Thinking of getting my GF a camera. Suggestions?

[herc182]

Dont wanna spend over £150. Possibly £200 if I think she needs it.

i want her to find what she likes photographing, so a versatile zoom will be on the shopping list.

When she knows what she likes photographing, a DSLR in the future (which would obviously be Nikon :))

I was thinking the panasonic TZ7 or TZ6. Not many differences between the two but the former has a slightly larger sensor!

http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_GB/287749/module/general/compare/products/displayResult.html?p=DMC-TZ7&p=DMC-TZ6

However they are pushing my budget! Would be an ebay job for sure.

Any other recommendations? I know this should maybe be in the general section of the forum but I know you guys/girls better and your opinion counts. No disrespect to anyone else.

Come on...surely you have bought your significant other a camera :):)

[K1W1]

I like the Panasonic P&S cameras. We have a TZ3(?) in the office and SWMBO has a FZ18 which I think has pretty much the same sensor as the TZ5/6. They both take great images for what they are. Even the old 2MP Panasonic we have here at home somewhere takes terrific images as long as you only want small sizes and have okay light.
I know that they are pushing the budget but for your girlfriend to develop an interest you need to get her something that will at least last for a while AND allow her to produce decent results. If she can't get great images she won't remain interested for long.

[herc182]

I know that they are pushing the budget but for your girlfriend to develop an interest you need to get her something that will at least last for a while AND allow her to produce decent results. If she can't get great images she won't remain interested for long.

hmmm good point.

I think the TZ6 produces good images, and she wouldnt be pixel peeping. However, does it allow for aperture control? Not fully manual but some degree of control.

I am looking at the earlier models of this range and basically the zoom is not as long, and the lens not as wide. and obviously lower pixel count, which may not be a bad thing on those small sensors!

[herc182]

o and i wanted it fairly compact to ensure it will fit in her bag (which actually is not that small :))

[K1W1]

No to Aperture control.

There is a review of the Tz5 here (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonictz5/).

I think to get Aperture or Shutter control on a P&S you are probably going to have to go for one of the SLR style cameras like the Panasonic FZ series which then is both a money and bag size problem.

Edit:
Remember that Flickr is your friend for situations like this. Whatever camera(s) you consider there will be a Flickr group where you can see heaps of real world examples or you can also search the whole of Flickr for specific camera photos.

[herc182]

thanks K1W1. My only problem with flickr is PP. I will search for some reviews as they have SOOC shots (as she sure as hell aint gonna hit Photoshop with the photos!)

Hmm read that review...image quality is not that good on that camera.

Possibly one of the fuji alternatives? like a 50fd or somthing?

[herc182]

had a look at the fugees :)

Nothing past the f31fd is worth it apparently. And anything before that looks like it was designed by a blind mans guide dog.

Knowing that my GF pointed at the shiney NICE ones in the shop, I know she would not be happy with that backstreet abortion for a camera.

So still on the panasonics for now...

[faisal]

How about the Canon A720....got my GF that last year and she loves it....plus it's f2.8 at the wide end which makes low light non flash usage easy though it's not the smallest P&S around and is not a looker...

Here are some almost SOOC shots from the camera that I took last Saturday (only adjustment is increase in contrast). Notice how f2.8 makes hand hold non flash shots easy with a low ISO... :)

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q121/faisal7/400D/IMG_8015.jpg
6mm, 1/20, f2.8, ISO 200

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q121/faisal7/400D/IMG_8017.jpg
6mm, 1/25, f2.8, ISO 200

[herc182]

cool shots (albeit not SOOC :D)

I will add that to the short list :)

EDIT:

Actually tell a lie. Its massive. And (no offence) ugly...SOOW (Straight Out Of the Window)

[DiamondSCattleCo]

I'll throw another vote to Canon P&Ses. It was an A590 that got me going into DSLRs. Decent quality (although I have to mess with white balance a bit), reasonable price.

Rod

[herc182]

Thanks. Unfortuantely, it looks just like the A720 :)

[faisal]

cool shots (albeit not SOOC :D)

I will add that to the short list :)

EDIT:

Actually tell a lie. Its massive. And (no offence) ugly...SOOW (Straight Out Of the Window)

hahaha...I know it's kinda ugly but it's one hell of a great camera. Hmm...I've been using a Cybershot T90 lately. The touch screen focusing is sweet but no manual controls apart from EV and ISO....

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

How about getting a new GF with a cheaper hobby:D

[K1W1]

How about getting a new GF with a cheaper hobby:D

On that note how about a new gf who is a swimsuit model. :D

[herc182]

Wouldn't change my gf for anything :)

[faisal]

Way to go!!! ^^^ :cool:

[herc182]

:) it's rare to have what you have been looking for :)

so any other ideas for cameras? ;)

[K1W1]

Does it have to be new?

What about something like one of the older G series Canons? I guess ebay would be the only option there.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

You couldn't just get a used D40. I know it doesn't meet your criteria like small etc. But it will take your lenses and give her a decent chance straight off the bat.

[herc182]

Yeah I did consider the older G series canons. But they are too bulky. Either way the purchase is coming from eBay. Don't have the funds for anything else :)

I broached the subject of something like a D40 but got the feeling she wouldn't carry it around. Think she needs to have it in her bag all the time because she won't know she will have the photo opportunity until she is there (if that makes sense!)

[K1W1]

It seems to me that there are four basic parameters here;

1. Size / shape
2. Price
3. Picture quality
4. Manual controls

Price is fixed and to a large extent can't be altered.
Your GF has definite size requirements.
I think the picture quality and/or manual controls are going to have to be where the compromises occur. Realistically I doubt that you will find anything with manual controls that meets the price/size parameters so maybe that has to be the thing that is discarded to allow room for the other three to fit.

[faisal]

I don't think if this applies to all cameras but the ones I've handled, most of the slim ones have the least buttons which usually translates in no or minimal manual controls. So I've gotta agree with K1W1 here....

[herc182]

Yeah you are right. And that is a spot
on list of requirements K1W1 :)

I think I will have to screw the manual controls and just let her discover photography. Ultimately she might not actually like it!!
I have also just purchased her an itouch. A refurbed one. 16gb for £150. Not bad. So I could, given the iPhone post about flickr, let her role with that ? :)