View Full Version : Replacing the camera?
awa355
14th December 2014, 12:34
I only have two gripes with my existing camera (Panasonic DMC-FT10). The 4x optical zoom, and the lack of zoom functionality during video recording. Taking landscape or birdlife type photos, I do wish sometimes that I could zoom in closer to a feature than the 4x allows.
The MP count isn't that important, most photos are only displayed on the laptop or uploaded to a web page so having 60megapixels is probably overkill. The Panasonic is 14megs and I rarely have it set that high, although 14mp does help if I'm going to crop a photo.
I want a flat styled camera that slips into a jacket pocket. A decent zoom, and takes reasonable photos on the basic settings. I get confused with all the manual settings for the ISO, exposure etc.
The cell phone has a 5mg camera but the low light capability is poor and the camera performance is poor overall. I'm not interested in paying hundreds of dollars for a ph just to have a fancy camera, also I find the camera is easier to operate while holding than a ph camera.
With cell phones, most riders dont bother to carry a camera but I like having one. I feel a dedicated camera has better inbuilt features than most phones.
What do you use?
Akzle
14th December 2014, 15:03
nokia 808.
olympus T series.
that is all.
Blackbird
14th December 2014, 15:43
Sony DSC RX-100. Arguably the best pocket-sized camera on the market. Here's one review but they're all the same: http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=5049&review=Sony+Cyber-shot+DSC-RX100+1-inch+Sensor
I bought mine specifically for long shots of wildlife and distant scenery in Canada and Alaska, but wanted something pocket-sized and it was superb. You can see a selection here at full resolution: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/p0b89ksh4wk21bz/AACW1r64BV1SEQP3p3UBd33Ga?dl=0 . Got my Mk1 version from eBay for about US$400. They're double that in NZ. Totally happy with the purchase.
awa355
14th December 2014, 19:45
Blackbird, I read the review of the Sony, a nice camera but only a 3.6 optical zoom, I get this mindset that it wont bring anything in closer than the camera I have. Also at $700 its getting past my price bracket.
Gremlin
14th December 2014, 20:06
I've had a Sony DSC-TX5 and now a TX20. Supposed to be water/dust/shock/freeze proof. I liked the slide down face to power on mechanism and full touch screen rear that worked with gloves. The TX5 developed an intermittent fault where it would vibrate and all shots were blurry, so I bought a newer TX20. They changed the layout of cables with the TX20 and how you charged it. I've since lost that cable and it's such a pain in the arse I haven't sorted out and ended up using my mobile camera instead.
So, oddly enough I can't recommend a camera (although it did take good shots, had panorama etc). I think I can probably say, stay clear of Sony, they change shit up for seemingly no other reason than make inter-operability as hard as possible. Get something compatible, uses SD cards (plenty available) and standard usb cable charging.
Blackbird
14th December 2014, 20:08
Blackbird, I read the review of the Sony, a nice camera but only a 3.6 optical zoom, I get this mindset that it wont bring anything in closer than the camera I have. Also at $700 its getting past my price bracket.
Aha! Then you missed the bit about its fancy electronics enhancing the digital zoom! Virtually loss-less. Some of those glacier shots in Alaska were taken half a k away from the face. Yes, the camera is expensive but you get what you pay for! I also have a Canon Ixus. Don't use it at all now!
EmBe
15th December 2014, 14:10
I'm happy with my canon ixus especially for under $150. 8× optical zoom, easy auto settings and perfect pocket fit.
http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=CAMCNP2583388&name=Canon-IXUS-150-16-Megapixel-Compact-Camera---Grey-
Ulsterkiwi
15th December 2014, 14:55
quality of lens is paramount, which is why the iPhone takes good pictures, they use Zeiss.
The SONY RX100 is probably considered one of the best compacts around, worth thinking about.
Anyway if the price is prohibitive, what about a Canon Powershot S120?
Good glass, fully manual if you want it and shoots in RAW format. If you have a camera which shoots RAW post-editing becomes a whole different world.
Blackbird is right, you gets what you pays for.....
R650R
15th December 2014, 15:54
Whats your budget max??? otherwise its how long is a piece of string in options...
awa355
15th December 2014, 17:39
Ulsterkiwi, The S120 only has a 5x zoom, This is the main feature that I want to improve over my existing camera. Picture wise the old Panasonic produces as good a picture on a pc as I want. I like taking photos of old empty buildings (sometimes well back from the road), birdlife etc so a greater optical zoom function would be priority.
I am not interested in buying an expensive phone . I have a ph now that rarely gets used. Although I did use it today on a ride to take some photos. I had left the camera at home so had to use the LG ph camera. A pain, tapping the screen to bring up the menu, then trying to see past the reflective screen. I like using the buttons on a camera better than a touch screen.
Dont want to go over about $350.
R650R
15th December 2014, 19:06
For that sort of money your going to struggle to get anything that beats a new cellphone (and I despise cellphone cams) unless you get lucky in the secondhand market.
Ulsterkiwi
15th December 2014, 19:14
fair enough, will be hard to get something in that price bracket AND a compact to do that. For sure you could find a 12X or 15X zoom but it will be at the cost of physical size or image quality in general.
R650R
15th December 2014, 20:01
BTW I used to have a Fuji s8000 superzoom, the latest incarnation of such is quite cheaper now. Trouble is those sort of cameras hammer the battery life too.
Hell prices have dropped, this will prob suit at #349 new https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/cameras/digital-cameras/fujifilm-s8600-ultra-zoom-camera-bundle/prod129296.html
I hammered my s8000 and it stood up well floating around in work bag all week and mounted on truck bumper for occasional creative videos. Plenty of zoom for your bird stuff.
Berries
15th December 2014, 22:59
Phones are phones, cameras are cameras. My Nikon Coolpix 7900 was highly recommended for being compact, excellent video and I think 8x optical zoom. It has finally been bounced off the footpath one too many times and has to be retired. All I want from a compact camera is optical zoom. I'd suggest going to Hardly Normal and just comparing the lot of them. Big discounts in a week or two.
awa355
16th December 2014, 05:12
Phones are phones, cameras are cameras. My Nikon Coolpix 7900 was highly recommended for being compact, excellent video and I think 8x optical zoom ................ All I want from a compact camera is optical zoom. I'd suggest going to Hardly Normal and just comparing the lot of them. Big discounts in a week or two.
Thats what I think. I find a camera with buttons is a hell'va easier to hold and operate than a ph with a touch screen. In the past I have printed off some nice photos taken from cameras that would be considered 'bottom end' performance these days. The silly season sales will be starting next week so will do the rounds.
Swoop
16th December 2014, 08:13
Canon Powershot.
http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/photo/digital-cameras/canon/powershot-16mp-digital-camera-black-sku-253779/
I've had two previous iterations of this camera (upgraded to better Mp & zoom each time).
Easily fits in the jacket pocket.
Uses rechargeable AA batteries (I prefer these over being tied to plug the camera into a charging device). Just swap them over if a set goes flat (never has).
Superb quality of image.
Superb price too!
barid
19th December 2014, 17:55
D810 is certainly good deal. I'm thinking of buying one for a good Full frame and Stills camera, also the video
barid
19th December 2014, 17:55
Nice comparison: http://d800vsd810.com/
Swoop
20th December 2014, 20:14
Nice comparison: http://d800vsd810.com/
How the fuck do you fit that into a jacket pocket?
R650R
25th December 2014, 10:03
D810 is certainly good deal. I'm thinking of buying one for a good Full frame and Stills camera, also the video
https://fakechuckwestfall.wordpress.com/2012/02/09/the-nikon-d800-is-fucked/
If you really want good video go Canon and install Magic Lantern firmware on it.
BTW you don't really need full frame unless you are doing a lot of low light shooting or printing to very large sizes.
For high end cameras these days I'm leaning towards Fuji now...
awa355
30th December 2014, 14:57
Got my camera. As said in my first post, I only wanted a basic lower end camera that had a better zoom capability than the 4x of my oldie for distance shots and was without the bulk of the bridge or DSLR cameras.
Got a Sony WX200. It has a 10x optical zoom, then opens a 'super' zoom. This is not a digital mode but one where the camera decides how much the image can be enlarged without losing quality as with the digital zoom. (supposedly). By dropping the maximum mp down, the zoom distance can be increased further.
Not a top of line camera by any means but it suits what I want it for.
Here are a few examples of the camera on 5MP
wide
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/5Mwide2.jpg
x10 optical
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/5MX102.jpg
super zoom
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/5MXsuperz2.jpg
On VGA 640x480 wide
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/VGAwide.jpg
VGA x10
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/VGAx10.jpg
VGA super zoom.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/VGAsuperz.jpg
Swoop
30th December 2014, 16:06
That is a nice compact wee unit! Enjoy, and keep us updated on how it performs for ya.
awa355
30th December 2014, 16:47
That is a nice compact wee unit! Enjoy, and keep us updated on how it performs for ya.
Cheers, to be honest I couldn't justify spending a $1,000 on a camera with all the trick features I'd never use. This drops into a shirt pocket, and is light enough not to notice it. The new menu will be a learning curve.
One downside I have already discovered is that because it is so slim that supporting it eg on a fence post it tends to wobble back and forth. I'm going to carry a small tripod with me.
Just tied turning the digital zoom on and trying it in VGA at wide angle and then at full zoom (optical-super-digital) This is supposed to extend to 153x. Supposedly the poorest image put out by the camera.
No zoom
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/DSC00092.jpg
153x?
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/DSC00091.jpg
R650R
2nd January 2015, 19:21
Good that you found something you like.
However optical zoom is optical zoom and anything else is digital zoom. It sounds like it has a mode where it limits the digital zoom based on light levels and shutter speeds. As the more you zoom the worse camera shake (blurry image) becomes. Slowest shutter speed should always be 1/focal length if no tripod used.
awa355
2nd January 2015, 21:39
Good that you found something you like.
However optical zoom is optical zoom and anything else is digital zoom. It sounds like it has a mode where it limits the digital zoom based on light levels and shutter speeds. As the more you zoom the worse camera shake (blurry image) becomes. Slowest shutter speed should always be 1/focal length if no tripod used.
I realise that, have the digital zoom switched off, but am happy with the results from the capabilities it has. Gave the camera a good work out today on the Marakopa - Awakino road. Still have to sort out the Panasonic speed yet.
Akzle
2nd January 2015, 22:34
Good that you found something you like.
However optical zoom is optical zoom and anything else is digital zoom. It sounds like it has a mode where it limits the digital zoom based on light levels and shutter speeds. As the more you zoom the worse camera shake (blurry image) becomes. Slowest shutter speed should always be 1/focal length if no tripod used.
interpolation, still requires good cmos, but can achieve teh results.
Slowest shutter for the average hand is 1/125 at standard iso, 2-400.
I took some good lowlights on 100iso bw down to about 1/80, so its doable.
Higher iso will help a shaky hand but at the cost of noise.
R650R
3rd January 2015, 15:03
interpolation, still requires good cmos, but can achieve teh results.
Slowest shutter for the average hand is 1/125 at standard iso, 2-400.
I took some good lowlights on 100iso bw down to about 1/80, so its doable.
Higher iso will help a shaky hand but at the cost of noise.
At what focal length???
I've gotten away with 1/4 at iso100 F4 on the 5DmkII and 17-40L. Was supposed to just be a reference shot for another trip out mangakino way but came out ok, heavy camera though and the wide angle means you can get away with more. Image stabiliser on the 70-200L has done some cool slow stuff handheld too.
High ISO should be disabled on consumer cameras with small sensors, its so crap its pretty unuseable. A Client asked me to photoshop some pics taken with similar camera to what thread author bought. Could have done something if they were outside in full sun but indoors the cam turned up the iso and crappified them. Werent worth touching.
Akzle
3rd January 2015, 15:42
At what focal length???
short. Cant even remember what lenses ive had.
26 or 54 olympus/ sigmas most likely.
Had a nikkor ~70-200 (glued elements, plastic body. Fuken light.), was surprisingly good through the range, side by side with fixed lenses you could find the differences if you were looking though.
awa355
7th January 2015, 13:33
Just had a rummage through a bin in a local animal charity op shop. It was full of 35m cameras. Nearly all in their leather cases and most with instruction booklets. Seems a shame to see all that technology, still workable, sitting there untill the day it all gets thrown out.
I wonder if any of these cameras would be collectables one day, in the way that fountain pens are becoming sought after. Most of these were 'compact' cameras so wouldn't have the value of a professionals' camera from the pre-digital era.
Moi
7th January 2015, 16:29
As for tripods you may like to check out the Joby Gorilla Pods which have flexable legs for wrapping them around hand rails tree branches etc
They are not full length though.
+1 for the Gorilla grip things... another thing worth thinking about is a monopod - you do have to hold it but brilliant in lowlight situations when you want to reduce camera shake...
Akzle
7th January 2015, 19:40
Just had a rummage through a bin in a local animal charity op shop. It was full of 35m cameras. Nearly all in their leather cases and most with instruction booklets. Seems a shame to see all that technology, still workable, sitting there untill the day it all gets thrown out.
I wonder if any of these cameras would be collectables one day, in the way that fountain pens are becoming sought after. Most of these were 'compact' cameras so wouldn't have the value of a professionals' camera from the pre-digital era.
i had a few fair good 35mm slrs, now gone. At about 2$ a print, rather uneconomical compared to the ease and cheap of digital. Sad. Very sad.
Try developing shit at home without someone phoning in a 'meth lab'
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