Spec me a compact!

Montymint

Montymint

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Hi Guys,

I'm am totally clueless regarding compact cameras. I am however in need for one on the 7th July as I will be going to a music festival is Lisbon but do not want to take my D90 (that will be staying in Faro for landscape works).

I'm looking for something that i can take candid shots of me and my housemate whilse we are there and also try to get some decent shots in of the bands that are playing. So something with a bit of a zoom would be ideal.

A good bettery life is essential as i will be in a campsite for 3 days.

I would intend to take the camera to future gigs that i go to that forbit SLR cameras through the front door.

I had a look around the town today (well the metrocentre) and tbh, I had to leave as I cannot abide salemans patter (no disrespect intended), bless the bloke but he seemed more interested in selling me the insurance than the camera.

I have a budget of £200-300, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!
 
Canon Powershot and you can't go wrong. :) Thats about all my knowledge on compacts to. :lol:
 
Panasonic TZ range (eg TZ5/6/7 or whatever they are up to now) are always recommended, good zoom. You might want to buy a spare battery though....

Some of the Canon Isux range are also good, and a lot smaller if that is important to you.

I have an Lx3 which is great but I don't think will have the zoom you require.

Good luck

Al
 
I've been looking at the TZ7. However as it lacks full manual i'm unsure!

However i must tell myself that its only a compact and not my slr!!

I've seen some vids with great sound on them!!

Arrghh choices choices! there are farr too many compacts out atm :P
 
S90 or a used G10 which is much nicer than the G11 with it's plasic half shell and flippy flappy screen -but the higher iso is good for compact.
I always have a problem with compacts due to near infinite DOF so I tend to borrow Panasonic micro fourthirds stuff when going out.
 
Canon s90
 
I have a Nikon S8000 and apart from the startup time it is awesome. It doesn't have full manual but as you say, it's only a compact...
 
Montymint said:
I've been looking at the TZ7. However as it lacks full manual i'm unsure!

However i must tell myself that its only a compact and not my slr!!

I've seen some vids with great sound on them!!

Arrghh choices choices! there are farr too many compacts out atm :P
Click to expand...

I've just ordered the TZ10 for the same reasons as you. It's got 12x zoom and manual mode. The video mikes are stereo. Cons against it seem to be that GPS drains the batteries, but there is an option to switch the GPS off completely and only switch it back on if you need it. This is what I probably will do. I'll try to put some shots up when I try it out tomorrow. Ordered it from Amazon for 253.60 and it comes with a free LowePro Apex 10AW pouch, though I suspect that this wont be big enough for the TZ10. Where's the logic in that.:thinking: Still it will fit my Panasonic FX500.
 
Probably not much help, but I like buying sub older compacts as cheap as possible. As an example, I got a Canon Powershot G2 mint boxed and case, and has an excellent f3 lens for £35. One of my other favourites is a mint boxed Nikon Coolpix S3 for £27.50. Nowadays, I wouldn't dream of spending so much on a new compact, would rather use it for DSLR/glass, after all a compact is a compact....and my 6mp Coolpix is not bad.
 
yeah i think thats my view. However I'm going abroad for this festival and wanted to get some good pics / vids. Then the idea that i cannot take my slr to bigger gigs annoyed me. So the hunt for a good compact began.

I'm going to have to sit and decide do i want better stills or video. As that will make the decision for me.
 
hillwalkinggirl said:
I've just ordered the TZ10 for the same reasons as you. It's got 12x zoom and manual mode. The video mikes are stereo. Cons against it seem to be that GPS drains the batteries, but there is an option to switch the GPS off completely and only switch it back on if you need it. This is what I probably will do. I'll try to put some shots up when I try it out tomorrow. Ordered it from Amazon for 253.60 and it comes with a free LowePro Apex 10AW pouch, though I suspect that this wont be big enough for the TZ10. Where's the logic in that.:thinking: Still it will fit my Panasonic FX500.
Click to expand...

When you put the shots up can you please try to post a video that is quite basey so i can listen to the sound?

Thankyouuuuuuuu :love::love:
 
I got turned away from the gate of a gig because my camera 'looked too professional' and had to take it back to the car and queue up again.

The Canon SX200 IS is small, compact, 12mp, 12x optical zoom, HD 720p video and is yours for under £200. S90 has a 14x zoom, Similarly the Panasonic TZ cameras are equally specced and will probably perform better in low light thanks to the Leica lens.

Read some unbiased reviews on em at somewhere like cameralabs.com.
 
Montymint said:
When you put the shots up can you please try to post a video that is quite basey so i can listen to the sound?

Thankyouuuuuuuu :love::love:
Click to expand...

OK, but it will be a day or two as going away for a few days. Planning to record my grandsons boy band when I get the chance. They're on the Cardiff International Arena on Friday, they are through to X Factor Live.
 
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