V-Flyer

With my birthday fast approaching again[n], him indoors has decided that he would like to buy me (read: us) a new Digital Camera as our current one practically needs its own suitcase[:I]and is acting up a lot now.

So, I wondered if anybody has any recommendations or even ones to avoid that could aid us in picking a good 'un, then it would be much appreciated[y]

Thanks,
Neil:)

Originally posted by Attitude23
With my birthday fast approaching again[n], him indoors has decided that he would like to buy me (read: us) a new Digital Camera as our current one practically needs its own suitcase[:I]and is acting up a lot now.

So, I wondered if anybody has any recommendations or even ones to avoid that could aid us in picking a good 'un, then it would be much appreciated[y]

Thanks,
Neil:)

Not sure what to recommend, but we are also looking for a new camera for our jaunt in a couple of weeks.

That said, I have noticed looking around that the majority of digital cameras no longer have viewfinders just the LCD screen and I have loads of trouble seeing the picture on the screen in sunlight and usually have to use the viewfinder to frame my pictures, this is causing me a problem choosing at the moment.[n]

thelaceys

Neil, I have a Sony DSC-T100,and its a great compact camera that takes very good quality pictures.

The biggest point with any digital camera is not to be sucked in to the hype over having a camera with XXXX millian pixels.

Unless you are doing really high quality close-up shots then you won't notice the difference between a camera with 5 million, 7 million or even 10 million pixels.

I would reccomend that you but a camera with a good optical zoom as well as the digital one.

i would also reccomend that you purchase several smaller memory cards rather than 1 huge card that will hold thousands of photo.s This means you can store your photos on the card rather than downloading all and using up space on the PC.

i am using a Canon IXUS 70 at the moment and i am very happy with it. I use it for work as well as holidays and the results i get are good enough to use in our brochires and websites. (and yes, it does have a view finder)

Good luck

If you're in the market for a digital SLR then the Canon EOS 400D is a smashing camera. I use mine for railway and aviation shots and the results are very impressive.

If you're budget can't go that far then the Fuji FinePix S5600 will serve you well, especially now that they are dirt cheap on Amazon. I currently use a Fuji FinePix E510 for point-and-shoot shots and its a nice little camera (but discontinued now)

But have to say in my experience you can't go wrong with Canon or Fuji [y]

I was caught between buying a compact or an SLR when I was camera shopping recently. In the end I went for a 'prosumer' product - the Sony DSC R1, which is a beauty if you like your photography. Just the one fixed lens (24-120mm, which is a heck of a range), but the same kind of processor and all the bits and pieces you'd get on an SLR.

If you are looking for a point and shoot style, mainly for snaps, go for a compact and get the best combination of MPs, optical zoom and other features that you can. Realistically on the compacts, the lenses are quite inferior, so when you get above about 5MP you are unlikely to notice much improvement. If you want do take landscapes then you need to go for something with a good lens, the Canon mentioned above is excellent and Canon lenses are right up there with the best.

With a compact, even with 8MP, when you start enlarging you will find a fall off in detail simply because the lens is not capable of capturing the level of detail require even though the CCD or CMOS image sensor should be capable of recording it.

If you are going DSLR anything canon works ..hell half the DSLR owners on here have canon's.

If you are going point n shot be a maverick, skip the sony's Nikon's etc..get a casio LINK, my last 4 point n shot's have been casio and I love them, great picture quality, they take standard memory cards and have a battery life no other camera can match.

Canon Ixus850IS - 7MP, 3.8x Optical zoom......and image stabalisation - Great if you don't have a steady hand at the UCS bar during TR snapping!!!

Also, the price has just come down.

Maverick, I've also just recently bought the Sony T100. Nice little camera, with a lot of features and a great big screen (although no old fashioned view finder).

Dean

Cheers for the suggestions/ideas[y]. It is just your standard point and shoot camera I am after, as much as I like looking as nice photographs, taking them really isn't one of my strong points.

Do you think it would be worth waiting until we are in BOS/NYC and buy one from the US what with the strong exchange rate etc or will it be not worth it/too much hassle etc?

Neil

If you take a look at Warehouse Express you will find some great deals on point-and-shoot cameras there. Will be interesting to see what the prices of cameras are like on the US but if I were you get the camera before you go.

We bought our last a 5MP Ixus (Elph) in the US at a Target, it was on offer and was seriously cheaper than the UK price. Now the pound has strengthened further there should be some real bargains to be had.

Originally posted by Bazz
We bought our last a 5MP Ixus (Elph) in the US at a Target, it was on offer and was seriously cheaper than the UK price. Now the pound has strengthened further there should be some real bargains to be had.

Thats what I was thinking, I guess there are no issues with me buying it from the US? Warranty etc will all be ok still? I have never bought electrical goods from abroad before.

You may have to get a UK charger, unless you are happy using an adaptor, but if the price is right then go for it.

Manufacturers warranties are normally worldwide too.

Originally posted by locutus
You may have to get a UK charger, unless you are happy using an adaptor, but if the price is right then go for it.

I bought a couple of these expect to pay £10 or less, I think I paid about £7.50 each.