Cameras

[Paul.]

I've got a Sony DSc-H400 bridge camera, 63x optical zoom and more settings than most will ever need, I'm very pleased with it, nice and light, no accessories to lug around, uses standard SD cards, records video too.

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/cyber-shot-compact-cameras/dsc-h400

These were taken from the 10th floor of a Hotel in Tenerife, the close up of the welds is at full zoom, they never knew that they were being watched.

 

[Agrismith]

Thanks for the help i like the look of the cameras people have posted up that seem to be referred to as bridge
I quite like the idea of a single lense not having to change things as dont want to over complicate and the 60x zoom looks really impressive in the pictures posted
Its all so complicated

 

[rtbcomp]

...
I quite like the idea of a single lense not having to change things as dont want to over complicate and the 60x zoom looks really impressive in the pictures posted
Its all so complicated

That was my take on the subject. I was wondering about taking up photography as a retirement hobby, but I quite like the "Auto" setting and the various pre-sets.

These are some photos & videos taken by the Nikon P610

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rtbcomp/albums/72157691593170111

 

[marlinspike]

I used Pixel Corner to buy my niece an old film camera as she is a photography student. They do used digital cameras too.


http://pixelcorner.co.uk/Cameras

 

[Kayos]

I bought a good bridge but very quickly found I wanted more, so I switched to a DSLR

Then I got into film photography

Now I use a csc, a compact with changeable lenses. Only bring out the dslr for special occasions

 

[Jim Davey]

I got a 50D off my brother in law. He’d fallen out of love with the hobby as I was looking to get back into it.
It came with 3 lenses, a 15-22? A 30-55? And a 400mm. As I like outdoor, nature (mainly pics of the dog) and sports photography the 400 has been superb but it’s a beast of a thing to lug around and the old school lack of connectivity is a chore if you are used to instantly uploading or sharing your pics with the world. The 30-55 lens is my all rounder but it doesn’t have much zoom so I tend to have to take the telephoto even when for much of the time I don’t really want it on. Plus you feel a bit of a tool carying a paparazzi bazooka around sometimes. A mid sized zoom lens is a good compromise, I think if I was to buy another lens a circa 130/175 would fill the gap nicely.
A modern halfway decent DSLR with a 130-200mm zoom lens along with a 35-55 for general stuff is a good combo. Lots of cheap DSLRs about as the hobby is a bit faddy, I don’t use mine as much as I did at first but I can’t bring myself to sell it as the few times a year I use it I’m reminded what a great piece of kit it can be.
As others have said, you can go cheapish on the body but try and get the best glass you can afford. My gear is all Sigma but I do keep an eye out for a Canon L lens at the right money...

 

[Turbo]

I have a Panasonic TZ20 & it has a fabulous auto mode but you can also use it on semi auto or full manual mode. It also takes HD quality video. I took a basic photography course & the instructor was very impressed with the quality of the shots it could take in his hands. Unfortunately in my hands it's a different story - I forgot all I learned on the course as I don't use it often enough so it tends to be on auto most of the time.

It is a few years old now & the newer models will have become even better. One thing I can advise, no matter what camera you buy - get several spare battery packs and only buy good quality sd memory cards for it.


I can also advise you to get a monopod plus one of those mini tripods.

I can really recommend Jessops, the staff know what they are selling & they generally will give you a good price on everything as a bundle ie camera, batteries, memory cards, case, monopod, etc.

 

[Ed.]

If you want to do long range zooms I think you probably cant go past the Nikon P900 it's an 83X optical, there are quite a few smaller zoom cameras out there that also have reasonable zooms.
The Nikon is a largish compact zoom camera but I don't think that it is as big as DSLR's. Do a google search for "super zoom cameras". I have been toying with the idea of getting one of those Nikon P900 cameras for a while but I just can't see the value of it for the small amount of work I would put it through.

I have a Canon SX-30IS (35X) which is what I use for most of the zoom stuff, but nearly all my pics are done with the S8 phone camera now. If you go for a super zoom type of camera, then get one with some sort of stability control and also a fully articulated screen on the back.

 

[Farside]

I have some Olympus OM1\2 lenses will they convert to digital cameras ? know nothing about new equipment

Yes, if you get a simple mount converter for a Canon EOS (for example). If you're used to shooting manually on an OM-1, you'll take to it easily. There's still a huge amount of good quality glass out there from the heyday of film bodies, and a lot of us have resisted the lure of the all-singing, all-dancing auto-everything. Having said that, auto-everything is nice for a point and shoot and leggit and /or you just feel lazy.

 

[500e]

Thanks @Farside was use to turning everything so will have a look for a body where would yo suggest finding converter

 

[Farside]

Thanks @Farside was use to turning everything so will have a look for a body where would yo suggest finding converter

This is just a sample. I've had good adapters from Roxsen, amongst others.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_...gn=-1&saslc=1&_salic=3&_sop=1&_dmd=1&_ipg=200

I picked the EOS as an example of a camera with a fairly decent register distance, that allows a lot of other camera lens registers to fit. I'm not promoting Canon in particular, but my old Canon digibox has been shooting OM glass for ten years now. Pentax is another one with a good register distance, but Nikon is one of the shortest, iirc, so really cuts down the options.

 

[Kayos]

I’m my experience Canon EOS adapts to almost everything, except canon fd

I even have an adapter that converts an old medium format lens into a tilt and shift for architecture

 

[Burdekin]

I have the Nikon W100 waterproof compact camera. Use it on holidays and snorkelling etc, takes nice pics for a cheap camera and waterproof is what I mainly wanted. Also shockproof.

A entry level DSLR will take nice pics and will be easy to use too, just bigger to carry about.

 

[Agrismith]

I ended up buying a Panasonic lumix fz82 today by the time the battery was charged it was to dark to play with properly but indoors the picture quality seems amazing going to go for a walk tomorrow and have a proper play

 

[Agrismith]

Ive had a good chance to to play with this camera now and am over the moon with it i have only used it on the auto function and thats pretty much all i i tend to use it with
I have no artistic talent whatsoever so haven't really got the interest in learning how to set everything up for a good photo so point and shoot is ideal
I haven't had one of those moments mentioned earlier in the thread about being disappointed in the picture afer taking it
And between a camera that is far more inteligeint than me and the basic editing tools that come with android phones i really pleased with what i can achieve and whilst im sure there are plenty of holes to be picked in my pictures by people who know what there looking at im more than happy to display them

 

[rtbcomp]

^^ That sounds like me talking

What's the Wi-Fi connectivity like? The gripe I have with my Nikon P610 is that I can only use Wi-Fi with an Android app and it's very limited. I would really like to be able to connect the camera to my local area network (LAN) rather than have to go through my tablet or use the USB cable. Being able to alter the camera settings and take photos from a PC would be a godsend. I could do all that on my 15 year-old Epson camera.

 

[Kayos]

I know you are happy with auto but try it in P or program, still auto but you can adjust the aperture (shift the program) and it will let you see what effect it has

 

[Agrismith]

Ive had a good chance to to play with this camera now and am over the moon with it i have only used it on the auto function and thats pretty much all i i tend to use it with
I have no artistic talent whatsoever so haven't really got the interest in learning how to set everything up for a good photo so point and shoot is ideal
I haven't had one of those moments mentioned earlier in the thread about being disappointed in the picture afer taking it
And between a camera that is far more inteligeint than me and the basic editing tools that come with android phones i really pleased with what i can achieve and whilst im sure there are plenty of holes to be picked in my pictures by people who know what there looking at im more than happy to display them

It has wifi with pc conectivity but unsure whether you can tether via a router or you have to connect directly
The mobile app is the only downside to it
It takes forever to connect and is very glitchy to do so although when working the remote operation is a clever idea as it hasnt got a flip out screen just wish it was easier to connect i think an automatic bluetooth connection would have been more seemless

 

[arther dailey]

I have an old nikon fe ,not used these days,but always found a 80/200 zoom usefull ,as long as you dont get cheap otherwise you dont get enough light in, always pay more for the best f stop if you can.

 

[rcx132]

Plus one for a DSLR. The reason is speed. An SLR captures focus immediately because the focus works thru the lens. A compact camera has to search for focus by which time the moment is missed.

I wouldn't bother with fake DSLR.