MK5 Golf GTI

General => Photography Section => Topic started by: George on April 13, 2012, 01:19:03 pm

Title: Camera needed for Holiday and General Use
Post by: George on April 13, 2012, 01:19:03 pm

Hi all,

I'm after a new digital camera for an upcoming holiday in Greece and for general use, days out, car shows etc. I want a camera that produces fairly good photographs but not an SLR camera.

I don't mind having a slight fiddle with the settings on the camera to produce photographs, but I don't want something that I need to learn to use or takes a while to setup before taking the photograph.

I would prefer something from the main stream brands, Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony etc

My budget is £200-£300ish, but if it's worth paying a bit extra for a better camera, I could stretch it.

Thanks,

George  :happy2:

Title: Re: Camera needed for Holiday and General Use
Post by: stealthwolf on April 13, 2012, 01:43:01 pm

I'd always recommend the Ixus and Lumix ranges. The skill of photography is in the mind and the eye of the photographer and not the camera. I've seen stunning pics taken with iPhone cameras.

FWIW I have the Canon G12 and it has more advanced features but it is still a compact.

Title: Re: Camera needed for Holiday and General Use
Post by: Matto on April 13, 2012, 01:46:01 pm

I bought a Panasonic Lumix TZ-18 for the GF at xmas. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B004I1KOM6/watersphotogr-21/ref=nosim (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B004I1KOM6/watersphotogr-21/ref=nosim)

Took it on holiday with us a few weeks ago and got some good photos. Its classed as a travel zoom camera which means it has great zoom ability to get stuff thats far away.

Gets the thumbs up here  :happy2:

Title: Re: Camera needed for Holiday and General Use
Post by: Frodo-anni on April 14, 2012, 12:55:53 am

There is a small camera that received a few recommendations at the start of the year, i thin it was a canon powershot? Richwig83 listed a link somewhere.

Title: Re: Camera needed for Holiday and General Use
Post by: Frodo-anni on April 14, 2012, 12:58:39 am

Knew it was somewhere, its the canon powershot sx220/230

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/cameras-and-camcorders/cameras/compact-cameras/canon-powershot-sx230-hs-959118/review

http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/digital-cameras/1288072/canon-powershot-sx230-hs

Title: Re: Camera needed for Holiday and General Use
Post by: john87 on April 16, 2012, 09:52:17 am

I have a 2010 Panasonic Lumix 7Z-65, excellent for a larger compact with a 12x optical zoom. Think I paid about £230 for it back then.

Title: Re: Camera needed for Holiday and General Use
Post by: George on April 24, 2012, 10:23:47 pm

I was thinking about the Sony NEX-C3? Looks brilliant

Title: Re: Camera needed for Holiday and General Use
Post by: Horatio on April 26, 2012, 09:05:50 am

What about a bridge camera? Alot of SLR features without the need of multiple lenses and shoots HD video. Bought a Panny FZ38 but only shoots 29 minutes of hd video, something to do with rediculous EU rules. Its superceded by the FZ45 which is not restricted on hd video recording.

Title: Re: Camera needed for Holiday and General Use
Post by: George on May 07, 2012, 04:30:08 pm

Don't really want a bridge because of the size.

I've done a lot of research and now stuck between these two:

The Panasonic DMC-GF3 or the Olympus E-PM1.

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/81676/show.html (http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/81676/show.html)

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/82918/show.html (http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/82918/show.html)

I've read that the flash on the Olympus is better, and rightly or wrongly I also much prefer the styling of it!

But, with the panasonic, I also have the option of getting the 14mm lens for Macro use, for only £60 extra: http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/81682/show.html (http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/81682/show.html)

The iauto function on the Panasonic looks good to, does the Olympus have a similar feature?

What do you reckon guys?

http://digital-cameras.findthebest.com/compare/294-373/Olympus-E-PM1-vs-Panasonic-DMC-GF3 (http://digital-cameras.findthebest.com/compare/294-373/Olympus-E-PM1-vs-Panasonic-DMC-GF3)

Title: Re: Camera needed for Holiday and General Use
Post by: stealthwolf on May 07, 2012, 04:50:31 pm

Admittedly I don't know much about Olympus so I'm biased towards the Panasonic. Have you read the in-depth reviews on dpreview?

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmcgf3/

and

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympusepm1

Having had a look at the comparison chart: http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/side-by-side?products=panasonic_dmcgf3&products=oly_epm1

The lack of a built-in flash would bother me. I keep losing various things and for me this is another thing to lose.