So... I need a camera.

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Persephone

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I have not seen my faithful Casio camera in days, which leads me to believe that my younger sister, the Beast, has run off with it. I've had a quick rummage through her bedroom and discovered several prescriptions for the pill (!!!), sexualised pictures of her and her little friends, and a packet of cigarettes. For the sake of my mental health, I am going to have to relinquish the camera - and perhaps the sister - as a lost cause.

No matter, I needed a new one anyway. Camera - not sister. The trouble is, I have no clue where to begin. I have a budget of probably around £400, the camera has to be digital, and I'd like it to have the fiddly manual settings. A few friends of mine have the Nikon D600 and I am covetous as hell but can't afford it without spending my university loan, which would be an incredibly stupid thing to do. I need a camera that doesn't have a ten second delay between pressing the button and taking the picture, as my main photography subjects are several small cousins that can't sit still for more than two seconds at a time.

I am, quite obviously, a complete beginner. I can take a decent photograph with my point and shoot camera but would really like to take a step up to playing about with the manual settings and taking proper pictures. I'll read whatever books it takes and practice until my hands fall off. Only trouble is - knowing me, I'll buy the camera that nobody with sense would touch, and then I'll be back in the same boat in six months time.

So, any suggestions for me?
 
Canon G9

Full manual control as well as AV, TV and program for when you get in a fluster, 6x optical zoom with face recognition and image stabilisation, shoots RAW and Jpeg, nuff said

Or if you want something with more zoom and a DSLR feel but don't want the expense of hassle of interchangeable lenses the Fuji S100FS would fit the bill

both can be had for under £300 leaving plenty of money for beer
 
That has to be the best opening paragraph to a first thread from a new member I have ever seen :lol: :thumbs:

:welcome: :wave:
 
Got to agree with Grendel. Awesome intro and sounds like you have your hands full with a little sister like that. As far as kit goes the G9 would be a good choice as above. Fairly chunky though.
 
Well, considering your budget, here's some choices, buying new - leave you some pennies for a bag and a memory card! I'm assuming with a budget like that, you're after a "proper" camera?

Nikon D40 / 18-55mm lens kit - £243.99 (6MP, no AF motor in camera body)
Nikon D60 / 18-55mm VR lens kit - £340 (10MP, no AF motor in camera body)

Canon 1000D / 18-55 IS lens kit - £329 (10MP)

Olympus E-420 Double Zoom Kit (14-42mm & 40-150mm lens) - £380 (Uses a 10MP 4/3 sensor, means lenses would be roughly equivalent to 18-55mm & 55-200mm on the Canon & Nikons listed above)

Sony Alpha A200 + 18-70 + 75-300mm Double Lens Kit - £360 (10MP)
Sony Alpha A350 + 18-70mm Lens Kit - £384.20 (14MP)

You can find a good source of prices over at http://camerapricebuster.co.uk (not affiliated!)


Now, these are all excellent cameras, but each system has its fanboys - you know, the people that have the blinkered opinion that their system is better than all others. My advice is go to a camera shop (Jessops, Dixons, John Lewis, your local independant etc) and pick them up, have a play, see how they feel in your hands. Don't let the assistant pressure you, take your time, and pick the one that suits YOU best.

If you feel like getting more kit for your money, or spending less, have a look at the TP list of Used Camera Gear suppliers. Other places to look are manufacturer refurb outlets, eBay (if you are sure what you're looking for)

Feel free to fire away with any specific questions!
 
Brilliant first post :thumbs: ! The first thing to do would be to weigh up the pros and cons,and decide if you want a compact camera, or a full blown SLR. And if it's the latter, prepare that student loan, it's a slippery slope to guaranteed bankrupty (it IS good fun though :D)

Chris
 
Welcome, good first post too :lol:

Do you know whay physical size you want the camera to be? That will norrow the choice down to either advanced compact or DSLR.
The DSLR is the route to take if you plan on doing a fair amount of photography and want flexibility with it.
 
Excellent first post. Which ever camera you go for you might need to get a safe for it in case you sister gets it. As said above go into the shops and get the feel for each one.
 
Hi Mate
ive mentioned to a few there is also the sony alpha a300 between the 200 and 350. DSLR good entry level spec for 300.00 quid after cash back. thats
with lens

only at jessops

cheers
john
 
I'm gonna have to encourage the trade lol. D70 is a lush camera. I picked mine up with 2 lenses for £300 on Fleabay. Would definaitly recommend it. The quality is astounding. Plus it is really easy to use. Not sure how it compares to a D40 but the sensor has the same MP count (MP =/= good quality, I know)
Oh. And it's got an internal motor so you can use lenses that the D40 crowd can't.
I wouldn't trade my D70s for you little sister mind.

Have a look on Dpreview at the different cameras there.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
:welcome: to TP.....I'll swap you my Nikon D70 for your sister :lol:
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Done. :p It turns out that my rummage through her bedroom was in vain because the camera was not there at all. It was, in fact, in her handbag at a club that she should not have been frequenting in the first place. She came sidling into the kitchen earlier with that silly 'helpless sexpot' grin that works wonders for making men forgive her and does nothing whatsoever for me. "Tabby," she asked, "what would you say if I told you I'd lost your camera?"

"Kill you." I replied. It was an answer that did not need much contemplation.

"Would you be able to get a new one?" She knows that the Casio has a warranty.

"Nope. The warranty doesn't cover lost items, they have to be stolen."

Her face fell. "Oh. I thought you could say you lost it and I could keep yours. Well," she brightened, clearly struck by inspiration. "You could tell the police that it was stolen and I could keep it."

The realisation that I am helping to raise a young criminal did not thrill me. I yelled at her a little, she finally produced the camera, and to my dismay I found that it was covered in a sticky substance that she swears is shampoo and I know to be alcohol. It's managed to get under the buttons and now the camera barely works at all. Mother's out and the Beast has barricaded herself in her room, so I'm sitting right outside the door on my laptop and seething. She's going to have to come out some time... and when she does, I am going to kill her.

Anyone who wants her, you're more than welcome to save her from the dire fate that is waiting outside her bedroom door. Provided, that is, that you don't send her back. Mind you, she'll break every camera you own.

Thank you for your warm welcomes and good advice. I'm going to print out this thread and take it with me when I go to have a look at some cameras tomorrow.
 
I will swap you 3 pentax me super bodies and a host of lenses and I might even throw in a tripod!



Tid Tug
 
Just a thought here, but if you kill her you may not be able to extract a contribution from her for the damage to your old camera. I'm thinking the 'you broke it now you buy it off me method' would be best - wouldn't want her thinking that she helped pay for your new camera, that could end in trouble.
 
I'd have a look in the For Sale section on here and see what SLR bodies are knocking about on the cheap! :)
 
candlestick said:
I've got 12.2 Megapixels - Eat my dust 40D owners!!
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And we have 6.5 fps, so now who's the dust muncher ;)

Anyhow...Great first thread, just hoping you dont get arrested for killing your sister! :lol: How old is she anyway, to be going to clubs when she "isnt meant to be".
And as for what you found in her room, shouldnt you really talk to her about it and the trouble it could get her in...maybe?
 
Persephone said:
Done. :p It turns out that my rummage through her bedroom was in vain because the camera was not there at all. It was, in fact, in her handbag at a club that she should not have been frequenting in the first place. She came sidling into the kitchen earlier with that silly 'helpless sexpot' grin that works wonders for making men forgive her and does nothing whatsoever for me. "Tabby," she asked, "what would you say if I told you I'd lost your camera?"

"Kill you." I replied. It was an answer that did not need much contemplation.

"Would you be able to get a new one?" She knows that the Casio has a warranty.

"Nope. The warranty doesn't cover lost items, they have to be stolen."

Her face fell. "Oh. I thought you could say you lost it and I could keep yours. Well," she brightened, clearly struck by inspiration. "You could tell the police that it was stolen and I could keep it."

The realisation that I am helping to raise a young criminal did not thrill me. I yelled at her a little, she finally produced the camera, and to my dismay I found that it was covered in a sticky substance that she swears is shampoo and I know to be alcohol. It's managed to get under the buttons and now the camera barely works at all. Mother's out and the Beast has barricaded herself in her room, so I'm sitting right outside the door on my laptop and seething. She's going to have to come out some time... and when she does, I am going to kill her.

Anyone who wants her, you're more than welcome to save her from the dire fate that is waiting outside her bedroom door. Provided, that is, that you don't send her back. Mind you, she'll break every camera you own.

Thank you for your warm welcomes and good advice. I'm going to print out this thread and take it with me when I go to have a look at some cameras tomorrow.
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Please tell me you have plans to write a novel - this stuff is priceless :)

One of the best reads I've had on here to date :)

And welcome! :thumbs:
 
It's the next morning and she's still alive. I've checked my warranty and do believe that I can get the camera fixed free, though I may not tell her that and instead hit her up for donations towards 'fixing it'. I royally upset her this morning by telling her that I had been planning on giving it to her for her birthday, but now that it's broken I shall just have to save my money to replace it for myself. The Beast was not amused.

She'll be eighteen in March so technically can be doing a lot of the things she's into, aside from clubbing, of course. I think I'm just always going to look at her and see the little munchkin she used to be. I've not yet put on the dark glasses on to stalk her on her nights out - but I still might yet!

Again, thanks for the welcomes. I've been browsing the classified ads section of the forum, there's lots to choose from there!
 
Hi, I'd just like to add my congratulations on a great first post and thread. Its really nice to see that sometimes the education system can produce articulate and erudite young people who can also spell (mentioning no names M*tt S*yle :D).
Did you manage to get a look at any cameras today? Just a thought, and I'm not trying to influence you in any way, but if a mint Nikon D40x with lovely 18-55mm kit lens, monopod, bag, 2gb card, remote, 2 batteries and charger, filter and D40x field guide were to come on the market next friday, would you be interested? I would imagine if such a thing should appear in the for sale section it might go for, say, £250 delivered.:thinking:

Cheers

Andy
 
wack61 said:
Hit-It-DomoFap.gif
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I really hope that thing is just rubbing its tummy with laughter Wack. :thinking:
 
On the Football forum I moderate we have a board called Gold, where threads that deserve to live forever end up.

This one would have to be in it.
 
This thread so reminds me of my big brother and I ten or so years ago - and he actually DID resort to stalking me on nights out. It seriously cramps your style I can tell you. Suitable punishment for breaking your camera methinks :D

Just to throw another idea into the mix - had you considered a bridge camera? I have the Panasonic FZ8 which is an older model but still has all manual controls and is very versatile. I will upgrade to a DSLR at some point but I'm learning a lot with it.

The thing about DSLR's is that you are probably going to want to add to your kit as time goes on and this will cost many many pennies. As you are at Uni I'm assuming your not all that flush at the moment so maybe a bridge camera is a sensible option for a beginner camera?
 
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