Cheap Digital Camera deals discussion

MrSpoon84

I found this Pentax Optio H90 at Comet today for £79.99. It got some pretty good reviews although it has quite retro looks. I'd post a link but as a new member it won't let me!

[Deleted User]

macutmore wrote: »

I couldn’t believe that the build quality of the traveller XS400 compared to that of a Panasonic lumix! Did some more research and it appears that the traveller cameras are in fact rebadged ROLLEIs. Rollei is a legend camera trademark at their prime time. The new range of Rollei products put German excellence in technology, design and build quality in your hands, for a very Japanese price.

Are you sure you don't work in marketting? Your prose oozes it. I will admit that Rollei has a very similar website to Traveller:
http://www.traveler-service.de/cms/index.php?id=traveler-digital-cameras-uk
http://www.rcp-technik.com/typo3/index.php?id=114&L=1

I wonder why I don't see Rollei reviews in Amature photographer.. is it because they're a 'relic brand' ? Might have been good once, now they've been bought out and are just a 'chinese import->rebadge' firm? I've got some German lenses.. sure they're good - but the German camera industry didn't do much after the 1970s.

Agfa have been making cameras since 1873.. i wouldn't recommend buying one of their cameras any more than i would a Rollei

Only kind of Rollei i'd buy is this bad-boy http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ROLLEI-35-S-%20-Soft-Case_W0QQitemZ370386670547QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=&rvr_id=&cguid=b681d7c91290a0aad4b2f5a2ffe613c0

I suspect the company has lost most of its photography heritage looking at the cameras on its site.

[Deleted User]

MrSpoon84 wrote: »

I found this Pentax Optio H90 at Comet today for £79.99. It got some pretty good reviews although it has quite retro looks. I'd post a link but as a new member it won't let me!

Here you go - http://www.laskys.com/cameras_and_camcorders/cameras/digital_cameras/pentax_optio_h90.html?cm_mmc=Froogle-_-Feed-_-Digital_Cameras-_-622150&_%24ja=tsid:5824|cc:|prd:622150|cat:Cameras+And+Camcorders+%2F+Cameras+%2F+Digital+Cameras+%2F+
Review - http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/pentax_optio_h90_review/

It's ok for a budget camera, although the review only gives it 3.5 out of 5 for image quality. Looks rather cool though

macutmore

"Are you sure you don't work in marketting? Your prose oozes it. I will admit that Rollei has a very similar website to Traveller:"

Very sure I can absolutely guarantee that I don’t work in marketing. I genuinely just purchased the XS400 and wanted to share my thoughts. I originally considered buying a high end compact that might also do HD video that was handy to keep in your pocket. But am pleased to say that I think I've really just saved myself nearly £130!

"I wonder why I don't see Rollei reviews in Amature photographer.. is it because they're a 'relic brand' ? "

The Rollei site and Wikipedia detail that Rollei has only recently gone digital albeit with huge critical acclaim. There are tests out there, naturally listed on the Rollei site, but are all in German. I used bing translate to discover the conclusions are fair to very good for most of their models.

Rollei cameras typically use Carl Zeiss or Schneider Kreuznach lenses, or lenses manufactured by Rollei based on designs by Zeiss, and occasionally lenses made by Japanese manufacturers and if you look more closely (check out the manuals too) you will find that the traveller range of cameras are exactly the same – just rebadged, repackaged and sold exclusively by ALDI stores!

Rollei themselves have only just began marketing their very high quality cameras in the UK. Their recent triumphs include the durable waterproof sports X8 (also sold by ALDI as a traveller UW8), and the latest ultra compact flexline model.

"I suspect the company has lost most of its photography heritage looking at the cameras on its site".

I think the only people that tend to lose heritage are British! The Rollieflex was the very first medium format roll-film camera in 1929. We’ve certainly come a long way since then, but as I say, look at the pictures or images. When we see a GOOD photo do we really care what it has been taken on?

[Deleted User]

I can't find any examples of reviews of those cameras.. got any photos to show?
BTW, Grattan sells Rollei compacts

Comparing a Rollieflex with a modern Rollei is a bit like comparing a Lecia Rangefinder with low-end Panasonic 'lumix'. Different time, different designer.. not the same stuff.

macutmore

ringo_24601 wrote: »

I can't find any examples of reviews of those cameras.. got any photos to show?
BTW, Grattan sells Rollei compacts

Comparing a Rollieflex with a modern Rollei is a bit like comparing a Lecia Rangefinder with low-end Panasonic 'lumix'. Different time, different designer.. not the same stuff.

Click on "TEST REPORTS" on the left navigation bar of the Rollei site
http://www.rcp-technik.com/typo3/

I like to only really compare good photographs with my eyes regardless of when or what they were taken with. I like to think that pictures are what we are really desire. I don't believe that if a picture is taken on an expensive branded high class or classic camera, it is necesarily "good". Neither do I believe its a camera that actually takes the good pictures. It's certainly an essential tool that is required, and one that is evolving by design as we speak. I guess pictures themselves have only changed in resolution and depth. Something that has got considerably better over time.

[Deleted User]

macutmore wrote: »

Click on "TEST REPORTS" on the left navigation bar of the Rollei site
http://www.rcp-technik.com/typo3/

I like to only really compare good photographs with my eyes regardless of when or what they were taken with. I like to think that pictures are what we are really desire. I don't believe that if a picture is taken on an expensive branded high class or classic camera, it is necesarily "good". Neither do I believe its a camera that actually takes the good pictures. It's certainly an essential tool that is required, and one that is evolving by design as we speak. I guess pictures themselves have only changed in resolution and depth. Something that has got considerably better over time.

Mind giving a direct link to them? I don't speak german and after clicking on all the links i cannot find anything. Irrespective of the 'content' of the photo, you can still get a good idea of the sharpness, colour accuracy, noise, purple fringing ect that the camera delivers

mabinogion_2

Have just followed a link on Martin's page about digital camera deals, and bought myself a Panasonic Lumix TZ7 from amazon. It looks like a great deal, especially as someone I know paid nearly £100 more for it recently.:j

The MSE page says they come with free case, but on the amazon page it says certain digital cameras qualify for free case, but when I followed the link for more detail I couldn't find mention of the TZ7 qualifying for free case, so now I guess I just have to wait and see what turns up. I will be so disappointed if the free case doesn't arrive.

Has anyone else bought the TZ7 from Amazon recently?

macutmore

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Mind giving a direct link to them? I don't speak german and after clicking on all the links i cannot find anything.

Sorry I don't speak German but you can use an ie accelerator to highlight and right click text for Bing translation which gives an accurate english conversion.

Here are all the Rollei compact tests I could find..

http://www.gfw.de/kameratests/index.php?k=rollei_fl250

http://www.computerbild.de/produkte/Digitalkameras-Camcorder-Zubehoer-Digitalkameras-Kompaktkameras-Rollei-Flexline-140-4006007.html

http://www.computerbild.de/artikel/avf-Test-Foto-Rollei-Flexline-140-4775581.html

http://www.pcwelt.de/start/audio_video_foto/digicam_slr/tests/2107079/rollei-flexline-250-im-test/

http://home-entertainment.magnus.de/foto-video/artikel/test-rollei-flexline-250-viel-ausstattung-fuer-wenig-geld.html

katies_mum

Wondering if anyone can help please, I`ve been looking at cameras today and come up with the following and wondered if anyone could comment (our existing camera is Fujifilm Z3 I think, its about 4 years okd and runs on xd cards, it still works ok but ......)

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/panasonic-lumix-dmc-f2-compact-digital-camera-06407669-pdt.html

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/panasonic-lumix-dmc-fs12-compact-digital-camera-12-1-mp-02798720-pdt.html

http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/617024/PANASONIC-DMC-FS9EB-K/tab/specification#spec

http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/617164/SAMSUNG-PL81-PURPLE/tab/specification#spec

Many thanks for any advice you can help with.