Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Re: Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Celine — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:14:16 GMT

Can I just add 2p and say, in a pinch you can almost always find AA batteries in a little corner shop, almost anywhere in the world!! Whereas for some trips (dunno what your is like Kerry) you might be living on a tour bus and unlikely to be somewhere for long enough to charge a camera battery? Thats always been my theory anyway. So I'd go for the AA option, get rechargables by all means but know (hopefully) that AA batteries are as common as Coca Cola in many countries ;)

Have fun!!! x

Re: Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Jo Twomey — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:44:29 GMT

Hi Kerry sorry been out of touch for a wee while.

I do very much like the one on the link you posted. Coolpix L120. Very good price too. Def go for it.

Jo :-)

Re: Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Kerry Brennand DipAVN (Surgical) RVN A1 MBVNA — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:00:45 GMT

Great thanks Gemma will have a look at that now

Re: Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Gemma Burden RVN — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:59:48 GMT

This isn't the website I was thinking of, and it is aimed more at DSLR users, but this website http://www.digital-slr-guide.com/index.html seems to be quite good at explaining the features of a camera and deciding on what sort of features you need for the type of photography you are planning to do.

Re: Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Gemma Burden RVN — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:55:30 GMT

The rechargable batteries are better in the long run as you can just keep charging them up, but its important to remember that you will need to get at least one spare, and they are not always that cheap (from what I can see on warehouse direct they would be around £35 each). Although they usually last a reasonable amount of time (at least they do on my camera), the last thing you want is for the battery to die and not to have a replacement, so I would factor that into the cost as well. To be honest, with my point and shoot I have never had enough of a problem with batteries to make me think that I would only ever get a camera with a rechargable one.

Re: Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Kerry Brennand DipAVN (Surgical) RVN A1 MBVNA — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:48:50 GMT

Thanks Gemma appreciate your help.....the only thing I was thinking with the second one is its got mains adaptor so able to charge up rather than batteries which I thought would be much easier!!!

Re: Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Gemma Burden RVN — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:44:54 GMT

If it were me I would go for the first one, you are not getting all that much more for the money on the second one from what I can see. It looks good as it has a bigger zoom etc, but as is often the case with this sort of camera, they try and get you to pick a camera based on things like the number of mega pixels etc, hping that you will assume that the bigger the number the better, when in reality this isn't always the case as often the quality isn't there. I've been having a look for a website that I found really useful when I was trying to decide which DSLR to get, but I haven't managed to find it yet. It was really good as it explained everything in normal terms and helped me to understand what I would actually be buying. If I can find it I'll post you the link.

Re: Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Kerry Brennand DipAVN (Surgical) RVN A1 MBVNA — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:39:06 GMT

Still camera hunting!!! What about this one??? Appreciate your opinions

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-nikon-coolpix-p500-black-digital-camera/p1524017

Re: Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Jill Macdonald — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:53:35 GMT

Or, you could invest in some rechargeable ones and a charger?

Re: Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Gemma Burden RVN — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:27:25 GMT

As far as I know anything that can take normal AA batteries could take the lithium batteries as well, but it would probably be worth checking. These are the ones I have been using for the past 5 years

Re: Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Kerry Brennand DipAVN (Surgical) RVN A1 MBVNA — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:12:33 GMT

Thats brilliant thanks for the tip, do all the bridge cameras take lithium batteries? I know that probably sounds stupid but just checking!!!!

Re: Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Gemma Burden RVN — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:07:49 GMT

Try lithium batteries, I used them in my battery eating Canon Powershot before I got my DSLR and they lasted a million times longer - I only changed my batteries once in 5 days whilst in Rome, and I took hundreds of photos there and the camera was turned on most of the time. Before I found out about them I took normal batteries with me to Canada and actually got stopped at the airport due to the number of batteries I had with me (over 30) as I knew I was going to end up using loads of them during my seven day trip. The lithium ones are more expensive, but definetely worth it.

Re: Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Kerry Brennand DipAVN (Surgical) RVN A1 MBVNA — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:56:24 GMT

Hi Gemma.....yes I went to Jessops and didnt find them very helpful, it doesnt help that I dont know much about cameras!!!! Was hoping to not spend much money at this stage so a DSLR isnt an option. Think I need to take the plunge get that one and take lots of batteries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Gemma Burden RVN — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:50:54 GMT

One thing that would concern me about the camera in the link is the amount of optical zoom. A lens with 21x zoom is going to have problems with distortion at either end of the range - I was considering a superzoom for my DSLR for travelling with a few months ago, and even 12x zoom was creating some really obvious barrel and pincushion distortion which was enough to make me decide that it was worth carrying round more lenses for the sake of better pictures. It depends how serious you are about your photos, but I would be inclined to go for a DSLR with a couple of lenses if you could afford it as you do get a lot more for your money (esp if you don't go for the latest model which are often only very slightly different to previous models) - some bridge camera's are so expensive for what you are actually getting. It might be worth going to a local camera shop for advice as I have found that even though places like Jessops specialise in selling camera's, the staff often don't have a clue about them - I went into Jessops once to by a screw on UV filter for one of my lenses, and the girl who served me tried to sell me a circular polarising filter in completely the wrong size instead! A lot fo smaller shops will allow you to have a go with the various camera's, and are more interested in helping you find the right camera for you rather than just making a sale.

Re: Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Kerry Brennand DipAVN (Surgical) RVN A1 MBVNA — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:34:36 GMT

Great thanks Jill......only thing I have noticed about that one is it is powered by AA batteries......would ideally like a chargable one otherwise going to need to take lots of batteries!!!!!! But all ones I have seen are batteries only......really need to decide asap as need it to arrive soon as go next week!!!!!!

Re: Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Jill Macdonald — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:22:27 GMT

I think the one in the link looks ok - good price for the spec.

What you need for safari is really good optical zoom, and this one has that. You would also benefit from a tripod - it'll stop the camera shake that you get when using lots of zoom. These little flexible ones are good - you just attach them to fence or whatever object is convenient! http://www.amazon.co.uk/Super-Flexible-Tripod-Digital-Cameras/dp/B001FTKVSQ You then use timer to prevent wobbling the camera when you press the shutter..

Also, make sure whatever you get, you get lots of memory to go with it so you don't run out!

Re: Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Kerry Brennand DipAVN (Surgical) RVN A1 MBVNA — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:43:44 GMT

Thanks Jo, have you seen my link abov? What do you reckon to this one??

Re: Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Jo Twomey — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:14:21 GMT

Nikon Coolpix L120 / L110 /P500 - Digital camera - compact

These are newer versions of the one I have.

Re: Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Jo Twomey — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:03:41 GMT

I ahve two caameras a bridge (Nikon colpix) about 8 years old still very good and a DSLR (Canon) Also excelent. I prefer te flexibility of the DSLR but the Nikon bridge is very good too.

Re: Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Jo Twomey — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:00:45 GMT

Try London Camera Exchange too to see if they have anything you are after.

Re: Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Kerry Brennand DipAVN (Surgical) RVN A1 MBVNA — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:10:37 GMT

Great thanks for the advice appreciate it

Re: Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Caro Laithwaite VN — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:55:05 GMT

Also get a viewfinder not screen, you can frame better & wont get as much shake you hold the camera into you a screen you hold it away from you (unless you use a tripod but most folks dont)

A screen is hard to see in bright light and africa is generally bright. View means you can see without contorting or shooting blind.

Re: Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Kerry Brennand DipAVN (Surgical) RVN A1 MBVNA — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:37:51 GMT

Hey thanks Caro was in Jessops last week and the cameras they were advising would be best (bridge cameras) werent in the sale typical!!!!

Re: Which camera to buy??? Help!!!

Caro Laithwaite VN — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:28:34 GMT

go on ebay or if able to get to jessops in next couple of days they have a sale on and bridges are about 170 +/- look online and if interested can always buy there or reserve at shop and with luck get it at sales prices.