[X4U] Who loves ya Digi Camera? [TAN]

[Zane H. Healy]

At 7:52 AM +1100 12/18/07, Brett Conlon wrote:
>Thanks for your thoughts Shawn & Zane.
>
>Unfortunately it really does need to be compact - for this purchase. 
>As I mentioned, I purchased a DV camera a few Chrissy's back 
>(Panasonic GS-400) which takes 4mpix shots but the shots ain't so 
>great and it's quite a bulky beast. After hefting that big lug of a 
>thing around in the black camera bag all over the place for a few 
>years, my wife simply wants something small and compact that will 
>take better shots than the DV camera. I completely understand that 
>and want to oblige her. I was also hoping to maximise the purchase 
>and get something that might suit us both (of course not 
>*completely* suit _me_ but gives me *something* kinda decent I can 
>work with until I can get a decent SLR).

I can understand the need for being compact, while my primary camera 
is a Nikon D70, I occasionally use the 3MP little Kodak (4x optical) 
that we had before the D70.  For an early Christmas present this year 
I bought my wife a little Nikon Coolpix (3x optical, 6MP) that is a 
lot smaller than the Kodak.

I think your best bet will be to research which "pocket camera's" 
offer Macro options.  I've seen a couple with "clip-on" Macro 
Adapters.  I don't know how well this will work though.  With a 
digital SLR camera, macro lens, tripod and shutter release you have 
major control of depth of field and camera stability for Macro 
Photography.  I use the Nikon for everything from Macro shots, up to 
Trains.  Believe it or not I think you'll be happier with a "pocket 
camera" than your wife will be.  You had better not show her the 
Nikon R1 flash kit for Nikon SLR camera's and Macro photography. :^)

I don't know if it's possible, but if you can, try to find one that 
will last.  If you're seriously thinking about a Digital SLR in the 
long term, you'll still want to be able to use the "pocket camera". 
Sometimes it just isn't practical to lug a SLR camera around, and 
we've been at least one place that allowed our Kodak, but wouldn't 
allow our Nikon (we knew in advance).

Zane


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