Camera thread...

There was a thread around a while ago, I think bob started it and had heaps of advice on cameras n stuff.

Looking to upgrade from my little point-and-click Canon Ixus. I don't need anything too heavy duty in terms of technical whizz bang features but happy to spend a few grand if it will provide me with better shots. Also, I do want to get a really decent case that could handle getting abused accidentally as I am going to take it when I go tramping.

Advice that doesn't state the obvious and recommendations welcome.


sf xo

I cant find the Bob one but the summary is usually Canon or Nikon. And then Zenith (while he's a stupid Nikon nut) came up with an amazing gem:

Progear in Newmarket.

Great guys, will pull the relevant Nikon and Canons out and put them next to each other and let you play with them. They're awesome in there. Do it.

Awesome, I will go and impose myself on them in the near future.

progear got robbed the other day, unsure if they have much to show

rough

what kind of entry level camera would people suggest? what kind of features should I look for? SLR or just compact ultra zoom? if SLR, do I bother with buying lenses at first or just shop around for a good package?

Consumer mag recommends the Canon EOS 1000D for an entry level SLR or the Canon Powershot SX100 IS for the compact ultra zoom with Panasonic Luminex range coming in at a close second for both categories...

Nikon didn't rate at all in their product testing...

If you want a compact ultra zoom, refer to this article here, the recommendations are at the end:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q109superzoomgroup/

I wouldn't rely entirely on Consumer's recommendations, as they don't specialise in cameras, shown by them not including Nikon, arguably at least Canon's equal in terms of performance and quality.

The 1000D kit comes with a useful 18-55mm image stabilised lens, which is useful and takes good pictures. Here is a review here:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos1000d/

This same lens is included with the 450D as well.

I cant comment much on compact ultrazooms, but with dslrs you cant go wrong with either a Nikon or Canon.
If you want to get into photography abit more as a hobby then get a dslr cos you can add more lenses as you get better and more creative.
I have a canon 450d, and really like it. I hardly ever use the live view mode however. You cant use the live view in auto mode....so live view wasnt as impt to me as i thought it would be.

For Nikon i think the entry level ones are:
d60, d80, (d90 is nice but abit expensive for entry level imo).

For Canon there is the 1000d, or 450d. I think there are twin lens kits available - something like 18-55mm + 55-250mm lenses + 450d body. The kit lenses for this are supposed to be pretty good cos they've got IS (image stabilisation), and its good value instead of buying it separately, which im trying to do with one of the lenses now.

Sometimes i wonder if i shouldve got a Nikon cos it seems abit cooler. But im happy with what i've got.
Initially i was also looking into getting the Olympus e-520, but i read the image quality isnt as good as canon or nikon.

There, i've saved you a couple of months of reading camera reviews,...but you might like to read a few on that dpreview site. You can check out who has the best prices on www.pricespy.co.nz

Go into Progear and have a play with a couple of different Canon and Nikon cameras, see which you like the feel of, which seems to be the most intuitive to use to you, which has the buttons in easiest to use places etc.

Dont forget that the body is only a small part of the equation, a high end body with a cheap lens will produce inferior images to a low end body with a top quality lens on it. Expect to spend much more on glass than on the body itself.

Also be wary of cheap parallel imported options as Canon/Nikon NZ wont touch them should something go wrong so you will be looking at your camera being away overseas getting fixed for quite some time.

I'm not but I do usually refer to their articles when I am in the market for something I know very little about

it gives you a good starting point to work from

ask yourself if you really want to lug a few kilos of DSLR + glass on a tramp with you.

After reading the review hrsy posted, I think I'll pick up either a Canon SX10 IS or Panasonic FZ28 before I head away.

Any idea whether Progear is back to full stock yet?

You are suuuch a gay!

Y?

progear wont stock either of those cameras pfunk (well id be surprised if they did)

your best bet will be camera and camera on queens st.

Ah does progear only stock "professional" stuff? I.e. SLR/DSLR?

they have some compact cameras, but compacts arent their market.

they def wont have the panasonic

The thiefs targeted a specific item so pretty much all stock is still there.

Zenith shut the fuck up and know what your talking about before you open your mouth.

I work at progear and we stock the Canon Point and shoots of all levels. The only things stolen from us the other week was six very high end cameras that aren't going to do the thieves any good because they are what they are. Only 50 have ever been brought into the country EVER and they now have 4. A lot of good thats going to do them...

I would suggest looking at the Dpreview site and using the feature search on it as well. Or the Dphoto Magazine.

If I was going to suggest at camera for you, I would recommend the (in the way of a point and shoot the Canon G10, Canon ISUX 1 IS or the IXUS 10 IS).

Where if you want to go full blown DSLR (the previous posters skipped a few Nikon Cameras, FYI) they have the supper low end D40x, D70 (D60 is out of production) then the D80, and D90. Where canon makes the low end 1000D and the 450D, then the 40D, 50D.

Each brand and subsequent cameras each have advantages and draw backs to them. But my best advise is to come in and see us.

If you want ask for the american, and I'll set you right.

(Both Canon and Nikon are having supply issues at the moment and are just now getting us, at progear, items we ordered before the holidays. We should, in theory be getting all of the items I have listed previously very, very soon, if we don't have them already. Give us a call before hand at 09 529 5055 and check.)

You need to ask your self this very question.

Another really good point brought up previously is that you also need to consider putting better lens on any kind of camera that you get, as well. Because your picture can only be as good as your lens lets it be, since the picture passes through it. In theory, you should be able to use lens on more then one body before you even consider upgrading if you do it right the first time. Other wise you lose money in the end, in my opinion.

Also, before anyone thinks that I'm plugging myself in order to get money in any form other then for the store, please note I DO NOT, REPEAT, DO NOT, get commission. So I only want to get you the best fitting camera for you and your situation.

already thought about that too

will definitely be enquiring as to weight n stuff, one bag with a half empty bottle of water and sunscreen feels like it weighs 5 kgs after 6 hours marching


@ CaptAmerica : will be in to impose myself sonetime soon


Zeniff: STFU

If you want, bring in your pack and have a look-see as to size and weight as well. I keep thinking that the high-end point-and-shoot will be the best bet for you.

just go to auckland camera centre instead

You could/can if you really wanted too in case you wanted it before Progear has it. Also Photo Warehouse is good too.

Photo warehouse is horrible.

as for the point n shoots, i thought you guys were stoping them, well that was the understanding i got when i talked to Dave when i was last in there, which was before u started working there as far as i know.

Well, all I know is that we can't keep them in stock, so Dave might have thought that we were.

But we have 20 G10's, 5 ISUX 110 IS's, 5 ISUX 100 IS's, and 3 ISUX 1 IS's on order, atm.

We are getting away from the low end point and shoots, not the high end ones, which SF is looking for.

And SF you will not be a bother at all... promise.

I have point and shoot already in the form of a Canon Ixus 750

I would say that camera is an mid-level point and shoot. Where the ones that i have listed before are high end. But in the end it's up to you and I can/will help the best I can.

Unless you want to spend a lot of time learning how cameras work and on the computer with your photos just get a high end point and shoot. DSLRs will let you make some great photos if you know how to use them, but you should plan to invest a HELL of a lot of time to learn them, then a bunch of money in lenses, flashes, etc. It took me a year to become really proficient - by that I mean able to take a good photo in any conditions.

Or get a P&S and take photos while you do fun things.

This is coming from a professional photographer.

+1

If you were after long distance resolution, wouldn't you have to go DSLR?

Compact cameras with 10X zoom probably do ok, but at long zoom a tripod will help a lot. DSLR would be good, but with them it's all about the lenses. You can easily pay $20,000 for a good 500mm+ telephoto lens. Then again you can get an ok 300mm lens for $500.

I often get asked "how many times zoom is your lens". Often I answer "zero", as I use primes a lot - lenses with a fixed focal length. Yesterday I answered "20X", as I have a 10mm lens and a 200mm lens. People understand that more easily than the other options.

This always cracks me up when people ask me the same thing. Have given up trying to explain it too.

I saw Paul at Progear a month back for my first DSLR. Up till then i was bouncing around with a compact.
They priced it a good $400 cheaper than going to dick smith or elsewhere. And the service is good as they know what theyre talking about.

I picked up a Canon 1000D and its really good. Plus it has the preset modes as well as the manual settings. So you can use it immediately and bridges the learning gap from compact to DSLR.

I would definately recommend Progear