Oh poo! New camera needed.

[Gern]

Hi folks,

I finished my full time work on Friday (Yippppeee!) and, apart from a couple of days doing a summer school (for the students who didn't bother turning up for the regular teaching sessions), I'm work free for at least 6 weeks.

Time to start my GB so I dug out all my kits etc. and set up a platform to take some pics. Get my camera which has just come back from being repaired - and it's still broke! They ain't fixed the original problem so I took it back to Argos and they've given me a refund.

Before I get another, can I ask if anybody can recommend a replacement? The only time I'm going to be using it will be to post pics of my kits on the forum so I don't want anything special. I also obviously don't want to spend a fortune.

Any help would be appreciated.

Gern

[AlanG]

All my pics that have appeared on here from me have been taken on my phone (5 Megapixel). I suppose it's all down to how much you want to spend and how in-depth you want to go with a camera

[Ian M]

I to use my mobil nokia also a 5megapixel thingie.

I have a Canon DSLR but the batteries are shaged and cant hold the charge. If I charge them right up I can munch my way through one in around an hour. Also my mobil is always at hand, so no having to find the camera first...

My wife has a HP Photosmart M437 which is rather good. Bonus is that if you have a HP computer and screen and one of their printers, you get the same colour all the way through the process. Camera>screen>hardcopy! (rather good if you cant get all of them calibrated!)

Small effective and quick too!

Ian M

[John]

Have a look at the Panasonic Lumix range, I have a G1 an my wife has a point and shoot one, DMC something, it cost less than £130 compared to my G1 which was £550 plus £350 for an extra lens and to be honest my wife's does a really good job, in some cases a better job

[PJP]

New Camera?

I'm a big fan of the Canon Ixus range.

The 90IS gives you lots of options, fits a pocket better than a 20 pack of cigarettes (in case you smoke!).

Drop proof virtually bomb proof and now quite cheap into the bargain, but not, as my boy discovered on his honeymoon, waterproof. And I'm still waiting for him to sort the insurance.

Peter

[Guest]

Hi gern i would suggest if it is a digitalcompact then the Panasonic Lumix LS80 or the FujiFilm Finepix J50 these come in at around 89.99 for the fuji and 99.99 for the panasonic.

scott

[Guest]

Sorry not to come in on this earlier Dave. Been a non modelling/forum weekend to to a wedding and diy.

Sound advice from all the posts above, only thing I can add is to make sure your new camera has a decent close up. Do not buy one that only has digital zoom, it is awful you need optical zoom for quality. Also, if possible, get one that allows you to set the "film" speed ISO so that you can use the lowest ISO without the camera taking over and ramping it up in dull light. Also as much manual control as possible, some offer more than others but the cost reflects this. Get one that allows you to use a small desktop tripod to make up for the slow shutter speed. Try to get to handle the cameras in a proper shop, sometimes the best camera for the job just does not sit easy in the hand and once you have it, your stuck with it. Go to a proper camera shop but only listen to advice if it is the proprietor or the sales person is over 40... sorry but I have heard some amazing out and out lies in camera shops by youngsters who have read a magazine and think they know it all. Lies may seem a bit strong but one one occasion I was actually compelled to intervene when some spotty erk was telling a bloke that a camera which he was looking at was suitable for what the chap had asked for. I knew, from being nosy and listening in, that it wasn't so i butted in and asked said spotty erk to demonstrate how it would do what the bloke wanted. He couldn't and walked off muttering. I then explained what I thought the guy wanted and took him to another shop where I knew the owner who gladly took over and let the bloke play with various suitable models until he found the one he felt comfortable with. Sadly people like that, sole traders who care, are thin on the ground in camera shops now.

[tr1ckey66]

Hi Dave

My suggestion would be to go for a 2nd hand SLR camera. As Graham says control over things like aperture, ISO setting, shutter speed etc can make a big difference. I've found this on ebay that I think could be quite suitable.

Nikon D50 6.24 Megapixel Digital Camera with 18-55mm... on eBay (end time 26-Jul-10 19:18:08 BST)

The camera's is 6.24 Meg pixel which isn't massive but you won't be able to post the highest resolution shots on to this site anyway! A cheap tripod may also be an idea at some point.

If you don't know anything about photography don't worry too much, there are always auto override settings and half the fun is experimenting. You'll get used to the SLR in no time and will get a lot better/more creative results in the process.

You may not want to bother with all this and I can totally understand that I just wanted to give you an option.

Best of luck with the camera hunt.

Paul

[Guest]

Hi Dave if you can afford yourself a digital slr then i highly recomend it, i own a canon 450d and it like many other dslrs have all the settings on that you will ever need as a pack you usually get one or two lenses with them, however if you go onto e-bay you can pick up some very cheap bargins.

scott

[Gern]

Wow, I wasn't expecting such a wide range of responses! Thanks guys, but methinks your help is falling on deaf ears!

It was my missus what took the camera back. It turns out I didn't get a cash refund but a credit voucher - summat to do with the fact I used my Nectar points to buy the original I think.

Anyway, that means I gotta buy the replacement from Argos.

The other thing I should have said is that I want CHEAP! I appreciate you only get what you pay for, but I'm not looking for anything to help me become the next David Bailey!

What about this one?

Vivitar X327 10MP with 3x optical and 4x digital zoom.

Gern

[Guest]

Not seen it myself but I would advise you scour the net for reviews don't just grab the first you see.