Camera specification

• David H

  • Location: Dover
  7 January 2010     00:1936643
  #1       report
  Having seen the super shots on the front page I am really concerned about what I am doing wrong with mine and need anyones suggestions for replacing it.
  
  I have the very same Lumix as Phil and take lots of pictures. Firstly it takes low light pics but they all tend to be out of focus ( Christmas pics this year are rubbish indoors). Put on the flash and the lighting is terrible, harsh and shallow.
  
  Previous cameras allow for the snapping I have to do - as I take many shots in difficult circumstances. I have never had this problem.
  
  A secondary but just as important issue is that I take shots in low light such as in roof areas and I need a really powerful flash to penetrate a distance yet give even light.
  
  Lastly climbing a scaffold with a camera around ones neck means that I bang them about a lot and they get in the way. Thus I dont want to spend a fortune , dont want heavy ( love to have a pocket size) but need a decent flash.
  
  Now lets see if the combined knowledge can help please. SD card is the format so no sony.
  
  D
• Brian Dixon

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 23 Sep 2008
  • Posts: 23,940
  7 January 2010     07:2536647
  #2       report
  try getting a up todate kodak camera cira£100 well worth the money.they are small enough to put in ones pocket,with a decent flash as well.they have a zoom lens,sd slot etc.
• Guest 640

  • Registered: 21 Apr 2007
  • Posts: 7,819
  7 January 2010     08:0436650
  #3       report
  Will come back to this one...
  email: dover7@msn.com
• Guest 657

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 3,037
  7 January 2010     11:1936668
  #4       report
  For my 'throw in my handbag and take everywhere' little camera I am currently using an Olympus MJU Tough which is lightweight, shock proof, water proof up to 3m, freeze proof and as my husband says - idiot proof!! It's XD-Picture Card and Micro SD Card compatible.
  
  For my photographic work I have a fabulous Leica which I always wanted and was thrilled to be able to get last year.
  
  Indoor flash shot and outdoor shot taken with Olympus.
  
  

  
  www.facebook.com/jeaneheadstonehunter
• Guest 657

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 3,037
  7 January 2010     11:2036669
  #5       report
  Oop's missed the first pic.
  

  
  www.facebook.com/jeaneheadstonehunter
• Guest 640

  • Registered: 21 Apr 2007
  • Posts: 7,819
  7 January 2010     11:2636670
  #6       report
  The Panasonic Lumix range is very highly thought of. I think they even have a tie up with Leica off the top of my head so it would probably be a good brand name to stick with. They do a range from the lower end to some fairly sublime looking devices at the higher end.
  
  What you say about your camera there Big Dave seems to indicate that it has one knock too many and something is internally out of alignment. When they get to that stage its time to chuck it in and go for a new one. But I think that cameras are very price/performance conscious....thats my experience anyway. You see lots of cheaper ones advertised but I wouldnt touch em with a bargepole as they dont deliver.
  
  The most successful all round camera we've got which we use constantly on doverforum is our Canon Compact Powershot A650. It was a fairly high end one, well for a compact, and cost at the time roughly £450 - £500, but gosh it delivers and does everything from long distance, very long distance, to close up and at 12.1million pixels too. It has been superseded now so is no longer available, if it was I would be tempted to get another one. But Canon is another brand that you can feel confident with. They have a nice G10 at the moment on a good offer, as it has been superseded by the G11. The G11 has fewer pixels rather oddly. The G10 wont be available for too much longer judging by how these things have gone in the past.
  
  Because BB did great pictures in our Boulogne feature last summer I figured it was time I bought her a camera for Christmas so opted for the Samsung WB-500 which looks as though it might deliver although its hardly out of the box yet. It has a wider than usual facility which comes in handy for building work and so on...there is also a WB-550 which has slighly higher spec.
  
  My feeling is with cameras its always best to go higher up the ladder costwise. There are a whole range of very good makes out there right now...and on Digital SLRs the prices have never been as competitive.
  email: dover7@msn.com
• Guest 640

  • Registered: 21 Apr 2007
  • Posts: 7,819
  7 January 2010     11:3336672
  #7       report
  Wow! a Leica Jeane..crikey..I fancy one o' them. gimme
  email: dover7@msn.com
• Guest 657

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 3,037
  7 January 2010     11:5136675
  #8       report
  I believe the Lumix uses a Leica-made lens.
  
  I waited a long time for my Leica, it's my baby
  www.facebook.com/jeaneheadstonehunter
• Ross Miller

  • Location: London Road, Dover
  • Registered: 17 Sep 2008
  • Posts: 3,698
  7 January 2010     14:2636695
  #9       report
  The most important things with cameras is to buy the best lenses you can afford rather than spend money on a high end body; of course get a decent camera body but honestly the mid range digitals from Canon, Nikon, Sony, Panasonic, Olymous etc will prove more than good enough for all but semi pro/pro snappers.
  "Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
  
  "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
  While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
• David H

  • Location: Dover
  7 January 2010     15:4036701
  #10       report
  Thanks for the suggestions - I am sure my camera is not giving its best and a new one is due.
  
  Summarising:
  
  I need portablity and simplicity for surveying buildings
  wide angle (28mm)
  5MP min is ok
  SD
  Strong Flash for taking pictures in attics or in tunnels.
  cheap enough for me to throw away annually - but good quality
  
  I did wonder if i could fix a sep flash on the lumix using photo sensitive light cell - anyone ever done this?
  
  I will start looking on ebay...after all we have lost our only camera shop regrettably.
  
  
• Guest 686

  • Registered: 5 May 2009
  • Posts: 556
  7 January 2010     16:1636706
  #11       report
  It may sound daft but try asking what others in your trade use. You may even find that some camera-phones will do the job which might kill two birds with one stone as it were.
  
  I have a feeling that if you want something with a strong flash then you'll need a camera with a hot-shoe and a separate flash, but that makes things a bit bulky/heavy to lug around.
  
  

  

  
  Taken with a Nokia 6500 Slide
  
  Video cameras often work well in low light too. My Sony HandycamDCR-SR55 can just about fit in a big pocket and has a built-in infra-red lamp for use in the dark!
  
  

  

  
  A still from video shot in the dock at 1 a.m. this morning!
  Phil West
  If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!!
• Unregistered User
  7 January 2010     19:0636733
  #12       report
  Early evening in the garden taken with Canon S5 IS
  
  lost photo, someone tell how to download image
• Guest 640

  • Registered: 21 Apr 2007
  • Posts: 7,819
  7 January 2010     19:1836738
  #13       report
  Helloooo Paul
  
  see the underlined message top right of post box. Click on that and if the picture is below 2MB it should upload it fairly easy if you follow instructions. Takes just a few seconds. Transfer the code then into the reply box and bobs yer uncle!
  
  If its a bigger size than 2MB either reduce the size yourself or send it over to yours truly.
  email: dover7@msn.com
• Unregistered User
  7 January 2010     20:1536752
  #14       report
  

  
  
  Try this. I am sure my IT skills are limited and I have cocked upthe instructions, Paully.
  
  Early evening in Deal-taken by Canon S5IS
• Guest 640

  • Registered: 21 Apr 2007
  • Posts: 7,819
  7 January 2010     21:1436760
  #15       report
  

  
  
  There we are Paul. Nice one too. I think you almost got the upload right there yourself in the previous post, its just that the picture was a tad over the 2MB size limiter. I reduced the size of the picture and there we are.
  
  
  email: dover7@msn.com
• Guest 653

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 10,540
  7 January 2010     23:5536765
  #16       report
  Lovely photo Paul - well done.
  
  
  
  
  Roger