Camera advice

[Chipper]

Folks, hoping there's someone here into their cameras..
We need a new one, the Canon point-&-shoot is a bit poorly after 12 yrs good service. The main thing it's for, is the missus needs pics of curtains and furniture covers and such that she makes, boat interiors and this 'n that.
Otherwise it's just general snaps, hols/boy/cats & dog/garage tat etc.

Her pics are pretty (very) bad usually. Partly just relying on point/shoot no doubt, but there's a wonky perspective thing as well.

A mate is selling a DLSR - don;t know anything about these - would it be better for her things, instead of a compact one?
Guess she has to go wide angle to fit stuff in the pic, so maybe a SLR makes no odds..?

Any opinions welcome.

 

[tigler]

Unless you want to get serious a DSLR is an unnecessary complication. The principle advantage for serious snappers is a viewfinder as well as a viewing screen, interchangeable lenses and wider range of shutter speeds and apetures.

Stick with compact PAS and my recommendation would be Fuji, the F600 is a good and capable camera at a fair price.

 

[Robotstar5]

Bought the mrs. a Panasonic Lumix about 3 years ago, although I prefer a DSLR, the results from the Lumix are excellent. It's coped with 000's of pics, video clips and conditions including dusk/night time shots.
Can recommend it.

 

[Shox Dr]

Unless you know what you are doing, a point and shot is all you need. As for her lack of flair and composition, a few lessons or a night class would help.

After all a crap picture is a crap picture regardless of what it was taken on

 

[PTvor]

DSLRs are capable of impressive results, but they're a bit cumbersome to cart about and it's tempting not to take them out. It isn't exactly like slipping something into your pocket.

Digital compacts have come on a hell of a lot over the past 12 years. I'd get a digital compact for £50 to £100. I'm certain you'll use it a lot even if you get a DLSR as well.

 

[wotwot]

If you like canon and you did'nt mention budget then why not go for a G12,a great camera giving great results.And should last you a good few years.

 

[Chipper]

Thanks all, compact it is then. I'll take a look at the names mentioned, ta for those. Budget is probs up to £200 or so, but less is always good!

 

[knoba]

Definitely a point & shoot.

However, I would add, that I'll only buy a camera that has all of these attributes;

• Takes standard AA or AAA batteries.
• Uses SD type memory cards (and related variants, eg. mini SD & microSD).
• Uses standard USB data cable (type A or mini B).
• Doesn't require software (apart from drivers - preferably open source) to communicate with PC.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Definitely a point & shoot.

However, I would add, that I'll only buy a camera that has all of these attributes;

• Takes standard AA or AAA batteries.
  

You've got to be kidding? I'd never go back to a camera that uses 'normal' batteries again, lightweight Li-Ion batteries all the way!
Not sure why you mention cables either, a card reader is less than a tenner so makes the cable redundant.
I've currently got 3 cameras and don't use a cable in any of them (in fact, they're still in the original packaging, unopened)....therefore, no proprietary software needed.

Chipper, something like this would do you perfectly.

 

[knoba]

You've got to be kidding? I'd never go back to a camera that uses 'normal' batteries again, lightweight Li-Ion batteries all the way!
Not sure why you mention cables either, a card reader is less than a tenner so makes the cable redundant.
I've currently got 3 cameras and don't use a cable in any of them (in fact, they're still in the original packaging, unopened)....therefore, no proprietary software needed.

Absolutely not!

If one is "out & about", or abroad, I can get batteries for it anywhere, and still use standard NiMH rechargeable's at home.

Li-Ion's are great, but they're also expensive & require a special charger (also expensive). Both are, usually, exclusive to the make/model. If either get; lost, broken or fail... it's expensive, & a nuisance.

I have both card reader & usb ports on this computer, Woz, but... you're confusing "data storage" with "data transfer". Most cameras have a facility to store pictures, like a memory card, but not all use standard cables to allow for data transfer, as an alternative. A usb data cable port on the camera gives one the most options (like getting additional functions out of the camera such as using it as a live web cam).

If the card reader, on one's computer, goes up the swany (happened to me only 2 weeks ago...) I've still got easy options with the usb to "get the job done" - bottom line!

Tech is such a volatile investment. Bang for buck, there's more value in using standard batteries and having a usb cable facility, than not....

Of course; it's just an opinion...

 

[Robotstar5]

The standard battery option is a good idea, my DSLR uses AA cells and although I normally have Nimh in, I do carry a set of AA cells in my camera bag "just in case"

For the OP I would still recommend one of the Lumix range.

 

[Wozzaaah]

If one is out and about or abroad, one takes a spare battery pack or two, after all, one may not be near a shop to acquire some of those prehistoric cylindrical AA or AAA ones anyway.
According to the specs, two fully charged Li-Ion batteries gives me over 900 shots on my Lumix FZ38.

Expensive? Two for my Canon DSLR cost me less than 8 quid posted.
No confusion, I know the difference between storage and transfer.
My 12MP FZ38 can fit almost 1200 highest quality jpegs on an 8Gb card and a spare card is only a few pounds so why would I need to use the piddly onboard memory which allows me to store just 4 shots in HQ jpeg format?
My card reader is a USB2 one from tesco, 7 quid, by far the best one I've ever had and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another if it packed up.
I'd imagine ALL digital cameras ever produced would have a USB connectivity option, whether it's a standard or proprietary one, I'm just saying I don't ever use one as I find the card reader option far better and quicker and as said, it requires no special transfer software.

..also just an opinion.

 

[Robotstar5]

Have a look at Clifton cameras large range and some good offers

 

[Normsthename]

lightweight Li-Ion batteries all the way!

+1

Li-Ion's are great, but they're also expensive

Expensive???
The battery for my Canon is about £12 off Ebay
I have had it for 7 years and only charged it up a dozen times or so, took literally 1000's of pictures
Actually thinking about treating myself to a new one, the Canon Ixus 230 HS looks a likely candidate for a good point and shoot camera

Andy

 

[chunkolini]

For this type of work a good wideangle lense is essential.
I have an SLR which I use a lot for work, but if wifey is a bit technophobic and decent compact or 'bridge/ camera will do the job.
it can be hard work finding out how wide an angle a lense has on compact cameras as they are measured differently to 35mm SLR's.
Pixmania has a good search fcility on their website where it gives the equivalent aperture without baffling with science. http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/165...11&orderBy=topsellers&sortBy=desc&articleId=0 I have bought several cameras from them over the years with no problems, good prices as well. You can also check the spec on their site and buy locally in the sales.
Wokr out what your budget is and stick around that mark, there are squillions of cameras out there.
Ask the average showroom bod in a camera shop and they know nowt about the Compact stuff.
Wider the angle the better for photographing stuff indoors look around 24mm. My compact is pretty much useless for this kind of thing.

Hope that helps.
Chunko'.

 

[Chipper]

Ta very much everyone. After loads of surfing, starting from names mentioned here, bouncing around sites and reviews, and now completely bleary eyed and fed up to the eyeballs with bleedin' acronyms, I've bought a Canon SX220.
She wanted to support a 'proper' shop so we bought from a place in Bolton, price better than most of the anonymous web places too. Phew. Hope that's over for another 12 years

 

[voipio]

I have a Casio Exilim EX-H15 compact digital camera. It's within your price range on Amazon at the moment. The sensor is 14 megapixels, and it has a 10x optical zoom - goes all the way from wide angle (equivalent to 28mm lens on 35mm film) right up to telephoto (equivalent to 280mm lens on 35mm film). The results compare VERY favourably with the 22 megapixel Canon EOS-5DmkII super duper SLR that I sometimes get a chance to use. I previously had a 10 megapixel Casio Exilim camera and the results from that were often stunning. I remember a piccie I took of Aberystwyth from up on Constitution Hill. The detail in the buildings was incredible. I can email you the piccie if you're interested.

One point which comes out from the comparisons I've had the chance to make is that the depth of field in pictures taken by the compact is much, much, much deeper than those taken on the digtal SLR, for the SAME aperture (F stop), making me think that the compact camera may, in reality, be using a much smaller F stop than it reports on the display. The practical implications of this is that much more of the subject is in focus which may be very useful if the missus is taking piccies of curtains from an angle and wants the whole lot in focus.

Oh, and battery life is superb on these Casio cameras. One charge lasted for a whole 10-day holiday!

 

[chunkolini]

Just been to Pixmania, looks as though you did all the right research, 24m wide angle.
Saves al the stepping back a bit nonsense.
Looks like a nice little camera.
Chipper, you are in big trouble.
I had forgotten that I wanted a new small camera for work, this has set me off again.
I am not happy carrying my SLR round on my pushbike in the rain, and my compact bugs the hell out of me.
Chunko'.

 

[Chickenjohn]

Folks, hoping there's someone here into their cameras..
We need a new one, the Canon point-&-shoot is a bit poorly after 12 yrs good service. The main thing it's for, is the missus needs pics of curtains and furniture covers and such that she makes, boat interiors and this 'n that.
Otherwise it's just general snaps, hols/boy/cats & dog/garage tat etc.

Her pics are pretty (very) bad usually. Partly just relying on point/shoot no doubt, but there's a wonky perspective thing as well.

A mate is selling a DLSR - don;t know anything about these - would it be better for her things, instead of a compact one?
Guess she has to go wide angle to fit stuff in the pic, so maybe a SLR makes no odds..?

Any opinions welcome.

I needed a camera last year to replace my ageing but much loved Canon Ixus that finally died a death. Bought a cheap Fuji Film finepix AV in a sale for well under £100, as needed a camera quickly to set up some websites. Very pleased with the pics it takes and the ease of use. Has SD card, takes AA batteries and needs no software if you use a card reader slot in your laptop. Seems that well under £100 will buy you a camera that will take very usable, decent pictures. This "cheapie" camera is actually noticably better than my old Canon was, such is the march of technology.

 

[voipio]

By the way, a superb camera review site is here:

http://www.steves-digicams.com