What is a decent mid-range camera?

Shostakovich

Shostakovich

Shostakovich

Suspended
Joined
17 May 2007
Posts
87
First Digital Camera (but still very good)

I am new to Photography, but want to own my first digital camera.

After hours of internet research today, I have the following short list (that is quite long as I don't want to qualify out too early):

Canon Powershot S3 IS (too big?) £255
Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ8 (too big?) £208

Should the above even be on my list? I wouldn't mind getting it in my pocket..

Canon Powershot 710 IS £179
Nikon Coolpix 5000 (too slow?) £219
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 £239
Canon Powershot A640 £185
Canon G7 £307

Thoughts? Any others I should have on this list? I still have a soft spot for the Coolpix, and enjoyed the review on www.dpreview.com (a great site!), but an concerned about its inability to shoot anything that moves faster than a snail...Any help much appreciated.
 
Last edited:
Size is relative, try it out for yourself in the shops!

For point and shoot the Canon IXUS 850 IS does me proud. Haven't used any of the others i'm afraid.
 
I have Canon Powershot S3 IS at home at the moment (going on holidays, borrowed for my wife, I shoot with D70). Fantastic little camera, not big at all. Very good reviews(check dpreview), antishake works great, takes very good videos as well (nice bonus). You can get it for about 200 quid with 2GB of memory at auction (in UK, not Hong Kong).
 
Last edited:
Well,

I went to Totenham Court Road today to hold some of them in person....

Didn't like the Coolpix P5000 at all, felt like it was going to fall out of your hand when you held it. Ditto the panasonic...

Robert, I am starting to think that I don't just want a point and shoot - this might turn into a hobby in whih case it wouldn't be enough... or would it, do you think?

I held the G7 and it reeked of class; at this point it is the highest on my list...
 
Forget the G7, it's too much money (you can go DLSR for the same price).

I think the choice you now need to make is how serious you are; are you passionate about photography, or do you just want to something to record memories?

Route A - DSLR: I'd go for a used/refurbished camera. Nikon D50 is my preference because I love mine, but people reckon Canons are good too, despite the 400Ds ugly exterior. Put aside £400-500 for a good starter set-up. That should cover a camera (with kit lens), a CPL filter, a tripod, a bag and memory (2GB min).

Route B - Bridge: Choose between the Canon PowerShot S3 IS, FUJI FinePix S5600 Zoom (cheapest, but still good I hear), Fuji S9600 or Panasonic DMC-FZ8EF black. I'd buy filters and a tripod for these too.
 
I've just bought one of these and I'm really pleased with it. I too am starting out in Photography and this can be used as a point and shoot, but it has all the manual controls too and is classed as a bridge camera. Plus it has a decent amount of megapixels without going over the top (6.3mp), plus a cracking zoom (10x).

http://www.fujifilm.co.uk/digital/cameras/s6500/?lpage=/digital/cameras/range.php
 
Thanks guys, I have had a long think this evening on what I will actually be using this camera for...

I regretably, and honestly, can't see photography becoming a hobby - I would like it to be, but between work and being with my girlfriend (arrr) and my other hobbies, I don't think I will have the time to ever be that serious...

So one thought I had was:

If I buy a compact camera, it will always be that, a useful, small camera for holidays and social situations that is very good...should I then develop a strong enough interest, I can start thinking about D40's, etc.. I think this is the most sensible logic, rather than trying for the perfect hybrid solution

So, my thinking, and reading, has come down to a choice of two, although I am still open to other suggestions:

Ixus 850 (SD800)
Ixus 900 (SD900)

Now, I suppose the question is, is 28mm worth it on the SD800? Will I use the wide angle? The former I could get for about £30 cheaper, but its image quality isn't as good, I understand, but it has more features.

Now there is of course the IXUS 950, but I have yet to find a comprehensive view of it....
 
I see, thanks -- so, to finalize my thinking, there are no other cameras out there that are as good as these Canon's in this price range, is there?

So, I should just go with one of these, should I not?

I read about the LX2 by panasonic and it seems as nowhere near as good, what about Fuji, etc?
 
Shostakovich said:
I see, thanks -- so, to finalize my thinking, there are no other cameras out there that are as good as these Canon's in this price range, is there?

So, I should just go with one of these, should I not?

I read about the LX2 by panasonic and it seems as nowhere near as good, what about Fuji, etc?
Click to expand...

Fuji f30/31
 
I say G7, recommended it to a few people. Two of those that bought it love it and I do too. Really nice, well built piece of equipment.
 
Mint_Sauce said:
I say G7, recommended it to a few people. Two of those that bought it love it and I do too. Really nice, well built piece of equipment.
Click to expand...

Its too big for me now, and at a price that is needlessly expensive for what I am going to be using it for...

Re the Fuji. Here is an interesting little comparison:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilmf31fd/page11.asp

Its performance at ISO800 etc is simply amazing....! Its almost SLR!

The Fuji is also great value -- just £122, I have found it for, delivered.. Thats £100 cheaper than the Canon SD900...
 
One of the things I am struggling to work out is the difference between Canon Powershot's, such as the A640, and the ELPH Cameras??

Is it simply that the latter is smaller and less manual?

Please help, the more I read the more confused I get!!!
 
Shostakovich said:
One of the things I am struggling to work out is the difference between Canon Powershot's, such as the A640, and the ELPH Cameras??
Click to expand...

Who cares? Just buy the fuji :D At £122 it is a steal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom