Spec me a camera (please!)

Ewaf

Ewaf

Ewaf

Soldato
Joined
22 May 2007
Posts
3,904
Hey guys,

I can see that spec threads are quite common,, and aplogies for making one but after doing some digging I haven't really made any progress!

As my first child is due to be born in the next 3 weeks, I'm after a camera as we currently don't have one. Looking at a budget of around £150 (with accessories if possible) that meets the following specs:
  • Relatively Compact/Easy to carry in a bag
  • Good quality, respectable brand
  • Continuous shooting for taking pics of baby?
  • Auto modes so my other half can use it as a point and shoot

I have my eyes on this so far:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B006YW43CY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=A230Q07CL2JWPH

Any recommendations? It would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
 
Why have you chosen a bridge camera when your first requirement is compact and easy to carry around? I personally wouldn't touch bridges with a barge pole as I don't see the point, and certainly not at this price point.

Equally at this price point the choice will be much of muchness, especially given your criteria, so just pick one that you like the look of and has good reviews.
 
I'm not sure why I picked bridge to be honest, I just selected various criteria from Amazon that I wanted and they are the type of cameras it showed me. I want a step up from the bog standard point and clicks so I assumed it would be a good choice? The one I linked doesn't seem that bulky, I doesn't need to fit in a pocket so not completely compact.

Sorry if I sound like I don't know what I'm talking about, because I don't :( Any further advice is appreciated
 
Ewaf said:
I want a step up from the bog standard point and clicks
Click to expand...

Why? None of the criteria in your OP suggest that; compact, good quality and auto modes? That rings bog standard point and shoot to me.

What do you actually want and need it for? Because if that's it then get a bog standard point and shoot.
 
Better off selling a kidney and buying a Dslr lol, The Sony cyber shots seem to have nice quality shots just buy a decent point and shoot.
 
£150 won't get you that step up you are looking for, more towards £300 and m4/3 would be what you are looking for. Otherwise just get the best reviewed point and shoot for that cost.
 
Thanks for the feedback guys. Unfortunately I'm not looking to splash out a significant amount at this moment in time, so I have narrowed it down to these two:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fujifilm-Fi...2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1350977665&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fujifilm-FinePix-S2980-Digital-Battery/dp/B006YW43CY/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

Is it worth the extra £10 for the S4200? Only difference I can see is that it has 24x zoom as opposed to 18x.

I haven't had a camera before so I have no expectations, as long as it takes good pictures I will be pleased.

Thanks
 
I don't know why you're still looking at bridge cameras. Just because the body looks a bit like a DSLR doesn't mean it's any better.

I've given my advice and you're obviously just ignoring it so buy whatever lump of plastic you want.
 
Canon SX series - you can get a refurbed SX210 for about £80 (Canon ebay refurb store thing), otherwise they retail at about £200.
 
Russinating said:
I don't know why you're still looking at bridge cameras. Just because the body looks a bit like a DSLR doesn't mean it's any better.

I've given my advice and you're obviously just ignoring it so buy whatever lump of plastic you want.
Click to expand...

I didn't find any of your help remotely useful, to be blunt. You are a "professional" photographer so maybe you struggle to see things at the lower end of the spectrum.

Addicted, vanandjuanunited, thank you for the useful suggestions, I just chcked out the canon refurb ebay and will be keeping an eye on it, definitely leaning towards the SX210 now.

Cheers!
 
Ewaf said:
I didn't find any of your help remotely useful, to be blunt. You are a "professional" photographer so maybe you struggle to see things at the lower end of the spectrum.

Addicted, vanandjuanunited, thank you for the useful suggestions, I just chcked out the canon refurb ebay and will be keeping an eye on it, definitely leaning towards the SX210 now.

Cheers!
Click to expand...

Bigger body doesn't mean a bigger sensor, You just are better off with a decent compact or going the full hog for a Dslr, Some of the point and shoot compacts preform much better then the entry level Dslr cameras.
 
I told you not to buy a bridge. You then list nothing but bridges. Whatever *shrug*

Oh, and I'm not a "professional" photographer (whatever that is). The only camera I actually own is a point and shoot.
 
Russinating said:
I told you not to buy a bridge. You then list nothing but bridges. Whatever *shrug*

Oh, and I'm not a "professional" photographer (whatever that is). The only camera I actually own is a point and shoot.
Click to expand...

Apologies for being an arse.

I am looking at "Compact System Cameras" on Amazon, and it's showing this kind of stuff:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0082B35VU/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&psc=1&s=photo

Isn't that still a bridge? I really not clued up on this stuff. I realise Amazon isn't the definitive place for buying cameras but I have a voucher with them. What is a better place to buy cameras on the web?
 
Yes, that's a "bridge", pretty much. Anything that looks like a DSLR but isn't is effectively a bridge. All bridge means is something half-way between compact and DSLR, hence a bridge between the two. I'd buy one for my child to get them used to using a DSLR-shaped object but other than that I really don't see the point.

A bridge at this price range won't be any better quality-wise than a compact in the same price bracket. It might give you a bit more zoom range, but obviously has the massive downside of being bigger and heavier to carry around. A bridge may also confuse the hell out of your Mrs with the extra/needless dials.

I own a Canon S95 which is out of your price range hence not recommending it, but it's the best camera I've ever bought simply because it fits in my jeans pocket. A bridge won't. You may think that's ok now but when you realise you have to take an oversized bag everywhere with you, or have it slung round your neck 24/7, it becomes a nuisance and eventually you just won't take it.

Amazon is one of the best places to buy cameras because it's one of the cheapest and has a good returns system, but I certainly wouldn't use it as a tool to find said camera, only to go to once you've decided exactly what you want.
 
Have a look on ebay at a large high street catalog clearance outlet store.

Samsung NX100 for £150 plus 12 months warranty
 
Thanks for such an in depth answer Russinating, that's definitely cleared some questions up and clearly justified a compact over bridge. Didn't really think about the possibility of returning an item, Amazon is clearly a no brainer in that case.

Glyndwr I checked out that one before, but it doesn't have an in built flash? Isn't that a bit of an annoyance?
 
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