The Best Darn Camera Thread

[Jamie Patrick]

I don't own a digital camera because I use my iPhone to take photos. However, the iPhone won't be coming to Glastonbury with me because the battery on it is pathetic and I don't want to spend the whole festival hanging out at the Chill 'n' Charge tent. So I'm looking for camera recommendations. Any ideas?

[Mackem]

I was the same unfortunately I came unstuck at the Olympics were all my indoor or poor light photos were sh*t. Subsequently I bought a Panasonic DMC-S3EB-KA http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005DDU5N6/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&psc=1&s=photo - at £50 a bargain as it has London 2012 branding so I guess they want to get shot of them/

Edited April 25, 2013 by Mackem

[dan05delaney]

Depends how much you want to pay.... can get a good dSLR for about £200 or a decent compact for about £70

[musky]

I was the same unfortunately I came unstuck at the Olympics were all my indoor or poor light photos were sh*t. Subsequently I bought a Panasonic DMC-S3EB-KA http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005DDU5N6/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&psc=1&s=photo - at £50 a bargain as it has London 2012 branding so I guess they want to get shot of them/

[Spirit of 71]

That looks good, but does it not take a rechargeable battery pack? It's back to square one with recharging if the OP wants to take a lot of pictures. Something that takes standard AA or AAA batteries might be better.

[payneruk]

I've been looking at getting something cheap but with really good battery life if there's such a thing?

My current fuji's battery life isn't great.

[AnnaGrant]

Second hand is a great idea if you want to get more camera for your money.

Our local camera shop has excellent second hand or shop used cameras, and you can get good after care and advice too.

My compact is a Canon Ixus 95, bought over 5 years ago. Takes fab photos and survives a lot of abuse, including being thrown out of a first floor window- don't ask! Unfortunately I don't imagine they are easy to find now.

[ChewieDC]

Well, this is the thing I wanted to ask. Is it possible to bring DSLR camera with me? There are many festivals where they don't allow to have "professional" camera with me.

[StevieMcK]

Well, this is the thing I wanted to ask. Is it possible to bring DSLR camera with me? There are many festivals where they don't allow to have "professional" camera with me.

[Chimps in Balaclavas]

Well, this is the thing I wanted to ask. Is it possible to bring DSLR camera with me? There are many festivals where they don't allow to have "professional" camera with me.

Edited April 26, 2013 by DAVA

[ethereal]

I don't own a digital camera because I use my iPhone to take photos. However, the iPhone won't be coming to Glastonbury with me because the battery on it is pathetic and I don't want to spend the whole festival hanging out at the Chill 'n' Charge tent. So I'm looking for camera recommendations. Any ideas?

[Somersetsun]

Cannon ixus are ace, cheapish, quality, enough settings to deal with changing light but not too many being drunk in charge is an issue. Tiny and come in pink...oh wait, you're a bloke

I've for a Lumix gf2 which is a slr but tiny, so fits in my handbag. I still can't decide if I need shooting for considering taking it to glastonbury. Lots of settings but takes stunning shots if just left on auto so again drunkenness less of an issue but it's niceish kit so...not sure useful for you? Depends how random you get later I spose

[**claire**]

I bought a Panasonic Lumix TZ30 last year, which was pricey for a digital compact, but has finally solved my issues with years of rubbish night photos etc.

I'm selling my old Samsung at the moment on Ebay - it's an NV30 & is still a great compact camera - long battery life & loads of different settings to experiment with! So I'd recommend that one too, if you want to spend less money.

Maybe a second-hand one is a good idea if you won't use it that often post-Glastonbury because of havin an iphone. Bidding on mine is currently at £30 which I think is pretty good value, so I'm sure there must be other bargains on there on second hand ones.

[Rumblestripe]

I've just bought a Nikon S9100 for just this purpose. I don't want to take my SLR with me (weight, bulk and not wanting it trashed if I fall over in six inches of mud). It's not the current Nikon model (the S9300 replaced it last year) but there's nothing wrong with it it has the same 18x lens and most of the circuitry the principle difference being a 12MP sensor as opposed to a 16MP on the S9300. Some reviewers even reckon the 12MP sensor is better. Cost me sixty squid and as long as I get some decent piccies I'll be happy at that.

The lesson in all this is draw up your list of requirements (I want pocketable but a decent zoom and the option for easy panoramas) then look for remaindered slightly out of date models on Ebay or even places like Tesco.

[Krazypinkminx]

I have a NIKON d5000, but I cant risk taking that so my old Sony w120 will have to do, its better than my shitty phone.. an HTC desire!

[jamiejc]

Taking my D7000, just keep it the bottom of my sleeping bag... besides i'm a short arse...

[dan05delaney]

Well, this is the thing I wanted to ask. Is it possible to bring DSLR camera with me? There are many festivals where they don't allow to have "professional" camera with me.

[01seb]

I bought the Panasonic TZ30 a few weeks ago and it is pretty damn awesome, battery life isn't great though so I'll just take a spare battery with me to Glasto.

[ErnestWorthing]

I'm taking my finepix S602z, £850 when new, cost me £20 off ebay.

[funkyuk]

https://www.morgancomputers.co.uk/product_detail/14104/Vivitar-ViviCam-X035-10MP-4X-Digital-2-2-LCD-Screen-Red/

this work for ya?

[5co77ie]

Leica

[caroldecker]

For the past 2 festivals I took my Nikon D60, had it about 5 years now and its great to take to the festival purely because its my camera, the only one I use and I can tinker with the f stop etc without even looking, therefore leaving out the chance of missing any potential moments that present themselves!

Its small for an SLR and Nikon is the best of both worlds with ease of use and quality of image. Im pretty sure I heard someone say the new model of the D60 is the D40 and ive just looked and they do a D40x 2nd hand on amazon for £200. The benefit of going for something like this too is the start up speed is much quicker than your normal compact. Nothing worse than wanting to take a picture and missing the moment because your camera was too busy starting up... Ive learnt from past mistakes when taking inferior cameras...

Anyway, depends how much you want to spend! An SLR is definitely worth having, I just shove mine in my bag! Screw having all the bits of kit etc, you need to enjoy the festival not spend time arseing about changing lenses!

[musky]

Do not get a camera that takes AA or AAA batteries, camera batteries can hold a lot more charge than AA or AAA batteries.

How much do you want to spend?

The Canon Powershot S90 and S95 cameras are excellent, as is the Panasonic LX3 and both have an excellent battery life. They are all pocketable and have excellent battery life. If you don't mind buying second hand you can buy them for less than £100

[LondonTom]

Woo I knew had seen a thread around here

Right I currently have an Olympus X-44 I brought about 3/4 years ago, but the focus on it...can be a bit shit to say the least! I was thinking about another camera and I've found two I quite look the look/reviews are good for the price point...as I'd wanna take to Glasto...I don't want to spend to much so I was wondering if anyone could advise on getting one of these two:

Canon PowerShot SX150

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5597855.htm#pdpFullProductInformation

Panasonic DMC-LZ20 http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5598108.htm#pdpProductReviews

I quite like Panasonic "Bridge" one but it might be worth me just going for a compact for a few happy quick snaps whenever I like? (Might see if its in John Lewis at the weekned so I can feel how bulky it is!)

Or if you have any other suggestions for something half decentish around that price point I am happy to listen! Basically I want a slightly less shit zoom and better focus at night time (I realise from what I read on review sites...cheaper = not so good but something better than a blur of lights hopefully )

[mpsamuels]

I have a Canon IXUS 100 which came with me in 2010 and 2011 and I've been more than happy with it. They can be picked up for around £80 now via ebay.

I've got some of my photos from those years on flickr if you want an idea of what it's capable of:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinpsamuels/sets/72157627030134593/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinpsamuels/sets/72157624478199237/

I can't comment on what else is available but I found the IXUS to be a great festival point and shoot. It's small, the battery life lasts all festival comfortably, it does a reasonable job of coping in low light and most importantly although it lets you play with some manual settings if you want to the automatic mode is easy to use after too many visits to the brothers bar!

Having said that I've since upgraded to a DSLR which is coming with me this year.