What camera?

[kev747]

Hi,
I'am new here and I'd like to ask what camera models everyone has.I have a Kodak Z740 due to its 10X zoom and portability but do you think you really need a dig SLR to take really good shots.I used to have a standard SLR(yashica) but was tired of lugging extra lenses and a camera bag around with me.

[Wolfhill]

Hi Kev747 I use a Nikon D200 which I bought in January and I couldn't complain the quality is fantastic but it is quite expensive it cost me £1300, I also have a Fuji S5500 its 10x optical but when you compare that to the focal length I shoot at with my Nikon D200 which is about 700mm. This is more than double the focal length which is handy for wildlife photography. But as you say the weight is quite annoying, I think when I have my lens on the camera it weighs about 5kg. It helps to build up muscles though lol and the quality is fantastic. If this camera is a bit too expensive, I would also recommend the Nikon D70s which I used to use.
Hope this helps, Fergus

[Fourwings]

Hi Kev,
You dont need a DSLR to take great wildlife images, just check out the gallerys, loads of the images you will see are taken by cameras other than DSLR's.
Anyway this is the digital gear that I am currently using.

Canon EOS 20D DSLR, fitted with a Sigma 150mm EX DG HSM macro lens
Fuji finepix S7000 - pro-sumer SLR type compact
Nikon Coolpix 5700 - pro-sumer SLR type compact
Fuji finepix 4800 - compact camera

Just for the record, I don't take them all out with me at the same time, I'd need a small wheelbarrow

fourwings

[nightshade]

Hi Kev747,The best camera is usually the one you have with you!
I always (nearly always) carry a Minolta X30 ,I like using my Minolta Z1 with its 12x zoom and close up facility,small size(the later ones have anti shake and 5meg)
I have bitten the bullet and bought Nikon D70s DSLR which is a large camera that feels good
and delivers,I still have my first SLR a Pentax Spotmatic 2 which always performs well,and has seen Nikons,Minoltas etc. come and go,I always wanted a Hasselblad but settled for a Bronica
Buy the best you can afford to do the job you want and make sure it is one you will like to handle then you will take it with you and get those pictures welcome to the best site on the web

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by nightshade

Hi Kev747,The best camera is usually the one you have with you!

Quote of the year. How many times have we missed 'that' shot through not having a camera handy? I have a 4 mega point and shoot to carry round, a 5 mega point and shoot in the car and a Canon 350D for occasions but still find myself short at times.

[Ollie]

Hi Kev 747 I quite agree you do not neccesarily need a DSLR to get good images. I use a Canon 350D with a Sigma 70-300mm lens, but I always carry a Canon S2IS compact around with me. I use the 350D mainly for bird photography and the S2IS for scenery and macro shots. Each camera has it's own merits and disadvantages, but the S2IS goes everywhere with me on acount of it's being much easier to carry around.
Ollie

[Amber]

Kev, also consider the panasonics - fz5 (dropping in price) and fz7 (newer bigger brother). Both feature 12x optical zooms from no less a name than leica, both are compact, and both give excellent results

[crisscross]

Have just got a Panasonic FZ7 due to its light weight (400g), just pocketable size (though Lowepro 110 safer); I wavered between this and a Canon P3 IS. Both 12x zoom (36 to 432) and wide range of manual options and thread for attaching macro, tele 1.7x lenses and filter. Maybe Canon is worth £100 extra?? (£270 or £370) The FZ does try to be a bit clever with settings perhaps for computer illiterates who want to feed printer direct and am gradually ironing them out.

[life through a lens]

Out of interest does anyone still use 35mm ???

Current setup is a Nikon F80 with 70-300 and 28-50 lenses, Konica Minolta dImage z5 and a Canon Ixus 400 to go in the pocket. That and the all important tripod !!

Olly

[matt_xyz]

Hi Kev,

I don't have a DSLR but use a Panasonic FZ30 which has a zoom of 35-420mm (equivalent) which extends to 714mm with a TCON17 teleconverter on. It is far smaller, lighter (and cheaper) than a DSLR with equivalent zoom range but there is a difference in quality. One day I will make the step up to DSLR. Most of my shots in my Gallery below were taken with the FZ30 and either the teleconverter fitted or a close-up lens.

Matt