Recommend a Bridge.....

[*Mhairi*]

We currently have a DSLR and are looking for a Bridge camera as well as my husband and I are holidaying separately this year and need another camera. It would also be good to have a second camera which is less bulky and for which we dont have to carry extra lenses.

Ideally, I'd like one with a view finder (that you look through - not just a screen) and also not one that relies on AA batteries.

Budget would be ideally 100-150, but could stretch a bit further if need be.

Any suggestions?

(I like the look of the Olympus SP810-UZ, but don't think it has the viewfinder)

Thanks

[canismajor]

Hi there, looking at your requirements and budget, I can only find two cameras that have viewfinders, but unfortunately they also have AA batteries. They are the Fujifilm S1600 and S1800.
Have you looked at the latest issue of What Digital Camera magazine? there you will be able to look at all the various cameras and see the test results also. It should help you to make an informed decision. All the best, Mike.

[Chris Cool]

We currently have a DSLR and are looking for a Bridge camera as well as my husband and I are holidaying separately this year and need another camera. It would also be good to have a second camera which is less bulky and for which we dont have to carry extra lenses.

Ideally, I'd like one with a view finder (that you look through - not just a screen) and also not one that relies on AA batteries.

Budget would be ideally 100-150, but could stretch a bit further if need be.

Any suggestions?

(I like the look of the Olympus SP810-UZ, but don't think it has the viewfinder)

Thanks

OK, well the best value one I could find with a viewfinder at your price is the http://shop.fujifilm.co.uk/refurbish...furbished.html for £129.98. These are refurbished by Fuji and are as good as new.

Full spec. here http://www.dpreview.com/products/fuj...fujifilm_s4000 It pays to keep the ISO (old film speed) at around 100/200 for best quality pics.. With 400 being the max for reasonable size prints.

Has 4 AAs I'm afraid but I prefer that as you can buy them all over ther world. Tip. Get 8 and label 4 with "A" and 4 with "B". That way they don't get mixed up... I used to have 12 A,B,C...

http://www.digicambuyer.co.uk/camera...x_s4000_review

Look at some pics on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=FinePix+S4000+

Don't forget, post processing is an important part of photography and should be used to sharpen and enhance pictures taken with any camera. If you don't have an imaging editor, then use the one in my signature below. There are 32 video tutorials to get you started. The most useful is the http://ictpublish.com/pixlr/Videoes/...06_Levels.html and for the advanced user. The http://ictpublish.com/pixlr/Videoes/...07_Curves.html is a must (it's my favourite all-in-one adjuster). My Resize-Crop-Sharpen tutorial below, will get your pics ready for the internet

Cheers!



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[wave]

hi what is the camera going to be used for

[*Mhairi*]

Thanks for the replies so far.

The camera will be used for holiday photos, portrait photos of my daughter, some wildlife shots

I went into Jessops today but they don't have very many to look at. They did have a Fujifilm that ran on AA batteries which was nice - and also a Panasonic Lumix FZ48 which was great - a bit higher than I had hoped to pay - but seemed really good.

[Chris Cool]

Thanks for the replies so far.

The camera will be used for holiday photos, portrait photos of my daughter, some wildlife shots

I went into Jessops today but they don't have very many to look at. They did have a Fujifilm that ran on AA batteries which was nice - and also a Panasonic Lumix FZ48 which was great - a bit higher than I had hoped to pay - but seemed really good.

Yep, that's why I suggested Fujifilm

I also like Panasonics myself, but it was out of your budget, so did not suggest it lol


Cheers!


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[*Mhairi*]

Hi, thanks for your advice Chris

I am back however, as I have just found out that I can use my Tesco Clubcard vouchers in Jessops for double their value! SO, I can now stretch my budget a bit further after all.

So would the Fuji s4000 still be my best bet - or would you go for a Panasonic FZ45 or FZ48 instead (or anything else in Jessops - up to about £300)

Thanks x

[Chris Cool]

Hi, thanks for your advice Chris

I am back however, as I have just found out that I can use my Tesco Clubcard vouchers in Jessops for double their value! SO, I can now stretch my budget a bit further after all.

So would the Fuji s4000 still be my best bet - or would you go for a Panasonic FZ45 or FZ48 instead (or anything else in Jessops - up to about £300)

Thanks x

Hi, I would have to go with the Panasonic FZ48.

Reasons:
Reduced Mb to 12, which should mean a tad better image.
The screen now matches the Fuji at 460,000 dots.
Manual focus for those low light shots or same colour backgrounds that confuse Auto.
Continuous shooting is now up to nearly 4 frames per second - more if you reduce the image size I would think - ideal for shooting animals.
Battery pack not so lumpy. I got a charger and extra battery from China for my Panasonic TZ7 (no problems) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Battery-an...item3cbdc84af2
AVCHD video with stereo (video can be edited with Windows Live Movie maker (I use it all the time)
And last but not least. Orientation sensor which is so handy to have on playback...

Don't forget what I said about post processing - it's the other half of taking pics lol.

Also. In poor light. I use the 2 second timer a lot so as not to move the camera during slower shutter speeds. I also have a pocket tripod that I use to hold the camera up against lamp posts, pillars, walls, on seats and pavement shots - don't leave home without one!

Cheers!


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