View Full Version : Point and shoot dslr
I'm after a new camera but want one where I can start to learn to take some nice pictures. When I was looking a while back, the Fuji S5600 was always mentioned. Is it still good or has it been superseded or is there something better out there?
Eventually I want to buy a good camera, but don't see the point until I know I can take good pictures so figured something like this would be a good stop gap.
Any thoughts?
The Fuji bridge cameras are hard to beat as far as I am aware, take a look at the newest model in each price range and see which suits you best for the money...
The Fuji S5600 isn't a dSLR, just so you know. It's a bridge camera as divine' said. To be honest though, if you want it for point and shoot, there's absolutely no point bothering with a dSLR because you'll be disappointed with the images that you get. A bridge camera is a much better idea and a good stop gap if you want to get into photography.
The Fuji S5600 is a fantastic camera, and although I expect it has been superseded by now, you can get one for £104 on Amazon with free delivery, which I think is the absolute bargain of the century!!
SidewinderINC
25-02-2008, 08:38
I think that's why he asked about a Point & Shoot dSLR - a combination of the two but possibly didn't know that they are called bridge cameras.
You can't go wrong with one tbh, I borrowed one from a friend for 2 weeks before getting my compact (the S5600 was perfect, but I already knew I wanted an SLR so went for a compact for situations where I couldn't take an SLR)
Stan_Lite
25-02-2008, 08:54
I had (still have) an S7000 which I was happy with but hasn't been the same since it went through a double glazed window (long story).
I recently bought an S6500 from one of the members here and I'm very happy with it. I haven't had a chance to use it much but I'm happy with the photos I have taken with it in "point and shoot mode".
Hopefully it will give me the kick up the bum I need to learn some more and get out and use it properly.
I think that's why he asked about a Point & Shoot dSLR - a combination of the two but possibly didn't know that they are called bridge cameras.
You can't go wrong with one tbh, I borrowed one from a friend for 2 weeks before getting my compact (the S5600 was perfect, but I already knew I wanted an SLR so went for a compact for situations where I couldn't take an SLR)
This is what I meant, but knowing nothing about cameras I had no idea what they were called :o
Will have a look at the Fuji range if they are still good for what I need.
Flibster
25-02-2008, 14:59
You can get the S9600 *the best of the Fuji bridge bunch imo* for around £200 now - bargain.
Point and shoot dslr = Oxymoron
if you actually want to take decent pictures, avoid P&S
if you actually want to take decent pictures, avoid P&S
:/
Point and shoot dslr = Oxymoron
if you actually want to take decent pictures, avoid P&S
But I refuse to spend about £500 on a camera that I can't operate and will have no idea what do with.
Which is fine, anyone that proclaims they absolutely can't take good photos on a bridge or P&S camera is a total mong, you can produce fantastic work on such cameras, SLRs just provide more quality and control in more extreme situations.
if you actually want to take decent pictures, avoid P&S
I'll have to put up with taking non-decent pictures then :/
But I refuse to spend about £500 on a camera that I can't operate and will have no idea what do with.
just get a decent P&S that offers some ability to control what you do alongside the preset modes.
I'll always recommend a Ricoh to people... I love my Ricoh R7 :D
I'll have to put up with taking non-decent pictures then :/
;D lol. take my comment with a pinch of salt.
you can take decent (http://www.flickr.com/photos/markwalker/1413840614/in/set-72157602932649337/) photos (http://www.flickr.com/photos/markwalker/1379291069/in/set-72157602932649337/) with very (http://www.steves-digicams.com/2002_reviews/cx4230.html) standard (http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/products/mobilephones/overview/k800i) cameras.
SidewinderINC
25-02-2008, 18:45
Point and shoot dslr = Oxymoron
if you actually want to take decent pictures, avoid P&S
I'm sure you said good things about my photos over at the SPS, they were on a P&S :p
Totally agree. Decent bridge cameras can do very good shots. It's when you need more advanced stuff (e.g. high frame rate) or more extreme conditions (e.g. 400+ ISO) that a DSLR will win every time.
Very happy with my Canon S3 IS, and the S5 IS looks even better, but for price/performance the Fuji range is hard to beat.
I'm sure you said good things about my photos over at the SPS, they were on a P&S :p
good but by no means great :D;D
Well, I've found the S9600 for £200 with free delivery so I'm very tempted with that. How hard is it for someone who has only had cheap cameras to start taking better ones with it? I know the 9600 has a manual zoom which I'm not too fussed with, but is it an easy (ish) camera to use?
basically point and shoots are always easy - all you'll need to do is get used to the camera and how it works. Shouldn't take long to do though if you go mad and shoot all sorts under each mode :D
basically point and shoots are always easy - all you'll need to do is get used to the camera and how it works. Shouldn't take long to do though if you go mad and shoot all sorts under each mode :D
That's all I was going to do, I thought I might read the manual first off for once :D
And it's ordered, should be with me this week.
Flibster
26-02-2008, 15:22
Well, I've found the S9600 for £200 with free delivery so I'm very tempted with that. How hard is it for someone who has only had cheap cameras to start taking better ones with it? I know the 9600 has a manual zoom which I'm not too fussed with, but is it an easy (ish) camera to use?
Pretty easy yup. You have full auto mode, shutter and apature priority and full manual amongst others.
Manual zoom is a big plus though. No more relying on that wimpy little motor to handle the zoom - you twiddle it yourself. ;)
I still use my S9500 - goes with me pretty much everywhere. Can be a very good camera too.
Got this on A2 framed on my playroom err... office wall.
Frank Whittle Memorial (http://www.flibster.com/Images/VTTS-Members-Day-26-11-2006/Whittle1-small.jpg)
Have also sold more than a few of some of my other shots.
Linky (http://www.flibster.com/Images/VTTS-Members-Day-26-11-2006/Whittle2-small.jpg)
Linky2 (http://www.flibster.com/Images/XH558-Roll-Out-31-08-2006/DSCF1813-smaller.JPG)
Linky3 (http://www.flibster.com/Images/XH558-Roll-Out-31-08-2006/DSCF1835-smaller.jpg)
Linky4 (http://www.flibster.com/Images/XH558-Roll-Out-31-08-2006/DSCF1888-smaller.JPG)
Couple I had framed for my Dad's birthday
The shot itself is around 20"x8"iirc... (http://www.flibster.com/Images/XH558-Roll-Out-31-08-2006/DSCF2987.jpg)
Nearly a full a3 print (http://www.flibster.com/Images/XH558-Roll-Out-31-08-2006/DSCF2991.jpg)
Most of the above shots were taken in Apature priority mode I think. It's the one I spend most time in anyway.
That's all I was going to do, I thought I might read the manual first off for once :D
And it's ordered, should be with me this week.
They come with a manual? *goes rooting around in the boxes....*
Essentials you will need:
Large memory card - I use 4gb cards primarilly. Each holds 210 shots in RAW.
Decent rechargable batteries. As they're AA there's a weath of them around - 7dayshop.com specials for me - 2700mAh - several sets.
58mm UV filter
58mm circular polarising filter
Simon/~Flibster
Cheers Flibster, I take it you use cf cards? I know it can take both cf and xd, but was going to pick up a couple of cf ones once I knew the max size I could use. I've been told to get decent rechargeable batteries so will get a few and keep some spare ready.
Will I honestly need the filters yet or could I hold off buying them for a while?
Flibster
26-02-2008, 17:09
Always used CF. Can use them in several other things so it makes sence for me. Apparetly they can take 16gb cards. Largest I've used is 8gb, but I generally use 4gb
Integral 100X i-Pro or Sandisk Xtreme cards are usually well recommended.
I'd certainly get the UV filter. Jsut protects the front of the lens nicely. Worked wonders for me at Omaha beach - grotty weather and the UV filter got scratched from flying sand. Bought a cheap one in Bayeux to replace it - but it saved the lens.
Circular polariser can wait - depends on the type of photography you want to do mainly.
Simon/~Flibster
yeah i have to agree - my choice of media for my cameras is CF and SD
Grab yourself a SanDisk ExtremeIII 4gb card from play.com - they're about £22 and carry a 10year warrenty.
Got mine on sunday from Focus for £25 which is a bargain as they're about £50 on the highstreet (jessops etc)
You wont find many DSLR users with a bad thing to say about the ExtremeIII range!
Well I've now got everything on order except for a uv filter and case. Not sure what size filter I need or what case to get. Neither are really urgent yet.
I had ordered the cf card from 7dayshop, but it turned out they are out of stock. Just cancelled it and ordered it through play and it's worked out cheaper :D
With photoshop these days you'll realisticlly only need a UV filter for protecting the lens and a polarizer and may be a IR one if you want to do IR shots.
I would get mine from the bay from HK, just long as you get it from the retailers from there it should be fine. I was in one in person last week and picked out a 67mm Hoya UV for my Tamron for about £11, its £28 in Jessops.
Flibster
26-02-2008, 21:46
The S9600 takes a 58mm filter. ;)
The S9600 takes a 58mm filter. ;)
Might have to have a look into picking one up then. Found a reasonably cheap site that does camera bits and it's on quidco :D http://www.cameras2u.com/
With photoshop these days
Quick Tip:
don't use photoshop for touching up images - use Lightroom!
Good lord, Lightroom is $300 http://www.wossi.co.uk/smileys/faint.gif
well photoshops hardly cheap if you're looking at how much these things cost
*cough* yes it is *cough*
Interesting the comments on DSLRs being no good for point and shoot. I would say my 350D works really well in full auto mode for point and shoot and is a lot quicker than any compact camera I've used. Plus it's got a really low noise level on high iso settings so you can use it in dark conditions with no flash and get acceptable results. I haven't felt the need to buy a second camera for p+s anyway.
Is it because the Canon small-body SLRs are more of a consumer SLR than a pro SLR?
is a lot quicker than any compact camera I've used.
:shocked:
My Ricoh R7 is a lot faster and more practical for p&s compared with my 300d.
but yeah - canon's 'consumer range' is rather quick tbh in auto mode... auto mode is lame though - provides 0 on the challenge scale.
Stan_Lite
27-02-2008, 15:38
auto mode is lame though - provides 0 on the challenge scale.
I'm sure you think so but sometimes auto mode is handy for us mere mortals. If I'm at a party and someone falls on their arse, I want a picture of this. In Auto mode, I have auto flash, auto exposure, auto focus etc. - I simply switch on, point the camera at the hapless fool on the floor and press the button. Might not be the best photo in the world but at least I managed to get it.
If I do everything manually, manual focus, set exposure, set flash etc. etc., by the time I've done all that the bugger is on his feet and laughing at himself - opportunity missed.
My point is that point and shoot may not give the best results and my not be very challenging but it has it's place - especially for us amateurs :)
Well, I've just been informed that I have a large parcel at home :D So it's either the camera, or the batteries and charger. *prays it's the camera*
It was the camera and I've been playing around with. There's so many more setting than I'm used to it scary. A couple of the pictures I took of random stuff in the house look so much better :D I tried it on fully manual and the pictures then turned out not so good. Need to have a good play with it now to figure out what's what.
Quick Tip:
don't use photoshop for touching up images - use Lightroom!
Only for batch processing, Photoshop still runs rings around it for proper in depth processing beyond dust spot removal and colour corrections.
I'm still trying to figure out my bridge one, after using a film camera for around 20 years it's definitely different. Still, did manage to mess about and take some okay night shots the other day, well, I'll let others decide on the quality :P
Pic 1 (http://www.eliteguard.co.uk/P1000046.jpg)
Pic 2 (http://www.eliteguard.co.uk/P1000047.jpg)
:shocked:
My Ricoh R7 is a lot faster and more practical for p&s compared with my 300d.
but yeah - canon's 'consumer range' is rather quick tbh in auto mode... auto mode is lame though - provides 0 on the challenge scale.
But point and shoot IS auto mode surely, point the camera and press the button!!!
My SLR takes the picture practically as soon as the button is down even if it has to focus, AND I can reel off at 3fps for about 50 frames if I need to. Not found a compact that can do that yet!
leowyatt
28-02-2008, 14:32
But point and shoot IS auto mode surely, point the camera and press the button!!!
My SLR takes the picture practically as soon as the button is down even if it has to focus, AND I can reel off at 3fps for about 50 frames if I need to. Not found a compact that can do that yet!
But your dslr camera cost more than the P&S. Not sure why i'm saying that but wanted to point that out ;D Ah I'd say a compact and DSLR would be pretty evenly matched on speed. Practicality is a different matter, I decent medium range lens and then I'd say the DLSR gets it's nose out in front.
I'd say a compact and DSLR would be pretty evenly matched on speed.
Unless compacts have got a lot lot lot faster in the last six months, that's just nowhere remotely near the reality.
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