Basic Camera Question

[Adam]

This may be regarded as a silly question on here, but I don't know.

I own a pretty standard 'point and shoot' digital camera, which doesn't even have a viewfinder and only has digital zoom (produces poor quality pictures). The camera is decent, and I have a few pictures of animals, but I have failed to capture anything special.

I am a complete photography amateur and don't know too much.

Basically what I am after is something with a decent zoom, good picture quality and the ability to capture action shots without blurring (quick shutter speed?) and decent night time photos.

So to sum up what I am asking, what makes/models do you guys recommend? And also can digital cameras now compete in the quality stakes?

Thankyou for your help!

[glsammy]

Digital can definitely compete so far as quality is concerned.
If your after a better compact type, not a DSRL, then I can highly recommend the Panasonic FZ30. Have a look at Matt_xyz images..He uses one and gets some stunning shots. It's got a 12X Optical zoom, equivalent to 430mm on 35mm I believe.
I used to own one before I upgraded to DSLR.
It's a superb camera in almost every way..It's fast to use, has full manual control if you want it, but plenty of program modes to help if you need them.

[Oy]

The FZ30 is a good choice.

Maybe the older FZ20 if there are still any around - the same Leica lens and a great camera - there should be some good deals on too as thr FZ30 has replaced it.

The Fuji's are good too - S9500, S5600.

[matt_xyz]

Originally Posted by glsammy

Digital can definitely compete so far as quality is concerned.
If your after a better compact type, not a DSRL, then I can highly recommend the Panasonic FZ30. Have a look at Matt_xyz images..He uses one and gets some stunning shots. It's got a 12X Optical zoom, equivalent to 430mm on 35mm I believe.
I used to own one before I upgraded to DSLR.
It's a superb camera in almost every way..It's fast to use, has full manual control if you want it, but plenty of program modes to help if you need them.

thanks for the endorsement Graham! I would also recommend the FZ30, although its younger brother the FZ7 would give similar results and is cheaper. The FZ7 recently replaced the FZ5 so you might get a good price on the latter. All of these have 12x optical zoom which is much needed for wildlife shots.

Matt

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by Oy

The FZ30 is a good choice.

Maybe the older FZ20 if there are still any around - the same Leica lens and a great camera - there should be some good deals on too as thr FZ30 has replaced it.

The Fuji's are good too - S9500, S5600.

I had a S9500 before the FZ30, and I have to say I couldn't get on with it. The main problem was the writing speed to the memory..If your shooting in continuous mode, which it does at around 2fps for 4 shots, it takes around 15 seconds before you can shoot again, and that was with fast compact flash cards. With the FZ30, you can shoot on continuous at 2fps until the cards full. Put it this way, I had the S9500 for a week, sent it back and got the FZ30, and didn't regret it.

[Gill Catton]

It's interesting to read this thread, I have a little Nikon Coolpix4800 which is not a bad camera and I've got some ok pictures with it but am thinking about making the jump to a bigger better camera too. The panasonic FZ30 (or earlier relation) looks tempting but I have a Nikon III Fieldscope and I'm wondering if it's better to get a camera that I can attach to that, but then I'm wandering into the big scarey SLR world........ Its it easy to teach yourself? Is it better to go on a course?

[matt_xyz]

Hi Gill,

It does not need to be a DSLR that you attach to your fieldscope. Many digiscopers use non-SLRs, in fact I think some of the Nikon Coolpix models are popular (couldn't tell you which ones). Digiscoping is something of an artform and has a very steep learning curve. John is the expert around here.

I suppose you need to decide whether you want to take reduced quality shots of birds far in the distance (digiscoping) or higher quality shots of birds that are a bit closer (DSLR or compact with a large zoom).

Matt

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by matt_xyz

Hi Gill,

It does not need to be a DSLR that you attach to your fieldscope. Many digiscopers use non-SLRs, in fact I think some of the Nikon Coolpix models are popular (couldn't tell you which ones). Digiscoping is something of an artform and has a very steep learning curve. John is the expert around here.

I suppose you need to decide whether you want to take reduced quality shots of birds far in the distance (digiscoping) or higher quality shots of birds that are a bit closer (DSLR or compact with a large zoom).

Matt

oooooooohhhh nothing's ever simple is it!!!! - I want both!!!!!
I've checked it out and sadly not my coolpix......
I do like the macro stuff quite a lot too - my camera's not bad for that, but it's hard with the one point of focus and sometimes it refuses to focus on the bit I want - even when I shout at it which is frustrating.....
So I suppose I am indeed looking at a DSLR within different lenses maybe and a scope attachment..........

[matt_xyz]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

oooooooohhhh nothing's ever simple is it!!!! - I want both!!!!!
I've checked it out and sadly not my coolpix......
I do like the macro stuff quite a lot too - my camera's not bad for that, but it's hard with the one point of focus and sometimes it refuses to focus on the bit I want - even when I shout at it which is frustrating.....
So I suppose I am indeed looking at a DSLR within different lenses maybe and a scope attachment..........

you'd better start saving

Matt

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by matt_xyz

you'd better start saving

Matt

Or continue dreaming.......
Not even sure where to start with a DSLR!!
Is it easy to pick up?
Can you change lenses with the panasonic? - do you need to for macro shots?