Bridge camera recommendations or should I go with a compact?

[Trash Man]

I'm looking to get a new camera in the next couple of weeks, as much as I love the idea of getting a DLSR, I think I'm worried about not being able to get good results from them due to my lack of knowledge and experience.

I do enjoy photography but I'm not a very arty type person, so it's more point and shoot for me. I've been using a Fujifilm Finepix 2800z for a long time now and it's been a great camera but I think it's time to upgrade.

I'm going on a WW2 battlefield trip for 2 weeks at the end of June and the camera will be getting a lot of use during this time. I've also had the idea of cataloguing my Metallica collection for a while now, which is over 400 items. Apart from this the camera will get the normal use you would expect, holidays, days out, etc.

I've got a budget of around £400-£450, which includes a bag and memory cards, can go a little higher if it's really needed but I'm hoping to get all I need for that. So far I have looked the Fuji S100FS and the Lumix G1 and the LX3, although I'm not sure how the short zoom on the LX3 would bother me. I think I'm leaning towards the S100FS, but that's because my current camera is a Fuji and I have been, up until now, very happy with it.

Does anyone have any recommendations for other cameras to think about or do you think I should try a DSLR? Are they easy to use and get good results from? Also, what size jpeg files will I be getting from one of these newer cameras? I'm used to around 350kb from my 2800z, I'm guessing it's gonna be a lot more than that

Thanks in advance.

[Andy3536]

If you want to save a little money, take a look at the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28, 18X zoom and will give you Raw image.
Very good camera.

As for weather you should go for a DSLR or not, i guess only you can answer that. But the main point for me (other than not being clever enough) is i don't want to be carrying all those lenses, and going the extra mile would be a waiste as it wouldn't be used to it's potential.
Not really knowing isn't a reason not to buy one though, as if you want one and you'll use it you can always learn.

[kalniel]

Have a good play with your current camera and see what focal lengths you are using most of the time - with your budget you will not get a DSLR and a zoom range to cover everything a point and shoot will cover, so if you find yourself using the range over about 100mm (in film equivalent) then you need to go with a good superzoom to stay in budget.

If however you can live without such a long zoom, then there are a wide range of DSLRs that give great results straight out of camera with the kit lenses, and within budget too. Modern DSLRs aimed at people coming from P+S are very easy to use - an example is the Sony A300 which is £299 including the (admittedly fairly poor) 18-70 kit lens.

10MP jpegs are around 3mb.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

You can get an A350 with the 18-70mm and 55-200mm lens for £499 from Jessops. Alternatively the OP should check out the Panasonic TZ6 and TZ7 which have a 25-300mm lens.

Here is a review of the TZ6 and TZ7:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/q209...zoom/page4.asp

[Trash Man]

Thanks for the replies guys

Have a good play with your current camera and see what focal lengths you are using most of the time - with your budget you will not get a DSLR and a zoom range to cover everything a point and shoot will cover, so if you find yourself using the range over about 100mm (in film equivalent) then you need to go with a good superzoom to stay in budget.

Sorry to be stupid but how do I tell what range zoom I am using? The camera I have has a 6X optical zoom on it and 2.5 digital, although I never use the digital zoom. I do use the zoom a fair amount and quite often fully when trying to shoot birds in the garden.

So I'm thinking that a superzoom would be more for me, I think a DSLR would be wasted on me as well as I am purely a point and shooter.

I off work on Friday and think I'll take a trip to Jessops and have a look at a few cameras, the Fuji S100FS is looking good to me at the moment.

[kalniel]

Sorry to be stupid but how do I tell what range zoom I am using? The camera I have has a 6X optical zoom on it and 2.5 digital, although I never use the digital zoom. I do use the zoom a fair amount and quite often fully when trying to shoot birds in the garden.

The quick and dirty way is to see how far along your zoom scale you are (presuming you get a little graphic showing that, I don't know about your camera). Alternatively just browse some of the pictures you've taken recently and use an exif viewer to get the exact focal range - you'll need to multiply it by the crop factor (roughly 6-7) to get the film equivalent.

[Saracen]

It all depends what you're going to want to use it for, what you're going to want to do. And perhaps how much you'll use it.

With regard to being a point-and-shooter, well, most DSLRs (and all I can think of at entry level) have an auto mode, and a few "scene" modes too, usually. So you can point-and-shoot with a DSLR as well.

DSLRs are obviously a lot more versatile, and can be equipped to do more specialised things. For a start, you can do a level of macro work, either with a dedicated macro lens or an old manual lens and a reversing ring that you won't get from a bridge or compact. But that might not interest you. At the other end, you can get telephoto (or zoom) lenses of a power and quality that bridges won't match ..... but they'll cost you. You can also get "fast" lenses useful for low light, so perhaps if you want to shoot bands in low light (and where flash isn't permitted) you can get lenses with a large enough maximum aperture to be able to do it. Or you can perspective control "tilt and shift" lenses for architectural work, but you can do much of that, if you have the time and skill, in Photoshop these days.

Perhaps the single biggest advantage of DSLRs is that they allow you to expand and modify your system, and options. With a bridge, you pretty much get what you get, and if you want to change it much, you buy a new camera. With a DSLR, you can add all sorts of extra functions, and of course, when you do decide to upgrade camera, you keep all the extra bits (lenses, flash and so forth) and just change the camera.

On the other hand, a bridge has the advantage of being all-in-one, and either it does it or it doesn't. Personally, I rather feel that bridge cameras are a good choice for someone wanting something a bit more versatile than a compact (though there are some VERY good compacts about these days too, like the Canon G10 or many of the Leica-lensed Lumix's) but doesn't want those additional options and isn't likely to push their photography too far.

If you're likely to want to develop (excuse the pun ) as a photographer, you'll probably find a bridge restricting, sooner or later. So if you're looking for a way in to a decent system, then a DSLR and a superzoom lens might be a better bet .... and carefully buying second hand might be a way to do it on your budget, and then upgrading the camera in a year or two. But if you're adamant that the bridge offers all you need and that you're not going to find it limiting or frustrating, because you don't want to expand beyond its limits, then it's a good option.

There are three broad categories of people taking pictures :

1) Snapshooters. A bridge might be a bit bulky and complicated. Get a simple P&S.

2) Mildly keen, but not really interested in photography as an art or a science. Bridge probably a good option.

3) Keen or very keen, and wanting to learn and improve their photography. Probably best looking at a DSLR.

But they are broad categories, and I won't say they're either entirely comprehensive, or that there isn't some crossover. In other words, I feel comfortable trying to help you clarify your thinking, but not in advising which way to go, because it depends on what you're trying to achieve, and only you know that.

[0iD]

Best brideg type camera I'v eever owned is a Fuji Finepix 6900 purchased on these here forums. It just does everything well in a point & click no brainer way. Can be had for a mere £180 odd quid online & if you like a tinker it's got a lot of functionality. Downsides, now RAW mode & picture quality is junt not quite as crisp as say the Sony alpha 200 which you can pick up, with 18-70 lens kit for about £250. Upsides, great allrounder, cheap, good super zoom & macro.