43 replies to this topic

[Drizt]

Hi guys,

My parents are going over seas in the near future and are looking for a new camera. The problem is we all know jack about camera's.

What they want:

• Something that is very easy to use, point and shoot (parents couldnt handle anything else)
  
• Takes great shots over distance (for touristy shots - maybe image stabliser ??) and close up (normal usage).
  
• not too big, not too small (no idea, but thats what they said)
  
• around the $1000 mark
  
• Nice big screen on the back (so old can see whats going on)

Please recommend some camera's

Cheers

Drizt

[Keith_W]

Hmm, $1000 could buy your olds a new P&S ... or it could get them a secondhand DSLR. DSLR's might look complicated, but if they left it in "green" mode all the time it would work as a big P&S all the time. Something like a secondhand 300D or 350D would be within their price range.

Otherwise, the Canon SD800 IS has just been announced. 7MP, 3.7x optical zoom, and image stabilisation. Fits in comfortably below the $1000 budget.

If they don't mind a slightly more expensive camera, the Canon G7 would be one step below a DSLR. 10MP, 6x optical zoom, but no image stabilisation. It has a hotshoe for external flash if they ever wanted to use one.

[Mike.L]

for point and shoot camera's you cant go past Kodak's range of digi's

and by the time you get a bag and some memory and a spare rechargable battery for this not only will they have a camera that will do everything they have ever wanted they will have a camera that tops the tests in ease of use constantly.

not too big, but not too small so the buttons are easy to access, has manual function if they ever desired to go down that road, but otherwise point zoom and shoot. and for under 600 is bloody hard to beat

class leading zoom with image stabilisation for those 'touristy' shots

[Drizt]

That Canon G7 looks pretty impressive amf... see here

I forgot to mention they want a nice big LCD on it for easy viewing and picture taking.


Tomorrow when I have time ill see if i can find some prices on it and reviews for ease of use.

Thanks for the help so far guys El hefty and Amfibius.

Cheers

ps. welcome to all suggestions so keep them coming guys.

[Drizt]

Seems the G7 can be had for around $700 up...


Just wondering what others would recommend?


And is this page a good guide? -? http://www.steves-di...st_cameras.html

[joz]

Ok just a recommendation here,recently went through the digi camerea thing and bought a Panasonic Lumix FZ20 now superceded.What we found was an extremely easy to use and flexible camera.This we have found to be faultless with exceptional PQ for the $$.The Leica lenses on this series is a gem.They are not SLR's but do not pretend to be.I went SLR shopping but decided that I didn't need one,Icouldn't rememeber the last time I needed to change a lense and the 12x optocal zoom was more than enough for me.
Worth a look Lumix
Review Here
BTW it won camera of the year a while back so it aint shabby

[Drizt]

Thanks Joz. I think Jens dad has a panasonic Lumix. I will have to ask him what he thinks of it. I think his is a 4MP one, so probably a few footy seasons old now.

Edit: Seems this is the new one 'Panasonic FZ50' @ around $860

http://www.letsgodig...nic_lumix_fz50/



Hmmm wonder how it compares to the Canon G7

[joz]

Ours I think is 5.1mp also afew years old and really punches above its weight and class.

[Drizt]

If they don't mind a slightly more expensive camera, the Canon G7 would be one step below a DSLR. 10MP, 6x optical zoom, but no image stabilisation. It has a hotshoe for external flash if they ever wanted to use one. [/b]

Amf they want a new one, so second hand although good value for money is not an option. Thanks for the suggestion though..


Just curious, you said that the Canon G7 doesnt have imagine stabilisation but the following site says (Click here)

6x optical zoom lens with optical Image Stabilizer and SR coating

Or is optical image stabilizer something different? Im confused

[Tony M]

Amf they want a new one, so second hand although good value for money is not an option. Thanks for the suggestion though..
Just curious, you said that the Canon G7 doesnt have imagine stabilisation but the following site says (Click here)

6x optical zoom lens with optical Image Stabilizer and SR coating

Or is optical image stabilizer something different? Im confused



[/b]

Hi Drizt

I think the major thing they have to decide is what size is acceptable.

I wouldn't be without a convenient little camera that can fit conveniently into a pocket and go anywhere with me. For those purposes, I love my little Canon Ixus 750, shown here with a leather case that cost $2.00 at a "cheap as chips" type store and fits it perfectly.



Now there are a lot of features I like about the G7, but it's a bit bigger and heavier and that sort of defeats the purpose for me. I like the idea of having a "proper" digital SLR AND a tiny "point and shoot". The little Canon is ideal for that.

However, if the slight increase in size to the G7 is OK for them, that's the way I'd go as it's undoubtably a better all-rounder (higher res, better optical zoom, accessories available including wide angle and telephoto lens converters, image stabilision etc etc)....but it's definitely less "pocketable"

Whichever way they go on the size/features compromise, I'd favour the Canon brand at present. My sister-in-law bought an Olympus recently to save a few $ and it seems very plasticky to me by comparison. The Canon software is also very good IMO.

Regards
Tony

Attached Files

•  DSC02902.jpg   581.87K   9 downloads

[Drizt]

Thanks Tonym, ill put your suggestions to them. They will only be buying one camera, so they don't have the luxury of a DSLR plus another handy sized camera.

[Leon]

Ok just a recommendation here,recently went through the digi camerea thing and bought a Panasonic Lumix FZ20 now superceded.What we found was an extremely easy to use and flexible camera.This we have found to be faultless with exceptional PQ for the $$.The Leica lenses on this series is a gem.They are not SLR's but do not pretend to be.I went SLR shopping but decided that I didn't need one,Icouldn't rememeber the last time I needed to change a lense and the 12x optocal zoom was more than enough for me.
[/b]

Hey joz, exactly what I have! It is great and very flexible, I agree about the lens. Apparently the replacement ones FZ-30 and FZ-50 have worse lenses, also they drop a stop at full zoom which the FZ-20 doesn't do.

[tanka]

Hello,
There is also the Lumix FZ7 which is 6mp and 12x optical. I am going to get one as I dont need an SLR. I have found a good place to purchase as well. Google Camerafarm, they are based in Sydney and do mail order or pickups from the city. Apparantly they are authorised dealers, with Australian stock but can offer good prices due to low overheads. They deal in a few other brands as well. Check them out. Oh yeah, the FZ7 is $537.

Cheers Tanka.

[joz]

Yes the Lumix,no they are not an SLR.But perform way above the compacts.I have not heard a negative critisism about them by the average citizen.No they will not perform as an SLR with a gazillion accesories though.....Horses for courses!
Great to see your happy with yours aswell Leon,as I am with mine.

[Mr_Gadget]

Any update Drizt? I am in a similar situation.

[Drizt]

Any update Drizt? I am in a similar situation. [/b]

No sorry mate. Still just collecting ideas at this stage.

[Tony M]

FWIW, another factor that seems to be ignored to some extent is flash performance.

The typical use of a small "point and shoot" camera includes a lot of indoor "social snaps" of people and supplementary flash units are rarely used with these compact units.

The inbuilt flashes are not all created equal - some are more powerful than others and there are also factors like exposure accuracy with flash to be considered.

I just found, when I was reading the reviews, weak flash performance seemed to be glossed over as if it wasn't important......in this class of camera, I reckon the opposite is true.

[Keith_W]

The tiny optical viewfinders were never very good anyway. And they suffered from parallax error. I must admit that when I use a P&S, I use the electronic viewfinder to compose

[Drizt]

Hi guys,

They are looking to buy now, and was hoping you guys could give me some updates on whats the new coolness

They want at least:
10x Optical zoom
2.5" LCD screen
stabalizer (if possible)
nice to hold (chunky is fine, they dont want a slim small camera)
under $1000.

[Leon]

Hi guys,

They are looking to buy now, and was hoping you guys could give me some updates on whats the new coolness

They want at least:
10x Optical zoom
2.5" LCD screen
stabalizer (if possible)
nice to hold (chunky is fine, they dont want a slim small camera)
under $1000.
[/b]

Check out the Panasonic DMC-FZ50, I have the older model FZ20 and it is really good for the price.

[Drizt]

Check out the Panasonic DMC-FZ50, I have the older model FZ20 and it is really good for the price. [/b]

Cheers, thats actually the one they seem most interested in at the moment. We will have to go in and have a look see.

[Leon]

Cheers, thats actually the one they seem most interested in at the moment. We will have to go in and have a look see.
[/b]

Here's a very in-depth review of it:

DP Review Panasonic DMC-FZ50

[Keith_W]

I would tell them to avoid superzoom lenses in a cheap camera. They are very hard to design and suffer from barrel distortion at the wide end or blurry images at the long end. You have to balance the convenience of a superzoom against the better image quality of a more conventional 3x zoom.

Having said that, I would recommend the Nikon Coolpix S10. This is the latest in a long line of split/rotating Nikon cameras that were considered the bees knees in the early days of digital photography. I used to lust after a Coolpix 990 back in the late 90's but it was really unaffordable back then. This camera costs USD$350, so should be well within your parent's budget. 6MP, 10x zoom.

[Drizt]

Here's a very in-depth review of it:
DP Review Panasonic DMC-FZ50 [/b]

Sounds really good, the 2" LCD maybe a stumbling block for them, but ill let them play with it to tell if it would be a problem for older, eye sight challenged people


cheers, amf.

Will look into that one aswell

[Speedorhaste]

Dritz

I have been looking around to replace a stolen camera and landed on the Canon A710 IS. Not quite 10mp, but seems to have everything else. Not too slim (something decent in size to hold), runs on regular AA batteries (incl rechargeable of course) and is half the budget you have set.

Here's a link to a pretty useful review

Canon A710 IS

[Tony M]

Dritz

I have been looking around to replace a stolen camera and landed on the Canon A710 IS. Not quite 10mp, but seems to have everything else. Not too slim (something decent in size to hold), runs on regular AA batteries (incl rechargeable of course) and is half the budget you have set.

Here's a link to a pretty useful review

Canon A710 IS
[/b]

Hmm....looks like a great little camera and pretty close to the "wish list" at a very good price. From my experience, the little Canons are built like tanks and do what they're meant to do with a minimum of fuss. The supplied software is quite intuitive and useful too.

[JA]

somethign that really shits me about digital compacts is the lack of an optical viewfinder. Seems a feature gradually dissapearing off most compat cameras.

what your left with then is to either use the scree non the back or squint at this electronic version of hte image you tryign to take a picture off.
[/b]

I agree Al,

The screen is sluggish to boot, couple that with a delayed shutter release and you soon realise why DSLRs are so nice to use.

Best
JA

[Keith_W]

Well DSLR's are not for everybody The learning curve is kind of steep. And to get the SLR version of a 10x zoom, you are looking at spending $4000 for the EF 28-300 F/3.5-5.6L IS.

[JA]

Well DSLR's are not for everybody The learning curve is kind of steep. And to get the SLR version of a 10x zoom, you are looking at spending $4000 for the EF 28-300 F/3.5-5.6L IS.
[/b]

Hello Amf,

True DSLRs are not for everyone- but the big AUTO feature helps a bit with that. My point is that for me (and I'm sure you too) seeing the image optically is a HUGE advantage over an electronic viewfinder. (except for overhead shooting that is). You can get much less expensive 10x zooms though. Isn't there an entry level 28-300 Canon lens- this would be better quality than the typical 10x zoom on a point and shoot camera.

Of course they didn't want a DSLR so my point is somewhat astray. :blush: Also I cant put the DSLR in my pocket.

Best
JA

[Tony M]

Also I cant put the DSLR in my pocket.


[/b]

That's precisely what I love about my little Canon "point and shoot". It takes far better photos my "proper" camera as that tends to be home in the cupboard and doesn't take anything

When I get time, I'll investigate the wonderful world of the sort of DSLR's used by Amfi, Harry etc etc. But, I reckon the majority of really good photo opportunities willl still occur when only the little Canon is nearby....and it won't matter, because I won't recognise half them anyway

[Keith_W]

JA, you're right ... at the moment EVF's (electronic viewfinders) are nowhere as sharp as seeing the image through a pentaprism/pentamirror.

I don't think that Canon offers an entry level superzoom ... the closest I could find is the EF 55-200 F/4.5-5.6 USM lens and even then it's slightly under 4x zoom.

No doubt that DSLR's are much nicer to use. I also have an Olympus mju mini P&S which is really pocket sized. But coming from a DSLR, the focus takes forever and it has a tendency to fire its flash whenever ambient light gets a bit dim ... thereby ruining the photo.

[Mr_Gadget]

Howabout the new Panasonic TZ2/3 cameras? They don't have manual controls though.
Or a canon G7 (only 6X zoom though)

[Drizt]

Howabout the new Panasonic TZ2/3 cameras? They don't have manual controls though.
Or a canon G7 (only 6X zoom though)
[/b]

thanks, ill have a look into those aswell.

[Drizt]

My Parents finally got off there arse today and had a look at camera's. They came away liking the following camera's

Olympus SP-550 - review 1, review 2, review 3

Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ8 - review 1, review 2, review 3

Nikon S10 - review 1, review 2, review 3


The reason why they liked these cameras was because of their dimensions and how they felt to hold. I know they arent good reasons but they want a camera that feels good in their hands.

Just wondering what peoples thoughts are on these three cameras?

[Mr_Gadget]

My Parents finally got off there arse today and had a look at camera's. They came away liking the following camera's

Olympus SP-550 - review 1, review 2, review 3

Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ8 - review 1, review 2, review 3

Nikon S10 - review 1, review 2, review 3
The reason why they liked these cameras was because of their dimensions and how they felt to hold. I know they arent good reasons but they want a camera that feels good in their hands.

Just wondering what peoples thoughts are on these three cameras?
[/b]

Just wondering if they have looked at the Panasonic DMC-TZ3 yet. I am waiting for some reviews on this camera. It has 10X optical zoom, 28mm wideangle, 3" LCD, a unique 16:9 mode in a relatively small package. From what I have read at dpreview.com it handles noise better than the FZ8. The downside is that it lacks manual controls. I am also waiting for some Ricoh R6 reviews.

Can't comment on the other cameras as I don't know much about them (18X zoom on the Oly is obviously a big selling point).

[Drizt]

Just wondering if they have looked at the Panasonic DMC-TZ3 yet. I am waiting for some reviews on this camera. It has 10X optical zoom, 28mm wideangle, 3" LCD, a unique 16:9 mode in a relatively small package. From what I have read at dpreview.com it handles noise better than the FZ8. The downside is that it lacks manual controls. I am also waiting for some Ricoh R6 reviews.

Can't comment on the other cameras as I don't know much about them (18X zoom on the Oly is obviously a big selling point). [/b]

Sorry mate, I don't think they did. Or if they did they gave it the flick as it didn't feel good to hold... I know thats not the best reason, but thats what they are looking for.

[Mr_Gadget]

Sorry mate, I don't think they did. Or if they did they gave it the flick as it didn't feel good to hold... I know thats not the best reason, but thats what they are looking for.
[/b]

I would consider the hold/comfort factor to be an important deciding factor.

[davidsss]

Your olds would be a bit older than me but then sometimes I live in a time warp from before when I was born. But the salient point is they look like they are attracted by a familiar camera, something which feels and works like the film cameras they are used to. On that score I must say I just don't see the attraction of those LCD screens on the back of digital cameras. I just can't hold the damn thing steady with one of those, whereas I am so used to a viewfinder I can hold a camera steady on a fairly slow shutter speed. Also look at what they are used to in terms of control, I have always found point and shoot cameras frustrating. If they are used to more manual cameras and find it frustrating not being able to adjust shutter speed and aperture for the conditions and the type of picture then they should try and get a digital with these controls, if they are used to an SLR with auto setting they should get something they can do the same on. If they get a decent digital which they can transition to from the camera they are replacing it should be a smooth transition.

DS

[Drizt]

Parents actually made a decision and bought a camera today - thank god thats over.


The battery is charging and it should be ready for action in an hour or so.


They ended up getting a Nikon S10 (series 2 i think?) (same one keith recommended) -> http://www.dpreview....views/nikons10/



In the end they got the following.

Nikon S10
two x 1GB cards (2GB total)
Carry case
Extra battery

All for $515 which was a great price. One store said $645 for the same list of things... prices vary lots so make sure you shop around.

[Keith_W]

Glad to hear Dripz Were you and them in town today? So was I ... bought a few CD's today!

[Drizt]

Glad to hear Dripz Were you and them in town today? So was I ... bought a few CD's today![/b]

Nah, I stayed home today as I had a few things I had to do... they did the city thing by themselves today. Its scarey letting the olds buy electronics by themselves, they sometimes make some ahhh lets say errant decisions

Hopefully this is a good one