Starting out

[forevergreen]

Hi
Ive started liking the look of wildlife photography after i emmergrated to Australia and saw first hand some manta rays. Just to see them swimming around filtering thier food was really cool and since then ive had a really big interest in wildlife and have got a dream to travel the world and see loads of amazing things like this. Sorry for the life story i was just telling you why i like it, any way im quite young so i have plenty of time to learn all these really complecated things about lenses and telethings but i would like to know what camera to get started with i am really enthusiastic about this and even if i dont do it proffensionally it wil be a great hobby. To start i thought i would get a relatively cheap camera and i was told it has to have at least 10X optical zoom by an experienced lady. The camera i chose was the Fuijifilm FinepixS5700 digital camera or the Lumix (forget numbers in name ) it has 12X optical zoom and i will have to try and find out about all this speacalist equiptment. Any way could you tel l me what camera would be best or any other good cheap cameras?

Thanks for your help and posts

[mh68]

Hi forevergreen and welcome to WaB

I cant really comment on the Fuji cameras, but the new panasonic fz18 is well worth a look, as is the fz50. The fz18 has a larger zoom range (18x) but is more basic in handling and features than the fz50.The fz50 has more features which will prove useful as your photography progresses but it is more bulky/heavy.Both produce excellent images for compact cameras.Best bet would be to check out both in a camera shop were you can handle the cameras and decide which feels best for you.There are a few Fuji users on the forum who may be able to advise about those models.

Mark H

Mark H

[naturelover]

hi welcome to the site.

[glsammy]

Welcome to WAB.

I had the Fuji S5900, shortly followed by the Panasonic FZ30, which was the version just before the FZ50.
In my opinion the Panasonic one was way superior to the Fuji. Not image quality, but in its handling qualities. It was altogether a slicker camera, faster continuous performance, and left the Fuji standing when it came down to shot to shot speed. Add in the DSLR type handling, such as a real zoom ring on the lens and you've got just about the best camera this side of a DSLR.

[forevergreen]

thanks for welscoming me to the site nature lover. And thank you for letting me know about that sammy i apreciate it ill start looking around for the best prices of the panasonic.

Thanks again any more replies are welcomed

[forevergreen]

I think i will have to settle for the fujifilm due to budget issues my parents arent willing for me to spend much on my first camera and i have found the fujifilm at a goood price and besides its still a camera i can work with. Plus if i have a less good camera it could give me a bit more experience anyway at getting closer, trying not to make my camera move around and other stuff Do you agree?

[big bill]

Have you looked at the fuji finepix S8000fd its 8mp with a 5.1 digital zoom focal length of lens is equiv to 27-486 mm and its priced at about £250.00...then there is the Panasonic DMFZ8 at 7.2 mp with a 12 x optical zoom also has a image stabiliser again this is priced at the same as the fuji above and can be bought from your local supermarket beginning with T

[forevergreen]

yes but 250 is a little to much im not allowed to spend that much on a camera im afraid

[greenie]

Thanks for asking this question, Forevergreen!

I was about to do the same. I am very much interested in wildlife photography, but have no clue what camera is a good starter. Now I know!

[forevergreen]

your welcome