which camera should i get?
Discussion
white_van_man said:
im thinking of buying a ned digi camera and iv chosed 2 i like, fugi finepix s5000 and the fugi finepix f610
im open to suggestions for other ones i will be taking lots of cool car shots and le mans and some high speed mountain biking shots in frace
BEWARE the Fuji that claims a zillion and one pixels.. its a fib. Nacnud on here raves about his Canon Powershot S45 or s50 (cant remember which). His snaps are certainly excellent
Ed
Another vote for Canon.
Especially as the superb Powershot S50 can be had for as little as £280 delivered to your door.
SLR v Compact is a BIG discussion.
Lots of threads on PH.
S50 is more than capable of A3 so quality is not an issue. S50 has the same controls/metering as the semi-professional EOS 5, so controlability is not an issue. The only real issues are interchangeable lenses and external flash (if your SLR supports it), and size and weight really count against an SLR in 'normal' use.
Especially as the superb Powershot S50 can be had for as little as £280 delivered to your door.
SLR v Compact is a BIG discussion.
Lots of threads on PH.
S50 is more than capable of A3 so quality is not an issue. S50 has the same controls/metering as the semi-professional EOS 5, so controlability is not an issue. The only real issues are interchangeable lenses and external flash (if your SLR supports it), and size and weight really count against an SLR in 'normal' use.
The lens situation is THE selling point of SLRs over compacts. A proper range of high quality lenses is the only way to be properly equipped. Of course, you pay for that in size and weight (and moolah).
Other points to note - good as compacts are, they do not have the same range of manual controls (arguably you don't need this with a digital and photoshop, but always wise to get the picture right straight from the lens/camera if you can).
Also, and SLR will typically have a better viewfinder image, more closely representing what you're going to get as you're looking through the lens.
Again, this advantage is diminished slightly as the <35mm sensors in digital SLRs mean the actual view isn't perfect, and LCD screens as "viewfinders" are getting pretty good these days too...
Other points to note - good as compacts are, they do not have the same range of manual controls (arguably you don't need this with a digital and photoshop, but always wise to get the picture right straight from the lens/camera if you can).
Also, and SLR will typically have a better viewfinder image, more closely representing what you're going to get as you're looking through the lens.
Again, this advantage is diminished slightly as the <35mm sensors in digital SLRs mean the actual view isn't perfect, and LCD screens as "viewfinders" are getting pretty good these days too...
murph7355 said:
Other points to note - good as compacts are, they do not have the same range of manual controls (arguably you don't need this with a digital and photoshop, but always wise to get the picture right straight from the lens/camera if you can).
Also, and SLR will typically have a better viewfinder image, more closely representing what you're going to get as you're looking through the lens.
S50 has same metering modes (including spot), same shutter advance modes, same flash controls (compensation and curtain) as the EOS 5. I've got a 5 and I'm not kidding. Manual focus (tick) Macro (tick) Depth of field preview (tick) Exposure bracketing (tick). How much more image control do you want ?
The built in S50 lens has better critical sharpness than four of the five EOS lenses I have. Only need to change would be for ultra wide angle and telephoto shots and unless you are doing serious motorsport photography then you can probably live without a telephoto lens.
I rarely use the viewfinder except when taking motorsport pictures. I find it much easier to compose on the LCD. Hence viewfinder is not really a serious issue.
I originally bought my S40 just to take website piccies, but then I discovered just how good the image quality is. Now, I rarely use my EOS 5. When I do use the 5 I love the weight and feel of the camera and the shutter noise is drop dead gorgeous, but overall I still prefer to use the S40.
Last comment on the S40.
It looks bloomin stupid stuck on the top of a chunky Uni-Loc tripod but it's needed for ultimate image quality (just like an SLR).
Edt said:
Erm... of course now read this 'we love Canon' thread.. I've got a terrific Olympus digital SLR that I bought 2nd hand, approx the same price as an s50. It is very, very, very, very good.
I like it.
Regards, Ed
Is it an E10? If so, it's a good camera, but not an SLR, as the lens is fixed.
Well, back to the I love Canon thread for a moment.
The G5 is a great compact camera that has some pro-summer controls, allowing control of DOF and speed as well as a myriad of other functions. I love it.
www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/g5.html
The 10D is also a great camera at the other end of the scale and buying lenses for it is great, flexible and can rapidly become expensive, but it will give you far more control than a compact, get a good lense like the 70-200 L IS and you have some great potential to take a good picture.
www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/10d.html
There is a third solution, go for a high-end compact such at the new Canon PowerShot Pro1.
www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/pro1.html
I have the G5 and the 10D and think they are both great cameras, the 300D is also a very good camera with great reviews if you want to go the DSLR route. The Pro1 is new, but I have seen the outpout it generates and it is a very good camera indeed.
David
The G5 is a great compact camera that has some pro-summer controls, allowing control of DOF and speed as well as a myriad of other functions. I love it.
www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/g5.html
The 10D is also a great camera at the other end of the scale and buying lenses for it is great, flexible and can rapidly become expensive, but it will give you far more control than a compact, get a good lense like the 70-200 L IS and you have some great potential to take a good picture.
www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/10d.html
There is a third solution, go for a high-end compact such at the new Canon PowerShot Pro1.
www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/pro1.html
I have the G5 and the 10D and think they are both great cameras, the 300D is also a very good camera with great reviews if you want to go the DSLR route. The Pro1 is new, but I have seen the outpout it generates and it is a very good camera indeed.
David
the sony cybershot dsc f717 is the best prosumer digital camera for the money. Its got 5 stars in every review ive seen and the quality of images is excellent (5 million pixels and carl zeiss lenses). See for yourself at www.gravynet.com/photos
btw. Got mine new for 340 quid.
btw. Got mine new for 340 quid.
srider said:
Erm... of course now read this 'we love Canon' thread.. I've got a terrific Olympus digital SLR that I bought 2nd hand, approx the same price as an s50. It is very, very, very, very good.
I like it.
Regards, Ed
Is it an E10? If so, it's a good camera, but not an SLR, as the lens is fixed.
hmmm. the Olympus packaging reads SLR... surely an SLR isnt defined by the ability to swap lenses ?
Regards, Ed
Well no one seems to like fuji's here.. Ive got an S5000 and cant say Ive been disappointed by it. Its quite big and bulky but very solid and has the 10x optical zoom and as many manual features as you can shake a stick at all for around £250
www.unbeatable.co.uk/CatalogueItem_14463.html
The only down side I have noticed is the slow shutter reaction ..not much good for your sports shots.. though it does have a function to take a series of 1 megapixel shots at 5 fps and only saving the last 5 before you release the shutter button thus allowing you to pre guess the action a little.
Id buy the S5000 again.
www.unbeatable.co.uk/CatalogueItem_14463.html
The only down side I have noticed is the slow shutter reaction ..not much good for your sports shots.. though it does have a function to take a series of 1 megapixel shots at 5 fps and only saving the last 5 before you release the shutter button thus allowing you to pre guess the action a little.
Id buy the S5000 again.
moreymach said:
Well no one seems to like fuji's here.. Ive got an S5000 and cant say Ive been disappointed by it. Its quite big and bulky but very solid and has the 10x optical zoom and as many manual features as you can shake a stick at all for around £250
And Ebuyer has the 5000 at a good price here
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