camera recomendations please

[squishy]

i've had a canon A560 for a while now (my very first camera) but its limited functions are starting to hold me back (dont get me wrong, its a really good camera for the price, but i'm looking to go one step higher).

i think what i want is a top range digital (i dont think i'm ready for a dslr) i'm still only looking, but any recomendations would be welcome.

my price range is around £100 with an absolute maximum of £200. it has to have good macro as insect photography is one of my main hobbies.

thanks for any help

[RobinP]

Look at the reviews for the Panasonic DMC-TZ4, I've got one and I think it's great!

[Lancashire Lad]

Have a look at the Fuji finepix S1000fd. (It's a "bridge" type camera).

10 megapixel, 12 x optical zoom, macro + super macro (focuses down to 2cm). Plus - it uses rechargable AA batteries (far less costly than special size lithiums).

Current price about £150.00 (but you will need a decent storage card as well).

I bought one of these for my niece about a month ago, and she loves it.

As a dedicated DSLR user, I have to admit that it doesn't have as much in the way of ease of use, but then again it's far less costly than a DSLR.

I strongly suggest narrowing down your options to two or three favourites, and giving them a good old hands-on test at your photo dealer's shop.

Regards
Mike.

[squishy]

i forgot to mention, it would be nice to have an auto mode, for when i dont want to set everything, but i also want plenty of manual controls.

is there anything like that?

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by squishy

i forgot to mention, it would be nice to have an auto mode, for when i dont want to set everything, but i also want plenty of manual controls.

is there anything like that?

The fujiS1000fd has full auto, aperture priority, shutter priority, & several programmed modes. Have a look here: -

FUJIFILM Global | FinePix S1000fd : Overview

and then click on the specifications tab on that page.

Regards
Mike.

[glsammy]

You'd be hard pressed to buy any digital camera without an auto setting.

[Pete Collins]

I'm still very happy with the Panasonic FZ18 I bought about a year ago, and I know several other people on WAB use them. It has since been replaced by the FZ28 (somebody mentioned this on WAB a while ago, on a similar thread):

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 Review - Digital Camera Reviews - TrustedReviews

It has an 18x Leica zoom lens (28-504mm) and has various automatic, semi-automatic (e.g. shutter priority, aperture priority) and full manual controls.

[cosmicma]

have a look at the canon G9 apparently it a very highly rated camera and with the imminent release ( or it mught have been released by now ) of the G10 the price should plummet on the G9

[dan-fisher]

I had a play one with of those Panasonic zoom lenses 'instants' some time back and it was brilliant.. absolutely gob smackingly good for the money.

If you want to move on further then my camera, the 10mp dslr sony a100 can be had for peanuts (about 350 with lenses i think) and is an excellent camera to bridge into the 'seriously need to read a book about this' league sharpish

Out of the two, for me with casual use the Panasonic wins.

[ron1863]

I would keep saving and buy a DSLR, why wait, you have to start sometime so why not now. You won't regret it.