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Photo Forum / General Photo Topics / UK Photography / October 2004Digital - ?300 budget - Any thoughts?
I am looking for a digital camera with a large optical zoom (8x plus) to take hillwalking and on a safari holiday. Options to point and shoot (for the wife) and manual options for me to play about with and a fairly robust build quality are required. Needless to say it has to take a mean snap. The Fuji 5500 strikes a chord. All advice, experiences, comments welcome. Thanks Ian IanC <ianchlmrs@tiscali.co.uk> observed >I am looking for a digital camera with a large optical zoom (8x plus) to >take hillwalking and on a safari holiday. Options to point and shoot (for >the wife) and manual options for me to play about with and a fairly robust >build quality are required. Needless to say it has to take a mean snap. >The Fuji 5500 strikes a chord. All advice, experiences, comments welcome. I bought a Panasonic FZ23 for £280 a couple of weeks ago. Delightful! Compact plastic body, excellent 12x Leica lens with IS, nice auto mode and everything except manual focus (but excellent spot focus) and flash shoe. Main disadvantages silver colour (I sprayed the lenshood black!) and only 3.1 Mp - less effective resolution than my nearly 3yo Fuji 6900z - also an excellent camera. So I would think the 5500 looks good. HIH Mike [The reply-to address is valid for 30 days from this posting]  SignatureMichael J Davis <>< Some newsgroup contributors appear to have confused the meaning of "discussion" with "digression". <>< If you want two for ?300, or ?150 to spend on beer, and 3mp is OK, I've got on very well with the Olympus C725.Long end of the zoom is a bit soft, but I've assumed thay all are. Very handy. > IanC <ianchlmrs@tiscali.co.uk> observed > >I am looking for a digital camera with a large optical zoom (8x plus) to [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > the meaning of "discussion" with "digression". > <>< > If you want two for £300, or £150 to spend on beer, and 3mp is OK, I've got > on very well with the Olympus C725.Long end of the zoom is a bit soft, but > I've assumed thay all are. Very handy. A couple of folk around here have the Olympus MJU 400 and 410 which are pretty impressive for the price - less than 200 pounds. Best selling point, especially for hillwalking as mentioned by OP, is that they are splashproof. >> If you want two for ?300, or ?150 to spend on beer, and 3mp is OK, I've >> got [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > point, especially for hillwalking as mentioned by OP, is that they are > splashproof. only 3x optical tho' I would look at the Fuji S7000, shoot at 12mp and crop if needed AJM >>A couple of folk around here have the Olympus MJU 400 and 410 which are >>pretty impressive for the price - less than 200 pounds. Best selling >>point, especially for hillwalking as mentioned by OP, is that they are >>splashproof. > only 3x optical tho' Plenty for most people, IMO. Especially those willing to walk! > I would look at the Fuji S7000, shoot at 12mp and crop > if needed That blows their 300quid budget without any extra cards or batteries. Also more of a brick for carrying around than my suggestion. Good value though. >> only 3x optical tho' > > Plenty for most people, IMO. Especially those willing to walk! Best form of manual zoom there is :o) He was looking for at least 8x zoom. >> I would look at the Fuji S7000, shoot at 12mp and crop if needed > > That blows their 300quid budget without any extra cards or batteries. True, but AA rechargeables are cheap enough, and a decent CF card is a few quid, so for a few extra pounds you ge a good little (largeish) unit. There again, where do you stop :o) > Also more of a brick for carrying around than my suggestion. Good value > though. He did have his eye on a S5500, so the 7000 is not that much bigger for all the extra toys AJM >>> only 3x optical tho' >> >> Plenty for most people, IMO. Especially those willing to walk! > > Best form of manual zoom there is :o) Even on a safari holiday as the OP pointed out. I think I would rather have a longer zoom than start walking towards a large wild cat :-) >>> If you want two for £300, or £150 to spend on beer, and 3mp is OK, I've >>> got [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >only 3x optical tho' I would look at the Fuji S7000, shoot at 12mp and crop >if needed How about a 2nd hand Fuji 602? SignatureAlan ............ > In article <418007f2$0$20212$cc9e4d1f@news-text.dial.pipex.com>, Dr Fish > How about a 2nd hand Fuji 602? If I was looking it would interest me :o) AJM If you are thinking Fuji, you might want to go to www.fujifilm.co.uk and search for "refurbished" - they sell refurbished cameras at very reasonable prices indeed. I have no idea how close to as-new condition the refurbished cameras are. regards, /alan >If you are thinking Fuji, you might want to go to www.fujifilm.co.uk and >search for "refurbished" - they sell refurbished cameras at very reasonable >prices indeed. I have no idea how close to as-new condition the refurbished >cameras are. I'm delighted with mine - I couldn't tell it wasn't new. I have heard other say that the refurb actually cures a glitch or 2 in the original builds, so may be better than new! SignatureAlan ............ > I am looking for a digital camera with a large optical zoom (8x plus) to > take hillwalking and on a safari holiday. Options to point and shoot (for > the wife) and manual options for me to play about with and a fairly robust > build quality are required. Needless to say it has to take a mean snap. > The Fuji 5500 strikes a chord. All advice, experiences, comments welcome. Don't forget to allow for the cost of a memory card or two, a couple of sets of spare batteries and a fast charger. SignatureJoe http://joe.hotchkiss.com > Don't forget to allow for the cost of... a fast charger. Here comes the cavalry! SignatureRoger In article <417ebc6b$1_4@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com>, ianchlmrs@tiscali.co.uk wrote > I am looking for a digital camera with a large optical zoom (8x plus) to > take hillwalking and on a safari holiday. Options to point and shoot (for [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Thanks > Ian Kodak DX 6490 x10 Optical + x3 4MP 256 Mb SD card + Case, charger and bty + all cables, straps etc ?299 Pete <aspen3@btinternet.com> observed >In article <417ebc6b$1_4@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com>, >ianchlmrs@tiscali.co.uk [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >256 Mb SD card + Case, charger and >bty + all cables, straps etc £299 If it's one I was looking at recently, it only has automatic focus. Which means excessive shutter delays!! I could be mistaken, of course. Mike [The reply-to address is valid for 30 days from this posting] SignatureMichael J Davis <>< Some newsgroup contributors appear to have confused the meaning of "discussion" with "digression". <>< In article <VZIsJ3C$tWgBFw94@trustsof.demon.co.uk>, ?.?@trustsof.demon.co.uk wrote > Pete <aspen3@btinternet.com> observed > >In article <417ebc6b$1_4@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com>, > >ianchlmrs@tiscali.co.uk > >wrote > >> I am looking for a digital camera with a large optical zoom (8x plus) to > >> take hillwalking and on a safari holiday. Options to point and shoot (for [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >> Thanks > >> Ian > >Kodak DX 6490 x10 Optical + x3 4MP > >256 Mb SD card + Case, charger and > >bty + all cables, straps etc ?299 > If it's one I was looking at recently, it only has automatic focus. > Which means excessive shutter delays!! It is true that Auto focus causes an inherent shutter delay however to say it is excessive is a bit broad brush. Any delay will be affected by the amount of Optical zoom used, focus mode and light conditions. The delay is simply a result of the software so the more it has to calculate the longer the delay. However, in practical terms I have found it not to be a problem and there are techniques which negate any percieved anoyance. The only time I have noticed it was when I was trying to capture a sudden shot and the result was a focus failure. However that was simply because I was using the wrong settings in the first place. If you use manual settings for shutter and aperature or pre programmed focus by using the landscape mode - there is no noticable delay that makes a difference. Manual focus also causes delay - in getting the shot. If I percieve there might be a problem I simply use multi frame or movie. As a general use item I am very pleased with its performance and capability, especially at low light levels. > I could be mistaken, of course. > > Mike Pete <aspen3@btinternet.com> observed >> Pete <aspen3@btinternet.com> observed >> >In article <417ebc6b$1_4@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com>, [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] >and light conditions. The delay is simply a result of the software >so the more it has to calculate the longer the delay. Yes, but we are talking fractions of a second, not milliseconds!! As a matter of interest, does anyone know if such cameras process the exposure simultaneously with the exposure calcs? (ie. is the delay the sum of focus delay plus exposure delay, or the greater of fd/sd?) >However, in practical terms I have found it not to be a problem >and there are techniques which negate any percieved anoyance. > >The only time I have noticed it was when I was trying to capture >a sudden shot and the result was a focus failure. However that >was simply because I was using the wrong settings in the first place. precisely - if one has the camera ready set, then I agree... ;-) >If you use manual settings for shutter and aperature or pre programmed >focus by using the landscape mode - there is no noticable delay that >makes a difference. Ah, I hadn't thought of the programmed modes *not* doing any focussing. >Manual focus also causes delay - in getting the shot. If I percieve >there might be a problem I simply use multi frame or movie. Yes, but with, say, photographing children, I manually pre-focus for the area in which they are and let the camera adjust exposure. >As a general use item I am very pleased with its performance >and capability, especially at low light levels. Good! As I say my only disappointment with my digital cameras has been the shutter/focus delay. And the focus delay is the greater, so I insist on manual focus modes. Thanks for your comments. Mike [The reply-to address is valid for 30 days from this posting] SignatureMichael J Davis <>< Some newsgroup contributors appear to have confused the meaning of "discussion" with "digression". <>< In article <I4V7RcBLK3gBFwMt@trustsof.demon.co.uk>, ?.?@trustsof.demon.co.uk wrote > Pete <aspen3@btinternet.com> observed > >> Pete <aspen3@btinternet.com> observed > >> >In article <417ebc6b$1_4@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com>, > >> >ianchlmrs@tiscali.co.uk > >> >wrote [snip] > >If you use manual settings for shutter and aperature or pre programmed > >focus by using the landscape mode - there is no noticable delay that > >makes a difference. > Ah, I hadn't thought of the programmed modes *not* doing any focussing. Only in Landscape mode. > >Manual focus also causes delay - in getting the shot. If I percieve > >there might be a problem I simply use multi frame or movie. > Yes, but with, say, photographing children, I manually pre-focus for the > area in which they are and let the camera adjust exposure. > >As a general use item I am very pleased with its performance > >and capability, especially at low light levels. > Good! As I say my only disappointment with my digital cameras has been > the shutter/focus delay. And the focus delay is the greater, so I insist > on manual focus modes. Well my eyesight is knackered so I went for AF <VBG> > Thanks for your comments. > > Mike > Pete <aspen3@btinternet.com> observed > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Mike Mike, I've bought one of these recently - my first digital - and I agree that the autofocus can be a problem. One particular instance was when I was trying to shoot the moon through some twigs - it insisted on focussing on the twigs. BUT the delay is not too much of an issue, you can "half-press" the shutter, it will then sample light focus etc. and set itself up, and then goes off PDQ once you finish the press. The x10 optical BTW seems to be about the limit for handheld. I find myself leaning on posts and things with it. Andy In article <4182c650$0$1821$cc9e4d1f@news-text.dial.pipex.com>, no.way@nospam.com wrote > > Pete <aspen3@btinternet.com> observed > >> Kodak DX 6490 x10 Optical + x3 4MP > >> 256 Mb SD card + Case, charger and > >> bty + all cables, straps etc ?299 > > If it's one I was looking at recently, it only has automatic focus. > > Which means excessive shutter delays!! > > I could be mistaken, of course. > > Mike > Mike, > I've bought one of these recently - my first digital - and I agree that > the autofocus can be a problem. One particular instance was when I was > trying to shoot the moon through some twigs - it insisted on focussing > on the twigs. If you had engaged the 'landscape' mode then it would not have done that. > BUT the delay is not too much of an issue, you can > "half-press" the shutter, it will then sample light focus etc. and set > itself up, and then goes off PDQ once you finish the press. Agreed - you can also increase the speed a tad by: deselecting the rear screen and disabling the sound. > The x10 optical BTW seems to be about the limit for handheld. I find > myself leaning on posts and things with it. > Andy I find the same but it depends upon the light/ASA/mode you are using. As a rule of thumb I minimise use of high zoom [for distant subjects] except when the light is good enough for a shutter speed of 1/125 or greater. <snipped heavily> >>>>Kodak DX 6490 x10 Optical > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > If you had engaged the 'landscape' mode then it would not > have done that. Oh yes it did! I'd try it again now, but it's all cloudy. >>BUT the delay is not too much of an issue, you can >>"half-press" the shutter, it will then sample light focus etc. and set >>itself up, and then goes off PDQ once you finish the press. > > Agreed - you can also increase the speed a tad by: > deselecting the rear screen and disabling the sound. Done that! Andy Andy Champ <no.way@nospam.com> observed >> Pete <aspen3@btinternet.com> observed >> [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >"half-press" the shutter, it will then sample light focus etc. and set >itself up, and then goes off PDQ once you finish the press. Exactly! I don't want to go on about it, but my main objection is that I often want to have something in focus in my picture that I *don't* want to expose for. With an autofocus/autoexposure camera it isn't possible. >The x10 optical BTW seems to be about the limit for handheld. I find >myself leaning on posts and things with it. And so you should!! ;-) If you recall my early post to this thread, I bought a Panasonic F23 with a 12x Leica zoom (f2.8 all the way) and image stabilisation which works well (read 'helps') with camera shake. But you'd still need to lean on fence posts and all the other tricks I'd suggest, to minimise shake. IMHO, the biggest factor in degrading amateur photos is camera shake. Mike SignatureMichael J Davis <>< Some things in life are too important to be serious about <>< > Exactly! I don't want to go on about it, but my main objection is that I > often want to have something in focus in my picture that I *don't* want > to expose for. With an autofocus/autoexposure camera it isn't possible. DX6490 may be autofocus only, but has program modes full auto, aperture priority, speed priority, full manual. Andy |
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