sadietoo Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 Knowing how helpful all you omleteers are my Dad gave me some money for my birthday, and I thought I would like to buy myself a camera....I don't have a digital one...just an slr film camera...hard to believe but true!!...(I have used a digital camera though...kids have fairly basic Canon ones which are now about 7 years old)......as you can see, we aren't really that bothered with technology in our house! Trouble is I can't decide between a compact or an entry level DSLR..... I'm quite tempted to a compact...just because it will fit in my handbag easily, but I do quite like the idea of having a bit more control over the shots I take..( not that I am David Bailey by any stretch of the imagination..(note I am also showing my age...most of you probably won't even remember him!) )..... There are some very lovely photos on this site, so I am wondering if any of you have any recommendations???? .. Many thanks in advance.... (oh budget is up to about £300 tops...but I'd prefer to go cheaper if possible!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 I can recommend both the Canon DSLRs (I have the 10D & son has the 400D) and the Canon Ixus range (hubby has the Ixus 700). They have been through temperatures from minus 40 through to 40 and have performed brilliantly regardless. The Ixus is quite an old model now but it is still brilliant. I also have some Nikon S & L series cameras that do animation for school and the image quality is nowhere near the Canons. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 We bought a v expensive sony full of all the gadgets etc that was big we were going to India so wanted to have a good camera..it was a good camera for safari etc with telescopics etc BUT a pain to carry around due to its size..we got it as my husband does sometimes use a similar one at work... Last year before going on holiday we went to M&S an bought a cheapy mega pixel for about £90 it is brilliant, we did buy some more memory cards off the internet & we use the little camera more than the great big one..so I am sure you will have some change out of your spending money to ie buy a case etc for storage..as it didnt cost so much we were less worried about losing or breaking it etc Good luck I dont know all the terminology but they have really come down in pricing indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 I found I stopped using my SLR quite so much as it was so bulky to carry - I bought a Fuji Finepix. Had brilliant reviews for a compact and takes lovely pics. Can also be adjusted manually (I also like to have some control over my shots). It gets used loads as well as it is small enough to slip into my jeans pocket. Mine is the older version of this one: Finepix on Amazon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 OH has just bought a Sony Digital SLR and loves it, but it is bulky. He reckons he needed a better camera to take pictures of the WIR and the chooks But having spent a fortune on a WIR it would have been unfair for him to have been denied the camera He's also bought a cool 3D lens attachment, so he can take 3D photos, he's already taken some fab ones of the Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 I treated myself to a DSLR last year and it is fantastic. It is a Canon 1000D/could be 400D as I am not at home to check at the moment I would definitely recommend Canon and the DSLRs they take fantastic pictures and are so easy to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 I have a Nikon cool pix 3700 and I'd rather have a DSLR as I'm often disappointed with the pictures I get. The Nikon is nice and compact and fits in my pocket, but I think I'd rather put up with the size of a DSLR to get the better pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted July 9, 2009 Author Share Posted July 9, 2009 Thanks all of you for your comments......I am very persuaded to a Canon DSLR Christian, as I have heard such good reports of them.....but there is still that thing about being able to slip the camera in your pocket that is quite attractive.....Oh there is just too much choice.. I might just have to plump...and if I ever manage to find my way round photobucket you will be able to be the judge of whether I have chosen well or not Edited to say...mmm...now I've read Bluekarin's comment I'm thinking SLR again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 A lot of compacts don't have the picture quality of an SLR, the Finepix comes the closest. Mine is an F30 and at the time (a couple of years ago) it had fantastic reviews and came top in picture quality. Hard to tell exactly which model has superceded it though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 10, 2009 Share Posted July 10, 2009 I like the Fuji Finepix as well - I'm on my second now, a F50fd. I love it and it takes great photos.......the only problem it has is operator problems! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrensWorld Posted July 10, 2009 Share Posted July 10, 2009 We've a Fuji Finepix 3800, bought it in America years ago. Does take a lovely picture, video too. Manual override but no macro facility though. Thinking about getting a Fuji Finepix S-2000HD, haven't read a bad thing about it, and I've just seen one @ a bargain price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickric Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 A lot of the new compact cameras now have some degree of manual controls allowing greater flexability. I always refer to T3 Magazine when buying tech. Here are some links to their camera recomendations. Some are a bit out of your price range but you might find them cheaper on-line. Top ten compact Top Ten Big Zoom Top Ten DSLR's Hope this helps. Just found the Canon IXUS 980 IS for £220 (rrp £330), here, may have to persuade Chickvic I need a new camera Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 The Canon Ixus 980 or 990 (can't remember which one) has SLR style manual features. It has good write ups as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 ...may have to persuade Chickvic I need a new camera What's wrong with the one we've got?! I'm afraid I have no idea about cameras - I have to be able to point and click Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 I am a Fuji Finepix fan too. I have had 2 so far & am already looking at my third for Christmas this year - super little cameras Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted July 11, 2009 Author Share Posted July 11, 2009 Thanks again to all of you for your input...and to you Chickric for the very helpful site....Fuji Finepix definitely seem to be popular. so I'll research those further... Made an unsuccessful foray into town yesterday to see if any of the initial cameras I'd selected to look at ( to narrow it down, so much choice!!) were available....none were...all superceded by later models....seems its out of date after about six months at the moment So back to the drawing board Because of my budget at the moment a lot of DSLR are out of my price range...but it seems the Sony Alpa 200 is available (because it's being superceded) and you can still get the Nikon D40 from Amazon. both have excellent reviews...but then you need extra lenses...and do I really want to lug around a great big camera??? Thanks again for taking an interest...I will do some more research and have set myself a limit to have made a decision once and for all by Monday morning..... probably....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 Thanks all of you for your comments......I am very persuaded to a Canon DSLR Christian, as I have heard such good reports of them.....but there is still that thing about being able to slip the camera in your pocket that is quite attractive..... It was expensive, £350 ish, and it isn't the type of camera you can put in your pocket, BUT it is great. Good luck with whatever you choose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aga n Chickens Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 Hello sadietoo I've just seen your post and have to add that I have been a Fuji FinePix fan myself. For my Birthday last year, OH wanted to buy me an up to date camera to replace my A202 which had seen many years service, but was now out of date with only a 2 mp capability. Instead of buying the update Fuji, the sales person in John Lewis suggested the Olympus 8 mp 840 model for a replacement. Not only is it more powerful it is only half the size of my A202. All the pics I have added to this site were taken by the Olympus as it has many pre sets and a manual option (I haven't used the manual setting as there is a pre set for anything I've needed to take a picture of). Apart from having a 5 x optical zoom, there are macro and super macro settings and good video and sound settings. The only down I can find is that it takes the camera card which never seen to be offered as cheap as the SD cards. Regards, Christine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 I love my Nikon D80. I got a new 18-200mm lens yesterday and took it out to get these I think England could do with this guy right now. Might score a few more runs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrensWorld Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 I think you'll find that Fuji and Nikon co-operate. Fuji help Nikon with the electronics, and Nikon help Fuji with the lenses. In fact the Fuji Finepix S5 Pro is essentialy the same camera as the Nikon D200. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 I loved my sony cybershot but it died when it got wet. I too was recomended an Olympus FE-340 i looked at all the reviews on Olympus at Amazon and this had the best None as good as my Nikon D50 though but its not practical to carry around everyday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 I think you'll find that Fuji and Nikon co-operate. Fuji help Nikon with the electronics, and Nikon help Fuji with the lenses. In fact the Fuji Finepix S5 Pro is essentialy the same camera as the Nikon D200. AH I didn't know that I have a lot of Nikon glass inherited from my late hubby so am rather stuck in the Nikon groove. It took them a long time to come up with decent image stabilization when Canon had offered it for ages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 I have a Fuji Finepix in bright green! The are great cameras and are easy to use! I would definately reccomend one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted July 14, 2009 Author Share Posted July 14, 2009 Hi I really can't thank you all enough for all your interest and helpful comments.... i will definitely look more closely at the Fuji range.... although I have also now (just to complicate things) been loaned a second hand Olympus E400 DSLR to try out for a couple of weeks and which basically seems like a good deal because it includes a telephoto as well as a basic lens and is very small and lightweight....and is well within my budget....so far not wholly sold though, but I'm not convinced it's not operator error....but anyway thanks again everyone ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
