[Closed] Cameras

twixtor

and many other daydreams about expensive filming equipment.

filming + riding have changed my life for the better.

Just bought a Canon S95 - as an owner of (currently) 7 cameras and dozens over the last few years, this is so far the best camera I've owned, and that includes SLRs.

Yes cameras are great 😀

Good choice dazzlingboy, I love my little S95.

My SX200 has died though 🙁 , twas rubbish for photos, but great for videos and now will only show "Lens error".

I am looking for a tripod next. I already bought a ball head for my monopod for £15 from Jessops, works very well, so I am just after legs.

Then I think I want one of these:

[img] [/img]

Dazzlingboy, how much did you pay? S95 is at the top of my list at the mo, but just can't seem to find the cash. Was hoping they would drop a bit, but no joy.

Just bought a Sony A33. Just need to learn how to use it now...

Ben - took me weeks to read, re-read and digest the manual for my SLR. Enjoy. And since it's digital you get to snap away to your heart's content trying stuff out for no penalty.

I was messing with it the whole time we stayed at Mrs Grips' folks, and My Mother in Law even commented on how studious I was 🙂

>Then I think I want one of these:
a 300d with battery grip? I can sell you mine if you like 🙂

A copy of 'Light, Science and Magic' is on it's way to me.
A replacement set of RF-602 triggers, after the current transmitter died.
A compact to use when I'm out riding. What's the current fave?
It's difficult to decide whether to spend a little, or a little bit more.

I think an EOS 5d II is in order when the current one expires. I'm looking for some deals on the body and 24-105mm as we speak, then some longer fixed, 300mm, 400mm. 😀

Hm, riding compacts - I could use one. It'd have to be fully ruggedised to make it worth it, and very capable so as not to disappoint me after DSLR usage. I thought I liked those Oly ones but they haven't had good reviews.

Oh yeah and I also want the battery grip to help with using my long zoom handheld. They're 200 quid or something but when I got my camera Jessops had them for 30! I didn't get one despite advice on here, I thought I had no need for it.. d'oh!

Don't know anything about photography, but my wife occasionally mentions how much she'd like a decent dSLR. I can see her getting into it, so thinking of buying her one as a surprise present when she pops out our first kid in the summer. Something she'd have difficulty outgrowing over the next few years. Considering, in order of preference so far:

Olympus e-620 with 14-42 and 40-150 lenses ($650)
Pentax K-7 with 18-55 and 50-200 lenses ($1100)
Canon 550d with 18-55 lens ($705)
Nikon d5000 with 18-55 and 55-200 lenses ($800)

Comments welcome, as I have no idea, and am too lazy to systematically investigate what seems to be a pretty complicated world.

Camera upgrade due soon, Digital SLR needed for product shots ideally with HD video facility too, Canon best bet? and where is the cheapest for these?

TheyEye - I have that Olympus. It's brilliant, lovely and light and the lenses are very good, but on the other hand you can't go into shops and browse tons of second hand kit. This is a bummer, but on the other hand it means you don't end up spending lots of money aimlessly shopping 🙂 The Oly lenses are mostly all you will get. However they are excellent and cheap.

Are you in the USA? There might be more Oly stuff available there.

Also check out Sony.

HD Video is a bit of a minefield. The Olympus GH2 and Sony a33/a55 are the only ones with effective auto focus. The GH2 has a clever digital zoom (which doesn't 'cost you anything' as HD video is actually low definition compared to the sensor resolution).

There's some good stuff on Luminous Landscapes ([url= http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/gh2_discoveries.shtml ]GH2[/url], [url= http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/sony-a55-preview.shtml ]a55[/url]).

Thanks molgrips. I'm in Italy, but travel back and forth quite a bit, therefore will probably end up buying it in the states.

From what I've read the Olympus seems very interesting and excellent value, but have been somewhat put off by comments of poor performance at higher ISOs, 800 up. Now, I don't really know what that means, but assuming that photos taken in poor light will turn out grainy and therefore rubbish. Is that the correct interpretation, and have you experienced problems with this?

[i]If there's anything dafter than people waffling on about hifi it's people waffling on about bloomin kitchen knives ffs![/i]

Can I add cameras to that 😉

get clicking....

Kuco - Member

If there's anything dafter than people waffling on about hifi it's people waffling on about bloomin kitchen knives ffs!

Can I add cameras to that

Or commenting on threads marked 'cameras' to say they don't like cameras. 🙄

From what I've read the Olympus seems very interesting and excellent value, but have been somewhat put off by comments of poor performance at higher ISOs, 800 up. Now, I don't really know what that means, but assuming that photos taken in poor light will turn out grainy and therefore rubbish. Is that the correct interpretation, and have you experienced problems with this?

If you don't plan on printing over A4 then it probably won't.

If you plan on printing 6x4 / photo books / shots on the web etc then it's completely irrelevant.

This is only an issue if you shoot high iso of course. Which is unusual for most people. Generally you need low light and action - indoor basketball, floodlit football etc.

[url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/performance-kitchen-gear ]What ever[/url]

molgrips:

I am looking for a tripod next.

The Manfrotto ones are very good value, I've found.
For real tripod porn ( 😯 ) look at Gitzo - the best, but very pricey.
Why do tripod manufacturers have such great names?

Cheers 5thElefant, that's a great piece of practical advice that I can understand: high ISO usage is unusual.

I expect to sometimes blow the photos up fairly large, say A3, but the scenes to be pretty middle of the road -- i.e. no skew towards floodlit football.

theyEye
I have a Nikon d5000 with 18-55 and 55-200 lenses. I'm very new to photography, it was something I occasionally had to do for work but didn't like it much at all. Since buying the d5000 set I don't leave my house without it. I have a whole new love for taking pictures and I even enjoy reading about it. It is very early days, especially with what it can do compared to what I can do with it, but I love it.

S95 is next purchase.

I'm really getting into Lightroom at the moment, I think it's amazing, so that's keeping me out of mischief.

Red Snapper tripods are worth considering ... great value, solidly constructed, pretty versatile. This one for £50.

http://www.redsnapperuk.com/camera-accessories/RS-283_tripod_and_RSH-24_3-way_head_.html

On my current wish-list is an Olympus XZ-1 and a second-hand Sony a700 body.

I just bought a Nikon D7000 body and boy is it fast compared to my old D80 - blisteringly quick...

Dazzlingboy, how much did you pay?

£299 on Amazon. I shopped and shopped and that was as low as I could get it. Next day delivery too. Thought what the hell and bought it - worth every penny.

Have already sold my G9 on ebay - now planning on selling Olympus EP1 and Lumix FT2 - all redundant now I have the S95. It is that good.

Keeping my 7D though!!

Looking to change from my old Canon Digital Rebel (300d) which I've had since consumer DSLRs were launched - it's getting a bit old in the tooth for my liking/few too many bashes/etc.

Got my eyes on a 60d - best buy seem to have some good deals with the 18-135 or 17-85 lenses (sub 1k, quidco do 10% back as well) or the more sensible 500d with 50mm prime at 490 off the 'bay.

Anybody got any of this kit and can spare a thought?

Cheers 5thElefant, that's a great piece of practical advice that I can understand: high ISO usage is unusual.

Depends though - I shoot a lot of gigs etc where light is very bad, so high ISO is useful. But then I manage with a GF1 which has the same size sensor as the Olympus (and thus probably similar high ISO performance).

Usual and sound advice imo is to take her to a shop and let her have a play with the ones on the shortlist - buy the one that feels right. They are all good cameras - all have pros and cons but not enough to stop anyone taking decent pics.

Second Lightroom being amazing, and Redsnapper tripods being amazing value.

I just tried out my new filters today - good to get to use them as they cost me over £200 for the holder and the set!!!! I also just bought a Blackrapid RS7 sling strap which cost £50!! 😯

It's basically a form of mental illness.

I'm trying to overcome my innate politeness and get a flash (or two) next. I'm struggling to convince myself I'd ever use one, but IA's [url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/photos-you-have-taken-in-the-last-month-which-you-are-proud-of/page/34 ]SUS student champs[/url] shot has convinced me I should try...

I was having a play with a 60d a few days ago, it seems a reasonable piece of kit and the lens wasn't to shabby. I haven't had a good look at the pictures taken though. As a mid range and Canon, you won't go wrong. Taking pitures while videoing is an interesting option, not sure how useful but interesting. The moveable screen again is interesting and I'm not sure how useful it'd be. I was impressed with the video though.

I also just bought a Blackrapid RS7 sling strap which cost £50!!

Made a DIY one for my G1 for pennies, it's ace 🙂 Did take me 3 iterations to get a good design though.

I'm trying to overcome my innate politeness and get a flash (or two) next. I'm struggling to convince myself I'd ever use one, but IA's SUS student champs shot has convinced me I should try...

Wow, thanks 🙂 Glad to inspire you. I posted a bit about my flash kit on that thread, it needn't be too expensive to try out.

I've used the flippy screen on my G1 - I think it's a great feature and wish it was on more 'pro' level cameras. It's great for using with a tripod low down for instance. I reckon it would be particularly useful for video.

Some people are weirdly snobby about them for some reason.

Made a DIY one for my G1 for pennies, it's ace Did take me 3 iterations to get a good design though.

I have a lack of patience and craft skills! (and thus no money)

600D has just been released, which seams very close to 60D, but cheaper...might be worth a look?

I've used the flippy screen on my G1 - I think it's a great feature

Yeah, flippy screen is ace, especially for landscape and macro (on the tripod), or lower level stuff (common for me, as I'm very tall! handy to shoot from the waist).

I've used the flippy screen on my G1 - I think it's a great feature and wish it was on more 'pro' level cameras. It's great for using with a tripod low down for instance. I reckon it would be particularly useful for video.

Wasn't saying you were being snobby about them btw - have just seen lots of people on Talk Photography dismissing them as a gimmick without ever having used one.

18-135

I had this lens for a week or so - took it back as just wasn't impressed with the image quality - very average. Now have the 15-85 which is more expensive but a much better lens in several respects.

A great resource for Canon lens info (as opposed to camera review) is

[url= http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-Lens-Reviews.aspx ]Here[/url]
[url= http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/index.php ]Here[/url]
[url= http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/overview ]and here[/url]

Some people are weirdly snobby about them for some reason

I can't understand it either...they are a big help in getting good composition for stuff at low level....anybody who takes pictures of kids for example, the shots look so much better shot from low level, rather than looking down.

That's interesting lodius - if only cos it means the 550d will come down in price soon or there'll be some run out 500d's around...

Does anyone use a Pentax?
The K-7 is talked about as well built and weather-resistant, which appeals. But the 2 lens kit is two thirds more expensive than the Olympus E-620...

Wasn't saying you were being snobby about them btw - have just seen lots of people on Talk Photography dismissing them as a gimmick without ever having used one.

I didn't even relate the snobby comment to the flip screen. I know I often only think about how kit will work for me and not the bigger picture.
The guy whose camera I was playing with mainly works in video and is used to this type of flexible viewfinder and is both impressed with the viewfinder and the video quality. For my photography I don't think it would be useful, for my bones, yes!

Does anyone use a Pentax?
The K-7 is talked about as well built and weather-resistant, which appeals. But the 2 lens kit is two thirds more expensive than the Olympus E-620...

But... other than sensor size there's not much to choose between the e-620 and the k7: [url= http://front1.dxomark.com/index.php/Camera-Sensor/Compare-sensors/(appareil1)/588%7C0/(appareil2)/615%7C0/(onglet)/0/(brand)/Olympus/(brand2)/Pentax ]DXO[/url]