Hey guys.

I know a lot from you use DSLRs and know something about photography, so please help me out here

My current P&S (Pentax M20 - 7mpix, 3x optical zoom) ha finally come to EOL, so I need to get something better. I was looking at entry-level DSLR, but they're just way out of my budget, so unfortunately I'll have to get something cheaper.

I was looking at superzooms like nikon L110 and L120 as well as Canon SX130, but I've heard this type of cameras usually don't give much in terms of picture quality. So, what seems to be the best direction so far, would be high class compact cameras. The problem is, there are just so many.
I was researching cameras like Sony H55 etc. Does any of you have eny experience with this type of cameras? H55 gives 10x optical zoom which is nice, and the pic quality sounds like ok for a compact, but are there others I should consider? I would expect some more manual controls than in a budget camera, but I know I won't get as big control as with a DSLR. As for anybody in here, good macro pictures are something really important for me.

I have a dslr but have admit to not being very clued up on current P&S's.

I'd have thought for what you want to use it for, one that has a closer focusing distance would be more useful than a superzoom, also one with aperture settings that work in macro mode will really help you decided what and how much of the shot is in focus. Also a tripod because if your focusing close-up and zoomed in camera shake can be a big problem, so i'd use a tripod and have the shutter release on a timer so it takes the shot a couple seconds after you press the shutter button to eliminate camera shake, easy way out of buying remote/wireless shutter release.

Also along with the aperture setting I suppose it would be nice to be able to manual focus aswell, auto focus can be frustrating to focus exactly where you want to with macro.

Agian how relevant this is to P&S im not sure.

Thanks Jay, good tips
So the sony's are out of the question, no manual controls there.

Although it's a superzoom, the Canon SX130 would provide full manual controls, so it could be a good choice, I could start learning to play with the setting for a couple of years until I really get a dslr.

What kindof aperture setting are usually good for macro? The Canon gives you choice for F3.4, F4.0, F4.5, F5.0, F5.6, F6.3, F7.1, F8.0.

And focal length is5.0 (W) - 60.0 (T) mm (35mm film equivalent: 28 (W) - 336 (T) mm).. not that it says much to me. The last time I've read about photography things was maybe 5 years ago.

No worries bro, like I say I'm just going on what I know from my dslr and not clued up on current P&S models. My dad has quite a good camera, it's like inbetween the P&S's and DSLR's, think they're called prosumer cameras. Still compact to carry around but more advanced than a P&S I think and still resonably priced i think, worth a look. His has quite a bit of manual control.

Those are the kind of aperture settings your after, mine stops down to f2.8 but obviously this is a dedicated macro lens where you want a shallow depth of view. Any aperture settings will give you some freedom of how much is in focus. Obviously stopping up high will get everything in focus and stopping down willl reduce the amount in focus. Make sure the aperture settings work in the macro mode.

As for focal length I'm not 100% sure how it relates to P&S, I can get from that that it's 28-336mm focal range, 28(W) being the wide angle end, 336(T) being the telephoto end. That's quite a range and not many DSLR lenses have such a range. My macro lens is 60mm, more popular for general use is the 100mm. It's basically how zoomed in or out it is so I think aperture is more important than focal length on a P&S than a DSLR because all P&S will zoom but true macro lenses are fixed focal length.

Do any P&S have manual focusing options?

With DSLR's theres a focal plane mark on the camera towards the back of the camera where the focusing distance from the subject is measured, my lens focuses at a minimum of 20cm! The camera and lens is between this! it focus's up to just a few centimetres from the end of the lens. Minimum focusing distance is another good thing to look out for.

Yeah, forgot to add about the manual focus, the canon provides that too and minimum focusing distance is 1 cm. Apparently, the SX130 alo fits in the prosumer class, but most probably in the lower end of it. The higher end prosumers I looked at, costed as much as a D1000 with a 18-55 lens.

Found a couple samples taken with this camera, doesn't look too bad. http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1010&message=36286472&q=SX130&qf=m

Just had a little read up on it and does seem like a great little camera, I am a bit biased though as I love Canon I'll say what I always say though, just get the best you can afford at the time, it's all you can do.

Right so it's got manual focusing, aperture settings, a minimum focusing distance of 1 cm (was quite supprised at this, may have trouble lighting the subject this close anyway so plenty close enough) and 2 sec self timer. Sounds very promising for what you want to use it for. Also noticed it has the same modes as my DSLR.

• Auto
• Program AE
• Shutter priority AE
• Aperture priority AE
• Manual

I use Aperture priority alot for my macro shots because it allows you to set the aperture you want to get the amount you want in focus then the camera will auto adjust the shutter speed to get the perfect exposure.

Then Shutter priority is the opposite, say you wanted to freeze an action shot, or blur a moving shot you'll want to adjust the shutter speed your self, then the camera will adjust the aperture to give perfect exposure.

Obviously in full manual you will have to adjust both aperture and shutter speed yourself for the perfect exposure.

Sounds like a good camera to get to grips with the setting a DSLR has.

browse the second hand market and get the best reflex cam that your budget can buy

Thanks for all the help.
I bought the SX130 last night. A it's a working day here today, and I'm home office, you can expect some experimental pictures during the day

Ah sweet so you got it Dolby mate, look forward to seeing some shots. Everyones getting new cameras at the moment lol I though GS might come give this thread some Nikon lovin

maybe we should start a photographers help/tips and advice section coz im sure gonna be needing some tips and advice lol

liking the new sig btw jamie meant to say earlier

I was a nikon fan until now, and did indeed consider their options, but the canon jut gives so much more for the price. If budget wouldn't had been an issue, I would had probably go for the D90, lol

*~BEX~* wrote:

maybe we should start a photographers help/tips and advice section coz im sure gonna be needing some tips and advice lol

+1

I tried playing with apertures etc for some macros from the Orchids today, but somehow I seem to get too much light in the pics, even that I lowered the flash power to minimum, I should probably look into shutter speed the next time

+2 I doubt they'll be a section so maybe just start a thread.

Did you have it aperture priority mode mate? Because in that it should auto adjust the shutter speed to suit the aperture setting.

Cheers Bex!

Yepp, on aperture priority, f/3.4 and lowet flash setting. Shot with timer using tripod.

If there's good light anyway maybe the flash isn't needed because using a tripod allows you to use slow shutter speeds because there's no camera shake.