Photography: New Hobby?
For years I’ve had an interest in digital photography but have never had the money to purchase my own digital camera, I’ve always borrowed everyone elses or used my god-awful vga camera on my mobile phone. I’ve been thinking that it’s about time that I purchased a digital camera of my own. Of course, when it comes to me and technology, I want the best there is to offer. I had my hopes set on getting a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera - the difference between a DSLR camera and a standard digital camera is the ability to view the picture you are taking via the lens rather than the viewfinder, giving you a truly accurate image. Unfortunately, even a 6 mega pixel DSLR camera is about €600. Which is definitely outside of my budget, for now.
The traditional digital camera market is completely saturated, and I’ve found it rather difficult to choose one (hence why I still don’t own one!) as my own terrible greed for “features” makes it impossible to stay within a reasonable budget. However, upon investigation I found an alternative to a DSLR camera that’s within budget. The Fuji FinePix S5600 Zoom: it’s only 5.1 megapixel, however it boasts 10x opitcal zoom. That’s impressive for €300, and it looks quite cool too. It has some wonderful features, for instance, movie recording in .avi format and the ability to change the lenses (I already have my eye on a fisheye! - ha ha).
The only drawback to buying a Fuji digital camera is the fact that they only take xD-Picture Cards, which is annoying considering I have plenty of MMC cards just lying around from old digital cameras and phones. If I’m to buy this camera I’ll have to purchase at least 1gb, which will set me back another €60, double the price of a standard MMC card. For now I’m not going to make any decisions, until I actually have the money. What fun it is to procrastinate.
August 14th, 2006 at 8:14 pm
Been reading the Argos catalogue too much again! :P
August 15th, 2006 at 11:56 am
The Argos Catalogue is like a bible - you browse it thoroughly, then pick and choose what you want… only you never go to church.
ie: you buy the crap you want somewhere cheaper.
Like Pixels on Upper Liffey Street! Hurrah!
August 15th, 2006 at 3:36 pm
DONT go for Fuji or Nikon. They use the same light metering system and same chip, your best bet is to get a canon but come to me first I get them cheep!
August 15th, 2006 at 8:51 pm
But I want THAT one. I really want a camera with that kind of incredible opitcal zoom, but Canon is expensive in comparision to the Fuji one I have my eye on. Can you recommend an alternative around the same price? That I can get extra lenses for? I’m serious about it being my new hobby, I have a little project in mind…
When you get back from the honeymoon (tehe) let me know if you can get me the Fuji FinePix S5600 cheaper. Pixels are selling it for €330 with a bag of accessories. Sweet enough deal I think.
August 18th, 2006 at 9:49 pm
buy, snap…dont stop…ever
August 22nd, 2006 at 2:47 am
It looks very DSLR-y, actually…
August 22nd, 2006 at 11:38 pm
I want that now too.
Ohhhhhhhh, we can have photo competitons.
August 23rd, 2006 at 2:49 pm
We could go halfs on it, and you could take it out every second weekend.
August 23rd, 2006 at 4:03 pm
My camera is the S9500 version of that, and i must say it is quite nice and considering the rpice wasnt bad at all!
My only problem now is that i want new lenses, this is were things get tricky! There liek 300e or so.. but i want a decent one so it will be about 500.. question is do i just save up and get myself a nice cannon!ha, too too complicated.
August 23rd, 2006 at 5:44 pm
I really like the tilting lcd screen on the S9500 - and the zoom controls being on the lens itself. €650 is way outta my price rang though :( makes me a sad little bunny, especially since you get it with a 2gb card.
I love the photos you take Ian - they’re fantastic, but I bet it’s just talent, and not because you’ve a fucking amazing camera.
I’m hoping to get the S5600 at the weekend. Hurrah!
August 23rd, 2006 at 7:10 pm
Joke’s on you Cochrane…..I just bought it.
I’ll let you have a shot of it though.