Digital Camera Equipment. THE Help and discussion thread.

[germistonguy]

Iam looking for a digital camera and would rather take a recommendation than 'advice' from well meaning websites/shops out to sell me a camera.

My requirements?

SLR - without bells and whistles.

as long as it has aperture/shutter speed settings, flash attachment and interchangeable lenses and basic metering - thats all! (think of an old zenith, practica or pentax K-1000 and put a digital sensor in it)

I dont need multiple metering modes, auto exposure, autofocus, movie mode, delay, 'motor drive' etc etc.

Failing that can anyone recommend a non slr type with a fairly flexible zoom lens?

Finally (for now) what sort of minimum resolution is acceptable for publication (is this the megapixels part - I am still behind with the lingo)

[Jazza]

Hi,

Not an expert by any means, but this camera is the one people are raving about at the moment:

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/canoneos1dmkii/

and the site the review is on is also very good (think 10 page reviews with sample images etc)

http://www.dpreview.com

Personally we have owned and used 2 Nikon Didgital camera and the results have been excellent in a range of situations, but these were not at the SLR end of the market (both cost around £500 i think)

As for resolution i think you would be looking for a 4/5 Megapixel CCD for decent print quality, but again i'm no expert.

[crusty_bint]

WHAT???????????

Well you're lightyears ahead of me with the lingo! I eagerly await replies to this'un!

[Fossil]

try this one
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilms5000/

i'v been looking for an upgrade.
The price seemed ok as well

Look at this for a deal
http://www.internetcamerasdirect.co.uk/ ... epix_s5000

hope this helps

[Fossil]

..forgot this link as well
http://www.ukdigital.co.uk/fuji_finepix_s5000.htm

also try this for media its very cheep
http://www.7dayshop.com

[turbozutek]

Hi all !

I've always been mighty confused why anyone wants a digital SLR ?? A standard digi. cam lets you see what's in the viewfinder on the screen at that exact moment... With no paralax.. So how is that not SLR ???

Confused.



Chris...

[Pgcc93]

I'm waiting patiently for the new Panasonic FZ10 wich is due out anytime now.

It's a 4meg with a 12x optical zoom which equates into 35-420 mmin 35mm format. With f2.8 throughout the zoom range .
And also has built in Image stabiliser.

price will be in the £400 bracket, if I was to get my current Canon film camera up to that spec it would cost a fortune.

[turbozutek]

....Is an amazing function.

Saw a demo of it on a Samsung video camera we were using at the work and it was really really good. The guy giving the demo was wildly swinging the thing around while taking 'insta' frame shots - came out crystal clear.

Chris...

[germistonguy]

Hi all !

I've always been mighty confused why anyone wants a digital SLR ?? A standard digi. cam lets you see what's in the viewfinder on the screen at that exact moment... With no paralax.. So how is that not SLR ???

Confused.



Chris...

I' ve often wondered why myself. I think it is down to the fact I am used to that format but also its the ability to change lenses should I need to, although it would seem many of the zoom lenses on compacts are quite flexible these days without being a yard long

[Fossil]

Can anyone recommend a shop in Glasgow for a digital camera service, with a quick turnaround.
(B 4 Saturday)

[Sharon]

I'd probaly try Jessops, or even boots.

[james73]

That cheap shop, Lidl, were advertising Digital Cameras for about
£169. They look alright - anyone got an opinion on them?

http://www.lidl.co.uk/gb/index.nsf/pages/c.o.oow.20040405.p.Nytch_Digital_Camera_64MB




James H

[duncan]

That cheap shop, Lidl, were advertising Digital Cameras for about
£169. They look alright - anyone got an opinion on them?

looks shite (Nytech - who??), despite being 4mega pixel. for the same money, you could get a 3.2 megapixel olympus:
http://www.dabs.com/uk/channels/photoan ... klinx=31VJ

[Apollo]

Hi all !

I've always been mighty confused why anyone wants a digital SLR ?? A standard digi. cam lets you see what's in the viewfinder on the screen at that exact moment... With no paralax.. So how is that not SLR ???

Confused.

I agree the choice appears to be blurred with digital compacts giving preview screens, zooms and similar functions to SLR's, but if you used pre-digital SLR's for years then the polite word for these compacts is, em crap. That's why even the current crop of digital SLR's are way pricier than their compact cousins.

By comprison, digital compacts fail because the LCD is simply no use for accurate focussing, you're obliged to use autofocus or measure manually. SLR gives a real pin sharp image, and more sophisticated autofucus. Compact handling is pathetic through pushbuttons, menus and touchscreens. Excluding the recent 'designer' inspired rubbish, SLR's are targetted at users who don't want toys, and the controls are quick and accessible. The obvious one of proper interchangeable lenses and accessories has already been raised, and it would be fair to add that the compact makers are pushing their zoom ranges too far and distortions and colour errors are becoming obvious now the CCD's are getting better.

This isn't anti compact, I've been glued to mine for 18 months now, but I had to do some film work recently and picking up my Canon EOS was like jumping from a pedal bike into a sports car in terms of pleasure of use and versatility.

Just to depress everyone, I read an article published by the USAF where they analysed CCD operation versus film, and came to the conclusion that to match their current film performance, they estimated they would require CCD's with 14 megapixel resolution. Sounds expensive

On the other hand, use what works for you

[purplegrum]

try this one
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilms5000/

i'v been looking for an upgrade.
The price seemed ok as well

Look at this for a deal
http://www.internetcamerasdirect.co.uk/ ... epix_s5000

hope this helps

The S5000 is a great camera!

I bought an S5000 from http://www.cameras2u.com for a reasonable price and they threw in a 64MB xD card which holds about 80 pics at 3mil pixels. The quality is superb and it's a nice shape if you're more used to traditional SLR type cameras.

Only downside is that it's a bit bulky - not pocket sized by any manner of means. For visiting ROC bunkers and just for keeping in the car 'just incase', I use an old Sony P-50 since it can slip into my pocket. (Cost me nearly £400 when it was new - worth about £50-100 max now I think! Pah!)

PurpleG