How many cameras does a person need? Don't know - haven't found my limit yet. I hate when you have to buy something because what you have breaks or stops working, but that hasn't been the case with my cameras - there's always something with a new twist.
I have a Canon Rebel (digital) EOS which is a great camera with interchangeable lenses - but it's too heavy and too big to carry around in my purse all the time.
So then I bought a Sony Cybershot DSC-W150. That's really easy to carry around with me, but the location of the selection wheel is such that it often changes without my knowing it, and since I don't check every time, I take things with the wrong settings. It's also a rectangular box, and I miss having a handgrip.
So - my friend Petra just came back from Germany to spend the winter here in Florida and was showing me her new camera (for someone who resisted digital cameras for so long, she keeps buying new ones, too) and told me how happy she is with her Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28. I liked it, and now I bought one, too.
The Lumix has a wider angle than the others (28 mm) has a hand grip, and is much lighter than the Canon. Does up to 18x telephoto, and the dials and choices are in much better locations, and so far haven't changed without me. Lots of scene choices if you don't want to customize, including one for Food.
I still had a few questions - sometimes the instruction manuals just don't make things too clear, so I spent some time today with Petra, over coffee and German Christmas stollen, and learned the things I didn't know, as well as some hints I hadn't even thought to ask.
You can buy this in the $200s - just don't buy it from Broadway Photo. If you want to know why, contact me off line.
So, here's my new toy and gee - it's for professional purposes, so I can write it off as well.
I, too, have several cameras - one for every vehicle, some for the office, etc. - I wish I knew how to use some of this great equipment I own......thinking of taking a class on photography (with all this spare time I have).
Sharon,
I'm like you..I have a Lumix too...it has a 10X optical zoom...plenty for what I need but was almost going to buy a much more technical one with a large wide zoom lens. Instead ...I picked up one of those flip videos and they shoot both pictures and vids.
Sharon - that's why we bought the Nikon Coolpix 8400 because it had the 28mm lens but it only has 12x zoom. Wow, that is a phenomenal price for that camera! I'm thinking about a digital SLR but the bulky part is what holds me back also. I'm spoiled!
I have 4 cameras. They are all Kodak and I do like them. I just recently bought a mini camcorder that is easy to use and easy to get on Utuble. It is a Samsung. I researched the flip video camera and felt the Samsung was a bit better with more memory and features. Thanks for the post
I too have more than one camera; My last purchase was the Nikon D40 and a 10-20mm wide angle lense; while this camera is too large and bulky to carry around, it takes great shots of bathrooms and narrow rooms. It is fairly easy to use.
I make purchases of cameras from Ritz Cameras as they have great service, offer a great extended warranty, give free classes with a camera purchase, and they have knowledgable sales people.
I love my Kodak Dual Lense Camera(s) because they are small, and are easy to carry, but mostly because of the ability to take panarama photographs.
Wish you would have posted a photo from your new camera!
I have three. Two are the same, so I have no learning curve, the other is more complex.
Julie - often local camera shops of community colleges have great photography courses. Go for it!
Neal - shooting videos is really new (for me, that is). I opted out of the flip since my current cameras do video. Now all I have to do is use the videos.
Sharon - this is a bit bulkier than I'd like, but is so light it's really easy to carry around.
Jean - Kodak has done some really nice cameras.
Lorena - I'll do that later this evening.
Steve - OK, you raised my curiosity. Why do you have two of the same?
I have this camera too. You can get a wide angle lens on Ebay for about $35. It will get more of those 12x12 rooms in the picture. If you get a wide angle lens you have to be careful about the shadow from the flash. But there is a trick , If you are getting a shadow from any of your cameras when using flash just get a piece of paper and put under the flash in an upward slant, You will still get the light from the flash it just wont cause the shadow, (Its hard to explain why in words). good luck with your new camera!
Alice - thanks for the great tip.
Sharon - I have a wonderful digital that is light weight and easy to use - a Kodak, just like the first one my parents gave me back in the 50's!!!!!!!!!
Hi Sharon:
Enjoyed your comments about your new Panasonic Lumix. I don't have many vices, but buying cameras is one of mine. I have a Canon EOS 40D sitting on my desk that a friend of mine is trying to get me to buy as he has just moved up to the 5D. I've used Nikon's in the past and he's trying to bring me over from the dark side. I'm trying to resist but he's making it difficult by throwing in a lot of extras.
Hello Sharon, Share a few photos. I would like to see the quality of photos that your new camera takes. Have a wonderful holiday season.
I just bought this camera from Amazon--ordered on a Sunday night and received on Tuesday. While I just hate the learning curve when using anything new, I'm looking forward to seeing what sort of results I get with this. Would love for you to pass along anything you've learned already about it that wasn't evident from the manuals or common sense!
Barbara-Jo - my daughter, Tami, prefers a Kodak as well.
Bob - sounds like a good deal to me.
Julie - will try to get to that soon.
Nancy - amazon's always dependable. I was having trouble holding the camera steady enough on the highest zoom setting (without a tripod), and my friend suggested using the "dancing girl" setting.
I've been looking for another camera that has a wide angle to use in smaller rooms. Sounds like I need to check this one out. My camera is a Nikon...don't know what model, but it's big and bulky and I constantly hit all the buttons and screw it up.
Kay - exactly what I like about the Lumix.
I have the FZ-18 which is the older model of this camera and love it to death. Here is one of my posts that show the cameras capabilities. I just bought a wide angle lens that takes it from 28 mm to 22 mm which is more what you need for inside pictures.
http://activerain.com/blogsview/841619/Another-Foggy-Morning
Gene - great telephoto shots. Hope you'll post some with your new 22 mm lens.
Here is are some inside pictures with the wide angle. No distortion of any kind.
http://activerain.com/blogsview/827331/Wide-Angle-On-The-Cheap
Gene - thanks for the link. I viewed the post and looked at the photos. Great use of wider angle.
Will this fit in a pocket? I have been looking for a new camera. So many options, so much confussion. Thank you for your tips on this camera
Marsha - No, not really. It's lighter than my older cameras, but not as compact as little Sony.