Recommend a camera?

[Chris1200]

Folks
For some years I have travelled on my bike throughout Europe. I have always had a camera with me but they have have always been the compact type, which I have found to be quite restrictive when it comes to zooming etc.
I am not a fanatical photographer but am now thinking about taking a keener interest so I can record properly the things I have seen and the places I have been.

I am considering buying a new camera and was hoping someone could give me some basic advice. I am not looking for something with 100 inter-changeable lens, nor am I looking for something that has ALL of the latest features. I don't intend to try using tricks that many of you might use, I'm not wanting to win competitions etc., I am simply looking for something like a basic SLR/compact SLR that will be reliable and will give a novice the chance to take goodish quality pics.

But please don't recommend cameras at crazy prices, I'm thinking of £150 maximum cost. I know this rules out Canon, Pentax etc. but I don't necessary need a brand name if the camera is good enough for what I want.
A friend mentioned a Fuji compact SLR at around £120. Would this be good enough.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Chris

[Warthog]

You can find very compentent intermediate models, sometimes called bridge cameras.

They have the size of a small-ish SLR, with a powerful zoom and a bigger lens aperture and sensor size meaning that images should be of better quality than the equivalent megapixels in a small compact.

Personally, I am not a fan of these as, for the size, I DO want the lens interchangeability as well as an optical viewfinder and not just an electronic one.

Can't comment on prices but have a look on here:

Buying Guide: Features Search: Digital Photography Review

And select Compact SLR-like as your "format" and search. My search only showed 5 models, although there are loads more, but it gives you an idea. You can also search by brand, using the options in the left hand links column.

Prices are in $, but a quick look at Warehouse Express - Digital Camera, Digital SLR Cameras, Lens, Canon, Nikon and Bristol Cameras Online for Digital, SLR and Camera Lenses could give you an idea of UK prices. These have been very competitive retailers for me in the past.....

Otherwise you can keep your options open for a bit more money and get budget DSLR and one good super zoom (28mm-200 equlivalent) from Sigma or Tamron. That way if you get more into it, you do have the lens swap/upgrade options.

HTH
Happy hunting

[Chris1200]

Warthog

Excellent advice. Much appreciated. I'll have a look at those.

Chris

[ExtremeGene]

I'm travellıng with a Samsung WB500. It's more compact than an SLR but it gıves you a 24 wıde angle and 10 optical zoom. It's worked well for me.

There is a newer model the WB550, ı think it has 12 optical zoom.

[Mermaid]

I agree with Warthogs sentiments - regarding bridge cameras.

So .... it's still a compact, but how about the Panasonic Lumix TZ series? TZ6 has 12x optical zoom and a Leica lens. The TZ7 is the same but also does video.

I have the TZ5 and would definitely recommend it as a travel camera. Have a look at some of the reviews available on line.

[monsieur]

Another 'vote' for the TZ5

[Graham_Kawa]

Add the Canon Powershot G series as well. G10 prob too expensive for your tastes, but G7/G8/G9 versions are still floating about, and I don't think there has been dramatic changes the last couple years. I could be wrong on that though. I wouldn't be 100% sure on UK prices.

As others have mentioned, these are sort of a 'bridge', some of the features of an SLR, but not all. They also allow the ability to add telephoto/wide angle lenses / hot shoe for flash etc. if you want, that basic point/shoot camera's do not.

Don't get me wrong, they ARE a compromise on a SLR, but i've been fairly happy with it on trips. You can adjust things a lot, and there's not often I take a shot and think it's the equipment that is letting me down, it's normally the operator and having time to stop and mess about with manual settings!!! The main thing I find it's very hard to do is take shots with a shallow depth of field, which I think has a lot to do with lenses on these vs an SLR.

Take advice with a pinch of salt. I'm an 'interested amateur', no expert!!

Originally Posted by Mermaid

I agree with Warthogs sentiments - regarding bridge cameras.

So .... it's still a compact, but how about the Panasonic Lumix TZ series? TZ6 has 12x optical zoom and a Leica lens. The TZ7 is the same but also does video.

I have the TZ5 and would definitely recommend it as a travel camera. Have a look at some of the reviews available on line.

[teflon]

There are loads of secondhand Nikon/Canon DSLR's around, mostly amateur used and some with kit lenses. It would give you everything you need and you'll be straight into one of the main two systems.

From a Nikon perspective I can personally recommend a D70 for about the money you have available. I'm not familiar with Canon, but they are very popular and a safe buy.

Good luck with it.

[DLbiten]

+1 for the Nikon.
Ok there are +1,000 lenses for the things but almost all of them can be mounted to a even the newest camera or a 1960's f camera.

One thing to think about is the camera will be almost a loss in 2 or 3 years but the lenses will be fine. Pros I ask say spend your money on glass not the camera spend your time on pushing your skills.

A used D40 will do more than you need now and be with you down the road when you skills improve. The glass that work that camera will work on your next Nikon camera. It can save the image in raw so you can work on in on a computer "fixing" the image (I think its cheating and a wast of time) but you got to love the "high dynamic range" photos

I use a D80 now and love it for its ease of use and what it can do. Still think film can give a better print but who wants drag a big box of film with them.

KenRockwell.com
Has some ideas that you may want to think about.

Try not to read to much in to the megapixels. 25mp of noise and out of focus poor image is far less than 6mp of a interesting clear one.

A Fujifilm DSLR uses Nikon lense mounts I think. But there not cheap.

All in all a DSLR will give you more flexibility let you get that shot and if you miss it a little fix the shot. The control over the ISO, shutter speed and shooting speed I think is well worth the price. throw in the better lenses the ability to go 18mm for a wide shot to 200mm for getting way out there then back with out switching a thing, its grate. Then there is close up, macros and a tripod.

I have never seen a grate point and shoot. There too dam small I can not hold them vary long and feel as if im wasting time trying to the shot with one. But I have 2 now and one comes with on most all my trips in a pocket. Some times the "BEST camera" is the one you fave with you. I have gotten some nice shots with one I dont think my Nikon was able to get. It dose not happen much but now and then a point and shoot IS the camera I pull out to get the shot on the first shot. I like the Canon power shots small cheap great bang for the buck. Not as tuff as I like but hold up well, a little sand will hold there lenses sheld closed.

The Leica lens are some of best made so im told. And the Panasonic Lumix gets good reviews.

some links you fined of use:
Home
The Luminous Landscape
Photography community, including forums, reviews, and galleries from Photo.net
Photography Reviews, How-To, and Galleries of Digital Grin

work on your skills shoot, the camera. learn how to "see" not gust look around. (I still do not have that down)

[Howiezowie]

TZ5 does everything for me.
H

[Phatman]

I would second the Nikon D70, good price secondhand and excellent quality. I use a D80 but often take my Samsung S85 compact when travelling light, at £69 it was a bargain and puts many Canon and Nikon compacts costing three times as much to shame! The only thing I find with compacts is holding them still on telephoto is difficult because they are so light and they eat AA batteries, even rechargables. So a D70 with 18-70 lens :-)

[61timm]

Check out the Olympus Styles Tough-8000. It is 12 mega pixels, fully water-proof (had a friend drop it in a creek off the bike 1/2 hour later rode back, picked it up and no issues), crush proof (to 200 lbs). There are so many other features it is worth going to the Olympus website.

[RussG]

Just bought one of these for my son
Fujifilm Finepix Z33WP Digital Camera - Blue - Jessops

Considering it’s diminutive size it has taken some amazing pictures. The thing with something this small and rugged you’re far more likely to have it on your person when compared to a full size DSLR. So you get a picture/memory rather than nothing.

I was in the market for a DSLR last year but at the last moment changed my mind and got a Lumix DMC FZ28. Significantly smaller and lighter than a DSLR but with very similar features. For a serious user it won’t match the flexibility afforded by interchangeable lens but for me I figured the issues with DSLR lens, dust on the sensor etc. wasn’t worth the hassle. For me it was the right decision.


Russ

[a1arn]

Buying Guide: Side-by-side: Digital Photography Review

Just transfer the cams you want to compare to the right side pane "your selection" and click "compare side by side"

Useful site

[zaplaje]

if you are thinking on a real DSLR, go for a canon 10D. is a old model but with all the technology of the new ones, and is a real SLR, with magnesium body, so it's much more stiffer. I had a hughe bike crash following the dakar here in Chile with my 10D attached on my belt, in a small SLR bag, it flew like 10 meters and nothing happened to it, just 1 paint chip.

totally recomended, and you can find one on USA ebay for 300 usd or less