Doesn't anybody use compacts anymore?

[Ian]

When I used to answer reader questions on Digital Camera Shopper magazine, I was inundated with pleas for help from compact camera users. It's not the same with DPNow people

Or are you guys not willing to admit you have a problem compact

We are here to help - so don't be shy!

Ian

[Autumn]

Re: Doesn't anybody use compacts anymore?

All our digital cameras are compacts Ian.

Our first one 2 Mp Olympus C990Z, bought at random in the Caribbean followed by

4 Mp Olympus 4040 Z still in use by my husband. I read, I think on the IS thread about lens sizes. This one has a 1.8 lens and my husband always gets better pics than I do in low light.

I then bought the 4 Mp Canon G3 Powershot which I still use. I love this camera because of the twist and turn lcd screen. I have a Wide and Teleconverter for this camera, but rarely use them.

About 15 months ago I bought the Fuji Finepix S9500 because of the 300 mm integrated lens. This is excellent, but the movable screen is not as good as the Canon G3.

It is quite heavy enough for me.

Then around Christmas we bought the little Panosonic Lumix DMC FX01 for "Joint use". It's so dinky. I love it and have it in my handbag all the time. I have had very good results with it.

I know that there is a lot more I could do with all my cameras, and I don't feel I would be bothered to change lenses if I had a DSLR.

If I had a problem, I would most certainly ask here.

[Caz]

Re: Doesn't anybody use compacts anymore?

Ok Ian - a challenge for you!

I bought my Canon A710is last year, shortly before I joined the site - it was one of the sites that I visited for reviews of various cameras that I was interested in.

Now, when I bought my camera I was told that I could fit a teleconverter - can I find one? can I heck! I was also told that they would be bringing out more accessories. I've searched high and low on the 'all new' Canon website, but can't find one.

Mind you, not terribly interested in spending a lot more money at the moment.... I have other priorities like 2 new bathrooms to pay for

However, my partner is really into bird-watching. Pol suggested I enrol in the Bird Forum - I have, but haven't had a lot of chance to play with it. If we do invest in a scope, will I be able to attach my compact to it?

Caz

[coupekid]

Re: Doesn't anybody use compacts anymore?

Ok Ian - a challenge for you!

I bought my Canon A710is last year, shortly before I joined the site - it was one of the sites that I visited for reviews of various cameras that I was interested in.

Now, when I bought my camera I was told that I could fit a teleconverter - can I find one? can I heck! I was also told that they would be bringing out more accessories. I've searched high and low on the 'all new' Canon website, but can't find one.

Mind you, not terribly interested in spending a lot more money at the moment.... I have other priorities like 2 new bathrooms to pay for

However, my partner is really into bird-watching. Pol suggested I enrol in the Bird Forum - I have, but haven't had a lot of chance to play with it. If we do invest in a scope, will I be able to attach my compact to it?

Caz

One of these Caz?

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00007LI9D/ref=pd_cp_p_3/105-2174940-4827606?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_r=032GQE63J9NHP4S2XXQ8&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_ p=250314001&pf_rd_i=B000050M6M"]Amazon.com: Canon TCDC58N Tele Converter Lens for Canon A710, A700, A630, A640, A610, A620, G3, G5 & G6 Digital Cameras: Camera & Photo[/ame]

[DTD]

Re: Doesn't anybody use compacts anymore?

I find digital compacts so awkward to use. No optical viewfinder, menus for everything, press the button and half an hour later it'll take a picture…

Film compacts are a different matter – my Ricoh GR1s is pretty nice to use, still a bit slow to wind on.

Size wise the Olympus E400 dSLR is lighter than my C5060 compact was and not too much bigger!

Just bought another film compact – the Olympus Ecru (the white art deco looking limited edition thingy from the early 1990s).

[Autumn]

Re: Doesn't anybody use compacts anymore?

I find digital compacts so awkward to use. No optical viewfinder

We've still got some neat film cameras, but I like the freedom of the digital.

BTW out of the 5 digital cameras I mentioned, only the Panasonic does not have a viewfinder.

[Pol]

Re: Doesn't anybody use compacts anymore?

However, my partner is really into bird-watching. Pol suggested I enrol in the Bird Forum - I have, but haven't had a lot of chance to play with it. If we do invest in a scope, will I be able to attach my compact to it?

Caz

You'll need a suitable adapter that will allow you to attach the camera to the scope.

Some cameras are better than others for digiscoping and some scope/camera combinations produce better results than others - though I've no idea what the popular current top choices are.

I'd suggest your best bet would be to ask for specific advice on the digiscoping forum before you buy the scope - then you can tell them which camera you have and ask about suitable adapters and/or combinations. Andy and some of the others in there are the ones with specific knowledge on digiscoping and suitable kit.



Pol

[Caz]

Re: Doesn't anybody use compacts anymore?

You'll need a suitable adapter that will allow you to attach the camera to the scope.

Some cameras are better than others for digiscoping and some scope/camera combinations produce better results than others - though I've no idea what the popular current top choices are.

I'd suggest your best bet would be to ask for specific advice on the digiscoping forum before you buy the scope - then you can tell them which camera you have and ask about suitable adapters and/or combinations. Andy and some of the others in there are the ones with specific knowledge on digiscoping and suitable kit.



Pol

That's it.... several hours later and I'm boggled again !
Didn't post on bird forum tonight, but I will - still too busy looking at amazon . But the hayfever eyes are closing so I'll have another go sometime.

[Tinka]

Re: Doesn't anybody use compacts anymore?

Ok Ian - a challenge for you!

I bought my Canon A710is last year, shortly before I joined the site - it was one of the sites that I visited for reviews of various cameras that I was interested in.

Now, when I bought my camera I was told that I could fit a teleconverter - can I find one? can I heck! I was also told that they would be bringing out more accessories. I've searched high and low on the 'all new' Canon website, but can't find one.

Mind you, not terribly interested in spending a lot more money at the moment.... I have other priorities like 2 new bathrooms to pay for

However, my partner is really into bird-watching. Pol suggested I enrol in the Bird Forum - I have, but haven't had a lot of chance to play with it. If we do invest in a scope, will I be able to attach my compact to it?

Caz

Hi Caz
Ask on the bird forum and also on the "cannon" forum there are bound to be people with the knowhow and experience to point you in the right direction.
Good luck

[StuartR]

Re: Doesn't anybody use compacts anymore?

When I used to answer reader questions on Digital Camera Shopper magazine, I was inundated with pleas for help from compact camera users. It's not the same with DPNow people

Or are you guys not willing to admit you have a problem compact

We are here to help - so don't be shy!

Ian

I don't use one but I'm thinking of buying one - there are occasions when I get fed up with lugging the back-pack round with the SLR kit. I also hope to get back into cycling (off-road) soon and the SLR will definitely be staying at home then!

I rather like the Canon PowerShot A620 I bought my daughter for last Christmas (not sure if it's been replaced by a newer model yet?). The image quality is pretty good and the controls, IIRC, are pretty similar to my 350D.

Of course I could just dig out my faithful ol' Olympus XA and put some film in it!

[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympus_XA[/ame]

I used to carry this camera everywhere but It's been upstairs gathering dust for the last 5 years or so

[jds9000]

Re: Doesn't anybody use compacts anymore?

I regularly use my HPr717 ..... even won the Salon 17 with it .....

I keep it in the car sometimes.... just in case !!

Jay

[Aquamarina]

Re: Doesn't anybody use compacts anymore?

I use a Fujifilm Finepix F700 and it fits into my handbag/rucksack perfectly when travelling. It also spends quite a lot of time in the recharging cradle on a shelf by my computer when I'm not using it so it's always fully charged and ready to go.

I would like a bridge camera but I'm conscious that some of them are quite bulky and heavy, especially when fully loaded with batteries, and I don't want to be weighed down (I'm only 5ft tall...)

Aquamarina