I'm looking to upgrade my camera - what should I be looking for...what do others recommend?
I've got a point and shoot that has done me proud. It's tiny enough to take everywhere, it's not conspicuous and the quality is pretty good for what it is. But sometime's it's just not enough. I want to be able to get a better quality, zoom right in, and generally have a bit more flexibility. I think that spending money on a DSLR would be wasted, but I am ready to step up. Any recommendations? I'm currently looking at a Canon Powershot SX30is. I've read the reviews from the experts but I'm interested in travelers thoughts. I will still travel with the little point and shoot but I'm looking to have something else, a little more specialised.
Would love to have your views!
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We went through two point and shoot cameras on our around the world trip. Shortyly after our return the 3rd one died. We do take a lot of photos.
We bought the Nikon D90 and have been very, very happy. I think it is bigger than what you are looking for but go look at one. We have an 18-200 lens and it provides versitility
We are planning to upgrade soon.
[Edited: 2011 Sep 13 19:55 - D MJ Binkley:42569 ]
Reply to this Thanks for that Dave & Merry Jo. I have just bought a Panasonic Lumix FZ DMC 47, although I plan to take and use my Sony point and shoot as well. It's not an SLR but it's a bit fancier than my old camera, so hopefully should be able to deliver what I want. I've got a couple of months (or 98 days to be exact!!) until my next trip to practice with it.
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I'm sure you will be happy with your new camera and I'm glad you will be on the road again soon.
See you soon!
Reply to this We have just gone through the camera upgrade this week. Most of the shopping was done by checking the more serious reviews that look at colour matching, low light etc.
I have been using a Canon Powershot SX10 with 20x optical zoom plus digital zoom. There are kukaburra photos on my sight of birds quite high in the trees, taken on full combined zoom and hand held.
The trick for a good travel camera for most of us is an easy point and shoot camers, versatility for high and low light plus the zoom range etc. SLRs are fantastic but bulky and by the time you get a variety of lenses for all situations, you have a cumbersome package to carry.
I looked at a number of top end point and shoot cameras and settled on the newly released Cannon SX40 HS.
It has fantastic image stabalisation. The colour reproduction is amongst the best. Like the SX30 IS mentioned above it has a 35x zoom plus digital zoom. The big change from Canon is the ASA rating and ability to photograph at night and low light.
The SX40 takes full HD movies at 24fps. Additionally, if you use a smaller image frame rates go up 240fps. Try photographing a bee or a humming bird.
I have had it only a couple of days, so looking forward to giving it a workout. First stop will be a nieces wedding next week in Brisbane, and then we will return to our motorhome in Pert WA and get adventurous.
I must say that there is a real thrill when you upload photos to a laptop and you get a sharp quality picture that you are proud to put on the blog. With digital, dont worry about the other 10 not so good, they are part of skill experience that will gradually improve your overall photography.
We have been in WA during wild fower season. Many of these flowers are tiny - maybe 5mm accross and feathery edges. Auto focus proved unreliable. Teh Canon SX40 focuses manually down to 50mm from object and gives a crisp photo. Maybe we will have to tackle the wild flowers again in 2013.
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