lasts).

Has zoom and optical zoom, off the top of my head can't remember exactly how much, you will have to have a look. It is pocket sized and the battery lasts ages.


www.pricerunner.co.uk/photography/digital-cameras/220248/details

Oh, and we bought it from Jessops

>> Edited by Mrs Fish on Tuesday 23 November 11:34

[Typhon]

Mrs Fish said:

I have just got a Sony Cybershot DSC-P150. It is 7.2 million pixels, has an incredibly fast start up, has unlimited Mpeg movie capability (well as long as your memory card lasts). Has zoom and optical zoom, off the top of my head can't remember exactly how much, you will have to have a look. It is pocket sized and the battery lasts ages. www.pricerunner.co.uk/photography/digital-cameras/220248/details Oh, and we bought it from Jessops >> Edited by Mrs Fish on Tuesday 23 November 11:34

Costs £310 at Jessops. That's really too much for me. I'll try the CYBER-SHOT DSC-P73 in the shop and see how it is though.

[tuscan_v8]

Got Sony DSC-P10 and it is superb compact camera. Battery life is pretty decent, take about 300 picture on 512mb memory stick at 5MP quality.

Shutter speed is quite quick. Landscaping/night photo is great.

If I was you, look at Sony, Canon or Nikon (avoid Kodak)

[beano500]

I bought Mrs Beano the T1 Sony - she likes Sony products, I've always been a bit of a septic.

I have to say, it's a very nice bit of kit with very good results too.

(Got it through Pixmania and now 7Day are at the same keen price - check also Kelkoo when pricing stuff...)

[Typhon]

I will look at Sony, Nikon and Canon products more, but £200 really is the most I can pay for a camera. I would love a DSC-P10 or a DSC-P150 but they are just too expensive for me.

[ace-T]

Typhon, if you can stretch to £236 you can get a Canon A95 from Jessops by pricematching with Amazon. Jessops list price is £300

If you are going out on the PH night out on Saturday in Nottingham I can bring mine along and you can see what you think of it? We can take some nice night shots of the rest of the PH'rs getting pished

Ace-T

[Typhon]

ace-T said:

Typhon, if you can stretch to £236 you can get a Canon A95 from Jessops by pricematching with Amazon. Jessops list price is £300 If you are going out on the PH night out on Saturday in Nottingham I can bring mine along and you can see what you think of it? We can take some nice night shots of the rest of the PH'rs getting pished Ace-T

That's great! (I hate to ask this )But what do you mean by pricematching? For £236, would I get this camera from Jessops or Amazon?

I won't be in Nottingham over the weekend, so I can't go to the night out. Any chance you could email me a pic taken at maximum res of a car by that camera in daylight, and at night (no flash) please? Just so I can get an idea of the picture quality.

Thanks for the info though!

[ace-T]

Typhon said:

That's great! (I hate to ask this )But what do you mean by pricematching? For £236, would I get this camera from Jessops or Amazon? I won't be in Nottingham over the weekend, so I can't go to the night out. Any chance you could email me a pic taken at maximum res of a car by that camera in daylight, and at night (no flash) please? Just so I can get an idea of the picture quality. Thanks for the info though!

I took a printed copy of the Amazon web page that advertised the camera into Jessops, they called Head Office and said they would sell it to me there and then for the same price as Amazon. In truth the Amazon offer was slightly less at £223 but Jessops chucked in a battery charger and 8 batteries in the £236 price. The battery charger was £14.99 so I technically I got the camera cheaper than Amazon anyway!

Will take some pics at the weekend and e-mail them. Sorry you can't make it to the night out.

HTH

Ace-T

[Typhon]

ace-T said:

I took a printed copy of the Amazon web page that advertised the camera into Jessops, they called Head Office and said they would sell it to me there and then for the same price as Amazon. In truth the Amazon offer was slightly less at £223 but Jessops chucked in a battery charger and 8 batteries in the £236 price. The battery charger was £14.99 so I technically I got the camera cheaper than Amazon anyway! Will take some pics at the weekend and e-mail them. Sorry you can't make it to the night out. HTH Ace-T

That's the best idea I've heard for a long time! Thanks for that! Also, could you take a picture of the camera in your hand please, so I can get an idea of the size? Thanks again.

[DustyC]

To save your hand fetish getting out
Canon A95: Size/Weight: 101.1x64.4x34.7mm-235g

Lots of info on it at Warehouseexpress.com
(Where its is £229. You dont have to buy over the net from them, its no dearer if you call their number).

>> Edited by DustyC on Wednesday 24th November 08:09

[tuscan_v8]

Typhon said:

I will look at Sony, Nikon and Canon products more, but £200 really is the most I can pay for a camera. I would love a DSC-P10 or a DSC-P150 but they are just too expensive for me.

This is similar to P-10, but still very good camera for under £200.

www.empire-direct.co.uk/content/products/details/index.asp?modelcode=SON-DSCP93

[Typhon]

tuscan_v8 said:

This is similar to P-10, but still very good camera for under £200. <a href="http://www.empire-direct.co.uk/content/products/details/index.asp?modelcode=SON-DSCP93">www.empire-direct.co.uk/content/products/details/index.asp?modelcode=SON-DSCP93</a>

That one looks good. The only thing I don't like about Sonys is the price of the memory card that it uses.

I'm looking at a Canon Ixus 40 on Amazon.co.uk right now. It's small and looks really good. I think that my choice will be between the Canon Ixus 40 and the Canon A95. Which do you think is better value for money and which is a better camera overall in terms of picture quality etc...


IXUS 40 - www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00065GXCS/qid=1101298497/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/202-9756943-0131836

A95 - www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002ZDRSA/qid%3D1101299974/202-9756943-0131836

EDIT: Both cameras seem to suffer from some kind of purple fringing when taking photos in high contrast situations. Is this a big problem or not?

>> Edited by Typhon on Wednesday 24th November 12:49