U3A members’ choices of digital camera
(plus a few tips on how to use one).
Here are the replies I’ve received from everyone who replied to my
email about choosing a digital camera. I’ve written a few notes on
the subject in a recent post dated Thursday 7 February.
DG says: Just thought I would tell you about my digital camera.
I have a Sony Dsc-P9 Cybershot 4 megapixel camera which I bought
five years ago on the internet from Comet for £370. The camera has
a 6Xzoom it came with a 3.6vlithium battery
I can use macro,and also take short mpeg movies which I have
added to my photo's on the computer.My camera is quite compact
and light and has a good flash on it.I have had no problems so far.
If I do decide to change my camera I will go for one with more
megapixels,but for the time being I am happy with this one.
CK says: My camera is a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P200 7.2 megapixel.
It was a present, purchased from Boots and recommended by their
sales staff. I have been very pleased with it for quality of photo,
small size of camera, & versatility of settings. However, your guidance
in the use of Photoshop, printing technology, and broader decisions
of how to store and review photos are much more demanding than
the easy first stage of pressing the shutter!
MB says: Thanks for tips. I would add - do you want a viewfinder?
Very few makes now have these, but Cannon still do them and
another make (can’t remember which). Salesmen admit there can
be problems with dazzle using just a screen. I have just bought a
camera (Panasonic) without a viewfinder, as I wanted a better zoom,
but still not sure if I have made the right decision!! Will let you know!
VL says: I have an Olympus FE-110 Digital camera, I choose this
because I have always liked this make,as they are small and very
easy to carry in a pocket when hiking our on strap and on auto
ready to use, but can be quickly be put into a different mode if
needed very quickly.
My late husband had a Canon Digital … sorry don’t now have
model details , but it was one he could use his other Canon lens on,
but he passed it on to his eldest grandson with all the bits and bobs
and he has had very good results with it, sorry unless I contact
David who works in Leeds have no more details except 3years
ago it was their lastest model. My husband was a keen Canon
user and was not keen on automatic models.
CB says: My digital camera is an Olympus C-5000zoom. I am very
pleased with the ease of use and with the results. A read of the
handbook is needed to understand and use some of the more
detailed features but the automatic setting and other easy settings
are good for all except the most close-up work.
Having said that I like my camera, it is the only digital camera I have
used. There are times when I think that I would like to have a cheaper,
pocket-sized camera to take about in case I see a good photo
opportunity.
PK says: I own an Olympus MJU mini digital S camera. I rang
John Lewis asking what would they recommend for a beginner
seeking a small inexpensive camera. They immediately
recommended this. As they did not have the black enamel one in stock
I bought it from Jessops for £149. It has 5.0 megapixels, optical zoom
2.8 and can take short videos with sound. I am quite happy with it and downloads to the computer easily. My only problem is that it is very
hard to see the image on the camera screen in very bright sun light. Is
there a solution or should I have bought a more expensive camera?
(JH comments: camera review sites like dpreview dot com do look
things like the visibility of the LCD monitor in bright sunlight .. some
cameras are better than others in this respect. As MB suggests, you
could get a camera which has a viewfinder as well as an LCD monitor).
KB says: Four years ago I bought my camera, a Konica/Minolta
Dimage Z1. It is a "chunky" camera with a pack of 4 AA batteries,
3 Mpixels, and with a 10x optical zoom extending to a 40x digital zoom.
The 3 Megapixels seemed a lot at the time but it is quite modest
compared with modern cameras.
I enjoy using the zoom but it increases the need for stability when
'snapping.' I like to have something to lean on, such as a tree or a
lamppost.
A drawback to my "chunky" camera, as opposed to a small one, is
that I don't carry it with me all the time. Therefore I miss a lot of
photo opportunities.
As with all modern equipment I only use a fraction of its facilities.
Not because I decide against using the facilities, but because I am
not aware of how to use them, nor even aware of the multitude of
facilities available.
However, I am quite pleased with some of the pictures I have taken.
went into the Arboretum on a sunny February morning recently
and took some pictures of trees in the winter.
With a good tripod stand at home, I have started to photograph a
series of OHP slides which I used during talks on Science a few
years ago. The photos are quite good and will be the basis of
Powerpoint slides, much easier to collate and present than the old
OHP transparencies.
TC says: After much research I settled on a Ricoh Caplio R3 ,
because it is small, which means I actually do take it with me, it has
a very short reaction time when you press the button, and it has a
7x optical zoom, which I have found very useful. Indoors I don't find
it necessary to use flash, as you can set the notional film speed to
800ASA. The only facility I would like extra is multiple shots (like
motordrive) which is valuable for sports and for portraits to capture
fleeting expressions.
NP says: My first digital camera was a Fujifilm A101 1.3 mega pixels.
It was a present. My new camera was also my this year’s birthday
present, it is a Nikon Coolpix 1000, 8 megapixels.
CR writes: Two years ago purchased a Canon Ixus 40 from Amazon. (having
read Which). Liked the look and feel of it– stainless and small. May
sound superficial, but you need to like these aspects. Having used
cameras from basic – decide the speed and exposure yourself, to Pentax
SLR + lenses, thence to auto only 35mm compacts, digital photography
was a minefield, you – I – had to completely re-think. Found it
complicated to ‘navigate’ the menus, never could understand what an
“intuitive” menu system was – my intuition never assisted me! However,
on auto it did all that was required and the photo quality was excellent-
sharp bright focused - in my view. This year decided to purchase another
camera basically because the screen is larger the latest ones and I found
it increasing hard to focus on the 40.
I purchased a Canon Ixus 70 ( Which top recommendation for small digital
cameras again) this time, very similar, and it has additional features
which I like – and can actually seem to use successful.. The self timer
is easy rather than impossible. It also has a viewfinder which I think
essential, even tho’ it may be used seldom. Shutter delay time is fast,
features like “My colours” are rather good – tho’ downloading to computer
you can alter your pictures anyway.
It's very similar to Ixus 40 in looks, need to purchase a 1gb card which
is cheap enough nowadays, (around £14) plus a little leather case. I like
the flat Canon lithium rechargeable battery. Had bought a spare – for £8
which is useful to have in the case. There is no manual override, which
may be a factor for the more serious photographer, otherwise it is a
cracking camera and I am delighted with it. Mine cost £120 from Amazon
in January this year, and having just checked it is still there but only
just over £114! Excellent value I think.
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Many thanks for all your comments (JH).
