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First time buyer - is this a good digital camera?
SuperUnleaded
Posts: 3,686 Forum Member
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Olympus MJU840:
http://www.fotosense.co.uk/results.asp?string=olympus+mju+840&tab=99&gclid=CKK8uMSdwZICFQMJuwodf35aXQ
It would be my very first digicam, and I'm looking to spend under £200. From what I've gathered, I want more than 7MP (or well over 2000px both ends) and definitely VGA video would be handy. With regards to those, I'm liking the specs of this one.
Question is, is it a good camera and should I buy it on a whim? I've read an independant review or two, but I don't really know where else to go for unbiased and informative reviews.
Also, I'm in quite a rush to have a digicam in my grubby mitts by next weekend so that I can go around London taking photos for an upcoming 'pictorial diary' for a friend in Canada.
All input much appreciated!
http://www.fotosense.co.uk/results.asp?string=olympus+mju+840&tab=99&gclid=CKK8uMSdwZICFQMJuwodf35aXQ
It would be my very first digicam, and I'm looking to spend under £200. From what I've gathered, I want more than 7MP (or well over 2000px both ends) and definitely VGA video would be handy. With regards to those, I'm liking the specs of this one.
Question is, is it a good camera and should I buy it on a whim? I've read an independant review or two, but I don't really know where else to go for unbiased and informative reviews.
Also, I'm in quite a rush to have a digicam in my grubby mitts by next weekend so that I can go around London taking photos for an upcoming 'pictorial diary' for a friend in Canada.
All input much appreciated!
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Comments
Think this range are named differently in the USA but this seems to be the same camera (or a very close equivalent model):
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/stylus830_pg5.html
... and it got a pretty favourable write up on there. Only thing they really recommend is get a second battery for it as the battery life isn't the best they've seen.
In your price range, I'd pretty much always recommend you have a look at the Panasonic TZ3. Excellent optics, compact but you get 10x optical zoom (you have 5x on the Olympus which isn't bad).
Don't own one myself (although a few of my friends do) but, for a compact, it's performance is excellent.
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/panasonic_tz3_pg5.html
I'm now very interested in that TZ3 as per your suggestion. I don't know why, but it sounds a touch more appealing than the MJU840. Plus, the sample photos (of both, for that matter) look a dream. If you reckon it's a good bit of kit, I think I'll snap one up over the weekend.
Been superceeded by the TZ4 and TZ5 now but it's still an excellent piece of kit and you can pick them up for around the £150 mark now.
For the size of camera, the zoom capability is unrivalled. You can get more zoom but not in a camera that size, at that cost, with high quality optics.
Like I say, I don't actually own one myself (I have a chunky super-zoom with tons of manual features for taking on holiday and suchlike and a little compact thats good in low light for nights out and stuff). The TZ3 combines the best of both worlds.
Evenyone I know who owns one has nothing but good things to say about them.
I'm still a bit overwhelmed with all the options and modes, but with the 'Normal Picture' settings I'm getting great pics.
Also, the video capture is excellent – I'm just happy that it's better than my friend's Nokia N95!
Not sure if I should ever use the ISO or one of the Scene modes, but providing the weather holds out this weekend, I'll nonetheless be getting some awesome shots from around the city.
So yeah, many thanks for the suggestion. It was well worth it.
Once you get to grips with it a bit more I'm sure you'll start playing around with more of the manual settings.
Altering the ISO settings can dramatically change the results of the photos you take. In AUTO mode, it'll usually get it about right but a high ISO setting (not too high ...... you'll start to get image noise) is very handy in places where no flash is allowed (a lot of museums and galleries for example) so you can still get a decent shot without the flash. Same in really bright settings .... if you're getting over-exposed looking shots, use low ISO.
You'll find the zoom very useful. 10x optical in a camera that size is very handy.
I don't even own one but I know how good they are.
Glad you're enjoying it.
I own the FZ8, also bought from Ukdigitalcameras.