Which camera to get?

behan29

Looking for a digital camera. Price range max 500 euro's. Camera for honeymoon and after. Want excellent idiot proof camera for novices. Know nothing about ISO's etc. Want high quality pics and to last us a good while. Any tips from people who know what they're on about!!
Currently have fuji fine pix. But can't get a decent night pic for past four years! haha!
Thanks

hbr

Item #1 in the FAQ
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=55212558&postcount=27

Also read this forum:
http://forums.steves-digicams.com/what-camera-should-i-buy-80/

Thecageyone

Most new range cameras for that price will give you great shots, even in auto-mode.

Tea 1000

behan29 wrote: »

Looking for a digital camera. Price range max 500 euro's. Camera for honeymoon and after. Want excellent idiot proof camera for novices. Know nothing about ISO's etc. Want high quality pics and to last us a good while. Any tips from people who know what they're on about!!
Currently have fuji fine pix. But can't get a decent night pic for past four years! haha!
Thanks

Camera's can't automatically get decent night pics all by themselves, even the best of them. To get a decent night pic you need a tri-pod and a small amount of know-how. It's not that difficult, but there are a small number of things you need to understand.
If that's your main reason for getting a new camera, then perhaps you don't need one at all! Most of the Fuji range are quite good for the last good few years, so chances are your current camera is fine.

Carrickbeg Kate

Tea 1000, I too have problems with night photography, mainly cos I haven't a clue what settings to use. Any tips?

zerohamster

Carrickbeg Kate wrote: »

Tea 1000, I too have problems with night photography, mainly cos I haven't a clue what settings to use. Any tips?

what camera are you using? does it have manual controls?
if so and you want to take some nice shots a tripod is essential, considering you are going to use a long shutter speed you may aswell lengthen it a little longer to stick the ISO to 100 or lower to reduce the noise from the long exposure.
also to get rid of the nasty shake that would normally occur when you click the shutter button either use a remote shutter device (wired or wireless) and if you dont have one of these set your camera to a timer (usually 2 or 10 seconds are available) and let it take the shot untouched so it will remain as stable and stationary as possible.

if you camera is a DSLR for both of these methods you can also improve results by selecting a function called "mirror lock up" which basically reduces the vibration caused by the mirror flipping up . this function is usally in the custom settings page on canon DSLRs (probably somewhere similar on Nikons)

I hope this helps

Carrickbeg Kate

I'm using a Fuji S5700, not a DSLR but it has manual controls. I'm awaiting delivery of a Fuji S2500 but I'm sure the controls will be the same. Thats good advice about the tripod and setting the timer. I know how to adjust the ISO but no idea about the shutter speed. I'd better get out the manual again

zerohamster

Carrickbeg Kate wrote: »

I'm using a Fuji S5700, not a DSLR but it has manual controls. I'm awaiting delivery of a Fuji S2500 but I'm sure the controls will be the same. Thats good advice about the tripod and setting the timer. I know how to adjust the ISO but no idea about the shutter speed. I'd better get out the manual again

Ah i see, im not so sure the S5700 has manual control of the shutter but i do know the maximum shutter speed is 4 seconds so its not so suitable to night time photography in most practices unfortunately but if you choose the flash mode to "off" then it should automatically expose for up to 4 seconds depending on the lighting.
the S5700 doesnt have a mirror lock up setting as it is not a DSLR and has no mirror to cause vibrations so you need not worry about that but the self timer will help.
If the camera cannot sufficiently expose the scene at 64 ISO at the slowest shutter speed of 4 seconds then change the iso bit by bit and the hopefully the scene will expose correctly.
i would say very dark conditions are out of the question however as a 4 second maximum exposure just wont be long enough.
good luck with the new camera

Carrickbeg Kate

Thanks zerohamster. I have a lot to learn

zerohamster

Im learning every day myself, glad to help out with what i can

Freddie59

Carrickbeg Kate wrote: »

I'm using a Fuji S5700, not a DSLR but it has manual controls. I'm awaiting delivery of a Fuji S2500 but I'm sure the controls will be the same. Thats good advice about the tripod and setting the timer. I know how to adjust the ISO but no idea about the shutter speed. I'd better get out the manual again

Kate get THIS BOOK.

You'll never look back.:)