I need a new camera

[delightful]

hi there

After my Kodak Easyshare V1003 10.0 mp took a little bath in my purse with soda in it :D I need a new one :mad:

I actually wasnt that satisfied with kodak, because taking pics when it was dark, or in clubs was really HARD

so heres what I need:

Budget

* up to 150 I would say

Size

* I prefer smaller ones, to fit in my purses

Features

How many megapixels will suffice for you? - up to 10 - at least 7

* What optical zoom will you need? I dont know, my old kodak one was ok, I think that was 3...

* How important is “image quality” to you? of course important - but i am not a professional, so I guess 8!?

Do you care for manual controls? - means what?? to jump around in a menu of a camera??? well, it shouldnt be too hard

General Usage

* What will you generally use the camera for? - allright: indoor, outdoor, clubs, partys, sightseeing, everyday use - generally....really, i am taking pics of everything

* Will you be making big prints of your photos or not? no not really big prints

Will you be shooting a lot of indoor photos or low light photos?: yeah

Will you be shooting sports and/or action photos?: "action" I guess, people running around, dancing....staff like that

Miscellaneous

Are there particular brands you like or hate? Well....Kodak as I said, I think I dont wanna have that again

Are there particular models you already have in mind? Well, in stores they are talking about the Fujifilm FinePix Z10fd 7.2, because apparently its a good one for shooting in the dark...or so, but I actually haven't read a lot of good staff.....so I am not sure!!!


(If applicable) Do you need any of the following special features? (Wide Angle, Image Stabilization, Weatherproof, Hotshoe, Rotating LCD) - I dont think so

Thanks so much for your Help!!
Claudia

[seo]

10 MP compacts and low light don't mix. Go for a camera that is good in low light. 6MP is more than sufficient.

[delightful]

anything specific?

thanks

[JTL]

I would highly recommend that you up your budget a little and get the Fuji F50. Why? because it has true image stabilization...which will help take much, much better indoor shots. The Z10 only has Fuji's falsely advertised "picture stabilization" which is simply a high ISO setting and not true image stabilization. The F50 has both mechanical image stabilization and high ISO capability, making it the best low-light P&S camera available at the moment.

See it here:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/514544-REG/Fujifilm_15764326_FinePix_F50fd_Digital_Camera.htm l

I think you'd be in for another disappointment with the Z10...

[delightful]

mhm...yeah thats what a I thought! I read a lot of bad staff about it....

the one you talking about looks nice, but I really would like to have a cheaper one! But if there is no other way, I dont wanna buy another camera in one year because i made a wrong decision again....

what about sony??? pe cybershot?? I know, costs around 200 too....

[Visual Reality]

For indoor and low-light, the only answer is Fuji.

Sony, Canon, Nikon, etc etc...will all disappoint you when the lights are low.

[JTL]

mhm...yeah thats what a I thought! I read a lot of bad staff about it....

the one you talking about looks nice, but I really would like to have a cheaper one! But if there is no other way, I dont wanna buy another camera in one year because i made a wrong decision again....

what about sony??? pe cybershot?? I know, costs around 200 too....The Sony's are O.K cameras in general...but they won't do that good in low-light/indoors either.

[AndyfromVA]

Fuji F40fd and Panasonic FS3. Good for low light shooting.

[KCook]

Even though the Kodak was a flop, I'm wondering if you really need the last word in low light cameras? Just for grins also take a look at the Nikon Coolpix L18, Panasonic FX12, and Panasonic LS80. All very much pocket sized cameras, with lots of automation, and around the $150 mark. So long as you find a store with easy return policy, you can try any camera you like. And it may not take that much to beat the old Kodak.

Kelly Cook

[speaklightly]

Hi Delightful-

Kelly Cook is really correct. You may not need a super-duper low light level camera. Tell us in more detail about the kind of photos that you want to take. Perhaps you can get by with a camera such as the Canon SX-100 or the Sony H-3 that do rather well at ISO 800.

Sarah Joyce

[JTL]

y would like to have a cheaper one! But if there is no other way, I don't wanna buy another camera in one year because i made a wrong decision again...

Well, all I can add at this point is to say get the right tool for your intended purpose or just your setting yourself up for disappointment and ultimately just throwing your money away...

No other camera that has been suggested here will take as good a low-light shot as the Fuji F50...and that's a fact...

You are about to make the wrong decision again. Sorry, but it's true. And nothing that anyone else says will change that. ;)

You've heard the saying "Those who forget the past are doomed to relive it."? Well, I prefer the saying "Live and learn". :)

[delightful]

well, so basicly what you guys are saying is I should def. buy fuji F50?!

as I said, it really should be a camera where I basicly can make any pics outdoor and indoor....Ive never had problems to do pics by daylight with any camera Ive had so far...but as soon it gets dark or I am at a club, I have to take 10 pics with different flashtypes to get a almost good picture!!!!

thanks for all the answers!!!!

Ps: whats the difference between the f40 and f50 except the pixels????

[David Metsky]

The F40 doesn't have manual controls, but it has better image quality due to not having so many pixels crammed on the sensor.

No camera is always going to take good shots in low light. It's the most difficult thing for a camera to do, and even the best cameras may not always make the choices that you want. A camera with good high ISO performance makes it possible for you to get a good shot, but you'll still need to use manual settings from time to time.

The important part of high ISO is that you don't need to use a flash. If you are going to be using a flash then the advantage of the F50 is much smaller.

[JTL]

well, so basicly what you guys are saying is I should def. buy fuji F50?!

as I said, it really should be a camera where I basicly can make any pics outdoor and indoor....Ive never had problems to do pics by daylight with any camera Ive had so far...but as soon it gets dark or I am at a club, I have to take 10 pics with different flashtypes to get a almost good picture!!!!

thanks for all the answers!!!!

Ps: whats the difference between the f40 and f50 except the pixels????The F40 does not have mechanical image stabilzation...something some people don't seem to realize...a feature that you will want given your stated purposes and past bad experiences. The F50 does have it...as well as manual controls.

Once again, check the specs and do your homework...I'm trying to save you some heartache here. I'm not typing just to hear myself type nor am I just pulling a recommendation out of thin air. The F50 is the camera (or as close as you can get) that you're looking for. ;)

[tim11]

---
Ps: whats the difference between the f40 and f50 except the pixels????

F40fd: 8MP
F50fd: 12MP

F50fd has impressive features and optical image stabiliser though its IS effectiveness has been question, as per Dpreview review.
F40fd still wins on image quality front but it doesn't have IS. I don't know why JTL said IS is a must as the maximum zoom is 3x on both. If people hold a camera with 2 hands that will cut down the need for IS dramatically... (alright, that's just a joke. )


---
...Ive never had problems to do pics by daylight with any camera Ive had so far...but as soon it gets dark or I am at a club, I have to take 10 pics with different flashtypes to get a almost good picture!!!!
Fuji is recommended if you like to take photos without using the flash. If you don't mind that maybe you only have to make sure the subjects are within the flash distance (check user manual). Normally it doesn't fire further than 10 metres on high ISO, and around 3 metres (10 feet) at ISO 100.

[KCook]

My thinking on this is more along the lines of that from David and tim11 ...

If low light (no flash) image quality is the goal, then these Fujis win.

However, it is my impression that the problems reported by the OP are simply poor exposure settings. Not really IQ problems.

So ... as a simple AUTO flash shooter ... I wonder if the Fujis are still so superior to more common shooters for beginners like the Olympus FE-280?

I really think this thread has descended into a crosstalk mode,
Kelly

[delightful]

I really like this board :)

Thanks for all the answers

I was just wondering because the f40 was cheaper, but I guess its going to be the f50 :cool:

and @ JTL:

Thanks a lot ;) I realllly appreciate your "typing" :D and your advice :)

but I am not good with camera features, thats why I need to ask :p

Thanks guys

[Visual Reality]

The thing is, having the ability to use ISO 800 from a point and shoot and get acceptable results is almost priceless for many people. This gets you much faster shutter speeds, and in turn much clearer indoor photos.

The Fuji F31fd that I got my girlfriend matches my Nikon D80 in ISO performance...it's that good.

[delightful]

the 31fd is just a little bit expensive.....cant find it under $ 350

[tim11]

You won't find a new F31fd anymore; it's been discontinued and replaced by F50fd.

[JTL]

The Fuji F31fd that I got my girlfriend matches my Nikon D80 in ISO performance...it's that good.

You won't find a new F31fd anymore; it's been discontinued and replaced by F50fd.That's the real shame of it. The F30 and F31fd were approaching the pinnacle of P&S cameras as far as I'm concerned. Then, sadly, Fuji went nuts and sacrificed a engineering based strategy to a marketing based strategy (e.g MP diddling). If you can even find an F30/31 they're around $500.00!

But, even with the F50's unfortunately high MP count, it's still a really good camera.

[delightful]

what do you guys think about the f30?????

[David Metsky]

If you can find it, great. It's pretty much the same as the F31fd without the face detection.

[tim11]

what do you guys think about the f30?????
This is the model JTL mentioned reaching the pinnacle of PnS cameras. Grab it if you can find any left.

[swimm3r137]

For indoor and low-light, the only answer is Fuji.

Sony, Canon, Nikon, etc etc...will all disappoint you when the lights are low.

Wait, but doesn't the flash correct for "low light"???????? I've always thought that is what a flash is for, for when there's low light conditions.

[David Metsky]

Wait, but doesn't the flash correct for "low light"???????? I've always thought that is what a flash is for, for when there's low light conditions.
We're talking about shooting without the flash, using natural light. Flashes change the exposure, put your subject under harsh light, make the background dark, cause red eye, reflect off shiny objects, etc. It's certainly adequate for snapshots and when you have no other choice, but the ability to shoot in available light will almost always produce a better image.

[tim11]

Wait, but doesn't the flash correct for "low light"???????? I've always thought that is what a flash is for, for when there's low light conditions.
Like David said. Plus there are harsh shadows behind every objects and I personally hate that. For this reason, I only shoot either without the flash or bounce the flash off the ceiling (DSLR cameras only).

As I said one of my earlier posts, if you don't mind using the flash then don't restrict the choice to Fuji. And whatever camera you are using, just make sure the subjects are within the flash range....... etc .. etc.

[delightful]

YEAAHHH

Well thanks everybody....problem solved...

As I went to best buy today just to look around they had the f50 there on clearance, but there were a bunch of other cameras too, which have been suggested here, so I ask the guy there, which he would buy (even tough the f50 wasnt the most expensive one, because of the clearance), he said I should pick it.....

so voila

First impression is good, just controls are a little bit confusing

Is somebody here using the camera and can give me some advices, now, when to use which iso and staff??? would be great!!

thanks so much

[tim11]

Congratulations.
You should spend sometime reading the user manual. You should use lower ISO possible and raise it only when light is low. You should google for camera ISO and have a good read about it.

[Visual Reality]

I'd just set it to Auto ISO (400) or Auto ISO (800). Try them both and compare the images at 400 and 800 - if 800 is too grainy then you know not to use it.

That said we use Auto 800 with our F31fd and its perfect. Its smart enough that it usually uses 100-200 outside and 400-800 inside.