Fujifilm Finepix F80 EXR

girvtheswerve

Hi guys,

Looking for some advice on the above camera.

Im looking for a camera to get me started in photography. Basically I want something that has more than the average functions so that I can learn some of the basics of photography. I hope to then move on to a new better camera at a later stage.

My budget is €250. Would this camera have enough functions etc that it would be a good starter camera for learning the basics? At the price is there any other obvious alternatives?

The stickies are a great help but id like peoples opinions on this specific camera. Cheers!

CabanSail

Just had a look at the specs and it looks like a nice Point & Shoot camera. If you're looking to learn about photography then it would probably be better to look for a Bridge Camera which will allow you to control the exposure and focus more yourself.

hbr

girvtheswerve wrote: »

My budget is €250. Would this camera have enough functions etc that it would be a good starter camera for learning the basics? At the price is there any other obvious alternatives?

It is a nice camera, but most independent reviews found that
the previous F70 model produces a bit less noise and better
image quality than the F80. I saw a pile of F70s on offer in
Harvey Norman the other day. Sorry, I can't remember the
price. It was one hundred and something.....

http://www.steves-digicams.com/camera-reviews/fujifilm/finepix-f80exr/steves-conclusion-70.html

http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/fujifilm_finepix_f80exr_review/conclusion/

I agree with CabanSail about bridge cameras.
Top quality bridge cameras like the Panasonic FZ35
or the Fuji HS10 are a bit above your stated budget.
Maybe you could pick up a used FZ35 or even the
previous FZ28 model for under €200.

girvtheswerve

Thanks for the replies guys.

To be honest though, I started with a budget of under €200 so I really cant go over €250.

CabanSail

Look out for a used Bridge Camera on Adverts. Often people sell a Bridge Camera when they make the move into a DSLR. Having the control will let you learn a lot more about photography than a P&S will allow.

Freddie59

These two bridge cameras would suit your needs and budget:

http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/5004339/art/fuji/finepix-s2500hd.html

http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/5004338/art/fuji/finepix-s1600.html

Excellent picture quality and features.

Here are some links to pictures taken on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1414684@N23/pool/

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1426836@N24/pool/

girvtheswerve

Freddie59 wrote: »

These two bridge cameras would suit your needs and budget:

http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/5004339/art/fuji/finepix-s2500hd.html

http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/5004338/art/fuji/finepix-s1600.html

Excellent picture quality and features.

Here are some links to pictures taken on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1414684@N23/pool/

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1426836@N24/pool/

Are those camera second hand? Why are they so cheap?

charybdis

I really think that if you want to learn photography you should avoid buying a bridge camera and get a second-hand DSLR instead. I know that DSLRs cost a lot more than bridge cameras but I'd say even the oldest and cheapest DSLR is better than the newest and most expensive bridge camera.

250 Euro is pushing things budget-wise, but you should be able to pick up a second-hand DSLR for that or maybe a little more. Don't worry about the manufacturer or model, there are no truly bad DSLRs.

If you can stretch to it, I'd say buy a camera body by whatever manufacturer and buy a fixed focal length lens somewhere in the 20mm - 35mm range made by the same manufacturer. A camera with manual controls and a fast normal lens is exactly what anyone needs to learn photography.

dinneenp

I had a Panasonic FZ28 for a while and loved it. Great all rounder, macro, zoom etc.
One big advantage over a point and shoot is a viewfinder.
You'll get a 2nd for under 200 easily.

Freddie59

girvtheswerve wrote: »

Are those camera second hand? Why are they so cheap?

They are Bridge cameras

And they're brand new. As the previous poster pointed out, they're not DSLRs, but if you visit the flickr sites, it gives you an idea of what they're capable of.

At €250, you'd probably want to be very careful of buying a 2nd-hand DSLR (even know who you're buying it from).

I myself bought a 2nd-hand Canon Eos 40D 12 months ago, but it was immaculate, with only 3,000 shutter actuations.

HERE'S the result of a DSLR search on eBay.