i recommend the one that i have:

 

ive just got a canon g9 mate and its awesome
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0708/07082005canong9.asp

 

I got a panasonic DMC FZ18, not a full on SLR but has an x18 optical zoom. I didn't want or need a full SLR, just something to use to take pictures of cars at work and to take some decent shots on holidays etc.

I'm no photographer but it seems a great bit of kit and got good reviews





I've only ever really used point and click stuff before so the whole [kind of] focus thing is fun

 

18x optical zoom is pretty good Paddy mine is only 10x. i would like a 2x converter for the front, but haven't found one yet to fit the 58mm screw fitting as used by filters

 

I wanted something that I could see into the flats across the road from where I work. There's a real fitty that likes to show me her underwear [well, I'm sure she wouldn't mind if she knew I was watching].

Sorry nick, the rest of what you typed meant nothing to me and may as well have been german

 

whatever you do get one with rechargeable batteries, its sooooooooo much nicer not having a dead camera after 30mins of snapping mine lasts for like 300-400 shots with the rechargeable battery , thats with turning it on and off
Ive got a Cybershot w35 7.2mp

 

Damn right and good advice! My old camera uses 2 x AAs. By the time I'd taken pics of half a dozen cars [3 photos of each] and left the camera switched on to load them onto the pc [no memory card in that camera so had to live link] the batterys were drained!

This one lasts ages.

 

i disagree - get one that takes normal batteries that you can buy and replace anywhere in the world. good AA's last a lot longer than rechargeables IME

 

If i was going abroad id get a travel adapter for my sony battery charger

 

I've just spunked £540 on a Canon EOS400d with a lens, 4 gig card, extra battery and carrybag

Can't wait for it to get here

 

Seconded

 

Well, you ARE from the midlands....

 

I've just bought a Canon 960is, not an slr but it should suit us.
Still getting used to it and trying to explain the setting to the missus

 

I would go with the Canon, but then again I am biasd as I brought a 400d a couple of weeks ago and am truely amazed at some of the shots I have been able to get with it.


Looks like a good camera though.

 

 

yeah if there £150 and over id have thought so, some £130 odd cameras have them aswell but not many.
I was just saying though because you dont want to spend all that out and have to change batteries every time you use the damn thing.

That Canon looks great by the way

 

These tend to be called Bridge Cameras as they bridge the gap between P&S and DSLR's.

Imo there's nothing really that fills the gap. In all fairness even the cheaper DLSR's are a compromise in the first place but at least you can swap the lenses. For instance the 6500fd (which I do like a lot) pictured isn't that much better than the F31fd really and the lens while better still doesn't really wind back more than 35mm in real terms.

Fuji used to have this market totally wrapped up and in some ways they still have, however the decent point and shoots with manual controls are fast catching up. It's a tough decision but anyone looking at the better bridge cameras like the fuji 9600 and such should seriously consider something like a 2nd hand or reconditioned D70's or similar.