Which Camera?

[TimmoUK]

Hey all,

Just browsing around looking at DSLR's and came across this place.

I'm looking at buying a DSLR, my budget is £250-350. What would be the best option for me in this price range?

I came across these two, they look ok.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003WOKU4...3241_pe_vfe_d4
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003B20ST...3241_pe_vfe_d1

Any opinions or recommendations will be appreciated.

The two links you show are not DSLR but SuperZoom & Compact System type cameras - I use a Fuji 'bridge' so don't be put off. I'm sure others with knowledge of the two you have selected may tell you which may be better.

[chris-p]

Hi Timmo, welcome to the forum

First question - what photography experience do you have?

If the answer is 'none' I would suggest sticking with bridge cameras (like the FZ45 you've linked to).
In this field you're going to be looking at a few different cameras, of which, the main ones are (all clickable links):

Panasonic FZ-100 - the newer version of the one you've linked to above.
Canon Powershot SX30 IS
Sony HX1
Fuji HS10

There all similar in specification (although, not the same). If it was my money, I'd spend it on the Fuji or the Panasonic. I've used all of them and I find the Fuji to be the easiest to use (it's got a real zoom ring on the lens that you turn to zoom in and out rather than the piddly rocker switches you get on everything else). The Panasonic is physically smaller (the Fuji is the size of an SLR) but is brilliantly designed and delivers excellent quality. If I had to pick a third place it would be the Canon.

If, on the other hand, you're answer to my original question is " a fair bit of experience, actually!" then you might be better off looking for an SLR. I won't go into that here, as it's a much bigger field and we could probably fill up the forum with everyones opinions on that (oh, wait, we already have...!)

Just one final word of warning/advice...

Originally Posted by beauxreflets

The two links you show are not DSLR but Bridge/ SuperZoom & Compact type cameras - I use a Fuji 'bridge' so don't be put off. I'm sure others with knowledge of the two you have selected may tell you which may be better.

The G10 is an EVIL/MSC, not a bridge... That means it's got interchangeable lenses. Thats fine, if you want to invest in that sort of system, but it's more like an SLR and ought to be considered in that sort of discussion. You certainly can't compare the 2 cameras you've linked to.

[TimmoUK]

Thanks for the feedback both. I can't say I've had a great deal of experience with photography. I do like taking pictures every now and then though.

The camera I currently have is an Olympus µ1040. Some of my photos here.

[chris-p]

You've got some nice pictures on your Flickr page. Well done.

Considering your level of experience I would suggest going down the route of a bridge camera. It's a good way to learn the tricks and develop your technical and compositional skills without breaking the bank. You get an enormous zoom range (to match a bridge camera on my SLR would costs me many thousands of pounds) and all the manual controls you get on the most highly specific SLRs in a smaller and slightly friendlier package.

I know they're more expensive than the ones you posted links to but, as I said above, the Panasonic and the Fuji (in no particular order) are brilliant cameras and you really wouldn't be disappointed with either. They're also within your budget (just).

[KeithT]

I would definitely take a closer look at the Bridge cameras out there and even the Canon G11 will produce some stunning images. My first year of digital was done with a Sony R1 Bridge (no longer available I believe) and that was a cracking camera. You can see my small Blurb book of Santorini images taken with the Sony Bridge camera here:

http://www.blurb.com/books/1718842

It will give you an idea of what can be achieved if nothing else.

The images in the book are much sharper than those of the book preview by the way.

Just one final word of warning/advice...



The G10 is an EVIL/MSC, not a bridge... That means it's got interchangeable lenses. Thats fine, if you want to invest in that sort of system, but it's more like an SLR and ought to be considered in that sort of discussion. You certainly can't compare the 2 cameras you've linked to.[/QUOTE]

Thank you Chris, for highlighting my oversite, re the interchangerable lens on the Panasonic G10. My apologies if I mislead readers in my comment and my humble apology to Panasonic for my oversite. Have now edited initial post inserting system

[chris-p]

Originally Posted by beauxreflets

Thank you Chris, for highlighting my oversite

You know me Andy, a stickler for detail

Absolutely Chris, me too (much to the wife's annoyance sometimes). I genuinely meant to put compact system (having not closed the links at the time) and as usual always thinking ahead in a busy day(to the point of missing to type a whole word). Much appreciated.

Are you entering the weekend comp

[TimmoUK]

Ok, so I've been looking around at Bridge cameras and these are the ones which I like the look of:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003WOKU4...3241_pe_vfe_d4

http://www.comet.co.uk/p/Digital-Cam...-Camera/670812

http://www.comet.co.uk/p/Digital-Cam...-Camera/670804

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.208-8057.aspx

http://www.photographymonthly.com/ca...&Page=1&id=194

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/panason...867&xtor=AL-89

So many choices out there and I really don't know what I'm looking for, really confusing haha