new cam... but what to choose?

[Dabean[DK]]

Hey!

My gf allowed me to buy a new digital camera. [smilie=bowdown.gif] [smilie=lol.gif]
I've been looking at a few different brands/models and would like peoples oppinion on the ones i've picked out.

Minolta DiMAGE Z1 (440us$)

Fujifilm FinePix S3000 (415us$)

Fujifilm FinePix S5000 (490us$)

HP PhotoSmart 850 (510us$)

Casio QV 4000 ( 490us$)

Olympus CAMEDIA C 740 Ultra Zoom (420us$)

I think the prices in dk are higher than in usa... but what camera would u recommend? and does anybody have any of the listed cams? if so, please post some pics for me to see.
any comments and suggestions much appreciated!

[Dabean[DK]]

OMFG!!! just checked out prices on dpreview.com ... I pay way to much... [smilie=fear2.gif] [smilie=fear2.gif] [smilie=mf_tongue.gif] Don't even wanna hear the prices in asia...
Anyways comments still very much appreciated!

[loupgarou]

well. ask around in dpreview.com

if I were to buy a consumer P&S
these will be part of my selection choices.

a) flash hotshoe
b) wide angle to telephoto equivalent to 28-135.(can go further. but that's the minimum)
c) ideally a macro mode that lets you get full size magnification at maybe 10cm distance...*but I doubt P&S cameras have these)
d) at least 4 megapixels
e) support CF cards..cos these are cheaper than types of medium
f) RAW mode

while I haven't looked into the feature sets of each
I should think you can explore into:
panasonic FZ10
nikon coolpix 8700, 5700,
canon g5,
Dimage A2, A1
Olympus C-8080 , C 770, C5060, C750, C5050 *olympus is confusing also..*


of course there are others like the optio etc... but that's getting confusing and their ad campaigns are big enough so I haven't noticed them... [smilie=biggrin.gif]

[Dabean[DK]]

I really like the Olympus c 750uz (both price & specs.)

Specifications here! (http://cf.olympus-europa.com/consumer/digimg/specs.cfm?id=C%2D750%20ULTRA%20ZOOM)

Is this a good choice?

[benny]

well. ask around in dpreview.com

if I were to buy a consumer P&S
these will be part of my selection choices.

a) flash hotshoe
b) wide angle to telephoto equivalent to 28-135.(can go further. but that's the minimum)
c) ideally a macro mode that lets you get full size magnification at maybe 10cm distance...*but I doubt P&S cameras have these)
d) at least 4 megapixels
e) support CF cards..cos these are cheaper than types of medium
f) RAW mode


If aquatic photography is a priority, I would agree with what loupgarou said totally and in that same order of importance.

The folks as dpreview give too camera advice, but I don't think many actually shoot aquatic subjects.

Try to get a good camera body that you'll be happy with for a while and upgrade in terms of accessories like flash etc. Make sure you are happy with the brand so that when you do upgrade the camera in the future, the accessories will still be compatible with your new camera.

Cheers,

[loupgarou]

its out in HK already..
US: $999
EU: €1199

Powershot Pro 1
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/canonpro1/


300D is possibly cheaper....hah. *but not when you toss in a 28 - 200 mm F2.4 - F3.5 USM L
I think the only thing it lacks is on camera supersonic wave filter *oly e1* and *on camera Image stabilisation like the Dimage A1/A2*

[Dabean[DK]]

That's an awesome camera!!! But here in dk the cheapest i can find is 1.420us$... and thats way to expensive :( i have 550us$, on the budget for a cam, and as u can see the prices in DK is higher than anywhere else :(
I'll read into the different cams and compare them to each other... by now i'm hooked on the 750uz(525us$ as the cheapest here in Denmark)
Thank u vey much for ur replies!

[loupgarou]

Panasonic FZ10 sample pix. I saw this guys pix and I think its a rather nice all round.
http://members.cruzio.com/~water/floozie/flooziepics.htm

[Dabean[DK]]

that cam sure takes very nice pics!!! but the price in dk... 985us$... way to much :(

[loupgarou]

*actually curious phenomen.. how come so many guys henpecked even b4 marriage... 8)

[Dabean[DK]]

he he... its her money, that's why she's deciding the budget... her loaded dad is giving her a unknown amount of money, so she decided that i should have a new cam, BUT... the cool thing is, that in todays mail i recieved a check from my old job, so now my camera budget is 820us$... now i'm looking at canon powershot G5, and fujifilm finepix s7000... what do u think?

[Gordeez]

Personally, Id go with the G5.
Ive seen some great pictures over there on DPreview board.
Has all the settings you need.

[Dabean[DK]]

G5 it is... i've decided! Haven't heard anything but good about that camera, and seen beautiful pics, so no i'm just gonna wait till thecash is here.. :-/
thanks for all the comments and help!

[benny]

]BUT... the cool thing is, that in todays mail i recieved a check from my old job, so now my camera budget is 820us$...

Congrats!

If I may suggest, see you get can get a (used?) G3 instead and the money saved for an external flash(s). You will not regret this combination and will be able to take pictures as good as the G5 if not even better.

Cheers,

[Dabean[DK]]

benny> thank you! A new G5 in denmark is 50$ cheaper than a new G3... so now moneys saved there... but i've been looking at some used cameras... found some pretty cheap sony 717's and G5's with extra equipment... don't know if i'm gonna buy used or new...
How's the 717 compared to the G5?
pffeeewww.. lots of questions, and change in plans.... just don't wanna make a 800$ mistake [smilie=lol.gif]

[benny]

Not too sure about accessories for the Sony 717, but I do know that for the Canon G Series, you can add external flash with wireless option. In addtion, you can have multiple wireless flash set up or attached a macro flash like this one.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canong5/Images/acc_flash24ex.jpg

All flash accessories will be compatible across the G series and the new Powershot Pro1 as well as all EOS Film and EOS digital cameras. That pretty much keeps the resale value of the accessories fairly acceptable if you should change your mind about keeping them.

As long as the camera is in good condition, I think buying used is a great way to stretch that dollar to the max.

Cheers,

[Dabean[DK]]

thank u very much for your advice, benny!
I'm gonna get myself a G5! can't wait... [smilie=mf_laughbounce.gif]