Generic 'What Type of Camera' topic - but with specific needs :)

[Byronic]

I've been having a look around this section of the forum for a good while, having a look at what cameras have been generally recommended for photographing minis, but given that my true love is climbing I'd ideally like to get a camera which is good for both of my hobbies, unfortunately they couldn't be any more different in terms of the settings for photography :s

Currently I've got a little Rollei da6325 Prego which my dad bought for me as a going ot uni present, but I've got to the stage where it feels like it's holding me back in terms of the pictures it takes (if anyone has any recommendations on what settings to use to try and obtain some more accurate pictures while I try my best to scrounge up funds for a fair few months that'd be great). I've got a light tent, and I need to get another lamp, but I'm pretty sure a more sophisticated camera would really help.

As for climbing the camera would need to be able to take very crisp and sharp shots of people doing dynamic movements, as well as having a good zoom for the classic 'hand on hold' type pictures, the lighting outside is usually pretty good, but a capacity to take good pictures as the light is fading would be brilliant also.

Of course it'd be a real bonus if it had a good video feature.

I'm guessing my pricerange would be around the £150 mark, with the capacity to go a lttle higher if it's justifiable, I'm more than happy to buy second hand, and willing to put in a fair bit of time learning about settings and whatever, but obviously something very complicated to use would be less preferable to something a little more intuitive.

On a related note, whilst asking for technical advice, does anyone have a link to a place where I can buy a good, reasonably priced desklamp + appropriate bulb (in the uk), I went into a local art shop recently for some advice and came out pale due to the pricerange the owner quoted me; I'm a typically poor student, and it's the very end of the term; so cost unfortunately comes first

I've been looking around on EBay, and have found a couple of auctions which I guess may be the type of thing I'm aiming for;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....266486&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_660wt_1165

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....889094&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1182

Any advice on any of my questions would be massively appreciated

Byron

 

[Dragonsreach]

On a related note, whilst asking for technical advice, does anyone have a link to a place where I can buy a good, reasonably priced desklamp + appropriate bulb (in the uk),

I have the easy answer to this part:
http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/s...1&langId=-1&searchTerms=desklamps&Submit=GO+>

and then

http://www.bltdirect.com/product.ph...Compact+Fluorescent+Lamp+11+watt+Daylight+865

As to the camera are you expecting to be taking the pictures while you are climbing?

 

[Sand Rat]

I've got a Panasonic DMC-FZ28.


From my scores I wont swear to the mini/macro shots, but for action shots it does fairly well -

Well, if you go here you can get an idea of the functionality http://public.fotki.com/LABehm/ - the shots of the ants were taken at about 5 feet and the wolves at about 100 yards.

 

[Legacy Account]

@ Bryonic: A G9 would be an excellent choice. Great images and very sturdy. It also gives you full control over aperture, shutter and ISO - a 'proper' camera

 

[Byronic]

I have the easy answer to this part:
http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/s...1&langId=-1&searchTerms=desklamps&Submit=GO+>

and then

http://www.bltdirect.com/product.ph...Compact+Fluorescent+Lamp+11+watt+Daylight+865

As to the camera are you expecting to be taking the pictures while you are climbing?

Thanks very much, I'll be using those links post christmas

Nope not whilst climbing, mostly I boulder, which is low level stuff, so it wouldn't need to be carted up and down cliff faces with me or anything; more this type of shot:

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto..._192380914556_509639556_2858945_1818520_n.jpg

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto..._530235903568_272701348_1791146_7235535_n.jpg

I've got a Panasonic DMC-FZ28.


From my scores I wont swear to the mini/macro shots, but for action shots it does fairly well -

Well, if you go here you can get an idea of the functionality http://public.fotki.com/LABehm/ - the shots of the ants were taken at about 5 feet and the wolves at about 100 yards.

Tah bud, some of those wildlife shots are really great :O

@ Bryonic: A G9 would be an excellent choice. Great images and very sturdy. It also gives you full control over aperture, shutter and ISO - a 'proper' camera

Thanks bud, I've been looking at a couple of them on ebay, they look pretty sweet, when I was younger I used to take a few pictures with my dads oldschool SLR, and I loved playing with that. It looks like it'd function equally well taking pictures of minis and action shots of climbing, are there any aspects I should look out for?