new digital camera

RichardJW1

I am looking to replace my Samsung digital camera mainly because the photos seem to come out too dark also night shots (parties) seem to come out with like ectoplasm on them. Asking around folks told me that this camera is only a moderate performer so now I'm on the look out for something else.
What do you recommend which is around the £250/300 mark, handy pocket sized and that you've been pleased with?

thanks
Richard

mchale

google: F200 EXR

N9eav

Panasonic use the best lenses (Leica) Fuji are also good.

Laz123

I got a Panasonic FX150 for around £200 with 2gb card. It's a whopping 14.1m megapixels.

ian_w_4

Sweeping statement of the day award goes to ...

N9eav wrote: »

Panasonic use the best lenses (Leica)

Whilst Panasonic lenses are regarded to be high quality and branded 'Leica', if you read the small print they're not actually made by Leica, just made to a spec 'approved' by Leica. Whatever that means.

It really depends on what you want from your camera. I've been happy with my Canon Ixus for a few years and I believe the new models are still up there. As already pointed out the Fuji F200 EXR has been getting a lot of excellent reviews recently, particularly in low light shooting as you mention. Get yourself down to Jessops and play with a few to see what you like the feel of (don't forget to price check- they'll price match in store or order via quidco for cashback )

althas

OK Richard, can you give a little more detail on what you want. point and shoot, bridge, dslr? Then a recommendation on a couple for you based on your requirements could be made

If it's point and shoot then disregard the mega-pixel count. It is totally irrelevant, as the sensors on point and shoots are a lot smaller than DSLR's and anything really over 8mp is pretty much a waste (if the camera happens to have more than this then that's a bonus, but not a basis for buying it)

The all important thing for P&S is the lens. Have a look at what you want, see one, then check the lens. That will make all the difference to the quality of the picture. Also forget about digital zoom. Optical zoom is the way

If you want to get more seriously into photography and have more control over your shots, then a DSLR would be the way to go. You can get a nice beginner kit from Nikon or Canon for that kind of cash you are talking about. It will take you to a whole new level

But, let us know what you want it for, it's use, and you requirements then we can narrow it down

:beer:

scubaangel

I've got an Ixus 980, 14.something mp, plenty of functions and seems to be good at handling most light states, I use mine for alot of underwater photography and have had some really pleasing results even compared to my usual buddies v expensive DSLR camera.

I think theyre about £260 on amazon at the moment.

Laz123

althas wrote: »

If it's point and shoot then disregard the mega-pixel count. It is totally irrelevant, as the sensors on point and shoots are a lot smaller than DSLR's and anything really over 8mp is pretty much a waste (if the camera happens to have more than this then that's a bonus, but not a basis for buying it)


:beer:

Thanks for that, you learn something new every day. It must be my new specs which makes the pics from my new cam look much more detailed than the pics I took with my old Olympus 8 megapixel.

RichardJW1

althas wrote: »

OK Richard, can you give a little more detail on what you want. point and shoot, bridge, dslr? Then a recommendation on a couple for you based on your requirements could be made

If it's point and shoot then disregard the mega-pixel count. It is totally irrelevant, as the sensors on point and shoots are a lot smaller than DSLR's and anything really over 8mp is pretty much a waste (if the camera happens to have more than this then that's a bonus, but not a basis for buying it)

The all important thing for P&S is the lens. Have a look at what you want, see one, then check the lens. That will make all the difference to the quality of the picture. Also forget about digital zoom. Optical zoom is the way

If you want to get more seriously into photography and have more control over your shots, then a DSLR would be the way to go. You can get a nice beginner kit from Nikon or Canon for that kind of cash you are talking about. It will take you to a whole new level

But, let us know what you want it for, it's use, and you requirements then we can narrow it down

:beer:

I bought this Samsung NV3 at a local computer shop, their choice was limited but previous experience with a very unreliable Fuji cool-pix taught me a lesson about buying too far from home......twice in one year it went wrong and their customer support then was absolutely diabolical (2007) taking over a month to repair the first failure.

Firstly I often need to take close-up (macro) shots of components used on machinery for report purposes, poor workman blames his tools and all that but it seems this Samsung never seems to get it right, either the flash goes off and all I get is a bright reflection off the steel component or it's too dark to make anything out.....usually to get this right I end up taking 3 or 4 shots just to be sure I get something useable when I get back to the office.
Secondly I recently took some shots on a sunny evening of our machinery/equipment parked up, still plenty of light around and when I looked at the pics in the view finder I thought they looked o.k.
When I got back home and pulled them on to the computer I was really disappointed as to how dark they were, I tried to auto-correct with photo editor and it just made them too bright.
Then thirdly I found that taking pics at parties the shots seem to have bright spots in them, like as if it had picked up on something mid range.

I guess I am guilty of being a "point & shoot" as there are other settings within the camera dial, so maybe it's my fault, however other folks also in the same category as me seem to turn up some real classic shots.

superjaggybunnet

Get yourself the best Nikon you can afford!

althas

Thanks Richard, I know what you mean. I use a DSLR and NEVER use a flask

From what you are saying, sounds like you could probably use a bridge type of camera. Point and Shoot size, but some DSLR functions

http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews_canon_powershot_g9.php

For example. It will do all you want, it will fit in your pocket (My boss at work has one so I know the size), has a good lens. But what could be more important for you, is the fact that you can take pictures in RAW format

If you are not familiar with this, basically when you take a picture, a camera will do some in-house processing on what it thinks things like exposure and white balance should be and puts a jpeg out the other end. With RAW. it just stores all the unprocessed data for the picture, so you can do all the post processing yourself on a PC. You can pretty much change anything, the exposure (not brightness but the actual exposure levels), the white balance, colours. the histogram and on and on. It is VERY easy to do and has saved a LOT of shots for me where they have been under/over exposed at time of taking

Will take a bit of playing with to get it going, but as I said, I can not remember the last time I used my flash for a photo and the pictures are a lot better to me

Have a trip to Jessops and have a play with a few and get a feel for them, but I do not think you would be disapointed with something along the G9 lines

Good luck and let uus know what you get