Ok, I'm looking for a digital camera, not sure I'm 100% ready for a DSLR yet so I guess one of those ones that looks a bit like like one but isn't!

Must take SD cards as I've loads of em lying about, and must take exposures longer than 15 seconds for low light/night situations.

Any advice gratefully recieved, so far I've been recomended to get a Fuji S5600, however this doesn't take SD cards, and the lowest shutter speed is 15 seconds:rolleyes:

So something similar (and similar in price) that does actually meet my criteria!!

I was very impressed with my old Fuji S602 which had manual overrides for quite a few of the settings so I'd happily recommend another Fuji, but I think they all take CF cards :( I've been very chuffed with my Nikon D50 DSLR which does take SD cards and if you're afraid of DSLR's produces excellent results on full auto-mode

I also hear excellent things about the Canon 350D, but I don't think that takes SD cards?

Chris

What worried me most about a proper DSLR was that I didn't think they had 'auto' modes.

To be honest I dont know much about cameras or photography so until I learn properly, a point and shoot mode would be essential!

It doesn't take SD cards, but the best looking one i've noticed so far is the Fuji s6500fd, although admittedly I've only looked at fuji so far!

What worried me most about a proper DSLR was that I didn't think they 'auto' modes.

To be honest I dont know much about cameras or photography so untill I learn properly, a point and shoot mode would be essential!

The great thing about entry level DSLRs is they have all the auto features that the prosumer and compact cameras have. Canon

I think having read up a bit more about cameras, that perhaps a DSLR is not for me, I'd need to buy expensive lenses (I think) to get the same range as say the S6500fd as that's 28-300mm I think.

I doubt I'd ever need any other types of lenses, and I'd be constantly fretting about getting dust on the sensor, especially in some of the places I go to take pictures, a face mask is often required due to the dust! plus there's the bulk of actually carrying the lenses!

I know a well used DSLR will always give better results, and I do want something more capable than a compact holiday type camera, thats why I was thinking about these 'bridge' cameras as they seem to be called (not quite DSLR, not quite compact!).

Anyway, keep the advice coming, I know a few of you know loads about cameras!

I also don't know enough about photography to use a proper DSLR, so I've just bought a Fuji s5600 and I can highly recommend it. Also a 1GB xD card is only around 20 quid including postage off ebay.

I'd say the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7 - I know it takes SDs but not sure on max exposure times. It's the one I'd have gone were it not for the world of D-SLR and the 350D

That s5600 as above is supposed to be superb as well - goto a photo shop/Jessops and have a play....

Steve

I just bought a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7, meets all your requirements and I paid

Sounds like a good deal that, especially for the features included. Where did you buy it?

Steve

Sounds like a good deal that, especially for the features included. Where did you buy it?

Steve

Steve

I got it from Ebuyer on the reccomendation of a friend who is a bit of a photography anorak they are back out of stock now, but they where £25 cheaper than anywhere else.

Anyone using price comparison sites should be warey of purleygadgets.com as they get great reviews and appear at the top of every site when searching for an FZ7, but are selling grey imports and Warranty is their own.

picked up a couple of 2gb high speed SD cards as well.

I thought it was a good step up from a compact as I am starting to enjoy photography

Just checked, Ebuyer price now up to

It doesn't take SD cards, but my Sony DSC-H2 is brilliant, 12x optical zoom, fast auto focus, good in low light and lots of manual settings for when I get a bit more clued up!

This lot are doing the Fuji for

Hmm difficult one this. A DSLR will obviously give you the best results visually. Advantages are a large sensor that provides cleaner, less grainy images and often a better range of highlight to shadow coverage. You also get useable speed, in both focussing and low light terms. Most bridge cameras cant focus particularly quickly and with a few exceptions cannot track moving objects. I have seen the entry level Nikon and Canon offerings at below

Ok, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7 only appears to have a maximum exposure of 8 seconds, so thats that one out!

The S5600 only has 15 seconds so thats out to, although I'm contemplating its big bro the s6500fd even though it doesn't take SD cards.

The Sony DSC-H2 appears to meet my criteria except for the memory cards again, and the Sony Cybershot DSC-R1 is about double what I want to pay!!

So it looks like i'm down to a S6500fd or a DSC-H2 at the moment, keep those suggestions coming!

Digital Camera Reviews and News: Digital Photography Review: Forums, Glossary, FAQ

A useful site.....

I have a sony dsc-h5 and am very pleased with it.

Ok, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7 only appears to have a maximum exposure of 8 seconds, so thats that one out!

The S5600 only has 15 seconds so thats out to, although I'm contemplating its big bro the s6500fd even though it doesn't take SD cards.

The Sony DSC-H2 appears to meet my criteria except for the memory cards again, and the Sony Cybershot DSC-R1 is about double what I want to pay!!

So it looks like i'm down to a S6500fd or a DSC-H2 at the moment, keep those suggestions coming!

The FZ7 has "starry Sky" mode, giving up to 60 sec's of exposure, probably best if you start having a nosey around Jessops etc to get a feel for what you want.

The Sony / Fuji and Pan are all offering great features for amateur photography at a fraction of the cost of a DSLR.

I just noticed that 'starry sky' mode on a review of the FZ8 which I believe is released next month, again up to 60 seconds which is much better, it also takes SD cards so this is looking favourite at the moment I think.

Apparently I need 'bulb' mode if I want really long exposures, cant seem to find anything short of a DSLR with that though.

I just noticed that 'starry sky' mode on a review of the FZ8 which I believe is released next month, again up to 60 seconds which is much better, it also takes SD cards so this is looking favourite at the moment I think.

Apparently I need 'bulb' mode if I want really long exposures, cant seem to find anything short of a DSLR with that though.

If you are thinking of using bulb mode, I

I just noticed that 'starry sky' mode on a review of the FZ8 which I believe is released next month, again up to 60 seconds which is much better, it also takes SD cards so this is looking favourite at the moment I think.

Apparently I need 'bulb' mode if I want really long exposures, cant seem to find anything short of a DSLR with that though.

Hi

Te reason for the bridge cameras not generally having long exposure modes is the size of the sensor. Smaller sensor = smaller pixels = more image noise. The extreme zoom ranges of these cameras is only possible because they use a very small sensor:

Sensor Sizes: Camera System: Glossary: Learn: Digital Photography Review

This limits the electrical output per pixel. You can of course apply heavy noise reduction in the camera to cover up the graininess, but then you lose much detail, particularly texture information.

A larger sensor will give you a better signal to noise ratio. DSLR is obviously more expensive, but I know of no small sensor camera that can cope with low light shoting particularly well.

Also, most of these bridge cameras have relatively slow autofocus that really gives up completely in less well lighted situations where a DSLR will still focus just fine. I think it is a matter of how good a result do you wnat? If you can go with the limitations of the bridge cameras, there are some excellent ones out there. If you really wnat to get into doing those atmospheric nightshots, I think you will need to get a bigger budget.

Having said that, I used a Minolta A1 for a year or more and absolutely loved it. It had a larger sensor than the latest crop of superzooms (a 2/3"). Worked pretty well in low light, but really no comparison to a DSLR when the going got difficult.

Chris

The Fuji F30 has been getting rave reviews and winning awards with it

May I ask why such a long exposure time is needed? all sorts of problems occur with long exposures and it is something of a black art. I've recently spent

Which one did you go for Taz? Was that including the head?

Steve

Which one did you go for Taz? Was that including the head?

Steve

I can recommend Manfrotto 055ProB with 460MG magnesium head. Portable but very sturdy and versatile for macro work in the field. Or the woods. Or indoors.

Chris