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Which Camera? **Please read OP first**

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    #602
    Armaghmagic
    Registered Users Posts: 1,040 ✭✭✭Armaghmagic


    Hi all,

    Just wondering could you recommend a Budget SLR for me. I am a beginner but love technology and buttons so doesn't need to be a camera for idiots, just needs to be reliable, good value, and light if possible (will be taking it on my mountain bike for snaps). My budget is €500, would definitely go for a 2nd hand model if the price was right and enabled me to get a better camera.

    Thanks in advance for any help :)


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    #603
    dinneenp
    Registered Users Posts: 8,100 ✭✭✭dinneenp


    danthefan wrote: »
    Just wondering if I could get some advice on a camera. I'm a complete novice really

    I'm visiting Vietnam/Cambodia in May so looking to get something for the holiday. Would like something with a decent wide view that can take good landscapes. A reasonable zoom would be nice too. Probably have about €500 to spend, maybe a little more at a push. Saw on the previous page the Canon 600D with a 18-135mm lense which some research suggested would be fairly perfect but it's just a little too expensive (about €750 from Amazon it seems, would it be available cheaper anywhere else?). Any advice appreciated.

    Travelling, discrete- bridge camera (I know I always recommend them). Panasonic FZ200- 24X zoom in Leica lens & constant f2.8. Will fit in jacket pocket (probably).


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    #604
    NeitherJohn
    Registered Users Posts: 623 ✭✭✭NeitherJohn


    Hi all.

    I've been saving long enough to to finally begin to purchase my first foray into DSLR photography.

    I've read all the FAQ's and looked at DPReview for the two cameras I'm more interested in and I've narrowed it down to the Canon 600D or 650D. Picked Canon as I've owned two Canon point and shoots. The father had a Canon SLR back in the early 80s and lasted up until 2005 and never gave an ounce of bother. That and he's just bought a 600D deal from one of the local shops! He picked up the 600D with kit lens a Sigma 70-300 lens, 32GB card, bag and 3 night training course for 900 euro.

    I know there's not too much of a difference between the cameras (touchscreen, better autofocus, newer image processor and better light sensitivity on the 650D).

    My main interest would be in landscape photography so I'd be looking for a wide angle lens with the camera. People on here seem to be recommending the Sigma 10-20mm lens and I quite like the images I've seen with it. Not too interested in telephoto photography and I could live with the kit lens or a nifty fifty for taking the odd portrait photo.

    I was wondering if anybody here has had hands on experience with both of those cameras? Or if you could recommend the better choice for a beginner? I would have about 900 euro to spend on it. Would I just be better off getting the same deal as the father and see if the shop could give me a wide angle lens instead of the telephoto?

    Thanks a lot!

    John


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    #605
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    This guy specialises in landscape photography.
    Here are some of his reviews on wide angle lens.

    http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC5469F58FAB1CB36


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    #606
    NeitherJohn
    Registered Users Posts: 623 ✭✭✭NeitherJohn


    Thanks for that Moonbaby. Very informative.

    I've been thinking again. Maybe I'm better off waiting for the 650D. The 700D is out soon so I'm hoping the 650D will drop a bit in price. I can buy the lenses in the meantime and use my dads camera.


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    #607
    spookwoman
    Registered Users Posts: 9,922 ✭✭✭spookwoman


    Looking at getting a bridge camera with a decent zoom on it for some wildlife and nature pics. I spotted this one and looking at the reviews it looks pretty good. http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/12856925/art/canon/powershot-sx50-hs-black.html

    At the moment using dad powershot sx150 is on birds that could be 1000m to 200m away with zoom and getting graininess and blurring even on tripod.

    I know a camera with interchangeable lenses would be the best but budget is a major factor and lenses cost.

    What do the people with camera knowledge think of it.


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    #608
    Brynlee Old Ballerina
    Posts: 0 ✭✭✭ Brynlee Old Ballerina


    I'm looking for something simple for the family for holiday photos. Can anyone recommend an older camera that would have been very good at it's time (and expensive) but might be picked up quite cheaply today (eBay)? Does it work like that? You know like with mobile phones? Ta! :)


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    #609
    cocococo
    Registered Users Posts: 27 ✭cocococo


    Moonbaby, I just bought the Nikon D3200 and want to get a good Lens for it for taking close-up's/Landscape. Can you recommend me one without it costing the stars and sky ! Thanks :)


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    #610
    BumbleB
    Registered Users Posts: 1,599 ✭✭✭BumbleB


    NeitherJohn wrote: »



    I was wondering if anybody here has had hands on experience with both of those cameras? Or if you could recommend the better choice for a beginner? I would have about 900 euro to spend on it. Would I just be better off getting the same deal as the father and see if the shop could give me a wide angle lens instead of the telephoto?

    Thanks a lot!

    John


    I have a 550 d and a canon 10-22 mm wide angle which I really like.I was in the same position and I opted for the canon ,in the end because ,its a canon so its optimised to work with canon Dslr's . I'd say either will serve you well cause theres really no such thing as a bad lense nowadays.Just one thing to remember though at 10mm the max aperture is 3.5 ,when its zoomed in to 22 mm the max aperture is 4.5 .


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    #611
    spookwoman
    Registered Users Posts: 9,922 ✭✭✭spookwoman


    Got the canon powershot sx50 hs and working out very well. Once you hit the full 200x on the zoom picture goes very grainy but tested it a few times from dunmore east the top glass area of the lighthouse at hook fills the picture, at night can see the craters on moon and moons around jupiter.
    Works well on wildlife pictures which my main thing and macro is good.


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    #612
    Armaghmagic
    Registered Users Posts: 1,040 ✭✭✭Armaghmagic


    Has anyone got any opinions on the GoPro Hero3 Black edition. Was thinking of getting one to take with me mountain biking. Is the quality ok for still photos?


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    #613
    Rew
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 8,679 Mod ✭✭✭✭Rew


    Armaghmagic wrote: »
    Has anyone got any opinions on the GoPro Hero3 Black edition. Was thinking of getting one to take with me mountain biking. Is the quality ok for still photos?

    Stills are OK but any point and shoot would be much better. If you want it as a stills camera get something else. That said the phot burst mode is great and you can get great stills from the crazy angles and from places you would never get another camera.

    Video its fantastic, its big let down is battery life isn't great. They have been very buggy so far but the latest firmware seems to have improved the situation.


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    #614
    elen88
    Registered Users Posts: 47 ✭elen88


    I'm new to photography and I'm finding it very hard to pick a DSLR. Pictures in my previews camera looked crystal clear in preview but when I saw them in the computer, they were pixelated and a little distorted (mainly indoors pictures), I want to avoid this. I'm looking to buy a DSLR for travelling/lanscapes, low light images, shoots of people and good macro photography of objects and animals. I'm thinking that I may need two. One that is quite compact for traveling like the Canon G15 and perhaps something like the Nikon 3100 or the Canon CANON EOS 60D. Has anyone got any reccomendations for me? Thanks!


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    #615
    Mike.Za
    Registered Users Posts: 31 ✭Mike.Za


    Yeah,

    I would get the Nikon D7000. Outstanding low light performance. Better image quality than a Canon 7D(also much much much cheaper) weather proof sealed magnesium alloy body and simple one of the best DSLR's around. Its light, its good and its by no means a beginner camera yet still forgiving.

    Also the best news is they recently introduced the D7100 driving the price of the older D7000 down.

    Check it out

    http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon_EOS_7D-vs-Nikon_D7000


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    #616
    elen88
    Registered Users Posts: 47 ✭elen88


    That's great thanks a mil for that!


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    #617
    cnocbui
    Registered Users Posts: 19,687 ✭✭✭✭cnocbui


    elen88 wrote: »
    I'm new to photography and I'm finding it very hard to pick a DSLR. Pictures in my previews camera looked crystal clear in preview but when I saw them in the computer, they were pixelated and a little distorted (mainly indoors pictures), I want to avoid this. I'm looking to buy a DSLR for travelling/lanscapes, low light images, shoots of people and good macro photography of objects and animals. I'm thinking that I may need two. One that is quite compact for traveling like the Canon G15 and perhaps something like the Nikon 3100 or the Canon CANON EOS 60D. Has anyone got any reccomendations for me? Thanks!

    What camera are you having the problem with? If images look pixelated, at normal magnification, then possibly you have the camera mis-set to only record very low resolution images, instead of the maximum resolution possible.

    You won't need two cameras. You could get a micro Four thirds camera that will give you DSLR performance in a small size.


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    #618
    elen88
    Registered Users Posts: 47 ✭elen88


    I was having problems with the Samsung Nx11, unfortunately it is now broken and I'm looking for a replacement with better image quality. Is there any micro four thirds that you suggest in particular? Thanks!


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    #619
    cnocbui
    Registered Users Posts: 19,687 ✭✭✭✭cnocbui


    As a capable alternative to, say, a D7100, the Olympus OM-D EM-5 - I have one, so a bit of bias applies.

    Size comparison between the two: http://camerasize.com/compare/#289,440 Use the controls at the left to view the bodies from above and side-on to get the full impression.

    Slightly more compact, but without the viewfinder and fabulous image stabilisation capabilities of the EM-5, but with the same sensor and image quality, the Olympus Pen E-PL5 or Pen E-PM2. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 would be worth a look too.

    The lenses for M4/3 cameras are fully interchangeable, so you can use a Panasonic lens on an Olympus body, and vise-versa. Olympus have image stabilisation built into their bodies while Panasonic build the IS into some of their lenses. You get IS no matter what lens you put on an Olympus body, but you only get IS with Panasonic if you use an IS Panasonic lens.

    You can use a huge number of older and current manual lenses from a multitude of manufacturers on M4/3 bodies by using a cheap and simple adapter, but you don't get autofocus and the aperture has to be set manually.

    Olympus is about to release a new camera - the Pen E-P5 - that looks rather nice and should be very capable:

    ep5_zpsf940d1fb.gif

    All the Olympus Pen style bodies can be fitted with an optional viewfinder, but they aren't very pretty and it drives the cost up to EM-5 levels.


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    #620
    elen88
    Registered Users Posts: 47 ✭elen88


    It looks great, I will try them out and see which feels better. Thanks!


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    #621
    cnocbui
    Registered Users Posts: 19,687 ✭✭✭✭cnocbui


    The E-P5 won't be released and officially announced until the 10th, so it might be a while before it is in stores.


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    #622
    Mike.Za
    Registered Users Posts: 31 ✭Mike.Za


    While I understand that everyone has their biases(I'm a Nikon man)

    Check this

    http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d7000.htm

    Note what he says about the comparison against a Leica M9(close on $7k)

    For investment in Lenses Nikon never change the mount(Your glass will never age) Hence I stay away from Canon, Panasonic and Olympus.

    Also the Four Thirds Systems has a severely cropped sensors(worse image quality) Dunno anything about the new Olympus mentioned. But general rule of thumb if you want Good DSLR quality then buy a Good DSLR(See here).

    It was between the Fuji X100 and the D7000 when I bought and I have no regrets.


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    #623
    cnocbui
    Registered Users Posts: 19,687 ✭✭✭✭cnocbui


    Mike.Za wrote: »
    Also the Four Thirds Systems has a severely cropped sensors(worse image quality) Dunno anything about the new Olympus mentioned. But general rule of thumb if you want Good DSLR quality then buy a Good DSLR(See here).

    If you care to check the Dpreview studio shot comparison tool, you would find that your statements are perhaps a bit out of touch with reality.


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    #624
    Mike.Za
    Registered Users Posts: 31 ✭Mike.Za


    Half the price for a better camera?

    http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon_D7000-vs-Olympus-E-M5

    In Effect what you just said is like saying APS-C has the same image quality as Full Frame. Not true. While impressive performance for a Four Thirds(I really am impressed) You will get better picture quality from a good DSLR every time.

    For half the price as well it would appear!


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    #625
    cnocbui
    Registered Users Posts: 19,687 ✭✭✭✭cnocbui


    That's not what Dpreview concluded.
    The E-M5 can't completely overcome the light capture disadvantage brought by its smaller sensor, compared to APS-C, but it reduces it to the point that it's irrelevant for almost all practical purposes. At which point we think its size advantage, in terms of both body and lenses, will outweigh that difference for most uses. If you're absolutely unwilling to compromise on image quality then spending twice the money and moving up to the bulk of full-frame is the only way of gaining a significant step up from the E-M5.
    http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympusem5/22

    I'll leave it at that and not say any more on the topic.


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    #626
    elen88
    Registered Users Posts: 47 ✭elen88


    cnocbui wrote: »
    As a capable alternative to, say, a D7100, the Olympus OM-D EM-5 - I have one, so a bit of bias applies.

    Size comparison between the two: http://camerasize.com/compare/#289,440 Use the controls at the left to view the bodies from above and side-on to get the full impression.

    Slightly more compact, but without the viewfinder and fabulous image stabilisation capabilities of the EM-5, but with the same sensor and image quality, the Olympus Pen E-PL5 or Pen E-PM2. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 would be worth a look too.

    The lenses for M4/3 cameras are fully interchangeable, so you can use a Panasonic lens on an Olympus body, and vise-versa. Olympus have image stabilisation built into their bodies while Panasonic build the IS into some of their lenses. You get IS no matter what lens you put on an Olympus body, but you only get IS with Panasonic if you use an IS Panasonic lens.

    You can use a huge number of older and current manual lenses from a multitude of manufacturers on M4/3 bodies by using a cheap and simple adapter, but you don't get autofocus and the aperture has to be set manually.

    Olympus is about to release a new camera - the Pen E-P5 - that looks rather nice and should be very capable:

    ep5_zpsf940d1fb.gif

    All the Olympus Pen style bodies can be fitted with an optional viewfinder, but they aren't very pretty and it drives the cost up to EM-5 levels.


    Can I ask how does the EM-5 do at night in low light? Thanks!


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    #627
    cnocbui
    Registered Users Posts: 19,687 ✭✭✭✭cnocbui


    elen88 wrote: »
    Can I ask how does the EM-5 do at night in low light? Thanks!

    I am not very good at night photography so don't do it often and am not an expert, but I did have an opportunity at new-year and I was very pleased with the results.

    While the sensor is smaller than APS-C and full-frame, as has been pointed out, the slight noise disadvantage at very high ISOs is compensated for by the voodoo-like image stabilisation. If you have a look at this post, you will see a couple of night-time shots taken at new-year. The first of them was at ISO 200 with an exposure time of 1.3 seconds - hand-held - a near impossibility for any APS-C based DSLR without using a tripod. The focal length was 12mm so the conventional wisdom that 1 divided by the focal length is the longest exposure you can reasonably expect to manage a hand held shot means you normally wouldn't get a blur-free shot with any exposure longer than 1/12 of a second. That shot was more than 10 times as long an exposure. It wasn't a fluke either, I had less than 1 in 10 night time shots blurred.

    All this means that you can use a lower ISO than you could with an APS-C camera for shots that are hand-held. Lower ISO means less-noise in dark areas.

    I came across this video shot in low light with an EM-5 that I think is impressive:


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    #628
    Armaghmagic
    Registered Users Posts: 1,040 ✭✭✭Armaghmagic


    Has anybody any opinion on the Sony RX100? Was thinking of getting one, or is there something better for the money?


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    #629
    Kess73
    Registered Users Posts: 25,560 ✭✭✭✭Kess73


    Hi all,

    Was looking to get a camera for my nephew (14 yo in August) and was going to start him off with a bridge camera.

    He likes the feel of the Fuji bridge cameras, and has been playing around with an old S series. He is a tall kid and the fuji cameras seem to fit his hands well and vice versa.


    What I was looking at for him was either a FinePix HS50, or the X-S1.

    I know the latter has a larger sensor than the first camera, and as such should be able to do more with it 12mp than the other can with it's 16mp, but is it as good an allrounder?

    Basically what he thinks he needs is a camera that can do all the point and click stuff, but also have a decent range, be capable of fairly good quality pics (obv not expecting it to match mid range or better DLSRs), and being a good learning tool to see if he wants to get into photography in a bigger way down the line.

    To date he likes outdoor pics, be it animals, trees, mountains etc, and he loves taking pics of buildings especially when he can find an angle he likes to try and make the pic a little unusual. Decent macro capability would be semi important to him as well.


    From what I can read online both cameras would tick most of the boxes, but would love some feedback from any who have used them or who would have decent knowledge of those I named.


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    #630
    Tango One
    Registered Users Posts: 787 ✭✭✭Tango One


    Looking for a compact camera thinking of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V or the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ40. Any opinions on which to pick
    Cheers.

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX20V-Super-Advanced-Optical/dp/B007DDCVM2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370895915&sr=8-1&keywords=Sony+Cyber-shot+DSC-HX20V
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-TZ40EB-S-Compact-Camera/dp/B00BET11MW/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top


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    #631
    Bluefoam
    Registered Users Posts: 7,711 ✭✭✭Bluefoam


    Tango One wrote: »
    Looking for a compact camera thinking of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V or the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ40. Any opinions on which to pick
    Cheers.

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX20V-Super-Advanced-Optical/dp/B007DDCVM2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370895915&sr=8-1&keywords=Sony+Cyber-shot+DSC-HX20V
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-TZ40EB-S-Compact-Camera/dp/B00BET11MW/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

    or this for £190...

    Pentax Q system camera

    Not exactly a compact, but very pocketable & so much fun...


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