Using manual controls on none DSLR cameras

chickmug

isofa wrote: »

Definitely, especially when you want to be more creative, and for night shots, with good knowledge and experimentation, manual can yield much better results. The best bridge cameras, in my experience are the top end Canon Powershots, G9 and G10 especially.

If my budget allowed a canon G10 would do very nicely. It feels good in the hand - really solid - just like my bust Olympus 5060 (Magnesium body). But on verge of getting Panasonic FZ28 says he braveley waiting for shouts of no it is no good:D

isofa

chickmug wrote: »

If my budget allowed a canon G10 would do very nicely. It feels good in the hand - really solid - just like my bust Olympus 5060 (Magnesium body). But on verge of getting Panasonic FZ28 says he braveley waiting for shouts of no it is no good:D

Both are good cameras and you'll get great shots from them - the reviews all on www.dpreview.com

I prefer the Canon's because they come from a proper photographic heritage, but that's just my preference. I've been using Canon cameras since the 1980s and never had one let me down.

The G9 is also excellent, and some dealers will be selling it cheaper since the G10 was released. Thinking about having either a G9 or G10 just as a small carry around camera, sometimes the DSLRs are just too big!

http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk lists the best prices:

FZ28 - £245
G9 - £358
G10 - £366

You could also add the Canon SX10 IS to the mix, 20 x stabilised zoom, around £280, also gets good reviews.

chickmug

isofa wrote: »

Both are good cameras and you'll get great shots from them - the reviews all on www.dpreview.com

I prefer the Canon's because they come from a proper photographic heritage, but that's just my preference. I've been using Canon cameras since the 1980s and never had one let me down.

The G9 is also excellent, and some dealers will be selling it cheaper since the G10 was released. Thinking about having either a G9 or G10 just as a small carry around camera, sometimes the DSLRs are just too big!

http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk lists the best prices:

FZ28 - £245
G9 - £358
G10 - £366

You could also add the Canon SX10 IS to the mix, 20 x stabilised zoom, around £280, also gets good reviews.

I liked the Canon Powershot SX110 IS but felt it looked a bit plastic. Also NO viewfinder and no wide angle. Same as G9 no wide angle and I have got to have something around 28mm wide as I have have been so used to that for a long time. The Canon SX10 is feels good in the hand but I have got to stick to a budget.

Interesting that many of the sales staff in many camera shops seem to own Canons.

isofa

The SX10 has an electronic viewfinder, but not optical, but then you can argue that optical ones on compacts aren't accurate as they aren't through the lens as with a DSLR - What Digital Camera views it in issue 146.

Focal lengths will always be a compromise across a wide range, anything having a wide range, will not have good optics all the way through the range.

Have you considered jumping to a DSLR? Entry level Canons and Nikons can be had for around £250, and you have a larger sensor, better quality optics, control and the flexibility to add different lenses as you require.

chickmug

isofa wrote: »

Have you considered jumping to a DSLR, entry levelCanon and Nikons can be had for around £250, and you have a larger sensor, better quality optics, control and the flexibility to add different lenses as you require.

Yes but still remember the film SLR and bag of bits!!!!

To me a camera is a part of my life but I have other things I do but I want to bring out the camera when I am in the mood. To others it is more important and so the DSLR is a good bet. But I must draw the line somewhere and feel the Panny FZ278 will satisfy me and my need to have days where I am in the zone for snapping away! I am a sunny day only photographer and take landscapes and architecture but little else.

Percy1983

I have a bridge camera (Fujifilm S5800), I would say auto works great and does get good pictures but I do find times when I like to change the settings, its usually more for artistic reasons than the auto just doesn't get it, but there has been a few times when manual was the only way to get a picture.

ManAtHome

chickmug wrote: »

Thats what I am thinking but now I have the time wondered whether using more manual control would make it more interesting?

Only other control I use a lot is Exposure Compensation - at least with digital you get to see what the results will be (makes you lazy, but doubt if I could now go back to Ye Goode Olde Dayes of guessing it and waiting for the prints).

Don't really need manual focus as the 9600 has an exposure lock, so point in the right direction, lock the exposure, point where you want to focus, half-press the shutter(locks focus without changing locked exposure), then point back to where you started and click.

chickmug

ManAtHome wrote: »

Only other control I use a lot is Exposure Compensation - at least with digital you get to see what the results will be (makes you lazy, but doubt if I could now go back to Ye Goode Olde Dayes of guessing it and waiting for the prints).

Don't really need manual focus as the 9600 has an exposure lock, so point in the right direction, lock the exposure, point where you want to focus, half-press the shutter(locks focus without changing locked exposure), then point back to where you started and click.

9600 is that the Fuji - a good camera which I was very close to buying 12/18 months ago when I bought my son the Panasonic FZ18.