Hi Guys, I am a videographer and not a photographer but I need a quick grab and shoot digital camera...........
18 months ago I bought the Canon IXUS 55 which is a point and shoot pocket size beauty and the results have been fairly good and I am pleased with it. The problem is my teenage kids have "nicked it" for web images and school projects etc and so I am in the market for another one. I have been looking at the IXUS 70 which is fairly cheap (around £130) and more or less the same as my other so the learning curve shouldn't be difficult.
Has anyone used the IXUS or could recommend anything as good thats simply point and shoot I would appreciate any guidance,
Thanks,
Baot0
My stills photographer brother Richard writes:
I looked at lots of alternatives before plumping for an IXUS 860. I found the IXUS 860 very appropriate last trip - taking photos of Indians on beaches etc - the 28mm wide angle end allowing me to hand hold myself in the shot with the subject, and the camera itself very "unthreatening" - I was no longer a slightly-to-be-feared journalist or summat, which a hefty SLR implies, especially in a country like India where Kodak 35 mm point and shoots with fixed focus 85 mm equivalent plastic lenses are the most ordinary punters can aspire to.
Hi BoatO,
See my comment on this thread on ricoh r6
http://forums.dvdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=43620
with spec here:
http://www.jessops.com/Store/s70050/0/Digital-Compact-Cameras/Ricoh/Caplio-R6-Silver-Digital-Camera/details.aspx?&IsSearch=y&pageindex=1&CatId=236&comp=y
HTH
A friend got a Canon G9 over Xmas, was very impressed by it, Excellent image stabilisation and very fast for a compact regards focussing/shutter lag. May be out of your budget though.
Hi guys, thanks for the replies.......Tom, just had a nosy at the Canon IXUS 860 and it looks ideal I may just have a little nibble at this one
Regards,
Baot0
What's interesting is that brother Richard lost his first one. With the entire spectrum of compact digitals now open to him with the insurance payout, he replaced it with the same Ixus 860. That would be good enough for me to buy one blindfolded.
tom.
I can highly recommend the Fuji 6500FD. Just got one of these and I'm really impressed by it. It's as close as you can get to a DSLR without actually spending DSLR money. Has full manual control and auto as well.
I'm really difficult to please with pocket digicams. There's always been something annoying with them BUT just recently that changed.
Fuji F20/30/31/40/45/47 are all around £100/£130.
Astonishing in low light, handy features, pocketable, battery lasts for ages.
The F40 onwards take xD as well as SD cards and have "apparently" better optics (less purple fringing).
Asda do the 8mp F40fd at £130.00
Argos do the F45fd which is the same but with a blue casing.
You can hunt around if you want one of the older 6mp ones - there are a few left ;)
The older models (F20/30/31fd) were 6mp and were a tad better in low-light BUT only the F31fd had face detection.
The F30/31 had manual controls - whether you'd need that on a grab cam I don't know. The others have modes that let you steer them it a bit by limiting the auto ISO - this is actually quite useful - dead quick, dead easy.
We've got an F47fd which is Currys 9mp version of the F40fd and it's a simply superb pocket camera. Mine was a customer return so was on offer at £100.00
I can't fault the thing.
Hi Mark, the Fuji finepix S6500 looks a real good buy, what is the battery life like ? it takes 4 AA batteries and i'm just worried it may eat them if you are out all day say on a wedding using flash etc
Regards,
Baot0
The Pentax Optio Z10 has one of the best specs I've seen but what really swings it is the 7X optical zoom.
Down from £180 to £139 in New Yr sale.
My main concern, and something which has always been a problem with every p+s camera which we as a family has owned, is the problem with the lens cover. My kids (and my wife, as she's not looking at the moment...) is that they don't put it in a case, so the lens cover eventually gives up the ghost. This is the death knell for the complete camera as to repair it is more expensive than buying a new one. The best I had was a pentax which had an anti-scratch front element, and no silly flap that popped open and closed. I am going to Focus at the NEC at the end of Feb, and will look for a p+s that has a large sliding cover over the lens so it will stand a bit of misuse ie in a ski jacket, pocket etc.
That to me , along with a reasonable optical zoom, are the most important points to look for.
My main concern, and something which has always been a problem with every p+s camera which we as a family has owned, is the problem with the lens cover. My kids (and my wife, as she's not looking at the moment...) is that they don't put it in a case, so the lens cover eventually gives up the ghost. This is the death knell for the complete camera as to repair it is more expensive than buying a new one. The best I had was a pentax which had an anti-scratch front element, and no silly flap that popped open and closed. I am going to Focus at the NEC at the end of Feb, and will look for a p+s that has a large sliding cover over the lens so it will stand a bit of misuse ie in a ski jacket, pocket etc.
That to me , along with a reasonable optical zoom, are the most important points to look for.
Take a look at the ricoh r6 then with 7* optical zoom and builtin lens cap equivalent.
Pentax Optio Z10 has a solid, smooth motion, sliding lens cover George, it's a great camera, I'm chuffed to bits with it.
Hi Mark, the Fuji finepix S6500 looks a real good buy, what is the battery life like ? it takes 4 AA batteries and i'm just worried it may eat them if you are out all day say on a wedding using flash etcRegards,
Baot0
Well, having only had it a short while I can't give you a definitive answer. At the moment though I'm using the 4 supplied Energiser batteries and there seems to be plenty of life still left in them after taking about 100 pictures spread over about 3 weeks.
Once these have run out I have some rechargeable batteries that I'll use in future. The fact that I could use rechargeable AA's is one of the many reasons why I went for this camera.
It does look like the 6500FD is actually obsolete now as it is getting more difficult to get hold of. The 9600 is still a current product though.
Dave, sorry have had internet access problems so just saw your post. Thanks, will have a look at the Ricoh.
George