Hiiiiii yes I'm asking ANOTHER question about camera models.
I want to buy my partner a camera for xmas. He's just started showing an interest and would like a bridge camera - something to upgrade from his old point and shoot.
I don't think he knows much about them so I'm trying to find something that will be simple yet give him some room for creativity if he gets more into it.
I thought I was on to a winner with either the
But after a day of searching the Nikon doesn't seem to have great reviews and I can't find any reviews for the samsung by....well people who know what they're talking about lol!
I'm sooooo stuck. I don't want him to be disappointed by something which gives him no creative control, which seems to be the down side of pretty much all the bridge cameras within my price range! I can stretch to about £150. I'd go a bit higher if it was REALLY worth it.
As I said, he is a beginner. I don't think he knows what aperture, ISO and shutter speed really mean or how they work, but I don't want to get him something which will prevent him from learning about these things!
Does anyone use a bridge camera, or know of any good ones? I think my brain is going to melt from all this searching. I really wish I could spend more but I just can't (and feel guilty, seeing as I just got a new dslr!!!)
I just don't know what will be best :(
Thanks for any help guys, my Christmas present to you all will be to stop asking all these questions haha xxx
And again I learned something today. I used to call my camera 'a p&s which wants to believe it is a DSLR'. Now I can call it a bridge camera.
I still love my old Panasonic Lumix DMC-F28, nowadays they have way newer models and as I believe in different prices. They seem to get some real nice reviews and I can only agree that it is a nice camera to start with or as a p&s upgrade. I even doubt if I will get me a real DSLR if this one is worn out. It is easy to use, usable from fully automatic to almost completely manual, easy to bring along and it saves the headaches about which lenses to use. The qualitiy is of course a little less than a good SLR and I sometimes have serious discussions with it when I want to get a close-up but thats about it for the negative things.
Apart from the brand it might be an idea to get a camera which is getting a little outdated by newer models and therefor on sale and less expensive? It gets you a fine camera to start with, it already will have some more reviews and it comes without the 'semi-professional' pricetag.
See ParkCameras.Com or WEXphotographic.com much cheaper than Argos. I would still stick with a budget SLR, but a lot of people I know are switching to Panasonic Lumix. Maybe Canon Powershot G15 not a bridge camera but great optics and full manual control.
@godders thanks for the links! Yeah I considered an slr but I think maybe just a bit too far for his current interest. @pum71 on your advice I have found this http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-panasonic-lumix-dmc-lz20-red-digital-camera/p1531838#details which sounds simillar to yours? I'm going to find some reviews but it looks pretty good - the ability to control manually if you choose is just what I'm looking for and the price is great. What do you think?
My recommendation, based on the fact that I have DSLR in the camera hospital, is the less than US$200 Canon SX260. This is what I am using now until I get back my camera of choice, a Nikon D5100. I really don' know what "bridge camera" means. This little Point-and-Shoot works wonderfully on normal shots, and has wonderful on-board effects. The image processor, rather than the total megapixel count, is what pointed me to this.
My two cents worth. "Bridge Camera" is a term to me that doesn't really mean too much to me, and is, perhaps, a marketing gimmick to get you to pay more for what is essentially a point-and-click?.
I use a Fujifinepix S4200... and love it... you can check my album to see if you like the quality of the shots!
It has full manual control,and also has aperture priority, shutter priority, and several more auto type settings! The auto settings are pretty good.
@strachs It looks a lot like mine, except for the fun red colour and the fact that it uses AA batteries. It is something I would love to take a closer look at if I needed a new one right now.
@frankhymus I don't know the qualities of P&S cameras these days they might have improved as much as any camera but back then when I changed my P&S for my Lumix (in 2009) it was a big improvement. I love to play with all the manual functions, different formats (JPEG as well as RAW) and other gadgets I missed in the P&S. I must admit a P&S does make a good camera to start with as well, leaving you all the chances to experiment with the basics of photography like composing and using colour and light. I've learned a lot already from my 2005 Kodak P&S, it just had it's limitations once you want more than basics.
I shot with the Fuji HS20EXR until very recently, and it is a fabulous camera with full manual controls, including manual zoom and focus! I highly recommend the camera.
Write a Reply
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
Tweets ahoy!
Join the Group
Pin With Me
I still love my old Panasonic Lumix DMC-F28, nowadays they have way newer models and as I believe in different prices. They seem to get some real nice reviews and I can only agree that it is a nice camera to start with or as a p&s upgrade. I even doubt if I will get me a real DSLR if this one is worn out. It is easy to use, usable from fully automatic to almost completely manual, easy to bring along and it saves the headaches about which lenses to use. The qualitiy is of course a little less than a good SLR and I sometimes have serious discussions with it when I want to get a close-up but thats about it for the negative things.
Apart from the brand it might be an idea to get a camera which is getting a little outdated by newer models and therefor on sale and less expensive? It gets you a fine camera to start with, it already will have some more reviews and it comes without the 'semi-professional' pricetag.
@pum71 on your advice I have found this http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-panasonic-lumix-dmc-lz20-red-digital-camera/p1531838#details which sounds simillar to yours? I'm going to find some reviews but it looks pretty good - the ability to control manually if you choose is just what I'm looking for and the price is great. What do you think?
My two cents worth. "Bridge Camera" is a term to me that doesn't really mean too much to me, and is, perhaps, a marketing gimmick to get you to pay more for what is essentially a point-and-click?.
It has full manual control,and also has aperture priority, shutter priority, and several more auto type settings! The auto settings are pretty good.
It has 14MP, and x24 Optical Zoom. It is my first camera, and I find it very good for beginners! It is also a very affordable price!
http://www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-FinePix-S4200-Digital-Camera/dp/B006T7QWGO/ref=sr_1_1?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1355810967&sr=1-1&keywords=FinePix+S4200
@frankhymus I don't know the qualities of P&S cameras these days they might have improved as much as any camera but back then when I changed my P&S for my Lumix (in 2009) it was a big improvement. I love to play with all the manual functions, different formats (JPEG as well as RAW) and other gadgets I missed in the P&S. I must admit a P&S does make a good camera to start with as well, leaving you all the chances to experiment with the basics of photography like composing and using colour and light. I've learned a lot already from my 2005 Kodak P&S, it just had it's limitations once you want more than basics.