Bridge camera/second hand SLR for around £100 vs keeping my Lumix FS30?

[Ulti]

Hey Hexus Photographers,

I'm going to China in about 2 weeks from now and have planned quite a few places to go and I was thinking of getting a bridge camera or second hand SLR off ebay for around the £100 mark. I know that's really pushing it but I'm not really a photography person.

I've currently got a Lumix FS30 that I use so if the camera that's going to be replacing it won't be much better then I guess I won't bother.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Save a bit more cash. For around £150 you can get some excellent cameras which have a decent wide end and for the trip you are making a decent wide end sis important IMHO.

Edit!!

Here are some suggestions:

http://forums.hexus.net/2090893-post2.html

[Ulti]

Not sure what the zoom lens means for image quality but the Lumix FS30 I have currently has a "28-224mm optical zoom lens".

A bit annoyed that I paid £122 for the FS30 half a year ago and I see them on ebay for about £70 now

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Not sure what the zoom lens means for image quality but the Lumix FS30 I have currently has a "28-224mm optical zoom lens".

A bit annoyed that I paid £122 for the FS30 half a year ago and I see them on ebay for about £70 now

A 24MM end is much wider than a 28MM end from my own experience.

However,if the FS30 does the job for you I would keep it and buy an extra battery and memory card. Make sure that that you get an adaptor for your charger too.

[Ulti]

The thing is I've not had anything to compare it too, plus I'm no good at using cameras, I just either leave it on iAuto when I'm out and about or Macro for close detailed things and hope for the best in both cases haha.

So am I correct to assume that generally the wider the lens, the better the image quality? I.e. get something with a 24/25mm lens? Will the image quality be much better?

I have noticed that no matter what camera I'm using, the image quality is good "enough" if the lighting is good though...

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The thing is I've not had anything to compare it too, plus I'm no good at using cameras, I just either leave it on iAuto when I'm out and about or Macro for close detailed things and hope for the best in both cases haha.

So am I correct to assume that generally the wider the lens, the better the image quality? I.e. get something with a 24/25mm lens? Will the image quality be much better?

I have noticed that no matter what camera I'm using, the image quality is good "enough" if the lighting is good though...

It is not about better. The 24MM or 25MM end is simply wider,ie, better for panoramic and group shots. The Pansonic and Samsung do have decent lenses too. If you read that post I linked to one of my mates has a TZ6 which he took pictures of the Great Wall of China with and it was done all on automatic settings. The shots look quite nice printed at A4 and had pleasing colours and a good level of sharpness.

However,as I mentioned before if the camera does the job then keep it.

[Ulti]

Ah yeah I asked my photographer-friend and he said the same thing and said it's more down to the specifc lens on how good the image quality is. He's told me that my FS30 doesn't have the best lens either and that in good daylight all cameras can take half decent photos.

I guess I will be taking pictures of quite a lot of scenery though but I guess I won't be printing it so I'm not sure.

[Ulti]

Went for a TZ10 for £160 in the end. Did my research of cameras and found there is no such thing as a perfect camera, there will always be some drawbacks but the TZ10 seems to fit what I wanted. I also decided that a camera is not something that I'll replace often and for good ones, their value doesn't depreciate much so I may as well stick with the TZ10