Recommend A Camera

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Zarathustra

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I am going on a once-in-a-lifetime overseas trip @ the end of 2012.

I would really appreciate it if someone could recommend a camera for me to purchase, bearing the following in mind:

- I like having two kidneys & would prefer to keep them, so I want to spend as little as possible without having to remove one or both to sell to some friendly Nigerian chaps.
- I usually take photographs with my phone or a cheap Samsung point & click camera, so I am not an expert & want something simple to use which doesn't require a six month course or a university degree.
- I want really bright, colourful & vibrant results.
- Finally, where is the best place to purchase the device I would require.

Thanks in advance to all those photographic-guru's out there!?!
 
Best way to take good pics is to learn how to use a good camera.

Are you looking for a DSLR? From my experience I'd say get a lens with a large focal length range.
 
Canon A3300IS, my mom has one and it takes awesome photos! cheap too at about R1500. If you want to go more expensive look at the Canon IXUS range, the Nikon P7000, Canon G12 or G1x.

If you want super zoom most brands make great 10X plus zoom compacts but don't buy cheap here as you will be disappointed in their image quality, optically and digitally.
 
It sounds like you already have a small compact P&S and are looking for something a little better than that (those usually have, at the max end, 5x Optical zoom). I wouldn't recommend you go for an SLR. It will require interchangeable lenses, and be large and bulky to carry around compared to a small P&S. What you need is something in-between.

I'd recommend the Canon SX40iS. It is a bridge camera (so not a tiny compact, but no interchangeable lenses) but has an incredible range.

35x Optical zoom, Easy to use, takes really great pictures. They go for just under R4k.
I know 4 people who have these and they are really great in-between cameras. You can go from Wide-Angle shots and close-ups to zooming in on that birdy sitting in the tree waaaay over there. Very versatile camera.
 
It seems to me that most of the above advice is right. You are looking for a better digital camera, but not really enthousiastic enough to go for a SLR camera, the one with interchangeable lenses and separate flash, and endless other possibilities. I guess a camera with a decent optical zoom of at least 8X, preferably 20-25x of a well known make (Canon, Nikon, Olympus, etc,) in the range between R1500-R4000 should be an excellent choice. Optical Image stabilisation for your pics in Tele zoom mode must be really nice. The megapixels are by far not as important as most people think. Optical zoom, quality of the lenses and the whole camera are more an issue.The specifically recommended Canon model looks probably great to me .
 
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http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons100

I have the canon s95(infact so does my brother and my parents), its a great little camera, takes great photos and is compact.


TBH im havent looked at the spec difference between the s100 and the s95 but maybe you can look at that and see if its worth the extra money.
 
Geez, we can talk for pages about it, but here's my opinion for you in one sentence -

Forget DSLR, forget bridge, get one of the best P&S's out there - either Canon S100 (or S95 if you can still find one, they're both frikkin amazing!!!) or the bigger, but still very compact Canon G1 X (or previous G12).

OK, one sentence isn't enough... If you're happy with going larger, but still want P&S simplicity and avoid the complications of DSLR then a bridge camera may be the answer. Biggest (only) benefit is the extra zoom. But most people zoom too much... With the quality of something like the S100 for instance you can probably crop to an effective 10X zoom in any case. And the fact that you can use higher ISO with the larger P&S sensor of the S100/G1X, for way better low-light performance for me outweighs the zoom disadvantage by a mile - especially for a holiday trip.

If you feel the S100/G1X zoom is too short, I'd look for something in the Canon Ixus range with maybe 10x zoom and PQ that is regarded good for a P&S.
 
I was in the same boat, wanted good photos of my honeymoon but didn't want to lug around a DSLR... bought the Canon S95.

Best place to purchase was ormsdirect.
 
Thanks for all the awesome advice, it is much appreciated.

- Yes, I already have a P & S.
- I don't want a 'transformer' camera as I don't want to have to remove & add stuff.
- I just want something that is simple to use, has good optical zoom & takes great pictures.
- The inbetween range seems to be what I am after.

With all the awesome advice, shopping shall commence...
 
Zarathustra said:
I am going on a once-in-a-lifetime overseas trip @ the end of 2012.

I would really appreciate it if someone could recommend a camera for me to purchase, bearing the following in mind:
Click to expand...

Hiya

First off, don't get me wrong, I love my SLR. The picture quality etc is superb (esp taking pics of my boys). Bought mine in Malaysai. But I tell you this much. that the 'loving your camera', *quickly*, goes, when you realise you carrying a brick around (don't get me started about lugging a mono or tripod around).

If you really after quality pics, and care about developing your pics, then go the SLR route. But if your pics is mainly for Facebook or something you are gonna put on DVD, and not really look at, don't waste your money, and the energy needed for carrying a SLR around. Just go for the best Muk and Druk you can get.

HTH

P.s. With P&S, with some of them, you can take video too. Just make sure you buy a few of the largest SD cards you can find, and get a good array of rechargeable batteries.
 
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Well a lot of very nice new compact cameras out there. Had the Fuji X100, great little camera that. Also check out the new mirror less range of cameras, such as the Olympus micro 4/3rds, Sony Nex series, and the Nikon J1 too. All produce superb images almost as good as DSLR's, but all around R5000 or more. But a decent compact for R2000-3000 should be perfect for your needs.

If you want the ultimate in control, get a DSLR of course, and that extra little bit of image quality. Particularly with a lens like a 50mm.
 
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undesign said:
Geez, we can talk for pages about it, but here's my opinion for you in one sentence -

Forget DSLR, forget bridge, get one of the best P&S's out there - either Canon S100 (or S95 if you can still find one, they're both frikkin amazing!!!) or the bigger, but still very compact Canon G1 X (or previous G12).

OK, one sentence isn't enough... If you're happy with going larger, but still want P&S simplicity and avoid the complications of DSLR then a bridge camera may be the answer. Biggest (only) benefit is the extra zoom. But most people zoom too much... With the quality of something like the S100 for instance you can probably crop to an effective 10X zoom in any case. And the fact that you can use higher ISO with the larger P&S sensor of the S100/G1X, for way better low-light performance for me outweighs the zoom disadvantage by a mile - especially for a holiday trip.

If you feel the S100/G1X zoom is too short, I'd look for something in the Canon Ixus range with maybe 10x zoom and PQ that is regarded good for a P&S.
Click to expand...

what about the canon sx40is

i bought the sony hx9v mostly becaure of the HD vid recording and all the built in presets with a 16mp 16x optical zoom

Unfortunately i find the zoom to be equal to that of my own eye vision.

Would have liked for it to be atleast double its current range.

Very happy with my camera otherwise.

Could you perhaps help with an educated comparison. How does my cam match up to the other high end superzooms?
Zoom wise
 
I have a few of the Canon Sxx cameras (90 and 105). They're small but take decent photos.
I also have a Canon IXUS (200IS iirc). It takes brilliant photos, but its autofocus is ridiculously slow, so be wary of this. Luckily for me the battery went poof so I don't have to find an excuse not to use it. It did however have an awesome zoom and it was capable of incredible 720p video.
 
Flojo said:
Hiya

First off, don't get me wrong, I love my SLR. The picture quality etc is superb (esp taking pics of my boys). Bought mine in Malaysai. But I tell you this much. that the 'loving your camera', *quickly*, goes, when you realise you carrying a brick around (don't get me started about lugging a mono or tripod around).

If you really after quality pics, and care about developing your pics, then go the SLR route. But if your pics is mainly for Facebook or something you are gonna put on DVD, and not really look at, don't waste your money, and the energy needed for carrying a SLR around. Just go for the best Muk and Druk you can get.

HTH

P.s. With P&S, with some of them, you can take video too. Just make sure you buy a few of the largest SD cards you can find, and get a good array of rechargeable batteries.
Click to expand...

Ja, a friend of mine bought him a SLR and after a few months he told me that he is using his camera on his phone more and wants to sell his SLR.
He told me that he actually needed a cheap P&S camera and don't know why he bought a SLR:
you_are_not_a_photographer.jpg
 
I got my wife a Canon Powershot A580 for under a R1000 a few years back. I'd recommend that.
 
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