Camera Lenses

kah22

Thanks for the comments to date.  I beginning to ask myself the question do I really need a camera with changeable lenses. The more I look at it the more I’m beginning to think: ‘No, I Don’t’ if only because of the price of a lens and in my 70’s money doesn't seem as plentiful as it did many years ago ☹️ !

Yes I have a use for a reasonably decent camera for a voluntary organisation I work with.  So now I’m looking at compacts.   The Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III (or IV) and the  Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ10 are three that strike my attention if only because they have a viewfinder which many here feel is essential.

Thanks for the replies to date, it helps focus the mind.

Kevin

cymruchris

Farway said:

cymruchris said:

And if you are looking to buy new - and you want to be a money saver - and don't mind a grey import you'll find some decent prices on websites such as Panamoz, DigitalRev and E-infinity, all three of whom are based in Hong Kong, ship to the UK, and offer full warranties. (The reputation of Panamoz out of the three appears to be the highest across the photographic community). I've used all three without issue.

Did you have VAT or import duties levied on delivery?

None at all - and each of these offer to reimburse any fees that do get levied. 
I've had 7-8 items over the years spread across the 3 companies - and never had to pay a penny.
I had one faulty item after 10 months - sent it to the UK manufacturer - confirmed it was faulty - and the money was in my account to pay for the repair within 24 hours.

Sandtree

kah22 said:

I beginning to ask myself the question do I really need a camera with changeable lenses.

It depends... at up to 200mm lenses are reasonably priced and will last you decades longer than any compact or DSLR body, The Mrs uses 3 cameras, an iPhone, a 4/3rds and a full frame, you can totally tell the difference between them (though mobile and 4/3 camera is much closer than it used to be) and the full frame remains leagues apart. 

Longer lenses get increasingly expensive and lets be honest, many photos are not viewed on anything more than a phone screen. So a bridge camera with a 2,000mm plus lens will get an image that looks fine on a phone for a tiny fraction of the price of a DSLR trying to capture something similar. Pay the monies and the DSLR will knock its socks off when enlarged but then you are into mortgage money.

photodgm

kah22 said:

Yes I have a use for a reasonably decent camera for a voluntary organisation I work with.  So now I’m looking at compacts.   The Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III (or IV) and the  Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ10 are three that strike my attention if only because they have a viewfinder which many here feel is essential.

I use a Panasonic TZ95 when I don't want to carry a full camera kit. I find it surprisingly competent. I like this site for their range of reviews. https://www.photographyblog.com/  

onomatopoeia99

cymruchris said:

Farway said:

cymruchris said:

And if you are looking to buy new - and you want to be a money saver - and don't mind a grey import you'll find some decent prices on websites such as Panamoz, DigitalRev and E-infinity, all three of whom are based in Hong Kong, ship to the UK, and offer full warranties. (The reputation of Panamoz out of the three appears to be the highest across the photographic community). I've used all three without issue.

Did you have VAT or import duties levied on delivery?

None at all - and each of these offer to reimburse any fees that do get levied. 

What that means in real terms is that the seller and the buyer know they are conspiring to evade import duty and VAT and the seller agrees to bear the risk of HMRC discovering that duties are payable and refund the buyer if they are charged these.

It basically depends how you feel about obeying the law - the importer is liable for the criminal offence if an imported item is mis-delcared, though HMRC rarely prosecute for single items.  If you're the sort of person that offers cash to evade VAT then go for it.

kah22

Just wanted to let you know I pressed the button and bought the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000, I bought from Amazon Marketplace for £452.04, the item marked as Used - Like New.

I shortlisted two entry level and two mid level bridge cameras. Thinking of what I’d use it for and that I’d expect it to be my permanent camera I eventually settled on the two mid range cameras , the Panasonic and the Canon PowerShot G3X.  There seemed to be little in it, I would have been happy to have either the Panasonic or Canon, at the end of the day it boiled down to a view finder, something I hadn’t even thought about until starting this tread.

Thanks everyone for your advice over this past while, I hope I’ve bought well.

Martin_the_Unjust

kah22 said:

Just wanted to let you know I pressed the button and bought the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000, I bought from Amazon Marketplace for £452.04, the item marked as Used - Like New.

I shortlisted two entry level and two mid level bridge cameras. Thinking of what I’d use it for and that I’d expect it to be my permanent camera I eventually settled on the two mid range cameras , the Panasonic and the Canon PowerShot G3X.  There seemed to be little in it, I would have been happy to have either the Panasonic or Canon, at the end of the day it boiled down to a view finder, something I hadn’t even thought about until starting this tread.

Thanks everyone for your advice over this past while, I hope I’ve bought well.

Thanks for that, please let us know how you get on with it.

Farway

kah22 said:

Just wanted to let you know I pressed the button and bought the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000, I bought from Amazon Marketplace for £452.04, the item marked as Used - Like New.

I shortlisted two entry level and two mid level bridge cameras. Thinking of what I’d use it for and that I’d expect it to be my permanent camera I eventually settled on the two mid range cameras , the Panasonic and the Canon PowerShot G3X.  There seemed to be little in it, I would have been happy to have either the Panasonic or Canon, at the end of the day it boiled down to a view finder, something I hadn’t even thought about until starting this tread.

Thanks everyone for your advice over this past while, I hope I’ve bought well.

Sounds like a good choice and the reviews read well, did you get a spare battery while at it?

Just mentioning it because there's nothing more irritating than a flashing red battery symbol after an hour's drive to take some photos

kah22

Farway said Sounds like a good choice and the reviews read well, did you get a spare battery while at it?

Just mentioning it because there's nothing more irritating than a flashing red battery symbol after an hour's drive to take some photos

Spare battery on way