please help a beginner buy a compact

W

widdyst

Messages
240
Name
Tony
Edit My Images
No
HI everyone :wave:
As you may guess by the title I am new here and a total beginner at photography.

My camera history is very short

Canon powershot (hm cant remember the number) and now a sony dsc w150.

OK the powershot took perfectly adequate photos for us both indoor and outdoor, It was only 3.2 megapixels but the pics where always well focused and sharp, Then it died.

The sony was the replacment and to be honest I dont think it is very good, We have tried everything to get this camera to take a sharp, in focus picture in indoor / low light and have failed.:bang:

We now give up on it, Which brings me here to ask the experts -----

Given a £200 - £300 budget what would be the best all round compact for us to buy, obviously our knowledge of photography is limited so we would really like the camera to do all the work and more or less just point and click :)

Thank you in advance for your help
 
Hi widdyst and welcome to the forum,

Like you, I wasn't much impressed with the Sony WSC range and haven't had another compact since mine packed in about 18 months ago. If I were to go for another compact, it would probably be one of the high end panasonic lumix compacts.

There's a review of several different models of compact here, here and here - plenty of recent reviews that should help with the decision making :thumbs:
 
"high end panasonic lumix compacts"

LX3? I have an LX2 but I still lust after an LX3. :)
 
I have a (recently acquired) LX3, it's a great camera.

However reading your post if yousimply want a point and shoot I'd give the LX3 a miss (if you don't want to set the aperture \ shutter speed \ shoot manual). It also have a limited zoom.

I'd suggest a panasonic TZ7, Canon Ixus range or a Ricoh. Great compacts that do most of the work for you!
 
From what I've read and heard from users, the Canon IXUS range is one where you can't go wrong.

They're very good, as is the TZ7 as mentioned above :thumbs:
 
Fuji F200. Great cameras big dudes too with big fixed lens and powerful zoom. I belive they are not Dslr but seem pretty close to them. I have a fuji compact which i prefer it to my canon compact.

I would have gone for the fuji S200 myself but instead got me what I belive is a better camera the canon 500d

this is a link I googled for the S200 fuji

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/3679921/art/fuji/finepix-s200exr.html
 
why not go to your local jessops and ask them to show you what's in your price range?

I did this a couple of years ago with a budget of £300, and came away with a Nikon P5100 at £199. Fab camera, it'll do the work for you, or you can use the settings to alter the exposure, metering, aperture etc, and it's really a pleasure to use :)

(from someone who knew nothing about cameras when it was bought)

good luck in your search, and please show us your pics :)
 
Thanks for all the replys so far :)

As mentioned above i think i will nip into jessops if only to see how they feel in my hands :)

So far from what i have been reading the 2 front runners would be the tz7 mentioned above and the canon sx200is. Anybody have any low light / indoor experience with either of these ? I know they perform well outdoors with the big zoom etc but my choice really needs to be versatile and i would be willing too sacrifice the big Zoom if i had to.
 
If you're not bothered about the HD video then the Lumix TZ6 is just as good as the TZ7. It is missing a few features but still takes great images.
 
My idea:-

Panasonic TZ6 or TZ65 - £140

Leaves you £160 to buy a Nikon D50 or D70 DSLR (if you get the 'bug') with cheapie lens (until you pay a bit axtra for better glass)...
 
Another vote for the Canon G10 - excellent little camera.

Failing that, I always had great results with Fuji compacts.

The truth is though, you haven't told us what you want to do with your compact - its horses for courses. The Canon G10 is great for landscapes, it having a fairly wide angle lens, but might not be great for low light portraiture (depending on who you speak to...) because of the alledged useless high iso capabilities.
 
Once again thanks for all the replys, Now thats a good point i havent saod what i want the camera to do :), i was really hoping for an all round family camera , we have a new baby , 2 dogs and like camping trips. These are the main uses for the camera and i'm starting to think that a camera to snatch quick pet pics, nice family portraits ( indoors ) and produce some nice outdoor holiday pics is a tall order ....... Is it ?

Also re the g10 suggestions above, i had a little look at this and got the impression its a bit more of a proper camera than i wanted ??????? If you know what i mean :)
 
Get a used DLSR, you will get better snaps for your cash, ad it will be more versatile.

FOr that money a used sony or Canon 350d with kit lens.

Either that or some kind of bridge camera Fuji S9600 like mine is good.
 
Are you wanting to get more into photography but not get a DSLR?

The reason I ask, is if that's the case, consider buying a bridge camera. They work simiarly to a DSLR but you don't have to mess on with lenses, there's different settings like a point and shoot compact. It's a bit bigger though but still not as big as most DSLRs and they have a much bigger zoom than most point and shoots.

Just something to consider if you want to go down that route. ;)
 
+1 for DSLR.

For this money Nikon D40 or D60 18-55 would be a much better performer than 350D, but the latter is also a good option with a proper lens (ie. Tamron 17-50mm - but not the rubbish Canon put on it).

I am afraid compacts are not going to give you very good pictures due to very small pixels and hence diffraction effects. Canon G11 is one of the best ones from the pack, but that is well over your £300 - and not as good as any dSLR. Panasonic GF1 is a good choice since it is not a real compact (m4/3), or a Leica M9, but that will set you back a lot.
 
Ive bbeen around compacts for some years now. From experience

U are out on a sunday stroll. U come across a most beautiful view. Instinct is there u snap a shot at it.

Go home watch the view on your laptop/computer.... "Ok the view was nice" :thinking:

U see a pretty bird flying... snap snap.

Go home on laptop..." You see that black dot?... thats the bird"



You get a cheap Dslr or a bigger camera then a compact and the difference is jut amazing.


"OMG!!!!! did I bring the view home with me :D?"
 
P-Chan said:
Ive bbeen around compacts for some years now. From experience

U are out on a sunday stroll. U come across a most beautiful view. Instinct is there u snap a shot at it.

Go home watch the view on your laptop/computer.... "Ok the view was nice" :thinking:

U see a pretty bird flying... snap snap.

Go home on laptop..." You see that black dot?... thats the bird"



You get a cheap Dslr or a bigger camera then a compact and the difference is jut amazing.


"OMG!!!!! did I bring the view home with me :D?"
Click to expand...

That's all true, unless of course you leave the DSLR at home because it's too big to lug around and then have no pictures! No doubt DSLR quality is better, but it's bigger, heavier and generally drains your bank account!
 
Lumix LX3 would be my choice, i've just received one this morning and i'm really impressed with it, the HD video is outstanding
 
Hm yes the lumix LX3 I did come across that one and it does get a lot of praise for low light conditions BUT will I not be restricted with only 2.5 x zoom ? as I said I am only really after one camera so it needs to be a jack of all trades ?
To be honest I am slowly coming to think that cameras like the Lumix DMC FZ38 or canons equivalent might be good for me ........ Am I wrong ?
 
depends if you're a camera carrier or not, I have a DSLR as well, sometimes I just can't be bothered to take a big camera out with me hence me buying the LX3

if you want a bigger zoom range the G10 is another option for around the same money as a LX3 , if you're happier with a bigger camera I believe the FZ38 gets pretty good reviews
 
So I went down to Jessops and had a chat with the guy in there and decided to go with the fz38.
Now I know its not very compact but since starting to read reviews and forums etc this photography lark has started to appeal to me :) and I thought I would give this sort of size of camera a bash . Everything I have read reckons this camera has an excellent i-auto mode to enable me to point and click but also will provide me with some manual controls to have a play .
Its not a huge outlay of cash and If I like it who knows I may have a look for a DSLR :)
Thanks guys .................OH and I hold you all partly responsible if Photography should eventually hassle my finance.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top