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Thread ID: 89286 2008-04-26 06:52:00 New compact digital camera recommendations Jen (38) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
662766 2008-04-26 20:15:00 Sorry to hear that Jen :horrified

As an old fashiond semi-professional photographer from way back, the only advice I will give is to ensure the darn thing has a viewfinder. My sister has an Olympus (excellent cameras) but it has no viewfinder.

In Feb, we were away on holiday with them and in brilliant sunshine, on top of a hill at the Eastwoodhill Arboretum just outside Gisborne, her camera was next to useless as she couldn't see anything on the LCD screen. I ended up emailing her my pics off my Sony. (Which has a viewfinder)

The other thing to remember is that it is you that takes the picture, not the camera. It is just a conduit for your artistic thoughts. A good quality lens would be my criteria. Leica, Schneider, Zeiss or suchlike.

Just my thoughts

Ken
kenj (9738)
662767 2008-04-26 20:32:00 Sigh. So many choices!

Jen. You might have a look at the Ricoh Caplio R7
www.pricespy.co.nz (www.pricespy.co.nz)

Ultra compact and you can take movies.
Get the biggest memory card you can afford. :-)

Bad side is that it uses prop battery.


www.photographyblog.com
Sweep (90)
662768 2008-04-26 20:44:00 Sorry to hear that Jen :horrified

As an old fashiond semi-professional photographer from way back, the only advice I will give is to ensure the darn thing has a viewfinder. My sister has an Olympus (excellent cameras) but it has no viewfinder.

I would have to reiterate what Ken has just said. Sometimes on a, bright sunny day, my Pentax is a point, guess, then click.

I've been considering a new camera, myself, for sometime now. But I like a video record of our travels, as well as reasonable stills, and, in that respect I've been watching the development of HDD video cameras that take acceptable or good still photos. Trouble is they're pretty expensive.
This one costs almost $2k.

www.sony.co.nz

But what a great idea, less to carry when travelling.
jcr1 (893)
662769 2008-04-26 22:01:00 I would have to reiterate what Ken has just said. Sometimes on a, bright sunny day, my Pentax is a point, guess, then click.

I've been considering a new camera, myself, for sometime now. But I like a video record of our travels, as well as reasonable stills, and, in that respect I've been watching the development of HDD video cameras that take acceptable or good still photos. Trouble is they're pretty expensive.
This one costs almost $2k.

www.sony.co.nz

But what a great idea, less to carry when travelling.

But Jen wants a compact camera does she not?

I use a Sony DSC F828 for stills and movie clips and that is not compact either.

Try here for other alternatives.
http://www.dpreview.com/

I have not yet found that I have had to use the viewfinder but if I do then I have one on my camera.
Sweep (90)
662770 2008-04-26 22:05:00 I would have to reiterate what Ken has just said. Sometimes on a, bright sunny day, my Pentax is a point, guess, then click.

I've been considering a new camera, myself, for sometime now. But I like a video record of our travels, as well as reasonable stills, and, in that respect I've been watching the development of HDD video cameras that take acceptable or good still photos. Trouble is they're pretty expensive.
This one costs almost $2k.

www.sony.co.nz

But what a great idea, less to carry when travelling.

I have a Sony HC3 HD camcorder capable of 4 Megapixel photos.

Yes, they are very sharp, good contrast and stunning colours.

Still prefer the camera for photos though and like to use the viewfinder rather than the LCD screen. Gives better stability when you press the shutter as you can tuck your elbows against your sides.

Ken
kenj (9738)
662771 2008-04-26 22:19:00 Hard to go past a Canon A720IS specially with some of the special offers going at the moment. Aim to pay a tad over $300

Agree entirely the A720IS, which replaced my A80 is excellent, it's reasonably compact, excellent optics, takes AA batteries and has a viewfinder!
Main criticism th screen is only adequate
bonzo29 (2348)
662772 2008-04-26 22:40:00 I haven't really paid any attention to the trends. I have a 2004 Nikon dSLR and I'm happy and my next one for less lens swapping is probably going to be a used dSLR.

For a pocket camera, just get image stabiliser. Generally in the past, Panasonic has been more noise. Nikons are not as great for the small cams. Canons are pretty good IMHO.

www.dpreview.com
Put in a <28mm requirement there and there are 10 cameras that pop up ...
Unfortunately they all take proprietary li-on batteries but they can last longer but you cannot get replacements on the road ....
If you had in IS, there are only 4 compact cameras.

I don't really use the viewfinder b/c on the small cams the viewfinder may not be what you see is what you get. The LCD may be more accurate for that. Its not TTL.
Nomad (952)
662773 2008-04-26 22:58:00 Canon Ixus series. They're fantastic. Not sure what your problem is with the battery - The Ixus's one is super slim, has a good charge life, and cheap to get a spare. This battery's size and shape also contribute the camera's ultra compact size.

A nice feature of them too is the metal body which makes it robust. The size of the face is no larger than a credit card, and the quality of the images is so good that I printed many photos in A$ to frame.
Greg (193)
662774 2008-04-26 23:20:00 Canon Ixus series. They're fantastic. Not sure what your problem is with the battery - The Ixus's one is super slim, has a good charge life, and cheap to get a spare. This battery's size and shape also contribute the camera's ultra compact size.
Jen is concerned about the ease of finding spare batteries (i.e. any AA batteries would do as opposed to the need of finding proprietary ones).

Cheers :)
Renmoo (66)
662775 2008-04-26 23:41:00 Canon Ixus series. They're fantastic. Not sure what your problem is with the battery - The Ixus's one is super slim, has a good charge life, and cheap to get a spare. This battery's size and shape also contribute the camera's ultra compact size.

A nice feature of them too is the metal body which makes it robust. The size of the face is no larger than a credit card, and the quality of the images is so good that I printed many photos in A$ to frame.

Agree with that. Ixus are a superb compact camera.
Don't be put off by the battery, don't find it any problem, Charging is quick and as Greg said you can carry a spare.
Safari (3993)
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