Help me buy a good non-SLR digital camera

[Oakie]

I've been asked to do some rather important photos for a member of my extended family so am taking it as a good reason/excuse to update my competent old Kodak EasyShare to something with a few more bells and whistles. (Digital of course).

I can't really afford an SLR so am looking for something a grade under that. Happy to spend $700 to $1000 and could stretch to $1200 if it's worth it.

I'm not interested in just the one with most megapixels ... 10 would be ample.
A good lens is important as is a sizable optical zoom. Also important is ease of use and of course the quality of output. I am a viewfinder boy when framing pictures so cameras with a huge LCD aren't really that important.

There is a plethora of cameras for sale and it's hard to compare them all so I need firstly, suggestions as to what to be aware of when buying a camera in this bracket and then any particular models you can suggest.

[vindy500]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics...-254971426.htm

and add this

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics...-254158016.htm

and youre away


Or if you want something simpler, how about one of these
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics...-254576003.htm

[slofox]

I like to buy digital cameras from a company that has been in cameras for a while - Canon,Nikon, Fuji etc.

I have used a couple of Fujis and found them to be pretty good. Not sure which models are current, but something with a 10x or better optical zoom is worth the candle. Perhaps one of the S series might be the go...S1500 ($500 - $600 at Bond and Bond) or bigger brother like the S200EXR ($1000 at B&B).

[Nasty]

I've been asked to do some rather important photos for a member of my extended family so am taking it as a good reason/excuse to update my competent old Kodak EasyShare to something with a few more bells and whistles. (Digital of course).

I can't really afford an SLR so am looking for something a grade under that. Happy to spend $7000 to $1000 and could stretch to $1200 if it's worth it.

I'm not interested in just the one with most megapixels ... 10 would be ample.
A good lens is important as is a sizable optical zoom. Also important is ease of use and of course the quality of output. I am a viewfinder boy when framing pictures so cameras with a huge LCD aren't really that important.

There is a plethora of cameras for sale and it's hard to compare them all so I need firstly, suggestions as to what to be aware of when buying a camera in this bracket and then any particular models you can suggest.

Check out www.dpreview.com they have information on different cameras but also have comparison viewing available.

I have a Panasonic DMC-FZ30 ... with Lumix lenses they are a fantastic buy. But I do recommend the site .. best coparisons anywhere.

[vifferman]

I suggest that first you read some online review forums: type "digital camera review" into Google and browse away.

I've got a Canon S5is, and I like it. It's no longer the best, but it does more than I want, and meets the purpose: it's compact, has image stabilisation, is 10 megapixels. The reviews of it I found online were very accurate, and pinpointed it's faults, weaknesssesssesess and strengths. The main one is it doesn't do wide-angle very well; the overpriced wide-angle lens I bought for it helps, but it too has shortcomings.

But to each his own; find your own camera that meets your needs. Mine cost under $500, so for $1200 you should be able to get something pretty good.

[disenfranchised]

With that budget you could still get a SLR though.
Something like this
The twin lens kit still scrapes in under $1200.

Otherwise the Canon G and SX range take pretty decent shots.
And the specs on the Fuji Fixepix EXR models are quiet good

[Oakie]

What advantages are there in getting an SLR over a non-SLR? (apart from being able to see exactly the image you will capture?)

[Forest]

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 is probably the best non-SLR camera available at the moment (that is in your price range).

However it has no built-in viewfinder, only an LCD.

[Swoop]

Canon Powershot SX110.
9.0 mega pix.
10x optical zoom.

I just love mine.

[Leviticus]

Otherwise the Canon G and SX range take pretty decent shots.

Canon G10 or New G11 are amazing cameras. I use mine more than my Canon DSLR.

[Oakie]

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 is probably the best non-SLR camera available at the moment (that is in your price range).

However it has no built-in viewfinder, only an LCD.

Gotta have my viewfinder. Apart form just being a thing I am comfortable with, LCD's use a lot a battery juice.

[wysper]

Yep Canon G11 for my money.

The lieca's are nice too. But then you might as well get a panasonic. Certain model panasonic that is. I would have to check to find out. Same internals and the pana use a leica lens. The leica lenses are very nice.

[Forest]

Gotta have my viewfinder. Apart form just being a thing I am comfortable with, LCD's use a lot a battery juice.

Viewfinders are subject to parallax error - especially when you're doing close-up shots. At least with the viewfinder, you get to see the actual framing.

But it isn't up to me to change your mind.

Probably best you look at the Canon Powershot G10 or G11.

[Forest]

Yep Canon G11 for my money.

The lieca's are nice too. But then you might as well get a panasonic. Certain model panasonic that is. I would have to check to find out. Same internals and the pana use a leica lens. The leica lenses are very nice.

I own a Leica D-LUX 4. It's basically a Panasonic LX3 in a slightly different case (they share the same lens and internals, the only difference is the firmware).

I bought the Leica over the Panasonic because it will have better resale value when I'm finished with it.

[kave]

Canon or Nikon would be the go. Leica are probably a step up from those two, but are a shitload pricier. Nikon doesn't really bother advertising in New Zealand (outside of specialist photography magazines), the New Zealand importers (T.A MacAlisters) are fairly useless and dont seem to see the point. That being said, Nikon are kick-arse cameras. I personally would get something like a Nikon P6000.

http://www.nikon.co.nz/productitem.p...277-04d9c9c633