mrforgetful Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 I'm wanting a new Digital Camera for personal use. As much as I'd love a dSLR I just don't think I'd ever carry it with me, so it has to be a compact. From what I've read once you get over 6mp there's not really much point without a larger CCD and better lens. I'd like it to be quite fast as my last one is really quite slow. I don't want Kodak - their pictures are too saturated. I'd like lots of settings to play with, ideally shutter speed and timeshift would be great as would manual focus. I'd be taking a big mix of scenery/people/arty things too. Am I asking too much from a compact?
localzuk Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 Fuji FinePix S5700's are excellent - we just bought 8 of them. Superb little cameras.
marco84 Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 I've recently bought a Canon IXUS 75. It has a larger screen than most cameras of a similar price. It's well worth looking at.
seacider Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 I too endorse the Fuji S5700, good quality pics and plenty of scope for use. I got one for xmas even though I asked santa for a canon!
mrforgetful Posted January 23, 2008 Author Posted January 23, 2008 While the S5700 does look nice, it's too big unfortunately, I just would not take it anywhere with me.
webman Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 I've just bought (well, won a voucher towards) a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 but I think that will be too big for what you want. I think the compact Panasonics you'd like are the LX2 or the TZ3.
Domino Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 a mate of mine just got a IXUS 70 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-IXUS-70-Digital-Camera/dp/B000NUWJNS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1201096557&sr=1-4 I normally scoff at anything that isn't a DSLR, but these are well good, and the face detection really works too...
mac_shinobi Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 a mate of mine just got a IXUS 70 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-IXUS-70-Digital-Camera/dp/B000NUWJNS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1201096557&sr=1-4 I normally scoff at anything that isn't a DSLR, but these are well good, and the face detection really works too... Ive got a Cannon IXUS 55 ( I think thats the correct make and model ) anyway its really good , its only a 5 mega pixel deal but picture quality and the rest of it is pretty good. And with the 2 above being ixus 70 and ixus 75's they are obviously better then the one I have. So agree with them, Also agree with the SLR comment but obviously you said you didnt want an SLR
mrforgetful Posted January 23, 2008 Author Posted January 23, 2008 Good idea, I might borrow one of each from the Art department over Easter and have a play. I understand that I'll get my complete control that I want and excellent quality photos with a dSLR, but other than size, cost is an issue too. I mean I can spend what might be considered a lot for a compact, but that's not even gonna get my the body and a crap lens for the dSLR is it? Nevermind extra lenses etc
Domino Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 for £400 odd you could track down a canon eos400d and 18-55mm lens. but that is still a big jump from the 150-ish for a compact. my girlfriends just got a eos and its awesome, totally recommend it. but I know what you mean, sometimes you just want something to keep in your pocket.
dhicks Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 I'm wanting a new Digital Camera for personal use. As much as I'd love a dSLR I just don't think I'd ever carry it with me, so it has to be a compact. For the ultimate in take-anyware-ability, the Sanyo Xacti CA65 claims to be waterproof to a depth of 1.5m. Records stills and images straight to SD card. Had a look at one in Jessops the other day, they certainly look small and compact enough. Not sure what still image quality would be like, though. -- David Hicks
mrforgetful Posted January 23, 2008 Author Posted January 23, 2008 I'm certain SLR isn't the way to go, simply won't use it. At the minute (and subject to change) I'm swaying towards the Canon Powershots or IXUS ranges. The Powershots have a lot of functionality like SLR but depends how big it is in realy life, if too big probably an IXUS.
sahmeepee Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 I got a Digital IXUS 950IS (powershot something-or-other in the US) at Christmas. Amazon was cheapest at the time, but it looks to have jumped up about £20: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-IXUS-950-Digital-Camera/dp/B000RGLZYC Very happy with it and the batteries that come with them now are many miles better than I was putting up with with my old NiMH battery camera. It's packed full of features (like most compacts it seems you need to use spot focus if you want to do it manually, but you can then lock it in place). Video and audio quality is surprisingly good. I was a tad annoyed that it seems to boost the brightness on the lcd screen for images which are too dark, so you have to switch the histogram view on to make sure your pics aren't really underexposed. I'm guessing that will be the case for all the IXUS range. IIRC the 950 has optical stabilisation rather than the digital version you get in other models.
Ric_ Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 Another vote for Canon IXUS from me... although I never use my IXUS anymore (since getting a EOS 300D and then a 10D).
sahmeepee Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 BTW: This is handy if you want to compare the shots taken by ordinary folk on the different models: Flickr Camera Finder (Apologies if you've seen it before)
russdev Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 On compact side one best buys we brought at work was was Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N2 10mp with extra large (think 5 gig might be wrong) memory card for it. Even on highest quality etc we can take 2000 photos or something. You do notice difference between lower mp camera's etc and this one and to boot is also compact as well.
broc Posted January 23, 2008 Posted January 23, 2008 Digital cameras are a prime example of how manufacturers exploit the 'numbers' game. It is easy to fall into the trap of assuming the more pixels the better. Decent optics will generally provide better quality images. Small slow lenses will increase the chance of 'noise' on the image at low light levels, as well as introducing all manner of image defects. I would always sacrifice MPs for optical quality. Most 'budget' DSLR lenses will outperform compact camera lenses. At the budget end of the market, you can pick up a Nikon D40 (cheaper than D40X) for less than £300, if you still want a compact, I would recommend the Canon Ixus 70 for around £120. It has an optical viewfinder unlike many compact cameras which means you can switch off the screen & save power. I use both types of cameras depending upon what I am doing. If I fancy a serious photo session I take the DSLR, if I am just out for the day I quite often stick the compact in my shirt pocket.
mrforgetful Posted January 24, 2008 Author Posted January 24, 2008 Cheers for all the info guys. Seems the Canons are very popular (I refuse to buy anything Sony) so will be going for one of the IXUS/Powershot range. Does it stand to reason that the higher up the range the better the camera will be? Or is there a dud one in there as sometimes happens? I shall go have a look through the Flickr page, I've not been before.
broc Posted January 24, 2008 Posted January 24, 2008 Every manufacturer produces a 'lemon' from time to time.......... Work out what your budget is; work out what features are important to you, a lot of cameras are loaded with 'features' that sound incredibly useful but hardly get used. A useful site for looking at camera reviews is http://www.steves-digicams.com/ Bear in mind that some models have different designations in the US compared with the UK, this is especially true of Canon. You can work out the UK equivalent from the spec/photos of the cameras though.
djones Posted January 24, 2008 Posted January 24, 2008 Canon PowerShot A570 IS http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131589 Incredible camera for under £120! Superb picture quality, very easy to use (even for very little fingers!) and great price. Will beat many £200-£300 alternatives. Dave
tom_newton Posted January 24, 2008 Posted January 24, 2008 Am a total canon-convert, (300D and Ixus 50) and having used a good range of canons, the only one I didn't like was my brother's bigger-than-normal powershot s3(?) - too big to be compact, not anything like as good as an SLR. Still, the s3 died when Will had come back from holiday to malaysia. I popped in on him that morning, still jetlagged. Conversation went like this: Tom: Alright billy, got any pictures of monkeys from malaysia? Will: Aye, they're a bit shite though, and i'm well jetlagged, i'll just get the camera (time passes) Will: Here look at his (spangs camera onto the floor in jetlagged fit of stupids) It deserved it - he now has a nikon D40 which is a great camera except for not working with some lenses (eg the 50mm prime)
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