Camera Suggestions for a Gift Forums

teemyob

Hello there,

I am looking for a reasonable digital camera for one of our daughters for Christmas. I don't want to spend a fortune just something decent. However, as an amatuer photographer for some years, our kids always see me with Nikon's & Pentax. I have always recomended them to the children when they are buying cameras and don't want anything make-do.

So any recomendations for a decent Nikon for a 25 year old?

Trev.

teckie

Hi there... Just go for the new Canon Powershot G9 Fantastic camera....and 12.1 megapixels.

Cheers

Tez

Pusser

I know nothing but I got myself a Pentax Lumix and even to my untrained eyes, the pictures are startlingly brilliant. It is also small and Artona told me once it is a good camera so I rest my case. Cool

maddie

Hi I also have a LUMIX but mine is made by Panasonic Laughing

It has a fantastic array of features and won the year before best camera award,far more than I will ever use or understand.Also takes great pics
terry

Pusser

maddie

Hi Pusser I thought you may have a chinese copy Laughing

terry

pandalf

Greetings fellow Euramobil owner!

I reckon it all depends on what he will do with it. I have two cameras, and they both find regular use depending on the occasion. For serious stuff, I now have a Canon S5IS, which replaced an older Olympus 750. Both are "ultra-zooms". The Canon has a 12 times optical zoom, and the ability to go out to 48x including digital zoom (which does of course degrade image qulaity). Its great having that degree of zoom ability, but the normal problem with large zoom range is camera shake. The Canon (and many other good cameras these days) has an image stabiliser, and this helps hugely to retain a decent picture, even at very long range. I looked at a whole bunch of others from mainly Panasonic, Olympus and Fuji. What swung it for the Canon was its ability to do really good video as well - something that is usually a compromise for digital still cameras. But ultra-zooms are also quite bulky, and it is always great to have a digital camera instantly available. For my oevery day camera, I have an Olympus 720SW. It ic pocket sized and rates at 7 megapixel with a 3x optical zoom. Pictures are fine, but probably no better than a host of other similar cameras. But what is near unique is that this camera can be immersed in the water to a depth of about ten feet. It is also very resistant to shocks. That makes it great to take to places like beaches, and I have taken some fantastic marine life shots when snorkelling on holiday. For me, these two cameras give me everything I need, whatever the situation. But to try to use one camera to address every need just wouldn't work, so you need to think about what he will want to do with the camera and which need is greatest. Best regards, Pandalf.

Boff

Hi Trev,

should it be an SLR or a compact camera?

In case of a compact camera I would recommend NOT to take one with more than 6 megapixels. As the relatively small lens diameter of a compact camera limits the resolution anyway, there is not much to gain with finer pixel resolution. And higher pixel numbers bring other problems like decreased signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity. I am extremely satisfied with my Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ2.

For an SLR camera larger pixel numbers are no problem, as they have larger lenses and usually also larger CCD chips. In fact, I am right now looking for one as I finally have decided to retire my old analog Nikon SLR. As I have a collection of extra lenses for it, the new one will probably also be a Nikon.

Best Regards,
Gerhard

takeaflight

Sorry to jump in on this thread, but may be of interest to others.

Can anyone recommend a compact with a fast shutter response, e.g one that takes the picture that I wont and not a picture what seems about half an hour after I have pressed the button.

Thanks
Roy

DABurleigh

Roy - is it you need a single-stage fast shutter, or is a fast two-stage one OK? Most problems I've come across as you describe is the user has a 2-stage shutter, but just doesn't appreciate it.

While I'm writing, at this time of year of often an older generation buying cameras as surprise gifts for a younger generation, please do consider their size. What you might be happy slinging over your shoulder or in a large handbag, someone in their twenties might not be.

Unfortunately the slim, small but quality ones rarely have a viewfinder, which I still believe essential. I can't see how people manage to take decent photos in strong sunlight in a hot country with just an LCD screen.

Dave