my 1st digital camera but which one to buy

[stevieuk]

thanks Steve- I know what CHDK is [ i googled it] looks interesting
jane

It runs on my old camera and its a lovely piece of software, easy to use as well, as far as I know no other camera brand has it available.

[I've left]

That Jessops camera mentioned earlier has a 28m equivalent wide angle. That can sometimes be very useful to get all the scene in.
One of my cameras only goes to 35mm and betimes;  in a room or trying to photo a church or even a gravestone I find I just can't get far enough back to fit the subject in.

Another point

You'll also find your camera useful to photo documents or even photographs - so how close up can the camera focus. Most cameras will have no trouble with this. Where I go wrong is putting it in Macro mode (wide angle) and then forgetting to put it back and getting loads of not well focussed distance shots; and I've done it the other way. 

Bryan

[Redroger]

My idea about combining the two items phone and camera is simply that when I take both out with me I feel encumbered as though I am carrying as much equipment as a traffic warden or John Wayne in a cowboy movie. Also I am not happy with the view finding for outdoor photography with either my camera ( Acer 5mp) or phone (Sony 2mp).

[jane l]

crikey who would have thought that there would be so many things to think about when buying such things -still all good info and i'm very grateful
thankyou
jane

[Lydart]

Let us know what you eventually decide on !

We've all had a part in this !

[jane l]

oh i will -just waiting for brother to get back to me as he has just been to a huge camera show +is a bit in the know -then will be buying it very soon. and once again a big thankyou to all who have helped +added to my prob    but having said that i can't wait to buy the thing and give a go and yes i will then show you my end result -though don't expect to much as i will be a complete novice watch this space 
jane

[km1971]

Hi Jane

As you probably appreciate by now the main question is will you be able to cope without a viewfinder. If you can do without you will get a compatible camera for a lot less than one with a viewfinder. You should ask around and see if anyone can loan you an old digicam with only a screen for aiming.

Once you have decided you should buy a magazine to see what comes top for value and features in the reviews specialist camera mags do all the time. I do not have any camera mags around at present, but PC Pro is recommending the Canon Ixus 105 -  12.1 Megapixels - no viewfinder - available from Amazon at £89 in silver, and £100 in pink.

Unless you are planning to print your images a metre square you can get away with 7-8 MP or less. And you will still have to reduce the resolution in order to put the results online.

Ken

[jane l]

now think a view finder is a must and as oh has just won £83  we can now up the price on the  camera
jane

[Lydart]

See ...what did I say !     A Canon IXUS every time !   


(I wonder if they would pay me for recommending their camera so much and to everyone ?!)