Camera Buying Help Needed.

[radek1mac]

Hi All,
I just found your website and found it very useful. I am the owner of Fuji FinePix 4200, my first digital camera. It helped me to understand and find interest in photography.
But I feel that my camera started limiting me. I am not proffesional photographer, just enthusiast. I love taking landscape pics and use micro/ macro mode. I am just about to go for a trip of my life, Egypt and would like to take great pics.
There is few indivations what i am looking for.
1)budget - $1500
2)size does not matter
3) standard optical zoom or greater is fine, no prefernece here
4)image quality very important - 8/9
5)I like playing with manual controls, not too many. Like to use manual focus and macro/micro
6)General use - taking outdoors pics, landscape, holidays, sunsets
7)no large prints
8)sometimes indoors and sometime low light conditions
9)no sport or minimal action shots
10) dont mind any brands
11)Features: would like: image stabilistion, hot shoe possibility, built in flash, scenes modes, night modes, flash options,
12) love taking wide screen photos, not really into changing lensens ( I am clumsy).

Hope that make any sense
Looking forward to your response

[coldrain]

Well, 1500$ is a bit much for a camera that is not a DSLR.
You will get the best images with a DSLR though, so it might be worth considering anyway.

But lets not look at that now. I think you may have use for a big tele zoom range, if you want to photograph things in a distance or further away details.
This would bring you in the ultra zoom camera class. On trips, something you can easily stow away without too much of a worry are preferrable, so too huge would not be wanted maybe.

Of the Ultra zoom camera's, I would suggest the Canon S2 IS over the Panasonic offerings of the FZ5, FZ20 and FZ30 because of their "dull" colour balance, the noisy nature of pictures, especially in the FZ30, and their propietary batteries, it is cheaper to buy AA size NiMH rechargable batteries and have a standard AA size for if you end up with empty battery and you can not charge them at that moment.

Also the awesome swiveling display of the S2 is very nice. The camera is easier to operate than the FZ20 and FZ5 where function menus are concerned.
(probably a lot of Panasonic owners will now make this thread into a nothing is better than Panasonic tirade, but I have experiene with both the FZ20 and S2 IS and I have seen a lot of photos from both cameras, I do not own either of them and therefore I have no reason to be biased or to defend my "precious posession")

I prefer the Canon S2 IS over the Sony DSC-H1 because it has a better battery life (best in class?) and the display. And the way it depicts green nature/grass and water textures. The Sony is best in class with noise when you put the ISO up to 200 or 400.

The S2 IS and the H1 are compact, the FZ30 is bigger.

Thing with these ultra zooms is that they do not really have wide angle. One exception is the new Fuji S9000, that starts at 28mm. This makes the camera worth considering. The others (S2 and FZ20 definately) can have a wide angle convertor, but this means you "have to change lenses" which you said you prefer not to. So, if you want wide angel the Fuji becomes interesting, it does not have image stabilization but that might not be a really big loss anyway. It is however bigger than the Sony and Canon.

Another camera to consider when you want a wide angle lens is the Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom. It has good image quality, just not the big range of the 12x zoom camera's mentioned above.

Also worth considering may be the Nikon 8400. It has a very nice wide lens that starts at 24, ideal for landscapes and views of big buildings.

If you prefer a big zoom range still, the S2 IS has a very flexible and good panorama photo function that guides you with making pictures that you can later stitch together, upto 360 degrees panoramas are possible.

[swgod98]

Aside from the lens changing, a dSLR would suit you perfectly (perhaps best)! The 8080 is very nice with a very wide (standard) lens, which is what most of your requirements point towards. The Kodak P880 has a nice wide angle lens built into it as well, and the new Fuji S9000...

And of course, there is always the option of buying an UZ (ultrazoom) and adding a wideangle lens when required, which coldrain discussed...

In the end, you will be hard pressed to find a single camera with both wide and good tele capabilities (S9000). You will need adapters if you are interested in both, hence the focus on dSLR's for you (since your budget provides).

probably a lot of Panasonic owners will now make this thread into a nothing is better than Panasonic tirade

You didn't really need to add that in there...

[radek1mac]

Hi,
Thanks for the replay.
How about Konica Minolta Dimage A2000 or Fuji Finepix 9500 I was recomended today? Are they any good?

And as you suggester SLR? which of them would suit my needs, I a so confused what type of lenses will be the best to shot landscape pictures.

Thanks very much

Radek

[tim11]

Hi,
............
And as you suggester SLR? which of them would suit my needs, I a so confused what type of lenses will be the best to shot landscape pictures..........
How long do you have before your trip? Maybe you shouldn't buy DSLR and go for prosumber instead.

[tim11]

The S2 IS and the H1 are compact, the FZ30 is bigger. ....

.... and the FZ5 is lightest at 290g.

[tim11]

Not my purpose to contradict COLDRAIN. You maybe right of course re. dull colour on FZ but I'm blissfully oblivous to such detail and to many people, that's not a diciding factor.
I just want to share news on camera deal at Circuit City, FZ5 is $200 cheaper than S2 IS.
Check out this thread.
http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12649
Don't know if there is terms and conditions and I haven't got a clue where circuit city is, but if it's in your neighbourhood you should check it out.

[radek1mac]

I am going in February, but I am off to the US next month where i plan to but the camera as its much cheaper there than in the UK.
What about Konica Minolta Dimage a2000, or Fuji Finepix 9500

[coldrain]

.... and the FZ5 is lightest at 290g.
.... and not ask good as those 2.

[coldrain]

I am going in February, but I am off to the US next month where i plan to but the camera as its much cheaper there than in the UK.
What about Konica Minolta Dimage a2000, or Fuji Finepix 9500
The Fuji may be a good choice, it has not been reviewed yet though. But it has a nice wider angle lens that starts at 28mm, nice for landscapes and buildings. The Fuji 9000/9500 are the same, it seems it may have different type numbers for different continents.

[radek1mac]

Found three: need to decide which one, are there any differences between them?
Olympus C8080 Wide Zoom (panoramic photos option)
Minolta Dimage A2000
Fuji FinePix 9500 (no anti shake though)

[Clyde]

Found three: need to decide which one, are there any differences between them?
Olympus C8080 Wide Zoom (panoramic photos option)
Minolta Dimage A2000
Fuji FinePix 9500 (no anti shake though)

This link has been posted before. I can't imagine better advertising for the 8080 (http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-6468-7844).

Good luck,

Clyde

[radek1mac]

Hi Clyde
Thanks very much. Its going to be Olympus C-8080, but for strange reasons it looks like its unavailable in the US. Spent 4 hours searching resellers in NYC and nobody sells it.
Does anyone know any good shops in NYC where i can get it?
Thanks

[tugboat]

I'm also in the market for a good all around camera with a good Macro. I have a Cannon S1 IS and I'm very happy with it but I'd like something that will fit in my pocket. I see that Ricoh just came out with the Caplio R3 (pocket size)that has 5MP, 7X zoom, Image stabilization and is supposed to have an outstanding Macro mode. Unfortunately it will not be available in the U.S.. I'm presently on a yacht heading from Malta to Spain and then back to Florida - I'm hoping it will be available in Europe before returning. If your budget is not a problem why not get the Cannon S2 or ? AND a pocket size.

[radek1mac]

Well well well
I read first reviews of fuji finepix 9000 (9500) and they are mixed. It looks I will get olympus c-8080. it comes out better comparing to finepix. wonder why was it discontinued in the US. Is olymypus planning release an update model to it?

[Vanman]

Hi

I am no photo guru by any stretch of the imagination. However this forum was very helpful to me in making my digital decision so I thought i would jump in here.

I purchased the camera you are talking about here the C-8080 and I couldnt be hapier with it! The only thing I could ask for with this camera is perhaps a little longer battery life but that can be fixed with a batery pack add on that it available for it.

For the money I dont think you can beat this camera and from your description it sounds like it is exactly what you are looking for. I am not sure why they are so hard to find but again I couldnt be hapier with mine. I dont think you will regret buying one if you do.

If you have a mind to you can take a look at some of the pics I took with mine here http://vanman05.smugmug.com/

Almost all of the photos there were taken with the c-8080 on auto settings. I think you will find that even just pointing and clicking this camera takes amazing photos. I assume it can only get better with more photographic knowledge and manual settings.

I got mine here http://www.butterflyphoto.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=C8080
They were awesome and even gave me a deal on a memory upgrade when i made my purchase. The price is almost $1000 less than what you said you were willing to spend too! I believe they are based out of new york also so you could probably just walk in and buy one when you are there.

Anyway hope you enjoy whatever camera you decide on as much as I am enjoying the one that this site help me to decide on. And have a great trip!

[radek1mac]

Hello
Thanks very much Vanman. I decided to go for Olympus.
Still trying to find reseller which sells them, looks like it has been discontinued, but there are few available on line there.
Cant wait till i get it .