New camera choice

[mlocke]

Looking at getting a new camera

I know that there are several budding photographers in the club who i though would maybe be able to offer advice on this.

Budget is flexible but anything from around £100 - £250

Notably would I be better off getting cheap DSLR or expensive compact?

Is there really a massive difference in compact cameras in this price range?

Cheers

Locky

[Dan_K]

I think it depends on what you want to use it for.

Personally, I use my camera for holiday snaps and general day to day stuff. I have a Panasonic Lumix FX12 (was £300+ a few years back but is now £100-£200). It's 7.2 megapixels and has a leica lens.

I've seen that there is now a newer version available within your price range:

[url]http://www.elitegadgets.com/P/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FX180-Digital-Camera-in-Silver(1324).aspx[/url]

My one is a brilliant little camera for day to day stuff and compact enough to stash in your back pocket for rides.

[Dombo]

Depends on what you want it for. The Lumix is a fantastic compact and great for taking anywhere. If you want to lug something around on foot or in a backpack, then get a SLR as Sean says, pref a Canon. The lenses of the SLR are the important bit so once you have a body you can add lenses to your heart's content. The white lenses you see at sporting events are Canon so they have good market coverage, are widely used and a good 2nd hand market.

£250 these days gets you great kit so decide what you want it for and then get either a Lumix compact or a Canon SLR.

I am old school and my main camera is a Canon film SLR. Cost over £500 ten years ago. Lucky to get a fiver now on ebay!

[Grahame]

Again, it depends on what you want out of it.

If you think you are going to get "into" photography, an DSLR is almost a must. If you just want something convenient for taking snaps with, a compact will be fine.

I'd not advocate blindly buying a Canon DSLR, though. Go to a shop (Jessops will be fine) and handle a few different ones. Go with the one you like the feel of and that the menu system is more intuitive for you. Each manufacturer uses a different lens mounting system, so you are commiting future spends to that system (one reason why the "kits" are so atractively priced). My brother, who is a very serious amateur photographer - some of his pictures are sold by agencies on his behalf - uses Canons, I don't like the feel of the Canon body, so I use Nikon.

I'm thinking about upgrading my Nikon D50 and replacing it with a D60, D80 or D90 body, so could be persuaded to sell the body and a kit lens.

Another important factor is where the focus motors are - in some Nikons (D50, D80) the body includes a motor, and you can use any Nikor lens. Others (D40) don't have a motor in the body to save weight and cost, but with these you are restricted to more expensive motorised lenses unless you want to do the focusing yourself.

[Snoop Doug]

I've got a Panasonic Lumix TZ something or other, just looked, TZ3.

Generally v happy with it though it struggles in poor light.

[Rob Q]

Check out this site. Independent review of all cameras.

http://www.cameras.co.uk/html/digital-c ... eviews.cfm

[Ian A4size]

I've just bought a D90 and I am very pleased with it, it is a whole world away from the compact stuff, there are cheaper cameras on the market.

A good place for bargains is www.warehouseexpress.com

2nd hand DSLRs and lenses are available in most camera shops

[Andrew G]

Warehouseexpress is good, I've got a few bits from them in the past.

As others have said work out what you want first as if you are only going to need a compact then a DSLR will become a pain to carry about just for the odd holiday snap. Equally some compact are superb but can be a bit fiddly for buttons if you have big hands or podgy fingers.

Nikon, Canon, Olympus are all very good and as Grahame says try 'em out and see what you find fits you and your hands best. Also have a look as the non camera companies as I've heard good things about panasonic cameras. Digital ones are just like a computer and the quality of the lens is key, Panasonic use very good lenses and know what they are doing with electoronics so no problem.

[url]http://www.dpreview.com/[/url] is also a good site and has good reviews. Also check out the gadget show (channel 5) site as they have done some good reviews too.

The white canon lenses are the pro standard lenses and top drawer but expensive, not for your average photographer and only if you are serious.

Oh and to keep the retro fans happy the best photos I've taken have been on my (used to be my Dad's) old manual focus SLR with a f1.4 50mm lens .

[Dombo]

[quote="Andrew G"]

Oh and to keep the retro fans happy the best photos I've taken have been on my (used to be my Dad's) old manual focus SLR with a f1.4 50mm lens .

[Andrew G]

Half press button, wait for focus and hold, press button down .
Fixed length lens makes you think about what you take too rather than being lazy and just zooming from where you happen to be standing.

[Andrew G]

Not quite.
[img]http://walthamcamera.com/Images/UsedCameras/CanonT70.gif[/img]

[Ian A4size]

suprised you dont have a box brownie or a pin hole jobbie

[Mike I]

If you want to be taken seriously, get a bid in on one of these [url]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hasselblad-A12-6x6-Medium-Format-Camera-Complete_W0QQitemZ180331943248QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Photography_Film_Cameras_ET?hash=item180331943248&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1690%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318[/url].