New Camera Advice

[PetrolTed]

My trusty old Olympus took a bit of a knock the other day and is probably on its way out. It's probably time to get something a bit more versatile ready for next year.

Has anyone got any suggestions that would match the following criteria:

- Zoom of more than 3x
- USB connection preferred
- Rapid fire facility (what's it called when you can hold the trigger and grab several shots in sequence?)
- Reasonably robust
- Price < £750

[beano500]

It's been said before, but favour the manufacturers with a reputation for producing good optics.....

.....no not the type your Scotch comes in ...


Olympus, Nikon, Canon, Pentax for example.

You always need good raw material, and that's light - through a lens!

Secondly get to handle them - you need to feel it will be comfortable to use otherwise it will be a waste of £££s


(I'd go for a Nikon! )

[beano500]

PetrolTed said:

(what's it called when you can hold the trigger and grab several shots in sequence?)

I call it "Oh, I didn't mean to have it on that setting!!!!"

[specitup]

i dont profress to know a great deal about cameras at all, but i have a FujiFilm FinePix which is a pretty decent little thing think it cost me about 450 a couple of years ago. and its got the rapidshot thingimigig you were talking about.

[ehasler]

The new Sony DSC-F828 is supposed to be the mutt's nuts, although it isn't being released for another month or so I don't think.

Amazon are selling it for about £746, and are taking pre-orders at the moment.

If I wasn't a die-hard Canon fan, I'd be seriously tempted!

[sparkyjohn]

Canon G5 sounds as though it would suit your needs, my parents are using one of these and I've just ordered one:

PetrolTed said:

- Zoom of more than 3x

4x optical zoom (35-140mm 35mm equivalent)

PetrolTed said:

- USB connection preferred

Check (edit-as in box checked, not you need to check it ! It's got usb2)

PetrolTed said:

- Rapid fire facility (what's it called when you can hold the trigger and grab several shots in sequence?)

Continuous mode. The G5 can take 2fps. Digital cameras at consumer level pricing are terrible at this, if you're going to shoot action shots then a rapid winding film slr might make more sense.

PetrolTed said:

- Reasonably robust

Hmm, solid by digital camera standards, allegedly 'splash-proof' and it seems to keep going at low temperatures, but if you drop it it'd die... (maybe you need a Nikkormat )

PetrolTed said:

- Price < £750

Should be £500 (I paid £470 online...but it hasn't come yet )

>> Edited by sparkyjohn on Friday 12th December 10:28

[ehasler]

I've got a Canon G3, which is the 4MP version of the G5, and have been very impressed with it so far.

[simpo two]

I was looking at a brochure for the Nikon CoolPix 5700 yesterday - it's got a similar spec to an an SLR though without the interchangeable lenses. Mind you, you'd almost never need to change this one!

(It's the penultimate one in the list below)

www.fotosense.co.uk/nikondigitalcamera.html

[PetrolTed]

Mmm... Nikon Coolpix 5700 certainly looks the business.

[TT Tim]

Ted, if you want a fantastic complete SLR digital set up, there is an amazing deal out there at the moment:

https://secure.hitech-uk.com/acatalog/Olympus_E20_Megadeal.html



You get:
E20 camera complete
TCON 300S lens (420mm eqv.)
TCON 14B 1.45x lens
WCON 08B
Camedia Pro 4.0 software

For £999.00

The 300S normally retails for over £600 on it's own, and the E20 £1200plus.

But this isn't a pocket camera, it's the same size as most 35mm SLRs

I can vouch for the optics, they are fantastic, I use this set up myself. With a step-up converter you can combine the 2x tele lenses to effectively give you a 450mm lens.

Tim

>> Edited by TT Tim on Friday 12th December 10:08

[simpo two]

That Olypmus deal looks good (I have a foot in each camp!). I don't know the fps performance of the Olympus but the 5700 data says:

Capture Modes: 1) Single, 2) Continuous H (3 fps; up to 3 frames), 3) Continuous L (1.5 fps), 4) Multi-Shot 16 (consecutive 16 frames at 3 fps)

... which is extremely good for any digital camera and does address Ted's specific need.

I think it's time to go to Jessops and get your paws on both Ted!

[getcarter]

Hi Ted

Olympus looks like a good deal. To get a Nikon equiv new would be at least £400 more. I guess you have to decide if you are going down the digital SLR route (best way to go!), whether you want to start collecting Olympus or Canon or Nikon lenses. Optically they are similar, but most pros use Nikon as they are pretty much bulletproof.

The bodys will of course, all be obsolete within a few years, but the lenses will last decades.

I'm tempted by that Olympus myself!

Steve

[sparkyjohn]

getcarter said:

Olympus looks like a good deal. To get a Nikon equiv new would be at least £400 more.

Not sure that there is a Nikon equivalent ? The E20 isn't an exchangeable lense 'system' slr its lense being permanently mounted. That being said, it is an excellent bit of kit and that's a cracking deal Spending that much, though, you'd have to consider Canon's Eos 300D IMO, with the advantages of a complete 'platform' and interchangeable lenses.

getcarter said:

I guess you have to decide if you are going down the digital SLR route (best way to go!), whether you want to start collecting Olympus or Canon or Nikon lenses. Optically they are similar, but most pros use Nikon as they are pretty much bulletproof. The bodys will of course, all be obsolete within a few years, but the lenses will last decades.

That's the advantage of the 300D, but it's way above the budget Ted's suggested. Probably 6 and 2 3s between Canon and Nikon for quality and level of usage, but Nikon are trailing Canon in digital technology somewhat.

[Marshy]

You can find the EOS 300D for about 800 if you look hard enough, with the standard 18-55mm lens. Jessops' online price-match is very useful in this regard.

It'll take 4 continuous shots as fast as it can, followed by about 1 shot/s thereafter, depending on the speed of the CF card in use. Much better than my Powershot G2 could manage, for instance.

[SGirl]

PetrolTed said:

Mmm... Nikon Coolpix 5700 certainly looks the business.

It's a brilliant camera - reasonably straightforward to use, excellent output. The Cerb pix on my profile were taken with one FWIW.

[Alien]

Minolta Dimage A1 is pretty similar to the Olympus aforementioned but costs quite a bit less. Should meet your needs nicely.

[getcarter]

Didn't realise the Olympus was not lens interchangeable... makes £999 look 'nout so interesting.

(Sure it's still a bargain buy tho)

[simpo two]

getcarter said:

Didn't realise the Olympus was not lens interchangeable... makes £999 look 'nout so interesting.

Yes, sneaky that. With those extra lumps of glass in the picture it *looks* like you can change the lenses, but closer inspection shows that some fit on the front of the existing lens, and for the telephoto/support jobbie, I think the camera connects behind it. Clever but not truly interchangeable!

[TT Tim]

Agreed, but it does cover most of the bases and having the lense permanently sealed, is good in as much as it keep the level of dust able to reach the CCD to a minimum.

Even without any of the lense attachements the standard camera is excellent, offering 35mm - 140mm lens or 4x zoom if you prefer.

Have a look here for reviews: www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympuse20/page2.asp

Tim

[simpo two]

Eat this! '8x Zoom-Nikkor; f=8.9~71.2mm (35mm (135) format equivalent to 35-280mm), f2.8-4.2 with macro...'

But you're quite right, 99% of the time the lens they supply will do the job, and keep the CCD clean too. I just can't help thinking that 'real men' chage their lenses!