Simple camera question, please.

I've had a panasonic compact for a several years. Takes good photos I think. Fuji also make decent compacts. I'd go along to somewhere where you can pick them up and try them out as some have more fiddly buttons than others or other ergonomic issues that might annoy. Slowness can be due to having a slow memory card. Faster one can help a bit.

Lots of them now have smile detection and horizon indicators. It's getting much harder to be a duffer with a camera

It's getting much harder to be a duffer with a camera

Well that is a relief! My problem is seeing so bad close to, that focusing fast enough manually is now a no-no. The Canon was very fast to be ready for the next shot [and had an uncanny abiltiy to focus well automatically], which I liked, and truth to tell a really expensive camera would ne wasted on me!

I also wonder - no approaches please as this is no offer to sell, but what might I expect for very well used - much used but still in perfect cosmetic and functional condition, Canonette?

If it were worth a bit, then I would eBay it. But not for peanuts as it has a family conection. I have a similar vintage Braun flash unit which is almost as tidy and was presumably bought as a match at the time.

ATB from George

quote:

Originally posted by George Johnson:
Panasonic Lumix TZ8 Digital Camera



Given that a few years ago I bought a secondhand Canon Ixus [?], which simply disappeared and so was eventually replaced with Fujifilm AV100, would this make a significant advance on the ones before? It would be fifty pre cent dearer than the Ixus, and nearly three times the price of the Fugi ... Not keen to go over £150 in any case, but the Panasonic may be had for that [more or less] at the moment.

By now I shall never take great photos, and primarily want a camera for any holidays, and a few set piece shots, sometimes in Macro, would this make a reasonable camera. I have given the Fuji away as a Christmas present, as it found a keen admirer, even though I found it slightly frustrating in that it was slow to take the next shot under some conditions. It was capable of startling quality when everything went right, but somehow the older Canon was less scratchy in getting a reasonable shot out of an incompetent/half blind operator!

I guess that I could get it less expensive after Christmas, and so am in no rush. Other suggestions will also be gratefully considered.

ATB from George

PS: I still have the old [early 1960s] Canonette 35mm Rangefinder, but film is a terrible price to develope considering what a high proportion of poor shots I take.

It is a good camera. You should look out for the DMC TZ9 which goes for about the same price on eBay but is better specked.

Panasonics do have a fair bit of noise in images if you use certain ISO's but unless you plan to blow the image up to A3 then you won't notice it much.

The movie mode in the TZ8 if my memory serves me well is Jpeg so it is quite easy to work on in a computer.

My wife uses a DMC TZ9 and I use a Lumix LX2.

Panasonics do have a fair bit of noise in images if you use certain ISO's

By this do you mean that if for example you take a basically dark shot at a fast shutter speed, that the background is likely to have a considerable degree of off colour pixels? A grainy look?

Otherwise I am not sure what this means. I doubt any photo of mine will ever be enlarged beyond five by eight inches in a print! In such conditions, in a quick shot then one accepts it, grateful for the possibility of a spontaneous photo, but if it is a set piece, then presumably one could set a low ISO [slower film equivalent] and make the shutter stay open for longer, so allowing for "as they say in Hifi circles" blacker blacks?

I am a sort of seat of the pants picture taker [I would never use the word photographer!] who has worked since the age of seven with an Agfa "Synchrobox" from about 1950 [my mother's first camera, and given away to my nephew] till I was twenty-six, and some good photos came, and then onto a Mamyia fully automatic Rangefinder, before the much older Canonette. The Mamyia was a right pain actually, but given patience could get good pictures. The Agfa was plain pot luck, and the Canonette a breath of fresh air, but I can no longer see the focus in the viewfinder ...

I just want something that quickly makes the most of the situation and can get really good set piece photos from time to time.

ATB from George

Have a look at these reviews.

http://www.photographyblog.com...eview/image_quality/

http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/comp...tz8-review-49305809/

George,

Simple question, simple answer. Panasonic digital cameras are deservedly popular, decent value and in my experience excellent quality items.

You are very unlikely to be disappointed.

Bruce

Thank you all. You suggestions are very helpful!

Nothing puts me off, and Bruce's comments especially are re-assuring!

Thanks from George

Hi Freddie

I am now on my third Panny, all are excellent.

I have also recommended various Pannys to friends and I don’t know one that is not delighted. The TZ and LX ranges are both real peaches IME.

Buy with confidence.

Julian

Just bought a TZ10 which comes with 12X Optical zoom and HD video capapbility which is remarkable quality. Delighted with it.

Geoff

The only problem I have with the current crop of digital compacts is the lack of an optical viewfinder. I know that these are not particularly accurate, but at least they were preferable in bright sunlight to the LCD display on the back of the camera.

As regards the Panny - I've got a DMC-TZ4 which lives permanently in my handbag (manbag?). Very reliable little 8MP camera, and takes good fuss-free photos. Ah, if only it had an optical viewfinder as well.

quote:

..... It's getting much harder to be a duffer with a camera

You've not met my wife

Karl

Panny + Superb leica lenses,

Chris N

George, in the past I've found the cameras dot co dot uk website quite helpful.

So many helpful and affirmative comments. Thanks from George

If you can find a used Panasonic LX3 you will have the option of shooting RAW files which can make a tremendous difference especially when light conditions are not perfect. It will also allow you to fit a viewfinder accessory in the hotshoe located in the centre of the top plate.

Peter