Help in choosing camera

[merdesign]

This is my first post here, so before I began I would like to say Hello to everyone.

I would like help in choosing camera.

I've used few digital ones before so I have fairly good idea what I want from camera:
- Budget is 80 pounds (100 tops)
- Battery - has to be AA (I have 8 rechargeable ones, so I prefer stick to them; I'm not very keen on charging li-on battery via cable)
- features - hast to have option of macro shots
- accepts SD card
- picture quality is very important

What I don't want:
- I don't want it to be Sony
- I'm not too keen on Kodak and FujiFilm, however I can change my mind considering there is no better/other choice

I'm a graphic designer, so I will use it for my work mainly. Picture quality is very important to me because if I take a photo, I will use it in my work, and I pay attention to it's quality, details and so on. I have photoshop so I can 'work' with photograph if needed (brightness, saturation etc.), however I can't reverse the soft, out of focus or blur effects caused by camera (like my FujiFilm FinePix S2000HD did). I take pictures mostly indoors , of my work or object which will be featured in my work, so camera performing good in a well-lit room would be fantastic. Also I usually take series pictures featuring one object, so I won't just go 'point-and-shot' and move on to the next thing; I will take my time and use/play with features to get the best effect (range of features offered by FujiFilm FinePix S2000HD was fantastic).

My previous digital camera was FujiFilm FinePix S2000HD. I really went for the options it had to offer, believing the reviews that picture quality was v. good (or at least good). I liked bulky shape and size of it too (I'm woman, don't see many of my kind running around with dslr-looking like cameras, unless they are professional photographers/hobbyist), however the picture quality was so awful in any light conditions and any features turned on/off I had to sell it 3 months after purchase. (this is why I would prefer to steer clear of FujiFilm cameras too scared it shares the same 'problem'.


I don't care much about the looks of camera (although I hate pink ones). Build quality isn't that important to me, it can be all plastic. However it would be nice if it didn't smash into pieces when dropped on the floor by accident (I liked the quality and grips of FujiFilm FinePix S2000HD).



Any advice would be very much appreciated: anything from pointing me into reliable brand(s) (keeping in mind the budget) to telling me which camera definietly not to buy.

 

[HoppyUK]

If picture quality is a priority, then you are unlikely to be happy with any compact like your Fuji. They all have very small sensors.

Which means a DSLR, with a much bigger sensor. You can get a used Canon 350D with kit lens for under £200, but that's pretty much as cheap as it gets.

 

[merdesign]

HoppyUK - thank you for you answer!

I was thinking last night that buying DSLR some time in the future will be the best option, however my budget doesn't allow it just now, so I will go for compact until I get money. I get impression that the best DSLRs there are to get are Canon and Nikon ones, however I will get proper look into it when it will come to buying!

I will remember what you said about FujiFilm.

Thanks a lot for your advice HoppyUK
merdesign

 

[grum]

I'm a graphic designer, so I will use it for my work mainly. Picture quality is very important to me because if I take a photo, I will use it in my work, and I pay attention to it's quality, details and so on.

Then you probably need to up your budget a little.

If you are taking mostly indoor shots of static objects though, you might find that just getting a tripod will help a lot with picture quality, as indoors there is often not enough light to get a good shutter speed, causing blur.

 

[merdesign]

Then you probably need to up your budget a little.

Yes, you are right Grum.
I've used tripod for my FujiFilm S2000HD, however camera displayed 'blur warning' cuckoo. Sometimes I wander if the camera was faulty. I still have tripod, so I will keep your advice in mind!

I think I will go for Kodak M530 (on sale in Argos) - not to keen on Kodak and li-ion batteries, however is seems to be the best choice for now with my tiny budget. If anyone know anything about Kodadk M530 or Kodak in general, I would appreciate any comment.
[It's a relatively new camera on market therefore there aren't many reviews available on the net. Argos reviews aren't that helpful, considering most people buy compact cameras for their 8 years old kids, moaning about the design and paper instructions more than anything else.]

 

[whitewash]

Yes, you are right Grum.
I've used tripod for my FujiFilm S2000HD, however camera displayed 'blur warning' cuckoo.

well the camera doesnt know its sat on a tripod, so its warning you of possible camera shake situation, however you have that under control by placing it on a tripod (is it a decent sturdy tripod not one like this http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy...graphy-Tripods-_-Velbon-CX-440-Tripod_1000288 which is absolutely atrotious and useless as a tripod?)

 

[Flash In The Pan]

Argos reviews aren't that helpful, considering most people buy compact cameras for their 8 years old kids, moaning about the design and paper instructions more than anything else.]

To be fair to Argos, that's exactly what £80 compact cameras are for - they're not for professional use, which is what you seem to want one for. It may sound a little harsh, but you really need to think about investing a bit more money if this is for your work. As Hoppy says, £200 will buy you a decent secondhand dslr set-up which whilst not perfect will be streets ahead of any compact in terms of image quality.

 

[merdesign]

well the camera doesnt know its sat on a tripod, so its warning you of possible camera shake situation, however you have that under control by placing it on a tripod (is it a decent sturdy tripod not one like this http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy...graphy-Tripods-_-Velbon-CX-440-Tripod_1000288 which is absolutely atrotious and useless as a tripod?)

I think mine is even worst than the one you showed! I wasn't the person who bought it, I just dug it out of the my parent's drawer, I bet it was bought in Boots for less than 15 quid.

To be fair to Argos, that's exactly what £80 compact cameras are for - they're not for professional use, which is what you seem to want one for. It may sound a little harsh, but you really need to think about investing a bit more money if this is for your work. As Hoppy says, £200 will buy you a decent secondhand dslr set-up which whilst not perfect will be streets ahead of any compact in terms of image quality.

Doesn't sound harsh at all - you guys have way more knowledge and experience with cameras that I will ever do, so I really appreciate everyones comments.

So what I am going to do is: I'm not buying cheap compact camera, and try to save up for a decent DSLR one plus a decent tripod, though I will have to look into tripods because all I know about them is: don't go for cheap ones.

I probably should be looking into Entry Level DSLR?

 

[eccles]

The advice from the others regarding a s/h DSLR is well founded. For example a 6mp DSLR will outperform a 12mp compact in every respect except size. The reason for this is that megapixels aren't everything whereas sensor size is.
That said, if you're still intent on getting a compact, look to the likes of Nikon, Canon, and dare I say it, Sony. With a maximum limit of £100 you're going to be hard pressed to find a camera with decent features such as a manual option, so don't rule out any manufacturer just 'because'. I would make a preference to one with manual exposure override so you can use a tripod in low light. A camera with a viewfinder is also well worth looking out for because in strong sunlight even the best LCD displays can wash out.

The Canon powershot range come to mind as being particularly good considering their tiny sensors so look out for Argos's bargain basement where these sometimes pop up as a good deal.

 

[whitewash]

I think mine is even worst than the one you showed! I wasn't the person who bought it, I just dug it out of the my parent's drawer, I bet it was bought in Boots for less than 15 quid.

the problem with those cheap plasticky tripods is that you press the shutter button, this flexes the tripod slightly, and then starts to oscillate back and forth whilst the camera is taking the picture, result, exactly the same as hand holding at slow shutter speeds - blurry end results.

In daylight how does your fuji2000HD cope? are the images sharp?

 

[merdesign]

eccles - I am well aware that megapixels are not everything today.

In daylight how does your fuji2000HD cope? are the images sharp?

Nope! Even on sunny days pictures were a bit dark, and most of all: soft, blurry and definitely not nowhere near sharp. At first I though it was my fault and gave camera to others to try it out however they were unimpressed by the picture quality - you could see it on lcs scrreen that pics were rubbish, and on the laptop it was a even worst. Kind of depressing when you think that oldish, 50 quid worth Samsung D860 took 10 times better pictures on Auto than 160 quid worth Fuji 2000HD.

I wish shops could offer you a chance to take pic before you purchase camera. They do it with cars, they should do the same with cameras.


Will 500-700 quid enough budget to buy DSLR (body as well as lens) and decent tripod (to use indoors)?

 

[grum]

I wish shops could offer you a chance to take pic before you purchase camera. They do it with cars, they should do the same with cameras.


Will 500-700 quid enough budget to buy DSLR (body as well as lens) and decent tripod (to use indoors)?

Most decent camera shops will let you try before you buy.

For your revised budget ( ) you would certainly be able to get a camera, lens and tripod capable of very good quality shots. Redsnapper tripods are very good for the money.

 

[merdesign]

I'm going to post in the same thread, because here I am with the same dilemma!

I am looking for a camera, price range is up to 350GBP, picture quality is very important. I don't mind the rest, as long as I can get what is most important to me: picture quality (I'm more concerned about macro shots than long-range ones).

Problem is: there is so much choice and yet I have handled so little cameras, I don't know which one to choose (-> best fit for purpose).

I've been looking at:

Nikon D3000
Canon EOS 1000D
Canon PowerShot S90 Digital Camera
Canon PowerShot G9
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38EB-K
Panasonic DMCLX3
Panasonic Lumix FZ45
​

...though I have no idea if they are any use for what I want.


Could anyone advise me/suggest anything, please?

 

[Llama]

if you think you might end up using this a lot (for other uses) i would definitely consider a cannon/Nikon as opposed to the Panasonic purely because they have a bigger range of lenses, but if it it one job , then i have no clue for comparison
good luck
Jack

 

[merdesign]

I will use it purely for the same type of 'work' (I've described it in my first post) - I don't do amateur photography because I can see I'm useless at it, don't have the talent and purely because I am not mad about it. [Therefore I'm more than happy taking pics on family events/travels using simple compact camera].

Thanks for the advise Jack, I'll be looking at Nikon and Canon range.

Speaking of Nikon D3000 - I've been chatting with a guy who bought the camera recently and said that the lenses supplied with camera are basic, and he bought extra lens for 169 quid (I think it was Tamron, though I don't know which one exactly).
I'm wondering it this would be a solution to my ever annoying problem: buy DSLR Nikon D3000 now, and appropriate lens to take good, quality photos?

 

[Llama]

depends what your talking pictures of. Every lens has things it does well and things it does poorly, whatever you are photographing you will need a lens for that job. Kit lenses aim to cover a lot of situations and therefore some say it does them poorly. You may find that the kit lens if fine however you may find that you would like a different lens that would be more appropriate for your job.

 

[woof woof]

If just starting out now I'd take a long hard look at Sony as their DSLR's have in body image stabilisation and any lens mounted will therefore be stabilised but you don't get that with Canon or Nikon and you have to buy image stabilised lenses.

Even if you intend to use a tripod for most shots IS may still come in handy for the times that you don't and are using available light.

If you are going to use it for indoor work you may want a speedlight and I wonder if a prime lens could be an idea? Maybe a 50mm macro? There's no zoom with a prime but if you are taking pictures of a static object you can position yourself to frame the shot.