Digital Camera Recommendations

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Chris Corbyn
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Digital Camera Recommendations

Post by Chris Corbyn »

I'm going away in either November or December for 12 months and I'm starting to gradually buy things I want to take alongside saving a bit of money.

I've got a digital camera right now but basically - it's crap. It's a 1.3MP camera that runs on 2 AAA batteries which go flat after about 20 flashes and it can't see a thing if it's not daytime.

I'm looking for something on a fairly low budget of £130 GBP (there's a fair few on MicroDirect in that range).

Things it needs aside from the expected built-in flashlight etc:

* Optical Zoom (at least x2)
* Auto-white balance
* Video, with sound
* 3MP or above resolution
* Built-in rechargeable battery - not some stupid AA/AAA stuff

Basically, I'm not fussed too much about high resolutions since most of the pics I take just get scaled down in photoshop/GIMP and put online.... I favour good response to changes in light conditions over higher megapixels.

Anyone had any good/bad experiences with cameras who can make some recommendations? I'll be taking pics in bright sunlight and also in busy nightclubs and stuff :?

(Other things need over the next 10 months: Replace Mac-mini with Macbook or alternative notebook I can take away; Damn good quality rucksack but someones already buying me that in May).

Cheers,

Chris
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John Cartwright
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Post by John Cartwright »

Too bad you don't live in Canada, my brother works for Sony and gets electronics for me and my friends dirt cheap. Image

I'll ask him this evening what he recommends.
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jayshields
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Post by jayshields »

I think it's out of your price range, but don't get the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N1. It has pretty much no buttons, just a massive touch screen on the back. The screens brilliant, but so annoying. Physical buttons are so much better. You're basically paying for the great screen rather than a great camera.

Also, I wouldn't advise one of those little video cameras that lesser-known brands have been releasing. They seem a good option (price/features wise) but the build quality, lenses and GUI are terrible (on the few I've tried anyways).
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Oren
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Post by Oren »

Well, I must say that £130 is pretty (very?) low if you want a decent camera. I own a Canon PowerShot S60 which cost me $500 (£255) at the time I bought it.
Now you can get one for about $200 - $300 (£100 - £150). In my opinion it'd be much better to get this camera even though it's considered "old" than getting a new - but crappy camera for the same price (£100 - £150).
Also note that you will [s]probably need[/s] have to get a larger memory card than what comes with whatever camera that you buy. I would go with at least 1GB, but if you want to save some money and since you will have a computer with you anyway, a 512MB card will be just fine too. But then again, if you plan to use the camera on other trips too in which you may not have a PC/Mac with you, then don't buy less than 1GB - trust me... I bought a 512MB :cry: ... but that was 2 years ago, now you can get for the same price much more... So please, do yourself a favor, don't buy less than 1GB :P
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Post by Burrito »

I'm pretty certain the one I have is out of your range, but it's an excellent camera.

it's the Canon digital rebel xt. I got it a little over a year and a half ago but I've been VERY happy with it.

the images it produces are incredible (in any light).
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Post by jyhm »

it's the Canon digital rebel xt.
I think the digital rebel is the best, but also out of my price range to. I have the Canon PowerShot SD600. Nicknamed the Digital Elf because it is the size of a credit card, and about the thinkness of one slice of Texas Toast.

Good for if you want something quick and compact for those neighborhoods when you don't want to look like a tourist. And it is 6 megapixels.

I'm going to stick with Canon because I have had trouble with other products namely JVC.
alvinphp
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Post by alvinphp »

I've only bought Sony and Canon digital cameras and between the two I would go with Canon hands down.
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Chris Corbyn
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Post by Chris Corbyn »

Thanks for the advice so far.

I get the impression 130GBP ($250USD) is a bit cheap then? I bought my housemate a camera for her birthday and that cost about £250GBP (don't ask why she got such an expensive present!) but it was bought at Jepsons camera shop so I figured we probably paid over the odds. I'm not a big photograpger, the camera is mostly just for tourist use. It seemed to me that once you start going towards £200GBP you're essentially paying for higher resolutions but I'm cautious because I've seen cameras (namely my other housemate's) which have a good resolution but just fall flat on their face in the dark.

I can actually spend a lot more than I'm making out, I just don't want to because I'd rather use the money towards the cost of travelling/backpacking itself rather than a high resolution camera.

Oh yeah, I know I'll have to buy a memory card for it too :) That's fine. SD cards are cheaper (like half price) than XD cards last I checked so SD is probably a better way to go in terms of budgetting.

I'm seriously no expert on photography so I'd probably just buy something on a recommendation :)
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Post by qads »

I own a Canon Powershot S2, i got it from Australia on my last visit, cost me about $500 (£200 at current rate), it has been a year so it should be cheaper, i am happy with it.

I use Uniross 2000mAh Ni-MH (£10ish for 4 batteries + charger) and they last me ages :).
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feyd
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Post by feyd »

Canon, Sigma and Nikon SLR's are the ones I can recommend. If those are out of the price range, they have variants in the high-end consumer level that are pretty similar.
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Post by jyhm »

My Canon SD600 was about $299 USD (153 GBP) when I bought it- and it should be cheaper now. It uses SD cards. I am no professional but I took this pic on a cloudy day and I think it's pretty decent. I mean, I know a thing or two about white balance and such but thats about it.
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Jenk
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Post by Jenk »

I have no idea about cameras, but these guys do: http://www.cameras.co.uk/
Last edited by Jenk on Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
alvinphp
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Post by alvinphp »

feyd wrote:Canon, Sigma and Nikon SLR's are the ones I can recommend. If those are out of the price range, they have variants in the high-end consumer level that are pretty similar.
I don't think he is looking for an SLR as those are a little bulky to take around on trips. I have never tried a Sigma SLR. I do have a Sigma lens. It is not the best, but great for the price.
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feyd
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Post by feyd »

I don't consider them bulky. :P
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Chris Corbyn
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Post by Chris Corbyn »

Jenk wrote:I have no idea about cameras, but these guys do: http://www.cameras.co.uk/
That's a good website :) They have video reviews and stuff.

SLR's are great, but I doubt I could squeeze one into my pocket while I'm dancing :P

Thinking about it, my brother has always bought canon cameras in the £400GBP range and the picture quality has always been brilliant.

Part of me is wondering if it's worth just buying a camera as soon as I get to Oz because I'll probably get more for my (english) money.
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