What camera for countryside walks?
Discussion
Hi folks. I regularily go for walks in the countryside. I would like to treat myself to a camera to catch those "moments".
The camera must be fairly light (lighter than my EOS300 anyway).
It must have a good optical zoom.
It must be quick to operate - Those pesky deer dont pose for long! I would like it to power up and be ready to use in seconds. I also want the auto-focus option to operate rapidly.
I also would like to be able to use it in manual mode occasionally.
The budget isn't too critical, but I suspect that a good camera can be had for less than £350.00.
I am aware that optical quality means weight. There will usually be plenty of light, so I don't need an F1.2 lens.
Sorry if this has already been done to death, but the search facility on here isn't that great.
Thanks
Don
--
The camera must be fairly light (lighter than my EOS300 anyway).
It must have a good optical zoom.
It must be quick to operate - Those pesky deer dont pose for long! I would like it to power up and be ready to use in seconds. I also want the auto-focus option to operate rapidly.
I also would like to be able to use it in manual mode occasionally.
The budget isn't too critical, but I suspect that a good camera can be had for less than £350.00.
I am aware that optical quality means weight. There will usually be plenty of light, so I don't need an F1.2 lens.
Sorry if this has already been done to death, but the search facility on here isn't that great.
Thanks
Don
--
Dad has a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ?? (current equivalent is the FZ38) which he's very happy with. Not sure if it counts as a compact ( link) but it's certainly lighter that my EOS 400D!
Fires up pretty much instantly, 18x optical zoom (Dad takes photos of birds a lot so went for a long zoom camera), 27mm wide angle for landscapes, has a 'real' viewfinder as well as the screen.
A very quick Google says the current model is around £250.
Fires up pretty much instantly, 18x optical zoom (Dad takes photos of birds a lot so went for a long zoom camera), 27mm wide angle for landscapes, has a 'real' viewfinder as well as the screen.
A very quick Google says the current model is around £250.
FunkyNige said:
Dad has a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ?? (current equivalent is the FZ38) which he's very happy with. Not sure if it counts as a compact ( link) but it's certainly lighter that my EOS 400D!
Fires up pretty much instantly, 18x optical zoom (Dad takes photos of birds a lot so went for a long zoom camera), 27mm wide angle for landscapes, has a 'real' viewfinder as well as the screen.
A very quick Google says the current model is around £250.
£219 delivered from Dixons.com Fires up pretty much instantly, 18x optical zoom (Dad takes photos of birds a lot so went for a long zoom camera), 27mm wide angle for landscapes, has a 'real' viewfinder as well as the screen.
A very quick Google says the current model is around £250.
Good camera btw
Got an FZ38 myself - love it and bought it as I could only afford one decent camera at the time, but as it's still fairly bulky, if I had an SLR already I'd have plumped for an LX3/ 5 personally - very portable and great image quality!
ETA: Didn't realise that you're probably looking for something with a longer zoom - FZ38's worth a look then!
ETA: Didn't realise that you're probably looking for something with a longer zoom - FZ38's worth a look then!
Edited by Ultuous on Monday 27th December 16:51
Thanks for the suggestions.
I like the size/weight of the Canon, but the zoom wouldn't be enough.
I went to Comet this afternoon and they had a Lumix FZ45. It is heavier than I would prefer, but if I want the zoom, then that is a price that I will have to pay.
My current favourite is the Lumix FZ100.
The reasons for my requirements can best be explained by a couple of missed opportunities. On Christmas Eve, I saw two deer standing side-on but looking at me. They were about 300 yards away in a snow covered field. They only held the "pose" for a few seconds.
The week before that, I saw 14 red kites at an even greater distance.
I often see buzzards, a pair of peregrine falcons, and hares. None of them will come near enough, or wait long enough.
I'm usually out for 4-5 hours, so having the camera switched on and ready to go is not really an option.
I'm also too old to figure out this modern technology without help.
Don
--
I like the size/weight of the Canon, but the zoom wouldn't be enough.
I went to Comet this afternoon and they had a Lumix FZ45. It is heavier than I would prefer, but if I want the zoom, then that is a price that I will have to pay.
My current favourite is the Lumix FZ100.
The reasons for my requirements can best be explained by a couple of missed opportunities. On Christmas Eve, I saw two deer standing side-on but looking at me. They were about 300 yards away in a snow covered field. They only held the "pose" for a few seconds.
The week before that, I saw 14 red kites at an even greater distance.
I often see buzzards, a pair of peregrine falcons, and hares. None of them will come near enough, or wait long enough.
I'm usually out for 4-5 hours, so having the camera switched on and ready to go is not really an option.
I'm also too old to figure out this modern technology without help.
Don
--
I bought a Lumix FZ45 a few weeks ago, and am very pleased with it. I wanted something with a good zoom range but not as bulky as my usual EOS 400 cameras.
The FZ100 is very similar (same lens; different sensor) but costs a fair bit more and I didn't need the extra features. Also some reviews show the FZ100 has having a noisier sensor.
The FZ100 is very similar (same lens; different sensor) but costs a fair bit more and I didn't need the extra features. Also some reviews show the FZ100 has having a noisier sensor.
Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff