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Good quality digital camera


GazB

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All,

 

Probably been posted before, but I'm looking to buy a digi cam. Now, I have no idea about what's what and if I read the spec of one it would just go "whoosh" over my head..

 

I'm looking to spend no more than £250-£300 and want a camera that is very good quality (ie, won't be blurry and will take pictures whatever the time of day)..

 

I'm wanting to take loads out and about in Sheffield, but after xmas I'm working overseas for 6 months and would be great to get as many snaps out there as possible (will be taking my laptop to load the pics on to).

 

Any ideas?

 

Apologies if any of this sounds stupid.. It ain't exactly my field (yet).

 

Thanks in advance,

 

GazB :thumbsup:

 

P.S. I already have a 256MB SD card.. so any camera that will work with this would be jolly :)

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First of all decide how big you want to print. This determines how many megapixels you will need and goes something like:

 

2mp = 6x4 inches

3mp – 7x5 inches, maybe 8x10

4mp – 7x5 inches, 8x10 inches

5mp- 8x10, 10x12

8mp – I just had an 8mp image printed at 18x12 inches no problem.

 

Then decide on how much zoom you want – do you prefer wide angle shots, or do you want a longer zoom?

 

This nails it down a little bit, so does the fact you want an SD compatible camera, that narrows it down a bit more.

 

Then decide whether you want a completely automatic camera, or one that you can gorw into with manual controls as well?

 

Do you want an SLR type model, or a compact one

 

Take a look at this site – it is very useful:

 

http://www.imaging-resource.com/WB/WB.HTM

 

The minolta Z3 might suit your purposes – check it out here:

 

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Konica_Minolta/konicaminolta_dimagez3.asp

 

Or the Canon SD300 if you want compact:

 

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Canon/canon_sd300.asp

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Thanks for the reply TFF, much obliged :)

 

Originally posted by theflyingfish

Do you want an SLR type model, or a compact one

 

What's the difference? Sorry if this is a daft question.

 

Originally posted by theflyingfish

 

The minolta Z3 might suit your purposes – check it out here:

 

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Konica_Minolta/konicaminolta_dimagez3.asp

 

Would you recommend this camera? Certainly looks the business!

 

Thanks again,

 

GazB

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LOL...

Ok, I read it several times, just not got round to replying. Keep your hair on man ! =P

It's hard to say what camera to buy when your original spec is very vague. I was in the same shoe when I bought mine earlier this year. Though it was the quality of a certain foto from the net that convinced me to buy a G5. It is a bulky camera, and not one that u can slip into your jacket's pocket. Maybe you need to think about how portable they are too, esp if you are gonna travel with it ? I decided to get a digi-cam because I wanted to improve my shots. So the G5 allows me to override certain settings, and have a play around with the pictures basically. I am happy with it overall ,even though it's a bit bulky.

 

Best bet for you is to get hold of a copy of Jacob's (?) or Jessop's catalogue. Have a good browse through that and narrow down your choices. The G5 that I have fall under 'prosumer' type camera, but I think for the price range that you state, you can go below this. One that has less function, but a higher mega-pixel or something like that. A good lens. Carl Zeiss ones are very meant to be pretty good.

 

From what I gathered from what you say about blurry pictures. (I'm not foto-guru, but am still picking up things as I go along with this digi-cam). Maybe you should get a camera which include the range f2.8 ? I say this because I had a manual Olympus Mju camera for a long time, and it always gave good photos. It is one of those foolproof dummy type that uses a f2.8 lens to give average good people shot. Not of distant objects though. It's a "point and shoot".

 

I'm looking to spend no more than £250-£300 and want a camera that is very good quality (ie, won't be blurry and will take pictures whatever the time of day)..

 

You can spend 250-300 on a second-hand too. Esp from Ebay. So this open up a lot of options for you. May I suggest a 3 mega-pixel camera since this seems to be the lowest entry nowadays. Also, it means it'll give u good resolution to resize from.

 

Blurry pictures are dependent on whether you've got auto-focus on. If you want a "point and shoot" type of camera, then I find that it's a little bit harder with a digi-camera. (Unless it's a digi-SLR, I suppose.) With a digi-cam, I don't think you can get a good "of the moment" kind of shot that is in focus tbh ! Esp night time ones. You really need to get one with good auto-settings on for different type of shots. Night shots, as well as distant shots. Oh, there is something called "optical zoom" as well. I hate this. It's hard to take moving ppl shots with this. Best to get one that has a WYSIWYG screen. So you are sure of the shot that you are taking.

 

All digi-cam has this auto-focus thing happening, when you lightly presses the shutter to focus it before taking the picture. I don't know whether that answers yoru blurry pic Q.

 

SLR and 'prosumer' type cameras are cameras which allows you to override settings. i.e. change the F number by using different lens. It basically mean you get into the technicality of a shot. i.e. the distance you are away from the object, the lighting, the colour even (film). If you want a easy "point and shoot", then you don't need to buy a SLR, or a 'prosumer' digi-camera. A prosumer digi-camera allows you to have some manual control over the picture you are taking. Yet, not complete manual control, and not able to attach different type lens onto it. So they are in between the SLR and the standard point and shoots.

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By SLR type I mean looking like a traditional film camera - quite big and bulky, or compact, slips right in the pocket.

 

I would look at the Z3. Take a close look at the body though - the earlier version (Z1) was a bit plasticky, but I think the build quality has been improved on this one.

 

4mp so you can print good sized images - actually, up to A4 without loss of quality quite easily I should imagine.

 

12x optical zoom, Image stabilisation (this means that images are less likely to be blurred in low light and long shutter speeds), focusses down to 1cm (extreme close ups), and a plethora of automatatic modes (camera choses all the settings) through varying degrees of user control to grow into, e.g learning about long/quick shutter speeds etc. Also a filter thread, so you can screw filters on in front of the lens...

 

Had excellent reviews and user feedback - I would look closely at this one. £267 on amazon, and you already have a memory card - yay!

 

Don't forget to buy rechargable batteries and a charger - a good camera shop will be able to recommend which ones...

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Thanks for all the info Bago :D

 

Do you know of any websites that show example shots for each camera?

 

I'm not fussed about the size etc of the camera, just want one that can take decent, quality shots of objects near and far (not too far, but when I look out of my window and want to take a picture.. That sort of distance), night or day, that I can put onto my laptop.

 

So far, the Minolta Z3 looks very good, I'm going to do a search for reviews/examples of this camera.

 

Thanks again :thumbsup:

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Originally posted by theflyingfish

By SLR type I mean looking like a traditional film camera - quite big and bulky, or compact, slips right in the pocket.

 

I would look at the Z3. Take a close look at the body though - the earlier version (Z1) was a bit plasticky, but I think the build quality has been improved on this one.

 

4mp so you can print good sized images - actually, up to A4 without loss of quality quite easily I should imagine.

 

12x optical zoom, Image stabilisation (this means that images are less likely to be blurred in low light and long shutter speeds), focusses down to 1cm (extreme close ups), and a plethora of automatatic modes (camera choses all the settings) through varying degrees of user control to grow into, e.g learning about long/quick shutter speeds etc. Also a filter thread, so you can screw filters on in front of the lens...

 

Had excellent reviews and user feedback - I would look closely at this one. £267 on amazon, and you already have a memory card - yay!

 

Don't forget to buy rechargable batteries and a charger - a good camera shop will be able to recommend which ones...

 

That sounds perfect! I'll try and find some example shots of it.

 

Thanks TFF :D

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I know a lot of my friends had this kind of camera as a starter digi-cam.

 

Sony Cyber Shot DSC-P100 Digital Camera - 210

Canon PowerShot S60 -

 

My sister has this one, it works pretty well as a point and shoot. There is a newer model which came out earlier this yr. IXUS 500. - 229. These ones are pretty small, and u can take it anywhere, draw back is that it doesnt use SD memory card.

 

Canon PowerShot S410 / Digital Ixus 430 Digital Camera - 195

 

Do you know of any websites that show example shots for each camera?

 

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/cameraList.php

 

Click on the "DCRP Review ..." links for review which shows pictures from the cameras.

 

I'm not fussed about the size etc of the camera, just want one that can take decent, quality shots of objects near and far (not too far, but when I look out of my window and want to take a picture.. That sort of distance), night or day, that I can put onto my laptop.

 

You know what they say... it is not the tool, but the skill. Then again, I would add: "With *better* tools come *better* pictures." :wink:

 

Enjoy. Let us know which one u choose in the end.

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