Am I asking the impossible?
Discussion
I have had my current camera for a few years and I think it's about time for a change. The camera is a Kodak Z740. I have had some mixed results buts it's been a good experience and I think I know what I want out of my next camera a bit better now.
Here is what I don’t like about it:
In low light I get noise showing from iso 200 so it's really hard to get anything passable without exposure that is too long for me to reliably hold. This isn’t helped by the lack of any IS. Its low light is really starting to bug me to be honest anything beyond dusk is a lot of work. The camera only has iso 400 but that’s so uselessly noisy. I have to give up at anything that won't expose properly beyond about 1/30 sec at iso 100. My brothers sony t50 far out performs my camera by using electrickery to compensate. Recently I took a shot in Portugal at night. I had to mess about using the manual settings timer and setting the camera somewhere flat. He starts getting lippy holds his up one handed, snap and gets a well exposed shot, good colour and not noticeable noise on a regular size photo. My camera just couldn’t compete. It took me a good few minutes on manual to get something comparable.
Aperture settings are too few, I want to be able to do long exposures during the day or night to get trails or the nice effect with long exposure and water. Aperture stops at f8 so shutters long enough to give the effect over expose.
The camera is too slow. Tracking anything moving takes a long time to get focus. I took it to the red bull and have some reasonable efforts but its luck if the camera will work fast enough.
Processing times are too long, long exposures take a little while to process but a 5 shot burst will take me 30 seconds to get the camera back to retake another shot. Even fast single shot is too slow when things are happening fast.
Colour metering seems odd, most times I take my shots into photo shop to correct colour shifts or odd distortions.
Focusing is too basic. The modes are too few. There is centre focus slightly left, slightly right and slightly left and slightly right at the same time. Anything you want as sharp in the extremities isn't possible as it doesn’t have a zone there. There is no ability to override the focus so things like a picture through chain fencing require multiple attempts to make the camera ignore the fence if it can or you end up with a great pic of chain fencing.
To be honest a lot of my issues would probably be well fixed if I was better with a camera but I feel like I'm at the point where I want a little more. I think I probably need a DSLR but TBH the camera I have I find a chore to cart about. The idea of needing multiple lenses seems like a lot of work. The camera I have is 38-380 equivalent so conservatively that would be two lenses to replace that range. The size of the camera is already too big to put in your pocket so I rarely take it out at night or just on the off chance so I feel like I miss out on some spur of the moment shots.
I am in a bit of a quandary really. I think any high zoom compacts would not really solve the quality issues and I still would have a camera too big to fit in my pocket. Any compact that would fit in my pocket would have no zoom range so not so good when I go to any racing or the like. Also most don’t even have an EVF, just the back screen so are next to useless in high light. A DSLR would be nice, but cost significantly more and I would want a lot of kit so more space and even less likely to carry it everywhere.
I can't be the only person who wants a camera of reasonable quality, good range and small enough to carry without a bag? I think it must be like asking for the impossible though. I guess the reality is if I want to take good images I need a DSLR and I need a compact to stick in my pocket for the spur of the moment stuff. Anyone have a suggestion where to go next? I think its time for a change whatever as the camera is a bit old now but I don’t know where to put my money to get most of the boxes ticked.
Here is what I don’t like about it:
In low light I get noise showing from iso 200 so it's really hard to get anything passable without exposure that is too long for me to reliably hold. This isn’t helped by the lack of any IS. Its low light is really starting to bug me to be honest anything beyond dusk is a lot of work. The camera only has iso 400 but that’s so uselessly noisy. I have to give up at anything that won't expose properly beyond about 1/30 sec at iso 100. My brothers sony t50 far out performs my camera by using electrickery to compensate. Recently I took a shot in Portugal at night. I had to mess about using the manual settings timer and setting the camera somewhere flat. He starts getting lippy holds his up one handed, snap and gets a well exposed shot, good colour and not noticeable noise on a regular size photo. My camera just couldn’t compete. It took me a good few minutes on manual to get something comparable.
Aperture settings are too few, I want to be able to do long exposures during the day or night to get trails or the nice effect with long exposure and water. Aperture stops at f8 so shutters long enough to give the effect over expose.
The camera is too slow. Tracking anything moving takes a long time to get focus. I took it to the red bull and have some reasonable efforts but its luck if the camera will work fast enough.
Processing times are too long, long exposures take a little while to process but a 5 shot burst will take me 30 seconds to get the camera back to retake another shot. Even fast single shot is too slow when things are happening fast.
Colour metering seems odd, most times I take my shots into photo shop to correct colour shifts or odd distortions.
Focusing is too basic. The modes are too few. There is centre focus slightly left, slightly right and slightly left and slightly right at the same time. Anything you want as sharp in the extremities isn't possible as it doesn’t have a zone there. There is no ability to override the focus so things like a picture through chain fencing require multiple attempts to make the camera ignore the fence if it can or you end up with a great pic of chain fencing.
To be honest a lot of my issues would probably be well fixed if I was better with a camera but I feel like I'm at the point where I want a little more. I think I probably need a DSLR but TBH the camera I have I find a chore to cart about. The idea of needing multiple lenses seems like a lot of work. The camera I have is 38-380 equivalent so conservatively that would be two lenses to replace that range. The size of the camera is already too big to put in your pocket so I rarely take it out at night or just on the off chance so I feel like I miss out on some spur of the moment shots.
I am in a bit of a quandary really. I think any high zoom compacts would not really solve the quality issues and I still would have a camera too big to fit in my pocket. Any compact that would fit in my pocket would have no zoom range so not so good when I go to any racing or the like. Also most don’t even have an EVF, just the back screen so are next to useless in high light. A DSLR would be nice, but cost significantly more and I would want a lot of kit so more space and even less likely to carry it everywhere.
I can't be the only person who wants a camera of reasonable quality, good range and small enough to carry without a bag? I think it must be like asking for the impossible though. I guess the reality is if I want to take good images I need a DSLR and I need a compact to stick in my pocket for the spur of the moment stuff. Anyone have a suggestion where to go next? I think its time for a change whatever as the camera is a bit old now but I don’t know where to put my money to get most of the boxes ticked.
I've got a G9 and whilst it is better than what has been described, I'm not sure that it's that much better to warrant the change. I think you should be looking at a cheap DSLR. Also, according to the rumour mill on the Canon forums at least, the G9 is due for replacement soon. That means either bargain G9s or waiting a bit for what is replacing it.
That g9 looks like a good suggestion. I see it's compatable with a teleconvertor so I guess I could get the long distance back with that as it would probably still be better than the Kodak I have.
When are people expecting news on a replacement? looking at the prices it seems it's a £400 camera so I suppose the replacement is expected to be in that ballpark.
Is there a good review for this camera with comparative shots? i have looked through dpreview and a few others and cant really see any great shots that show where the limits are.
When are people expecting news on a replacement? looking at the prices it seems it's a £400 camera so I suppose the replacement is expected to be in that ballpark.
Is there a good review for this camera with comparative shots? i have looked through dpreview and a few others and cant really see any great shots that show where the limits are.
You've got conflicting requirements, so you need to decide what is most important - low noise means a larger (i.e. DSLR-size) sensor, but a larger sensor and 400mm-ish telephoto means a very big lens, which means it can't possibly fit in your pocket. Fast autofocus tracking means you need phase-detect autofocus, which I think also means a DSLR at the moment.
I'd say your best bet might be to look at a cheap-ish DSLR and a cheap-ish compact - I don't think you'll find anything that will meet all of your criteria in one box.
The Nikon D40 + kit lens is just over £200 now after cashback, you could add a telephoto zoom lens for about another £150 & keep your Kodak for the times when you don't want to carry an SLR.
I'd say your best bet might be to look at a cheap-ish DSLR and a cheap-ish compact - I don't think you'll find anything that will meet all of your criteria in one box.
The Nikon D40 + kit lens is just over £200 now after cashback, you could add a telephoto zoom lens for about another £150 & keep your Kodak for the times when you don't want to carry an SLR.
rustyspit said:
I'd say your best bet might be to look at a cheap-ish DSLR and a cheap-ish compact - I don't think you'll find anything that will meet all of your criteria in one box.
I am a believer in the two cameras approach.When you want to take photographs - and the taking of photographs is the whole point of going where you are going - only a DSLR will do. AND at least a couple of zoom lenses covering the full range of focal lengths (IMO). I have a Nikon D2X, 18-70mm and a 80-400mm. I'll be losing the 18-70 a.s.a.p. and replacing it with a 18-200 superzoom which will only come off the camera rarely when I need the telephoto. A pro wouldn't go for a superzoom. But it does me.
But that little lot packs out my little camera backpack! Hardly what you'd take to a party.
For that - we have a little Canon IXUS. Great images and goes in a jacket pocket. Used when what you are doing is more important than taking pictures of it and the results are not expected to be great art - just an aide-memoire.
Simpo Two said:
Don said:
I am a believer in the two cameras approach.
Me too. Since 1984 I've always had an SLR and a compact within easy reach.The same approcah works for cars, a sensible one for the week and a silly one for the weekends
ThatPhilBrettGuy said:
m12_nathan said:
Simpo Two said:
Buzz word said:
Oh no, thats already my approach with cars. This is going to get expensive fast like the cars isn't it?
Luckily Gordon Brown hasn't thought of Pixel Tax yet...
I went to have a look at a g9 in the local Jessops the other day. I was very impressed with the camera. It seemed to do most things that the better entry DSLR's can too, bracketing is a real touch on a compact I think. It seems perfect for what I want right now and is just small enough to carry about. I suppose next time it really is a full DSLR if I find this isn't enough but I figured it would compliment a DSLR well so its half way to the two cameras approach.
Utterly great camera, good call chaps. I had a look at some of the others like the lumix, nikon and rioch and they all seemed to fall a bit short in some way or other to what I wanted. I beat another £20 discount out of the sales people and bought the g9 then and there, I'm itching to go take some shots now.
Utterly great camera, good call chaps. I had a look at some of the others like the lumix, nikon and rioch and they all seemed to fall a bit short in some way or other to what I wanted. I beat another £20 discount out of the sales people and bought the g9 then and there, I'm itching to go take some shots now.
It's a good camera for what it is. I'm very happy with mine. Last night I was playing with a friends 40D and was pleased to see that a lot of what I have learnt transfers across to the Canon DSLR range. All the buttons are labelled with the same symbols to start with, which is a big help straight away. It seems that a lot of people with SLRs use a camera like a G9 as their compact camera so I think they should compliment each other too should you get a DSLR one day.
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