Cameras

Winmar · June 17th, 2008, 06:05 AM

I couldn't find a camera thread, so thought I'd start one. I'm looking at buying a compact one in the next few weeks. Can anyone recommend any?

One of the main criteria is the ability to take good photos in low light e.g. at gigs. A decent zoom would be handy too. There are a few good photographers on this board, so I thought it'd be a good place to ask.

bsercombe · June 17th, 2008, 08:28 AM

I have an ixus that I think is pretty good. The movies it takes are ok too. Mine is the 28mm version ie: built in widescreen. It has both optical and digital zoom. Optical beats digital for quality, but you knew that already...

Low light is going to be a problem with many cameras. This one does a fair job at dusk etc- the colour balance only goes out of whack once it starts getting really dark. But for gigs you need a really good flash. The only one I had which worked a treat was a compact film camera (you might have seen the Tea Party photos I put up quite a while back) but for the Ixus and several others I have used I find that the timing of the flash and its power does not sufficiently illuminate the target.

TheDenimRager · June 17th, 2008, 08:47 AM

My Ixus is my god. The macro is fucking awesome and the digital zoom is pretty darn good too. The thing never ceases to amaze me.

As Mr Sercombe said, they struggle for night photography (eg gigs) but it can be done quite well if you nail it - try as I might, I can't do it but I've seen it done very well with my camera, so I know it can be done.

Awake_In_Animosity · June 17th, 2008, 09:30 AM

Ixus 75 or 80, but dont discount the Nikon coolpix range either. Also check out Lumix.

Pyro · June 17th, 2008, 05:56 PM

Yeah, another Ixus recommendation here. 80 = brilliant.

I basically wanted a compact to compliment my SLR (which doesn't have a macro lens, can't be thrown in a back pocket and doesn't shoot video). The Ixus addressess all of those points fantastically. You can even do macro videos. Classic. Very good image quality, but as pointed out, you'll never get excellent low light shots on a compact digital.

If you are after somthing a little less compact, try the PowerShot range.

Pethical · June 18th, 2008, 12:45 AM

conveniently timed thread, because i'm looking at getting a new camera whilst im in japan.

i'm torn between getting a good compact or a cheap slr. my priorities are a big optical zoom, big iso and good sound capture (able to record loud volume without getting muffled) on the movie mode.

Awake_In_Animosity · June 18th, 2008, 03:05 AM

Tom - get a really good compact like the Canon Powershot G9.

Winmar · June 18th, 2008, 04:43 AM

Thanks for your responses, folks. I've always had my eye on Ixus models, but in the past they were always way too expensive. They've come down a lot in recent times. Is the 80 the top of the range?

I saw this Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ15 online today: http://www.cnet.com.au/digitalcamera...9286123,00.htm
It seems to get a pretty good review, and has a 10x optical zoom, which is rather fab. Any thoughts? It's available online for $380, which is a good price. It's probably slightly bigger than I'd like, but with a zoom that big it's a reasonable compromise.

Awake_In_Animosity · June 18th, 2008, 05:15 AM

The Lumix are good Winmar, that or the Ixus 80.

Pethical · June 18th, 2008, 07:34 AM

that lumix looks pretty good actually. i'll look at it in japan, maybe can get it for a good price.

what can a cheap slr like a canon 450D do that this can't? (practical things, not high tech settings i'll never use)

canon just announced a new 1000d which is a budget slr, will check that out too

Awake_In_Animosity · June 18th, 2008, 08:16 AM

Try and get a 200D on Ebay, should be cheap now and more than you will ever need and get it before you go to Japan.

Pethical · June 18th, 2008, 08:40 AM

hmm cheapest i can see is $700 for the body only, might as well wait till the 1000D which will be ~1k

although the panasonic lumix dmc-tz15 looks pretty good right about now...and is only $300 USD

Winmar · June 19th, 2008, 03:49 AM

I went to a camera shop today, and the Lumix DMC-TZ15 with a 2GB card was over $600!

Mean Machine · July 18th, 2008, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pethical

a canon 450D

Was actually looking at this camera today, seems pretty good, and most of the reviews I've read are fairly positive. I'm looking at buying a digital SLR in the next few months. Will be very handy to have one for Uni, as well as my Europe trip next year. Anybody have any opinions on that camera? Or any recommendations of others around the same price?

Awake_In_Animosity · July 19th, 2008, 08:05 PM

Also look at the new Nikon twin lens pack as well. I prefer the way Nikon's work but the canon's are a lot easier to get used to.

Aussie_Metalchild · July 19th, 2008, 10:53 PM

Winmar · July 21st, 2008, 08:17 AM

Btw, I ended up getting the Lumix I was talking about. Bought it on eBay. It goes well!

June 17th, 2008, 06:05 AM	#1 (permalink)
Winmar Pillock of society Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 10,740	Cameras I couldn't find a camera thread, so thought I'd start one. I'm looking at buying a compact one in the next few weeks. Can anyone recommend any? One of the main criteria is the ability to take good photos in low light e.g. at gigs. A decent zoom would be handy too. There are a few good photographers on this board, so I thought it'd be a good place to ask. __________________

June 17th, 2008, 08:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
bsercombe Swollen Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Perth, WA Posts: 2,555	I have an ixus that I think is pretty good. The movies it takes are ok too. Mine is the 28mm version ie: built in widescreen. It has both optical and digital zoom. Optical beats digital for quality, but you knew that already... Low light is going to be a problem with many cameras. This one does a fair job at dusk etc- the colour balance only goes out of whack once it starts getting really dark. But for gigs you need a really good flash. The only one I had which worked a treat was a compact film camera (you might have seen the Tea Party photos I put up quite a while back) but for the Ixus and several others I have used I find that the timing of the flash and its power does not sufficiently illuminate the target. __________________ I rag myself to my feet an take what's rightly mine...

June 17th, 2008, 08:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
TheDenimRager Hats make things better. Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Under the Southern Cross Posts: 5,805	My Ixus is my god. The macro is fucking awesome and the digital zoom is pretty darn good too. The thing never ceases to amaze me. As Mr Sercombe said, they struggle for night photography (eg gigs) but it can be done quite well if you nail it - try as I might, I can't do it but I've seen it done very well with my camera, so I know it can be done. __________________ -~~~- I care not though I live but a day, If my name and my fame are a power forever. -~~~-

June 17th, 2008, 05:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
Pyro The guy from the internet Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,305	Yeah, another Ixus recommendation here. 80 = brilliant. I basically wanted a compact to compliment my SLR (which doesn't have a macro lens, can't be thrown in a back pocket and doesn't shoot video). The Ixus addressess all of those points fantastically. You can even do macro videos. Classic. Very good image quality, but as pointed out, you'll never get excellent low light shots on a compact digital. If you are after somthing a little less compact, try the PowerShot range. __________________ - Pyro - www.StigmartyrRecords.com (Metal distro & label - Thrash/Death/Black) - www.PyroMusic.net - Unrestrained! Magazine - Pyro-Vesten.net (Web & Graphic Design)

June 18th, 2008, 12:45 AM	#6 (permalink)
Pethical Tom Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 6,617	conveniently timed thread, because i'm looking at getting a new camera whilst im in japan. i'm torn between getting a good compact or a cheap slr. my priorities are a big optical zoom, big iso and good sound capture (able to record loud volume without getting muffled) on the movie mode. __________________ New Split LP with Tangled Thoughts of Leaving avaliable now - SMW FORUM -> www.ozprog.com/forum/sleepmakeswaves

June 17th, 2008, 09:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
Awake_In_Animosity Fearing a Blank Planet Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 4,920	Ixus 75 or 80, but dont discount the Nikon coolpix range either. Also check out Lumix.

June 18th, 2008, 03:05 AM	#7 (permalink)
Awake_In_Animosity Fearing a Blank Planet Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 4,920	Tom - get a really good compact like the Canon Powershot G9.

June 18th, 2008, 04:43 AM	#8 (permalink)
Winmar Pillock of society Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 10,740	Thanks for your responses, folks. I've always had my eye on Ixus models, but in the past they were always way too expensive. They've come down a lot in recent times. Is the 80 the top of the range? I saw this Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ15 online today: http://www.cnet.com.au/digitalcamera...9286123,00.htm It seems to get a pretty good review, and has a 10x optical zoom, which is rather fab. Any thoughts? It's available online for $380, which is a good price. It's probably slightly bigger than I'd like, but with a zoom that big it's a reasonable compromise. __________________

June 18th, 2008, 05:15 AM	#9 (permalink)
Awake_In_Animosity Fearing a Blank Planet Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 4,920	The Lumix are good Winmar, that or the Ixus 80.

June 18th, 2008, 07:34 AM	#10 (permalink)
Pethical Tom Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 6,617	that lumix looks pretty good actually. i'll look at it in japan, maybe can get it for a good price. what can a cheap slr like a canon 450D do that this can't? (practical things, not high tech settings i'll never use) canon just announced a new 1000d which is a budget slr, will check that out too __________________ New Split LP with Tangled Thoughts of Leaving avaliable now - SMW FORUM -> www.ozprog.com/forum/sleepmakeswaves Last edited by Pethical : June 18th, 2008 at 07:37 AM.

June 18th, 2008, 08:16 AM	#11 (permalink)
Awake_In_Animosity Fearing a Blank Planet Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 4,920	Try and get a 200D on Ebay, should be cheap now and more than you will ever need and get it before you go to Japan.

June 18th, 2008, 08:40 AM	#12 (permalink)
Pethical Tom Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 6,617	hmm cheapest i can see is $700 for the body only, might as well wait till the 1000D which will be ~1k although the panasonic lumix dmc-tz15 looks pretty good right about now...and is only $300 USD __________________ New Split LP with Tangled Thoughts of Leaving avaliable now - SMW FORUM -> www.ozprog.com/forum/sleepmakeswaves Last edited by Pethical : June 18th, 2008 at 09:40 AM.

June 19th, 2008, 03:49 AM	#13 (permalink)
Winmar Pillock of society Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 10,740	I went to a camera shop today, and the Lumix DMC-TZ15 with a 2GB card was over $600! __________________

July 19th, 2008, 08:05 PM	#15 (permalink)
Awake_In_Animosity Fearing a Blank Planet Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 4,920	Also look at the new Nikon twin lens pack as well. I prefer the way Nikon's work but the canon's are a lot easier to get used to.

July 19th, 2008, 10:53 PM	#16 (permalink)
Aussie_Metalchild Lil Aussie Headbanger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Sydney, NSW, Aussiestraliaaa Posts: 4,392	__________________ http://www.myspace.com/lordaus http://www.youtube.com/user/LORDofficial

July 21st, 2008, 08:17 AM	#17 (permalink)
Winmar Pillock of society Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 10,740	Btw, I ended up getting the Lumix I was talking about. Bought it on eBay. It goes well! __________________