OT: Revisiting 'Digital Cameras'

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M

Mother

Guest
It's nearing 'that time' when I'll need to be replacing my trusty
digital camera (a very handy, not too bad quality Fuji Finepix).

My criteria:

* At least 6 megapixel - real, not 'interpolated' nonsense
(may settle for 4).

* High quality optics - IOW, decent lens(e) :)

* Compact - like "forget it's in my pocket" small.

* Take recharge batteries - AA or AAA - NOT some expensive prop cell.

* Takes the pic when I press the shutter - not 1 sec later...

* Good quality flash.

* Screen on back.

* Tripod 'screw' on the bottom.

* Erm... fairly robust (humph).

To give you an idea, my current camera measures 80mm x 70mm x 22mm and
weighs 142g - I want something similar, but much, much better.

I'd also like some good 'manual' control over DOF, F setting and the
like. Ideally pressing the shutter button half way down will lock the
exposure in auto mode.

So, who can suggest wot? ;-)

 
Mother" <"@ {m} @ wrote:
> It's nearing 'that time' when I'll need to be replacing my trusty
> digital camera (a very handy, not too bad quality Fuji Finepix).
>
> My criteria:
>
> * At least 6 megapixel - real, not 'interpolated' nonsense
> (may settle for 4).
>
> * High quality optics - IOW, decent lens(e) :)
>
> * Compact - like "forget it's in my pocket" small.
>
> * Take recharge batteries - AA or AAA - NOT some expensive prop cell.
>
> * Takes the pic when I press the shutter - not 1 sec later...
>
> * Good quality flash.
>
> * Screen on back.
>
> * Tripod 'screw' on the bottom.
>
> * Erm... fairly robust (humph).
>
> To give you an idea, my current camera measures 80mm x 70mm x 22mm and
> weighs 142g - I want something similar, but much, much better.
>
> I'd also like some good 'manual' control over DOF, F setting and the
> like. Ideally pressing the shutter button half way down will lock the
> exposure in auto mode.
>
> So, who can suggest wot? ;-)

Without a doubt the Canon G6, 7.2mp & it is a superb camera. Small (as in really small, but not silly
small) & the the pictures are as good as my last camera a SLR Nikon D70. It can be bought for arounf £350
if you look around online.

Nige


--
Subaru WRX (The Bitch)

Series 3 Landrover 88" (Albert)

"If you tolerate this then your children will be next"


 
On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 22:37:19 -0000, "Nige"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Without a doubt the Canon G6

Nice, but too big, too heavy, no recharge batteries etc.,
Still, at least you're (currently) the highest bidder for a totally
fecked mobile phone eh Nige?

I'm rather expecting you to come and collect it, by the way :)

 
In article <[email protected]>, Mother wrote:
>
> * Takes the pic when I press the shutter - not 1 sec later...
>

That is something that *really* bugs me about my Fuji 602!

It's fine when you remember and compensate, when you forget you miss the
piccy you wanted.

I guess it's just the time to get the image from CCD to memory. Anyone
know for sure?

--
simon at sbarr dot demon dot co dot uk
Simon Barr.
'97 110 300Tdi.
 
Mother" <"@ {m} @ wrote:
> On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 22:37:19 -0000, "Nige"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Without a doubt the Canon G6
>
> Nice, but too big, too heavy, no recharge batteries etc.,
> Still, at least you're (currently) the highest bidder for a totally
> fecked mobile phone eh Nige?
>
> I'm rather expecting you to come and collect it, by the way :)

I will, I come to Sheffield every other day!!!

I want to have a look at that mad looking 101 of yours anyhow!

Ta

Nige

--
Subaru WRX (The Bitch)

Series 3 Landrover 88" (Albert)

"If you tolerate this then your children will be next"


 
On 17 Feb 2005 08:50:24 GMT, Simon Barr <[email protected]> wrote:

>In article <[email protected]>, Mother wrote:
>>
>> * Takes the pic when I press the shutter - not 1 sec later...
>>
>
>That is something that *really* bugs me about my Fuji 602!
>
>It's fine when you remember and compensate, when you forget you miss the
>piccy you wanted.
>
>I guess it's just the time to get the image from CCD to memory. Anyone
>know for sure?

Either way, they should list the amount of delay before picture taking
in the official specs of the camera.
I've not used one yet which has been as instant as i would like.
 
In article <[email protected]>, Tom Woods wrote:
> On 17 Feb 2005 08:50:24 GMT, Simon Barr <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>>I guess it's just the time to get the image from CCD to memory. Anyone
>>know for sure?
>
> Either way, they should list the amount of delay before picture taking
> in the official specs of the camera.
> I've not used one yet which has been as instant as i would like.

I just remembered that my 602 has a setting to take a bunch of pictures,
one after the other, five I think, did play with the setting when I got
the camera.


I can smell some RTFM coming up!

--
simon at sbarr dot demon dot co dot uk
Simon Barr.
'97 110 300Tdi.
 
On 17 Feb 2005 08:50:24 GMT, Simon Barr wrote:

>> * Takes the pic when I press the shutter - not 1 sec later...
>
> I guess it's just the time to get the image from CCD to memory.

On many cameras it's the time taken for the auto focus and to some
extent the auto exposure to work. A partial depress of the shutter
release normally gets the camera into "will take the photo NOW" mode
but sometimes this isn't particularly convenient. I hate it as well,
being brought up with a fully manual, mechanical, SLR.

--
Cheers [email protected]
Dave. pam is missing e-mail



 
In article <[email protected]>, Dave Liquorice wrote:
> On 17 Feb 2005 08:50:24 GMT, Simon Barr wrote:
>
>>> * Takes the pic when I press the shutter - not 1 sec later...
>>
>> I guess it's just the time to get the image from CCD to memory.
>
> On many cameras it's the time taken for the auto focus and to some
> extent the auto exposure to work. A partial depress of the shutter
> release normally gets the camera into "will take the photo NOW" mode


The 602 has this and I always do it, there is still a delay though.

Blasted thing.

--
simon at sbarr dot demon dot co dot uk
Simon Barr.
'97 110 300Tdi.
 
On or around Wed, 16 Feb 2005 22:31:51 +0000, Mother <"@ {m} @"@101fc.net>
enlightened us thusly:

>It's nearing 'that time' when I'll need to be replacing my trusty
>digital camera (a very handy, not too bad quality Fuji Finepix).
>
>My criteria:
>
>* At least 6 megapixel - real, not 'interpolated' nonsense
> (may settle for 4).

have a look here:

http://www.dpreview.com/

navigate on the left to makes of camera, compare models to your heart's
content. I found opening several tabs with different camera in each allowed
pointy-clicky instant comparisons of features.

>* High quality optics - IOW, decent lens(e) :)

personally, I'm quite impressed with my recently (last year) acquired
Olympus C-700UZ. newer ones in the series go 720, 730, 740, 760 and
similar. The main advantage is full manual mode, which will indeed
(provided you know what you're doing and how to set it) do instant pictures,
or very nearly, as it doesn't faff around metering and focussing. The 10x
zoom takes a bit of holding steady, mind, specially if you use the digital
zoom on top of it. Mine has "only" 2.7x digital, so "only" 27x zoom
altogether.

Oly claim equivalent to 38-380 for the optical zoom in 35mmm terms.

>* Compact - like "forget it's in my pocket" small.

'snot quite that small, mind.

>* Take recharge batteries - AA or AAA - NOT some expensive prop cell.

4AA on this'n.

>I'd also like some good 'manual' control over DOF, F setting and the
>like. Ideally pressing the shutter button half way down will lock the
>exposure in auto mode.

Olympus seem good at "proper" camera controls. Unlike Fuji, I may say, on
the ones I've seen - never really had a play with one of the serious fujis
though.

latest ones in the series seem to be C770 and c765; very simialr specs at
4MPix, but both appear to use proprietary batteries.

C750-UZ appears to be the last of the "proper-battery" ones, and in fact not
far off the same spec, still 3.9Mpix (4.1Mpix sensor, I believe) and very
simialr controls. The C770 appers to get you a remote contorl and more
video capacity inluding Mpeg-4.

The C750 seems about the same spec as mine, with more modern memory (XD) and
bigger sensor.

Personally, I rate buying digital cameras from camera makers... they seem
make a better job of the camera side. There are some very nice minlotas
around now as well...

If you read the reviews, some people slag off the C7xx series for being
difficult to use. My take on that is that if you don't know enough about
pohotgrahpy, you'll stick it on auto mode and end up trying to take pictures
with a 300+mm effective lens and using 1/30s shutter speed, which ain't
gonna work unless you're really clever.

--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.fsnet.co.uk my opinions are just that
"Where they make a desert they call it peace" Tacitus (c.55 - c.117)
Agricola, 30
 
On or around 17 Feb 2005 08:50:24 GMT, Simon Barr <[email protected]>
enlightened us thusly:

>In article <[email protected]>, Mother wrote:
>>
>> * Takes the pic when I press the shutter - not 1 sec later...
>>
>
>That is something that *really* bugs me about my Fuji 602!
>
>It's fine when you remember and compensate, when you forget you miss the
>piccy you wanted.
>
>I guess it's just the time to get the image from CCD to memory. Anyone
>know for sure?

mostly metering and focusing, I reckon, and white-balancing. On mine, if I
set everything to manual it reduces the latency amazingly.

--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.fsnet.co.uk my opinions are just that
"Where they make a desert they call it peace" Tacitus (c.55 - c.117)
Agricola, 30
 
In article <[email protected]>, Austin Shackles wrote:
>
> mostly metering and focusing, I reckon, and white-balancing. On mine, if I
> set everything to manual it reduces the latency amazingly.
>

You could well be right there.

A lot of the time I do things manually, but, if I don't think I have time to
mess around, I pick auto, as by the time you've got the exposure, etc right
it's too late.

I did this at the weekend thinking I was going to get a picture of a Disco at
the bottom of a hole, whereas due to the delay what I got was a picture of a
Disco after it climbed out. The camera was set to auto then.


Yet more RTFM coming up.

--
simon at sbarr dot demon dot co dot uk
Simon Barr.
'97 110 300Tdi.
 

"Mother" <"@ {m} @"@101fc.net> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 22:37:19 -0000, "Nige"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Without a doubt the Canon G6
>
> Nice, but too big, too heavy, no recharge batteries etc.,
> Still, at least you're (currently) the highest bidder for a totally
> fecked mobile phone eh Nige?
>
> I'm rather expecting you to come and collect it, by the way :)
>

The G6 has rechargeable batteries & In Tokyo I carried it in my pocket.
Takes superb pictures & the battery lasts ages too.

Nige


 

"Mark Varley" <mr.nice@*nospam*softhome.net> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 22:31:51 +0000, Mother <"@ {m} @"@101fc.net>
> wrote:
>
> >It's nearing 'that time' when I'll need to be replacing my trusty
> >digital camera (a very handy, not too bad quality Fuji Finepix).
> >
> >My criteria:
> >
> >* At least 6 megapixel - real, not 'interpolated' nonsense
> > (may settle for 4).
> >
> >* High quality optics - IOW, decent lens(e) :)
> >
> >* Compact - like "forget it's in my pocket" small.
> >
> >* Take recharge batteries - AA or AAA - NOT some expensive prop cell.
> >
> >* Takes the pic when I press the shutter - not 1 sec later...
> >
> >* Good quality flash.
> >
> >* Screen on back.
> >
> >* Tripod 'screw' on the bottom.
> >
> >* Erm... fairly robust (humph).
> >
> >To give you an idea, my current camera measures 80mm x 70mm x 22mm and
> >weighs 142g - I want something similar, but much, much better.
> >
> >I'd also like some good 'manual' control over DOF, F setting and the
> >like. Ideally pressing the shutter button half way down will lock the
> >exposure in auto mode.
> >
> >So, who can suggest wot? ;-)
>
>
> for my money - fuji s5500. this is bigger than your current camera
> though.
>
> also you could find a used olympus c-750-uz (4mp).
> it is THE best 'compact' camera by far. make no mistake.

I like my Cannon Ixus i but takes cannon batteries, it did well on my
holiday anyway a spare battery meant I didn't run out.
I was looking for the smallest camera I could and that came along at a
bargain price (£125 new)
--
Jon


 
If you want small then I go with the Canon Ixus suggestion. I have the Ixus
40 and am well pleased. Drop in it your pocket and forget about it. Even
with the leather case for protection it is still extremely neat. Not had
problems with battery lasting a good day out.

If you really want the AA or AAA option then you almost certainly have to
give up a little on the size and weight.

Hope this helps


"George Spigot" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Mark Varley" <mr.nice@*nospam*softhome.net> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 22:31:51 +0000, Mother <"@ {m} @"@101fc.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >It's nearing 'that time' when I'll need to be replacing my trusty
>> >digital camera (a very handy, not too bad quality Fuji Finepix).
>> >
>> >My criteria:
>> >
>> >* At least 6 megapixel - real, not 'interpolated' nonsense
>> > (may settle for 4).
>> >
>> >* High quality optics - IOW, decent lens(e) :)
>> >
>> >* Compact - like "forget it's in my pocket" small.
>> >
>> >* Take recharge batteries - AA or AAA - NOT some expensive prop cell.
>> >
>> >* Takes the pic when I press the shutter - not 1 sec later...
>> >
>> >* Good quality flash.
>> >
>> >* Screen on back.
>> >
>> >* Tripod 'screw' on the bottom.
>> >
>> >* Erm... fairly robust (humph).
>> >
>> >To give you an idea, my current camera measures 80mm x 70mm x 22mm and
>> >weighs 142g - I want something similar, but much, much better.
>> >
>> >I'd also like some good 'manual' control over DOF, F setting and the
>> >like. Ideally pressing the shutter button half way down will lock the
>> >exposure in auto mode.
>> >
>> >So, who can suggest wot? ;-)
>>
>>
>> for my money - fuji s5500. this is bigger than your current camera
>> though.
>>
>> also you could find a used olympus c-750-uz (4mp).
>> it is THE best 'compact' camera by far. make no mistake.
>
> I like my Cannon Ixus i but takes cannon batteries, it did well on my
> holiday anyway a spare battery meant I didn't run out.
> I was looking for the smallest camera I could and that came along at a
> bargain price (£125 new)
> --
> Jon
>
>


 
Mother wrote:
> It's nearing 'that time' when I'll need to be replacing my trusty
> digital camera (a very handy, not too bad quality Fuji Finepix).

My current plaything is the Sony DSC-T1

>
> My criteria:
>
> * At least 6 megapixel - real, not 'interpolated' nonsense
> (may settle for 4).

5mp or therabouts

>
> * High quality optics - IOW, decent lens(e) :)

Good optical zoom, carl zeiss optics.

>
> * Compact - like "forget it's in my pocket" small.

This thing is tiny. Same dimensions as a fag packet.

>
> * Take recharge batteries - AA or AAA - NOT some expensive prop cell.

Proprietory on this, but many sell batteries on Ebay, by Sony and copy
cats.

>
> * Takes the pic when I press the shutter - not 1 sec later...

Sony is fast for this. It's 2 seconds from switch on (no zoom lens to
push out - it goes up and down). Speed of images is dependent on
resolution and speed of media. Sony DuoPro memory sticks are now
cheap (copies - Sandisk are better) and fast. Large memory sticks are
available - mine is 256mb (70 high res images) and there's a 512 & 1gb
I think.

>
> * Good quality flash.

Flash is criticised - not a great range and prone to redeye.

>
> * Screen on back.

Giant screen on back - biggest in class (2.5cm), since it's the
viewfinder as well.

>
> * Tripod 'screw' on the bottom.

Not on the camera, but several small cases available which have the screw.

>
* Erm... fairly robust (humph).

I dropped mine without incident.

>
> To give you an idea, my current camera measures 80mm x 70mm x 22mm and
> weighs 142g - I want something similar, but much, much better.

Sony DSC-T1:

180 grammes

99x60x20mm

See:

http://www.kelkoo.co.uk/b/a/ps_7223331/124901.html




>
> I'd also like some good 'manual' control over DOF, F setting and the
> like. Ideally pressing the shutter button half way down will lock the
> exposure in auto mode.
>
> So, who can suggest wot? ;-)
>

Other specs on the above link. I use the white balance, EV setting,
contrast etc. DOF is a function of the aperture - smaller aperture
gives narrower DOF. Aperture is adjustable.

Personally, although I like the camera I still much prefer my SLRs -
Pentax K1000 and Yashica FR1 and Pentax Spotmatic for real pictures,
although the snaps I've printed out on Boots digital booth have been
superb. Most of the pics on my site below were taken with either a
Nikon Coolpix/Sony DSC-T1/Old Olympus 1.3mp.


--
Regards,
Danny

http://www.gaggia-espresso.com (a purely hobby site)
http://www.dannyscoffee.com (UK advert for my mobile espresso service)
http://www.malabargold.co.uk (UK/European online ordering for Malabar
Gold blend)
swap Z for above characters in email address to reply

 
On Thu, 17 Feb 2005 19:44:15 -0000, "Steve Cork"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>If you want small then I go with the Canon Ixus suggestion.

Or there is a super thin little Sony dsc-t1 which has an (relatively)
huge screen on the back. Completely fails to meet most of your
citeria, Martin, but I was gob-smacked when I saw the image quality,
given the thing is so thin you could comfortably have it in the top
pocket of a shirt and forget it's there.

As an added (minority interest) bonus, there is an underwater case
available for divers. A mate took one to the Red Sea recently, and I
was expecting to be able to take the p**s out of his "toy" camera, but
ended up very impressed.

David
 
On Thu, 17 Feb 2005 20:07:41 +0000, Danny wrote:

> Sony is fast for this. It's 2 seconds from switch on (no zoom lens
> to push out - it goes up and down).

The original reference is to how long after you push the shutter
release does the shutter actually fire.

But you do raise the issue of boot up time. I have a Casio that takes
10 to 15s from switch on to being ready but it can go fully manual and
has B setting which many digitals don't. This camera now does rostrum
service for SWMBO'd ebay items and by me for taking shots of the
Aurora, which it does pretty well.

I carry a Minolta DiMage Xt which is pretty good but does vinette
fully wide, has virtually no manual control, proprietary battery and
only 3 something mega pixel. But it does boot quickly, take it out
press the on/off button and it'll be ready by the time you have it up
to your eye and pointing in the right direction.

--
Cheers [email protected]
Dave. pam is missing e-mail



 
Dave Liquorice wrote:
> On Thu, 17 Feb 2005 20:07:41 +0000, Danny wrote:
>
>
>>Sony is fast for this. It's 2 seconds from switch on (no zoom lens
>>to push out - it goes up and down).
>
>
> The original reference is to how long after you push the shutter
> release does the shutter actually fire.
>
> But you do raise the issue of boot up time. I have a Casio that takes
> 10 to 15s from switch on to being ready but it can go fully manual and
> has B setting which many digitals don't. This camera now does rostrum
> service for SWMBO'd ebay items and by me for taking shots of the
> Aurora, which it does pretty well.
>
> I carry a Minolta DiMage Xt which is pretty good but does vinette
> fully wide, has virtually no manual control, proprietary battery and
> only 3 something mega pixel. But it does boot quickly, take it out
> press the on/off button and it'll be ready by the time you have it up
> to your eye and pointing in the right direction.
>

Which is why I added the part about memory card size and speed. Most
of the time taken to capture an image (assuming the shutter is cocked
to capture focus and exposure information) is in writing the data.
It's not possible to compare accurately unless like media is being
used. The size of the memory card in particular leads to delays in
processing, plus the speed of the memory.

As an aside, the Sony also has a fast shoot mode, for capturing
successive images, and also a short MPEG mode.

--
Regards,
Danny

http://www.gaggia-espresso.com (a purely hobby site)
http://www.dannyscoffee.com (UK advert for my mobile espresso service)
http://www.malabargold.co.uk (UK/European online ordering for Malabar
Gold blend)
swap Z for above characters in email address to reply

 
I was about to suggest you a get DSLR, prices are dropping all the
time.....then I read the 'must be small' bit!!!

With a pro quality lens attached a DSLR starts to weigh in at several kilos-
but then again the better quality CCD's and decent lenses mean way better
pictures than most compacts will ever produce.

You pays yer money....

Nevillef

"Mother" <"@ {m} @"@101fc.net> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> It's nearing 'that time' when I'll need to be replacing my trusty
> digital camera (a very handy, not too bad quality Fuji Finepix).
>
> My criteria:
>
> * At least 6 megapixel - real, not 'interpolated' nonsense
> (may settle for 4).
>
> * High quality optics - IOW, decent lens(e) :)
>
> * Compact - like "forget it's in my pocket" small.
>
> * Take recharge batteries - AA or AAA - NOT some expensive prop cell.
>
> * Takes the pic when I press the shutter - not 1 sec later...
>
> * Good quality flash.
>
> * Screen on back.
>
> * Tripod 'screw' on the bottom.
>
> * Erm... fairly robust (humph).
>
> To give you an idea, my current camera measures 80mm x 70mm x 22mm and
> weighs 142g - I want something similar, but much, much better.
>
> I'd also like some good 'manual' control over DOF, F setting and the
> like. Ideally pressing the shutter button half way down will lock the
> exposure in auto mode.
>
> So, who can suggest wot? ;-)
>


 
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