Compact camera advice

Gaz81

Gaz81

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Gary
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Hey ho,

Need some advice on compact cameras, looking at getting one as an xmas present as a pocket walk about camera.

Looking at about £200, maybe a bit more.

Would like some kind of manual control like apature priority.

Was looking at an LX3 but they are a bit expensive...

any advice?
 
LX3 (but like you said a little expensive)

Or a panasonic Tz7.

Pocketable, HD videos 12 x zoom (from25mm to 300mm), but no manual control :(
 
I've had some fabulous results with my Samsung S850.

Small enough to fit in a pocket (it goes everywhere with me....) but some stunning shots.

....and well under your budget.

Janet
 
You may want to have a look at a used Canon G9.

It's slightly bigger so if you actually want to carry it in your pocket it may not be a good option.

However, it's built very well and at low ISO's I've been very impressed with the image quality. I carry it everywhere these days.

The other thing is it shoots RAW just like a DSLR which allows you to do quite a bit of postprocessing if you're into that.

I also like the autofocus system which allows you to put the sensor in any part of the frame - wish I could do that on my 5D!
 
I have the Panasonic TZ6 which is in my opinion, superb!

Have a look in my Flickr for image examples. You will need to start at the back. The pics will say what they were taken with.

Link below
 
AndyWest said:
I have the Panasonic TZ6 which is in my opinion, superb!

Have a look in my Flickr for image examples. You will need to start at the back. The pics will say what they were taken with.

Link below
Click to expand...

Must admit I have been looking at the TZ7... looks good
 
This is the thing, i want somthing that will fit in my pocket as well.

Flickr is excellent for checking cameras out as you can use the search to find all pics by a particular camera.
 
Gaz81 said:
Looking at about £200, maybe a bit more.

Would like some kind of manual control like apature priority.
Click to expand...
If you want manual and aperture mode i think you get that with the Canon SX200 and its similar priced to the Panasonic TZ7 which i don't think has manual controls i could be wrong :thinking:

Ive owned the older TZ5 which was a very nice little camera but i don't recall any manual modes on it and it was Jpg only but still i liked it :D and ive had the Canon G9 which is very good aswell its abit bulky but not huge i really liked the G9 with its all manual controls if you want to use them, Image quality was good too at lower Iso and it has Raw mode.

The only problem i had with the G9 and heard G10 has it is dust/fibre in lens problems i look after my gear and after 8 month from new i got fibre showing in the lens which got serviced and fixed but thats not the point once its out of warranty it wouldn't be :suspect: and for a camera i took great care in i wasn't impressed at it happening and sold it off after it'd been serviced and cleaned.
 
Gaz81 said:
Hey ho,

Need some advice on compact cameras, looking at getting one as an xmas present as a pocket walk about camera.

Looking at about £200, maybe a bit more.

Would like some kind of manual control like apature priority.

Was looking at an LX3 but they are a bit expensive...

any advice?
Click to expand...

Had a look yesterday at some P&S camera's. The Panasonic TZ6 or TZ7, looked nice and the video capability was tempting, also looked at an Olympus MJU 9000, but all lacked the (full) manual control that I wanted and also were more feature orientated rather than a camera first, if you know what I mean.

So the camera that fell into my pocket (well Dad's) was a canon SX200 IS, £249 from London Camera X, or £232 (WareH Ex) (no SD card though that was extra). 12 mp, 28-336mm zoom, HD video, dial for Manual, AV, TV, P plus auto modes, impressive little camera.

This camera gave the manual control I required, was a camera first, but did take HD video and just felt more comfortable to hold and use. It's also had alot of very good reviews.
 
I have a TZ7 for P&S, but as said no manual mode. TBH I dont really care about that. If I want to fickle then I use my Sony or Nikon. :)
Its a P&S for that reason.
 
Yeah, the more I look at it the more I think that manual modes aren't that important, as you say thats why I have a great big DSLR!

hmmm...

The IS on some of these compacts looks good, it should balance out noise at high iso's.
 
TZ7 is a fabulous walkaround lens.

Superb lens range and great image quality although only downside is the lack of RAW format

I didn't buy it for video and thought I would never use it until I went to a concert my daughter was performing in. My wife couldn't go so I video'd it with the TZ7 on its HD setting and was amazed by it.

If you can't stretch to this the TZ6 is good too and you may even want to look at a secondhand TZ5 which should be a real bargain now
 
maarten.dhaese said:
You may want to have a look at a used Canon G9.

It's slightly bigger so if you actually want to carry it in your pocket it may not be a good option.

However, it's built very well and at low ISO's I've been very impressed with the image quality. I carry it everywhere these days.

The other thing is it shoots RAW just like a DSLR which allows you to do quite a bit of postprocessing if you're into that.

I also like the autofocus system which allows you to put the sensor in any part of the frame - wish I could do that on my 5D!
Click to expand...
I have to back this one as I have just got a S/H G10 its a great camera
 
mastertrinity said:
what about a secondhand lx2, dont know how much there going for but if you want manual control then thats where you'll find it.
Click to expand...

i can only recommend the camedia C765
its old hat on tech but takes good shots and has a flash built in
my daughter has nikon L18 coolpix which she gets on with
the specs are ok but i cant get used to back screen composition
thats all i know just now

product-6853780.jpg
 
We have a tz3. Image quality wasn't brilliant but range and still fitting in your pockets was a balance to it.

Guess the tz7 of a secondhand tz6 might be good to look at.

Once you have some in mind, find a store n ask for a demo/handle them to see whether if works for you?
Or ic you are lucky some people near you may have them so you can try hands on out and about
 
Just to confuse matters....

Me and the Mrs have decided to go to New York as a joint 30th birthday present in early 2011!

sooooo.... i'm going to up the game a bit and am now looking at maybe a Sigma DP or somthing, might as well get a decent one now!

Anyone had any experience with the sigmas?
 
I'd be wary of the Sigma - not used it myself but feedback I've seen from loads of sources say when it's spot on it is brilliant but focussing is a major problem and image quality (at higher ISO's especially) is unpredicatable. Also the fixed lens could be limiting.

If you're looking in this price range is the Panasonic GF-1 worth considering? Might be too much now but prices should drop as it becomes more widely available.

I've had one for a week now and love it (previously owned the G1) - for me it is the perfect light travel camera
 
Gaz81 said:
Just to confuse matters....
Me and the Mrs have decided to go to New York as a joint 30th birthday present in early 2011!
sooooo.... i'm going to up the game a bit and am now looking at maybe a Sigma DP or somthing, might as well get a decent one now!
Anyone had any experience with the sigmas?
Click to expand...

thats a 3x zoom on that model
and at 359 could be bettered by other makes on ££ etc
it doesnt have flash built in if that is a consideration

i wouldnt know what to recommend but have done a little google on a cam which i reckon is as good based on others opinions as well

canong10.jpg


the canon G10...which although is now upgraded to G11
may result in a drop in price of this one

here with 2year guarantee

wish i was going back to the big apple
 
mrcrow - the Sigma has a fixed prime lens and costs £429 for the old DP1 and £499 for the dp2: sorry if I've misunderstood and you're referring to another post
 
Yep, the Sigma DP's are very much back to basics which suits me.

And they have a 4/3 size sensor so should have excellent IQ. However they are technically about 4.8mp... but due to the sensor is about 10mp worth of detail.
 
Gaz81 said:
Yep, the Sigma DP's are very much back to basics which suits me.

And they have a 4/3 size sensor so should have excellent IQ. However they are technically about 4.8mp... but due to the sensor is about 10mp worth of detail.
Click to expand...

I'm a Sigma fan, but I would advise that you handle the DP before you commit to buying it. From various reviews I've read it seems the image quality is excellent (for a compact), but it doesn't operate as smoothly as e.g. the high-end compacts from Canon and Nikon:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/sigma-dp1.shtml
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sigmadp2/page23.asp
 
maarten.dhaese said:
I'm a Sigma fan, but I would advise that you handle the DP before you commit to buying it. From various reviews I've read it seems the image quality is excellent (for a compact), but it doesn't operate as smoothly as e.g. the high-end compacts from Canon and Nikon:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/sigma-dp1.shtml
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sigmadp2/page23.asp
Click to expand...

I think the v2 firmware is supposed to sort some of the problems out, trying to read as much as poss!
 
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