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Thread: FAO: Camera boffins!

  1. #1
    Ant
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    Question FAO: Camera boffins!

    I have noticed there are a few people here who seem quite clued up when it come to this subject, so I thought I'd ask for your opinions, if thats okay!

    I currently have a Casio Exilim EX-S2. Its a great toy, and I've taken some really good shots with it, but I would like to get a 'proper' camera now, before I go on holiday in Feb!

    I have been looking at a couple models, namely, a Casio Exilim EX-Z55 and Pentax Optio S5i. I did look at a Cannon Ixus 40, but the reviews haven't been as good as the other two.

    Ideally they would have to use SD Cards, as I have a few lying around, and wouldn't want them to go to waste.

    I also notice the Casio and Pentax both use the same Pentax lense. According to what I have read the Casio has a much longer battery life than the Pentax (400 shots vs 160 shots), but i do know Pentax has a really good name for themselves!

    Casio Z55 vs Pentax S5i

    Anyone here have any comments on those two cameras? As they both have the same Pentax lense, should I expect the picture quality to be similar?

    I'm a bit stuck... but leaning towards the Casio at the moment...

    Thanks

    Ant


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    Photographer; for hire!! shiato storm's Avatar
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    heya, myself and Tom plus a few others are sort of photo-boffins...I'v just been called away having read your post but I'll try and answer a bit more in depth a bit later when I have more time...either way people round here will be able to help out n some way I'm sure
    as a short comment though I'd have to say I think pentax's are very good quality cameras - I had a couple myself, they use fairly decent bits to hold them together - and given that casio doesn't make cameras as their primary money making thing I'd be more inclined towards a pentax...
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    Tom
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    I have heard very good things about the Casio Exilim series as well as the pentax S* series. My advice would be to go down to jessops with an SD card or 2 (if thats what they take) and use both. See which one feels better in your hands, and compare the pictures when you get home.

    There are a few other cameras you should perhaps look at as well, some fellas over on another photography forum highly rate the Sony DSC-W1 (check here http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.p...y+%23hexus.net )

    The Canon A95 also get a lot of praise, as does the Canon S1 IS (has the extremely handy feature of Image Stabilisation and 10x optical)

    The Fuji S5500 is used quite a lot by a few people and looks pretty decent for the same price, or perhaps the S7000 if you could stretch to it.

    Read some reviews, narrow it down to a few, then get down to Jessops mate

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    Now with added sobriety Rave's Avatar
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    It's quite likely that the cameras are identical internally. The Casio is a bit bigger, but it has a larger battery, hence the longer runtime I guess. At the end of the day it probably comes down to cost and size.

    Rich :¬)

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    Ant
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    Thanks for the replies!

    I have just been to currys down the road to have a look at a few cameras in the flesh. They didn't have the Pentax unfortunately, but they did have the Casio, an A75 and an Ixus 500...

    Having them in my hand side by side, the Ixus felt alot more solid and better built than the Casio, so that has swayed me a bit! The LCD on the Canons seemd ALOT clearer too compared!

    The A95 has also been recommended to me by a couple other people, so I thought I'd look into that one too... I had a play with the A75 to get a feel for the size. It felt very comfortable! But I'm still unsure whether to get something tiny like the Ixus or larger like the A95. I guess thats all personal preference though... Are there many differences between the Ixus 500 and A95, other than size?

    Now that I've had a play with a couple of Canons, I think I can't/won't make SD cards a preference when choosing.

    The Canons (all models) always seem to get very good reviews, but they all reviewers seem to notice slight purple fringing. Is that really that noticable or do they only notice as they pros?

    Thanks for the other suggestions Tom. Except the Fuji, I think they are a bit out of my price range and are a bit too fancy for what I need. I know someone who has the Fuji, very nice camera but too big...

    I'm off on holiday soon to South Africa, so a smaller camera is what I would like, so I can easily take it everywhere with me!

    Oh, too many choices!! Though Canon's are looking favourable!

    Thanks

    Ant

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    Tom
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    the s5500 is not out of your price range mate, a quick kelkoo shows it to be on average cheaper than the Exilim.

    Yea I suppose they are a bit bigger, but this generally just makes them handle better. You say they seem to fancy also, all cams (including my dSLR!) have fully automatic modes that do everything for you, and the extra features are there for when you want to learn them

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    Ant
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tom
    the s5500 is not out of your price range mate, a quick kelkoo shows it to be on average cheaper than the Exilim.

    Yea I suppose they are a bit bigger, but this generally just makes them handle better. You say they seem to fancy also, all cams (including my dSLR!) have fully automatic modes that do everything for you, and the extra features are there for when you want to learn them
    Sorry, that was the exception! The S5500 is a nice camera and have used a friend's, but size is a bit of an issue for me...

    I think something like the Canon A series is as big as I'd like to go. I'm not really into my photography, just want a good sturdy camera that takes really good shot! Maybe if I got into it a lot more, I would consider something like the Fuji...

    Thanks

    Ant

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    Photographer; for hire!! shiato storm's Avatar
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    the added advantage of one of the zoom cameras is that it fulfils most people's requirements - going from wide to mega zoom means you can take pretty much anything, plus i believe there's a macro setting too. there's about 10 cameras of such ability and the fuji s5500 came out on top with the konica minolta z2 (could be up to z3 by now!) a close second. but if size is an issue then sure, thats worth factoring in to the equation but don't get a lemon just because it fits in your pocket, you'd fid no better way to waste your cash!
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    Ant
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    Nope, definately don't want a lemon!

    I guess if I do want to have a camera with me for spur of the moment moments, I'll just stick my exilim ex-s2 in my pocket. Otherwise I think something like one of the Canon Powershots, will be a good all rounder as my main camera...

    Phew, don't think I've ever read so much info and reviews on cameras before! And in one day!

    Cheers, ant

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    Photographer; for hire!! shiato storm's Avatar
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    canon powershot's i know are pretty good, also take a look at the sony one's - my bro's just got back from italy with some awesome pics from his sony 5megpix - ds1 i think or ds100 ? its pretty good for the money and fits into your pocket no probs.
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    Ant
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    Well after looking at all of your recommendations and what other people have recommended, reading many reviews, and trying several out in the shop, I finally ordered a Canon A95, which arrived this morning!

    Been playing with it this morning! The build quality is excellent and the quality of the pictures it takes are just as good!

    But there are so many settings I have/want to learn. If I just keep it on auto the whole time, I'm not using it to its fullest!



    Going to go be snap happy now and takes pics of everything!

    Cheers for your replies and advice

    Ant

    Edit: That pic was taken with my 2MP Casio... Bit blurry...
    Last edited by Ant; 30-12-2004 at 03:19 PM.

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    we look forward to seeing your pics up here
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