Digital camera - Which is the best

unrich

I see the Olympus Tough comes in pink.

darich

Glad to see a thread where everyone's not seduced by lots of pixels.
A 6mp DSLR will have better quality images than an 8mp compact - especially in low light.

I agree with a previous poster - i'd stick with a photographic name eg Canon, Nikon, Kodak rather than an electronics brand eg Samsung, Casio. That's not to say the electronic brand cameras are poor - i just feel that Canon Nikon etc have many years more experience in cameras and would buy into that rather than an eletronics company using parts from other companies.

A spare battery is usually a good idea. I'd recommend getting a camera that has a Li-ion battery rather than AA or AAA batteries. The Li-ion will out last the others by a considerable distance and is lighter. The downside is you can't nip into the petrol station to buy batteries if run out of power or forget to charge.
Other useful extras include

• a good case
• possibly a car charger
• mini tripod
• a couple of smaller capacity memory cards rather than one large one.

I'd advise against a filter or add on lens if you're buying a compact - the cost in comparison to the results will be disappointing.

darich

moonrakerz wrote: »

No ! that's rubbish - you want this one:

http://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk/Mod/Products/Nikon_D3_Bundle_4

:D:D:D:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Only so i could sell it and buy the 1Ds MKIII!!!!
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::beer:

buglawton

The latest important innovations are: Face Recognition and Stabilizer.

The first ensures that faces are locked onto, focussed onto and are sharp.

The second ensures that low light images without flash/pics taken when you are moving are less affected by hand movement.

My camera has these 2 and I appreciate the results quite a lot (stabilizer is really helpful on full zoom shots).

The very latest trick is smile recognition, that ensures a snap when someone is smiling!

I any of these are important to you, try to ensure they are in the spec of the camera you buy.

billy_the_kid_2

Lynxette wrote: »

Personally, i think my next digi-cam purchase will be the Olympus Tough (The one advertised on the telly with the little kid and the dog). After 3 years with my sony, it has only just died - It sufferd large dents, drops, water-splashed and a 2 litre bottle of Innocent Smoothie over it. Unfortunatly, the dog taking a shining to it has finally killed it.

From what I've read and heard, this camera is perfect for me as a student who takes to slinging bags around with no care for the valuables within them. :P

If you are after the tough, try get this one when in stock from Ebuyer

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/142145

I bought one last week, its cheaper than the one on the telly but is the next one up in the range and also has crush protection, its nearly bullet proof. The Gadget show tested it last series in Iceland.

I'm very pleased with it.

cheshire_tony

I agree with what's been said already re pixel count; camera maker rather than electronics company, etc.

I would add that you should to a camera dealer and try several models to see if the controls are a reasonable size - my fingers are large'ish so ultra-small controls are unsuitable. I found my local branch (Wilmslow) of Wildings were excellent, knowledgeable staff, let me go outside and wander round outside with a couple of cameras to try out.

Do you want a 'pocket' camera? The Canon Powershot range is generally reckoned to be ok. Have a browse on the Amateur Photographer Forum here to see the threads there.

You might want to consider whether it uses 'standard' rechargeable AA or AAA batteries or custom batteries (My current preference is for cameras using AA batteries).

buglawton

We switched form AAs on the last camera to li-Ion on the current. Rechargeable AAs can be good or can be completely unpredictable, with the battery meter giving no clue that it's just about to expire. Bought Alkaline AAs will give you about 10 shots before giving up - they will not be empty, just unable to supply the correct voltage at load (so perfectly ok for a torch still).

I prefer the predictability and fast charging of Li-Ion nowadays and carry 1 spare.

bookduck

buglawton wrote: »

The latest important innovations are: Face Recognition ...

The very latest trick is smile recognition, that ensures a snap when someone is smiling!

Yes, seen these and now they do multiple (5 or 7) faces too. The question is if the face in the group is not smiling does that person automatically be come out of focus, or won't allow a picture to be taken, or a red circle is displayed around their head so that you can spot the culprit?

Lakeuk

darich wrote: »

A spare battery is usually a good idea. I'd recommend getting a camera that has a Li-ion battery rather than AA or AAA batteries. The Li-ion will out last the others by a considerable distance and is lighter. The downside is you can't nip into the petrol station to buy batteries if run out of power or forget to charge.

Get a camera that takes AA's and buy a good set of rechargables (2000mAh rated+) they're lasted length of a long trip and if they don't like me you can raid the mp3 player, gps, or torch. Never use AA alkalines in cameras they're run out in 30minsI've recently bought a Canon A590IS and have currently taken 200 pictures and the battery is still going on the 2 rechargable AA's.My Dads camera takes Li-ion which he has two, and he's always running out and no where near a charge point - he's so impressed with my A590 and that it takes AA's that he's bought one for himself.

totalsolutions

froggy_girl128, I would not dream of anything less than £3500 (body only) for my requirements + lenses