Recommend me a camera!

[E65Ross]

Hi guys,

Can someone recommend me a half decent "all-purpose" camera for somewhere around the £250-300 mark. It'll largely be used for static pictures (scenery, people, car pics etc) but occasionally of moving stuff as well (cars, planes, sport events etc etc).

Many thanks in advance

Ross

[Fastra]

It's been a while since I delved into this market but Trusted Reviews is a good place to start:

http://www.trustedreviews.com/best_digital-cameras...

Are you after a compact or SLR type?

[schmunk]

If a compact, Sony RX100 is the only answer.

[E65Ross]

Fastra said:

It's been a while since I delved into this market but Trusted Reviews is a good place to start:

http://www.trustedreviews.com/best_digital-cameras...

Are you after a compact or SLR type?

Probably more of a compact, just as they're much easier to carry around...

schmunk said:

If a compact, Sony RX100 is the only answer.

Bit expensive.

My mate has this camera which seemed to take very decent quality images

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-TZ40EB...

They do this one (updated model) but so far as I can tell you pay another £90 for nothing other than 30x optical zoom instead of 20x....?

Thoughts on that camera?

Thanks!!

[schmunk]

RX100 was within your budget recently - process seem to have gone back above £300.

Image quality on the RX100 will be far superior to the TZ40, although the Panasonic has a much better zoom.

It depends on the importance you place on taking mediocre pictures of small things far away...

[-Pete-]

I just bought a Sony RX100 from Camersa World London, the perfect pocketable camera imo. I have a DSLR but it's too big to take everywhere, and we have a compact but it's no good in low light conditions. The Sony is great for non-Flash photography...

[V8Wagon]

I bought one of these recently and think it's a great camera. The image quality is excellent. It was panned when it came out due to very slow AF which has been much improved with a firmware update.

I didn't expect to like it as much as I do after coming from a DSLR but I really like it.

It's a lot of camera for the money.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2...

[E65Ross]

V8Wagon said:

I bought one of these recently and think it's a great camera. The image quality is excellent. It was panned when it came out due to very slow AF which has been much improved with a firmware update.

I didn't expect to like it as much as I do after coming from a DSLR but I really like it.

It's a lot of camera for the money.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2...

That looks like a very good price! Is the lens detachable? Any idea on the zoom ability? Is that better than the lumix I posted?

Cheers

[mids]

I'd agree with the RX100 if you can get one within budget. If not, read some reviews of the Lumix LX7. Bright f/1.4-2.3 Leica lens, decent zoom, 11 fps, good macro. A friend has one and it's a very good camera for the money (£225 from Digital-Rev or £290 in the UK).

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Panasonic_Lumix_...

[V8Wagon]

E65Ross said:

That looks like a very good price! Is the lens detachable? Any idea on the zoom ability? Is that better than the lumix I posted?

Cheers

Yes, the lens is detachable. I also picked up the fixed 22mm f2 lens for it which is fantastically sharp. It's available on eBay for about £80.
Zoom is as per a DSLR so you zoom using the lens.

Curry's are also selling the adapter to fit full size Canon lenses to it at the mo for £39.

Edited by V8Wagon on Saturday 6th September 11:29

[E65Ross]

The Sony here
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B008CNMZDW?cache=a...

Only has a 3.6x optical zoom which isn't as much as I'm after really.

That one above linked from argos.... What's the zoom on that, do we know?

MMany, many thanks chaps, keep the advice coming!

[GetCarter]

O/P I'm sure you know, as a rule of thumb, the greater the zoom, the worse the image quality. (Many exceptions/sensor/lenses to this of course)... If it were easy to keep image quality at big zooms, everyone would do it.

The Sony probably won't suit your needs, but it takes by far the best quality photos of the cameras mentioned.

[E65Ross]

GetCarter said:

O/P I'm sure you know, as a rule of thumb, the greater the zoom, the worse the image quality. (Many exceptions/sensor/lenses to this of course)... If it were easy to keep image quality at big zooms, everyone would do it.

The Sony probably won't suit your needs, but it takes by far the best quality photos of the cameras mentioned.

Thanks mate. What's this one like (a DSLR, admittedly)

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/cameras/digital-camer...

Looking like the Sony is the one to go for... And reduced by a considerable amount as well.

[GetCarter]

E65Ross said:

Thanks mate. What's this one like (a DSLR, admittedly)

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/cameras/digital-camer...

Looking like the Sony is the one to go for... And reduced by a considerable amount as well.

I'll let the Canon buffs comment on that. I'm a Nikon user. DSLRs will always be better than compacts... but most people leave DSLRs at home as they are too big. I have an RX100 with me at ALL times, only using a DSLR when I'm in 'pic' mode. This is mainly as I do a daily photo blog...

http://www.stevecarter.com/random/twits.htm

Today's RX100 pic:

[E65Ross]

Just reserved an Rx100 at my local pc world for 350 available to collect now, so getting it shortly

[V8Wagon]

I'll be interested to see how you get on with it Ross. The pics on your blog are stunning Steve.....I'm assuming a lot are enhanced in Photoshop or light room?

[GetCarter]

V8Wagon said:

The pics on your blog are stunning Steve.....I'm assuming a lot are enhanced in Photoshop or light room?

I only recover what the stupid camera(s) lost. I almost always crop and add contrast - Highlight & shadow to be exact, (fade correction)... half the time alter the colour temp, and then resize and sharpen for web.

Edited by GetCarter on Saturday 6th September 14:03

[E65Ross]

Got the camera and it's on charge. Had a little play around with it and there are LOTS of settings I need to get used to.

Steve - what are the differences between intelligent auto and the superior auto thing? I'm guessing you usually use a manual mode though as you know what you're doing with it

First thing that struck me was just how compact it is! It really is quite small. Going to wait until it's fully charged until I try and take some various piccies.

I got a 32gb SD card as well with a 100MB/s write speed.

Any "must know" tips about the camera?

Thanks mate, appreciate it....and everyone for the suggestions of course!

[GetCarter]

E65Ross said:

Any "must know" tips about the camera?
!

I have mine set to auto exposure bracket 1 step each way. (You just hold down the shutter button while it takes 3 pics). I almost never use what the camera thinks what is 'best'. As I keep saying, cameras are stupid.

[E65Ross]

GetCarter said:

E65Ross said:

Any "must know" tips about the camera?
!

I have mine set to auto exposure bracket 1 step each way. (You just hold down the shutter button while it takes 3 pics). I almost never use what the camera thinks what is 'best'. As I keep saying, cameras are stupid.

Do you need to be in one of the manual modes for it to do this (ie P, A, S or M)? From briefly reading, it can do 3 shots "at once" and blend it into 1 image to reduce motion blur...correct?

Many thanks