New Camera

[granny grump]

I'm looking to buy a reasonably priced small digital camera to take every day shots with good resolution. I currently have a Kodak 3X optical zoom which has been fine. I noticed yesterday at a boxing day bash at my daughters that it is just not quick enough to catch the great grandchildren before they turn away. I have some beautiful shots of the back of their heads. The picture I think i have taken is not the one the camera catches as there is a delay in my pressing the button and the picture actually being taken hence the back head shots.

One of my grandsons gets married on 30 December so I might just be able to get one in the sales

Can you recommend a better camera please?

[granny grump]

What about this one?

Panazonic Lumix SZ9 Digital Camera Black 10x Optical Zoom 16MP

Tesco are selling it for £109.50 and then I get another 10% off

[gsr600]

how about this in Argos sale - still a canon!

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/1085323.htm

[SirOracle]

Perhaps the problem is that you are taking too long to actually take the picture,and if this is the case then another camera will not work any better.

[gsr600]

if you want WiFi as well
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5599413.htm

[Fanriffic]

I would recommend that Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ9 camera if you can get that discount from Tesco. It's a great camera for that price.
I've had a Panasonic Lumix in the past and found them easy to use with great results.
Don't forget to budget for a larger SD Memory Card if you plan to use the HD video recording feature. 16GB recommended.
Familiarise yourself with the camera before you go to the wedding so you are not fumbling around with the settings and buttons.

[granny grump]

Thank you gsr600 and SirOracle

No I'm pressing the button but there seem to be a time gap between me pressing it and the flash going off and the picture actually being taken



What do you think of this one?
Panazonic Lumix SZ9 Digital Camera Black 10x Optical Zoom 16MP

Tesco are selling it for £109.50 and then I get another 10% off

[SlackAlice]

Nice choice of camera. I'm using a Panasonic Lumix myself and quite impressed with the make.

When you do buy the camera make sure the SD memory card is a 'Class 10' one.

[Fanriffic]

Before taking your pictures - first frame your subject in the LCD screen and then press the shutter button half way to engage the auto focus and then fully press the shutter button when you are ready to capture the photo - keeping the camera as steady as you can even with the Image Stabiliser turned on.
If you use Auto Mode then the Flash will only fire when the lighting is poor.

The Panasonic Lumix SZ9 also has High-speed burst shooting, up to 10 frames per second at full resolution - so never miss that moment - but it does use up lots of space on your memory card - hence the 16GB recommendation.

[granny grump]

Thank you for that Alice - What is the difference in the memory cards?

[granny grump]

Thank you Fanriffic that is very useful

[Fanriffic]

The 'Class 10' banding just refers to the Speed at which the camera transfers the photo image to the card. The higher the Class - the better the performance from the camera.

[jno]

I've had Lumixes and they're very good.

It's always hard to snap kids at exactly the right moment, they don't keep still. Fanriffic's right about putting it on burst mode (not with flash). You'll get dozens of photos piling up that way, so delete any obviously bad ones whenever you get the chance.

10x zoom means you can stand back a bit, zoom in and not get under people's noses while you're shooting them, which can be helpful.

[SlackAlice]

^^^
They've already said it ☺☺

bit more about classes,
http://nikonites.com/blogs/browncoat/45-definitive-guide-sd-memory-cards.html#axzz2og0Mx2qQ

I've got a class 10 card in my camera and when 'burst' mode shooting it will take about 5 - 6 shots per second.

[granny grump]

Brilliant thank you that is very useful - I have just ordered it with the upgraded card and found a further £31.50 in discount vouchers so in total it has cost £92.70 Very pleased indeed Thank you all for your help. I can pick it up after 4pm tomorrow

[Fanriffic]

Brilliant - enjoy your new camera granny grump - you've got yourself a bargain.
Remember - read the User Guide and practice makes perfect.
My tip above ^^^^^ about the shutter button will also help you take better pictures.

[Ann]

//Nice choice of camera. I'm using a Panasonic Lumix myself and quite impressed with the make. When you do buy the camera make sure the SD memory card is a 'Class 10' one.//

I totally agree with SlackAlice, mine is the same make camera and I always use a Class 10 card. I use the burst mode to get loads of continuous pictures of the children then delete all the rubbish ones - the joys of digital cameras after using films for years!!

[SlackAlice]

Well done, happy shooting.

As Fanriffic says, practice does help. When I started with mine, couldn't believe how many I deleted as rubbish. If I was using old fashioned roll film, would have cost me a fortune.

[granny grump]

Thank you all again for your help

[shoota]

This Nikon system is designed for exactly this problem - it records even before you press the shutter and after so you can choose the best option.

http://www.nikon1.co.uk/en_GB_N1/

[shoota]

This is the feature I was after on the Nikon 1:
///•Smart Photo Selector shoots up to 20 high-resolution images before and after you release the shutter, then saves your 'best' five for you to choose from.///