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Right, after lots of research, I think I have finally narrowed down my choices of digital camera and I would like to hear your comments about them please.
I am considering:
Olympus Camedia C350
Pros: Is closest to my price range. Olympus is a good make?
Cons: A bit plasticy and not very sturdy feeling
Fuji Finepix A303 - 150
Pros: Fuji get a good write up for colour etc. Dad has an older one and it is very good. Can also be used as a webcam.
Cons: Suspect it is an older model as is difficult to find
Canon A70 - 209
Pros: Gets a very good write up. The sort of camera I could 'grow into'
Cons: Expensive, would have to wait for the price to come down. It is bloomin ugly.
What do you think of these cameras? I know all digicams munch batteries like nobodies business but do any of these compare favourably to others?
Thank you
Gem
I researched cameras for weeks and I went for the A70 - I've not been disappointed. 6 months agos I paid 260 so 209 is a good price, maybe they've come down because the A80 is out now.
When I went to buy it the man in the shop tried to flog me a Samsung V3, he said it was much better but I'd taken that long to make my choice I stuck with it and I'm glad I did.
The only niggle I have is that the battery and memory card covers are a bit flimsy but you just need to be gentle and I'd recommend you get a card reader - the camera generally has a solid feel to it and mine's been dropped twice on concrete by my children ...althought it's probably not recommended, it doesn't seem to have suffered.
It's very easy to use, you can just use the settings already there if you don't want to be altering the controls, although you can if you wish, and I find it very comfortable to hold.
I got a couple of sets of rechargable batteries and they last ages, I keep a spare set of duracell in my bag if one lot is charging but I've never had to use them, even when I've used the movie mode (which is also good)
Click on my name for a quick look at my portfolio, all the pictures in there were taken with the A70, hope this helps.
hi gemma, i have the A303, but im not going to try and convince you it's the best, i havent used any of the other cameras in question, but im gonna say i havent been overly impressed with it, and it takes alot of photoshop work to get photos looking decent. but if you are on a budget and dont mind playing around with images its fine, but i would recomend paying a bit more, i will be saving up and looking at getting a new one soon.
Oh right. Well at least now I know, thanks for telling me. Unfortunately budget is a big (huge!) factor so it would be a case of 6 of 1 and half a dozen of the other if I had to buy decent software as well.
I think I am swaying more towards the A70 at the mo, although I will have to wait for the price to come down or someone to do a special offer.
The thing is, I am only a beginner and I don't want to pay extra for loads of features I won't use. I need something that does most of it for me.
It is so complicated - I'm beginning to wish I'd just bought the first one I saw and then I wouldn't be any the wiser.
Oh I'm going around in circles - every new review I find contradicts the last one.
I went to Jessops today to have a look at all 3 together and ask their advice - fat lot of good that did me. The assistant knew less about them than I did thanks to you lot.
I think I have concluded that the A70 is too far out of my price range and too heavy to carry around for impromptu snaps.
So that leaves the Fuji (either the A303 or perhaps the A310) and the Olympus.
What do you guys think of Olympus as a whole? I always thought they were very good but I've seen a few complaints about quality.
If some readers of these threads are to be believed, the only reason to go to Jessops is to give them your advice!
(I don't necessarily agree with this, it depends who serves you at the counter).
Same as anywhere.
If you are at the beginning of photography you aren't going to be printing off big enlargements. So why not try one of the 2Mp cameras like in the lower end of the fuji finepix range you are looking at.
You can't afford what you would really like so you must buy what you can afford.
Spend as much time at Jessops, or wherever, as you want trying and handling the different types and makes. The feel of the camera in the hands is important. If it feels awkward you are less likely to take good pics.
Then think it all out. Make a list of the things you liked or don't like about each model you are thinking of buying.
Good Luck
jas
I think that is my prob though - the more I know, the more difficult it gets!
To start with all I wanted was a 3mpix with optical zoom that takes decent pics but now it is so much more complicated than that. And you don't want to even get me going on pros and cons - I am an expert! For every pro I find a con so I'm not getting very far.
The A70 is supposed to be the best of the 3 and is nice quality but ugly and heavy, even if I could afford it more easily.
Fuji get a good write up for colour and I like my Dad's but the zoom thing is in a stupid place so I poke myself in the eye every time I try to use it.
The Olympus is the smallest and cheapest but I'm not convinced by the quality of the slidey bit on the front and suspect the bigger LCD will use the batteries quicker.
See what I mean? I am hopeless. Ignorance is bliss (at least where digicams are concerned!)
gem, yes for amateur snapping its fine, and its good because its small and can be carried everywhere (as mine is). i cant really put my finger on what it is, i guess i just want more, so i think i should of paid just that little bit more but its upto you whether you think you will want more, i am often wanting it to do this and that but cant, i get annoyed cos its seems quite slow too, i wanna be in control and snap snap snapping but instead have to wait for it ticking away getting ready, but as i say i havent used any other digi cams so cant compare, and technically dont really know what im talking about lol but for an amateur i suppose its great. and now pretty damn cheap, i got mine for about 300.
(or you can just ignore all that rubbish if you like?) :o)
Right, more questions. Well only 1 because I can't remember the 2nd one now I am trying to write it!
This is an easy one - am I right in thinking that as xD cards are proprietary technology jointly developed by Fuji and Olympus, the cards are interchangeable? It is OK to use an Olympus card in a Fuji and vice-versa?
Thanks, as always
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