advice on camera....

beatle

I am looking to upgrade from my compact digital camera (canon, powershot A60) to a camera where I can play around more with the focus... (I am a bginner tho so would not use too many other functions...)

The weight or bulkines is not bothering me, but what is important is that it's not too dear (can't spend much more than €400), that I can take near-sharp focus photos and preferably a good battery life.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Beatle

Slidinginfinity

Here ya go, it will do what you want and more.

beatle

Thanks!! That Canon PowerShot SX20 IS looks like a really good option!

Apparantly it has a good video cam in it too, which I don't really need tho. Im wondering if there is a similar camera but without the vid. function (to save some cash...)?

It does also say in one review that it is a bit slow, which is one of the things I find annoying with my present powershot... Although if that is the only drawback I could live with that I suppose.

Any other tips??

Ghost Train

This new sony get a good review

hbr

beatle wrote: »

Any other tips??

Also consider the Panasonic FZ38

http://www.trustedreviews.com/digital-cameras/review/2009/07/28/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FZ38/p1

http://www.steves-digicams.com/camera-reviews/panasonic/lumix-dmc-fz35/panasonic-lumix-dmc-fz35-review.html

Under €300 if you shop around. This and the equivalent Canon models are widely regarded as the best of the current bridge cameras.

Just to add to the confusion, Olympus also make some nice superzoom cameras. Fujifilm have a very impressive looking new model, but until they hit the shops, nobody knows if they can live up to the pre-release hype:
http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/s/finepix_hs10/

Your list of requirements is easily met by a good bridge camera, but maybe you should consider buying an entry level DSLR or perhaps a good used DSLR?

Sorry for providing more questions than answers

beatle

Thanks for all the advice!!

After looking at various websites the last couple of days I have found Fujifilm FinePix S1600 for under 200 euro! Anyone have any experience of this one? Seem to be very new, is it risky to buy one that hasnt been out on the market longer than a couple of months?

Also, don't understand why it is so much cheaper than other (to me) similar bridge cameras??

Thanks guys!
B

hbr

beatle wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice!!

After looking at various websites the last couple of days I have found Fujifilm FinePix S1600 for under 200 euro! Anyone have any experience of this one? Seem to be very new, is it risky to buy one that hasnt been out on the market longer than a couple of months?

Also, don't understand why it is so much cheaper than other (to me) similar bridge cameras??

Thanks guys!
B

Fujifilm have been offering good bang-for-your-buck for years. I'm not familiar with this model, but my friend has the S1500 and it is a good camera for the price.

Sample images from the S1600 here:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Finepix%20S1600&w=all

No great risk involved. Fujifilm make good reliable cameras. My 1MP DX-10 is still in perfect working order after 11 years.

beatle

Thanks again for all the advice. I really like the camera, but have some problems with it now, please see the new thread I posted:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055885163

Thanks!!!