Jump to content

Recommended Posts

I'm going travelling to Australia soon and I want to buy a camera before I go. However, I know nothing about cameras! Is there anyone out there who can give me a little advice...? I'm looking to buy something not too big, easy to use, that takes amazing photos within the ?200 budget...


There are a Fujifilm FinePix SL245 and a Fujifilm FinePix HS25 for ?136 on Groupon today... does anyone know if they're any good?


Thank you!

Link to comment
https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/26557-buying-a-camera/
Share on other sites

You're on the right track with the fuji digital 'bridge' cameras. But you could also consider something like this.....


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Superb-Fuji-FinePix-S9600-SLR-style-Digital-Camera-9-Megapixel-28-300mm-Lens-2GB-/170934620793?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_DigitalCameras_DigitalCameras_JN&hash=item27cc7f5279


I bought the above model camera second hand from a forumite and have not been disappointed. The 28-300mm lens is very good. And reviews at the time of the S9600 considered it the best of it's range. Fuji's finepix range has produced high quality cameras for the price range. You should look at reviews by reputable photography sites for some guidance.

If its a compact camera you're after, go for a Canon. Spend as much as you can but stick with Canon. Ixus are smaller and lighter and Powershot are usually larger and heavier but offer more controls and settings if you like that sort of thing! Many cameras can be disappointing even compared to phone camera quality images. Consider older Canon cameras which are more likely to be discounted if you're after a bargain!


Sarah x

I found that the kodak easyshare range in the compact market to be extremely good on image quality. Don't be fooled into thinking a higher megapixel count equals better images either. 9 mega pixels will deliver outstanding 10x8 inch prints for example on the right camera (depending on the sensor quality).


The main disadvantage with compact cameras is being limited to jpeg picture compression. Whereas SLR 'bridge' cameras and above have RAW file options too.

I found that the kodak easyshare range in the compact market to be extremely good on image quality. Don't be fooled into thinking a higher megapixel count equals better images either. 9 mega pixels will deliver outstanding 10x8 inch prints for example on the right camera (depending on the sensor quality).


The main disadvantage with compact cameras is being limited to jpeg picture compression. Whereas SLR 'bridge' cameras and above have RAW file options too. Plus if you want to get into adding filters, like UV and polarising then it has to be at least a bridge camera.


Polarising filters are particulalrly useful on digital cameras because of the lesser ability of digital formats to cope with extremes of contrast (compared to film). If you are going to Aus in the height of summer and want beautifully deep blue skies, and amazingly saturated summer landscapes....then you are going to want a polarising filter.


The downside for all digital cameras is battery consumption. Be sure to have spare batteries (including the rechargeable type that come with some compacts). And if you do go for a bridge camera....invest in decent rechargeable batteries and charger (like eneloop) for example.

If you're going travelling, and a novice when it comes to cameras, I think you'd be best of with a small, compact 'point and shoot' digital camera. Beware of gimmicks on cameras which you might not need or ever use. DJKQ is right about not going for highest number of megapixels, instead concentrate on lens quality if you want better quality photos. Camera buff friends swear by Canon and Nikon for the best lenses...
Go for a camera with a great optical zoom when you're travelling; it's amazing how small cameras with a 10x or 20x zoom are these days and it makes a huge difference to your pictures. You can take 'candid' shots while appearing to lounge against a wall on the other side of a square.
I've had the Panasonic lumix tz10 for a couple of years and have just upgraded slightly to the tz30 ?200 16mp and 20x optical zoom all on a camera which still fits in your pocket. I know loads of people with this camera and different versions of it and they all love it. It has a wide angle lens and decent zoom for travel pics. It also has intelligent auto mode, as well as a number of preset scenes like most cameras these days.

The camera is nothing but a tool. The person behind makes all the difference. flick through the options in the screen setup and enable the grid and level indicator. Change your shooting angle and heights, move around when composing a picture. Presets can help but experiment with your own settings. Keep strong light source behind you. underexpose rather than overexpose. get to know your camera and experiment (you're not gonna waste any film!!) shoot as much as possible and play around with all the settings, not a bad idea to read the manual!!

Choose a camera with the biggest Sensor chip! Pixels smitzsells! more than nine million is overkill! The chip and the lens is the top priority. My camera has a split setting that takes two images one under one over then lays the two on top of each other! (2x7MP) full dynamic range!!

Play around post processing in raw to tweak! It's a Fuji HS20EXR (newer version HS30) steep learning curve but decent results from the lens.

Bon Chance et bon Voyage

Applespider Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Go for a camera with a great optical zoom when

> you're travelling; it's amazing how small cameras

> with a 10x or 20x zoom are these days and it makes

> a huge difference to your pictures. You can take

> 'candid' shots while appearing to lounge against a

> wall on the other side of a square.


xxxxxx


I agree with this, and also agree that Canons are great.


I have a small Panasonic Lumix. I do find the zoom control rather fiddly, but the quality of the pictures it takes is excellent.


When I was travelling (before the days of digital) I lugged around a Canon SLR with a Tamron lens that went from wide angle to zoom (28 - 200? in pre-digital numbers), got some excellent pix but think I'd probably take something rather smaller if I did it again!


ETA: A polarising filter is very useful if you're going to Australia (if these things are still used?!)


ETA: Have a great time :)

Thank you so much everyone for the useful tips! I do think I will have to buy a rather small camera and the two bridge fujifilms are probably going to be too big. I had a look at some canon ixus today and the quality of the photos seems really good - they look so small and fragile though!


will have a look at Morgan too!


Thank you again everyone, will let you know what I end up buying!


Goodnight!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • What was he doing on the stage at Glastonbury? Or on the stage at the other concert in Finsbury Park? Grinning like a Cheshire cat whilst pissed and stoned 20 somethings on the promise of free internet sung-- Oh Jeremy Corbyn---  What were his policies for Northern mining towns with no jobs or infrastructure? Free Internet and university places for youngsters. What were his other manifesto pledges? Why all the ambiguity over Brexit?  I didn't like Thatcher, Blair or May or Tony but I respected them as politicians because they stood by what they believed in. I respect all politicians across the board that stick to their principles. Corbyn didn't and its why he got  annihilated at the polls. A socialist, anti imperialist and anti capitalist that said he voted for an imperialist and pro capitalist cabal. He refused to say how he'd vote over and over again until the last knockings. He did so to appease the Islington elite and middle class students he was courting. The same people that were screaming that Brexit was racist. At the same time the EU were holding black and Asian immigrants in refugee camps overseas but not a word on that! Corbyn created and courted a student union protest movement that screamed at and shouted down anyone not on the left . They claimed Starmer and the centre right of labour were tories. He didn't get elected  because he, his movement and policies were unelectable, twice. He turned out not to have the convictions of his politics and died on his own sword.    Reform won't win an election. All the idiots that voted for them to keep out Labour actually enabled Labour. They'll be back voting tory next time.    Farage wouldn't be able to make his millions if he was in power. He's a very devious shyster but I very much doubt he'd actually want the responsibility that governance requires.
    • The purge of hard left members that were part of Corbyn's, Mcdonnel's and Lansmans momentum that purged the party of right wing and centrist members. That's politics. It's what Blair did to win, its what Starmer had to do to win. This country doesn't vote in extreme left or right governments. That's partly why Corbyn lost  We're pretty much a centrist bunch.  It doesn't make it false either. It's an opinion based on the voting patterns, demography and statistics. Can you explain then why former mining constituencies that despise the tories voted for them or abstained rather than vote for Corbyns Labour?  What is the truth then? But he never got elected!!! Why? He should have been binned off there and then. Why he was allowed to hang about is an outrage. I hold him party responsible for the shit show that we've had to endure since. 
    • Depends on what the Barista says doesnt it? There was no physical confrontation with the driver, OP thinks she is being targetted when she isnt. These guys work min wage under strict schedules so give them a break unless they damage your stuff
    • CPR Dave, attendance records are available on Southwark's website. Maggie Browning has attended 100% of meetings. Jon Hartley has attended 65%.
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...