My latest new toy....

... LOL

Yesterday, my Fuji Finepix S9500 digi cam went belly up. It still takes pictures but the focal length is now locked, meaning that I can no longer take close ups or telephoto shots. If the subject is closer or farther away than whatever it's locked into, the photo is out of focus. About as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

Surfing the web I found a GREAT replacement.

A Nikon L820



It does everything my old camera did, including focusing down to just 5mm but also has a massive 30 x zoom. it's very easy to navigate the menus and has a large 78mm screen. It's also about half the size of my old camera and a fraction of the weight too.

My old camera 5 years ago cost £400....... this one cost £99!!!!

This was taken in hand held, full point and shoot mode, using the telephoto lens from a distance of 2' and has not been 'photo enhanced':



Prior to this camera, I took all my model photos in full manual mode. There doesn't seem much point now.

Oh! and the card fits into the port on my laptop, eliminating any need for cables etc.

Happie chappie.

Photo looks great, Al. Nice new toy. I might be looking for a new close focusing camera soon. The old AA battery one I've got is getting to be a pain.

Do you have daylight type lighting in your modeling area?

When I had my business I had £4500 worth of nikon and olympus dslr..... Sold them as no longer required when I gave up the company.
I have a Samsung Bridge camera now, £150, similar to yours Al.... Does everything my last lot did... And more, I'm most impressed and wish I'd had one instead of the mega hassle dslr pair.

That's a good bargain Al, nice image quality too.

Very cool. I use a Kodak Z980. Looks just like that but my optical zoom is only 24X, digital zoom is 10X. I have taken over 30,000 pictures with it and it is still clicking right along.

Al:  I think it is likely your old camera had some help  going belly up at this point in time.  Seems that a 30X zoom will me be more than nice to have next month  on the salt.        

99 quid! where was that from?

Nice one Al.

 

RetiredMike wrote:

Do you have daylight type lighting in your modeling area?

Yes Mike.... I use three 45w low wattage daylight balanced bulbs over my benc ]h and two for the photo booth

JohnJ wrote:Al:  I think it is likely your old camera had some help  going belly up at this point in time.  Seems that a 30X zoom will me be more than nice to have next month  on the salt.        

Hmmmm..... didn't think about that when choosing it john. LOL.

beowulf wrote:99 quid! where was that from?

Argos Paul. Choice of colours too if you are that way inclined.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Search/searchTerm/nikon+L820.htm

Also got an 8 gig card for it too, down from £9.99 to £4.99, which means at 16 megapixels I can get almost 2000 photos on it. At 2 megapixels, I can get 10,000 photos!!!!!!!!   

i got my Fuji from argos a few years ago.........still havnt learnt all the gizmos on it lol

i often look on their ebay outlet cos when stuff is took out of the catalogue they get rid of existing stock on there.....dosnt bother me it might not be the latest all singing all dancing version, rather save cash lol

I'm really impressed with the telephoto lens.

The trees on top of the hill in the first photo are about a half a mile away:

Without tele...



With tele:



This house is also a half a mile away...

Without tele:



With tele:



One slight downside is, unless you buy this kit at £28.00.....



..... you cannot get a lens hood.

So using the 'cheap as chips' modelers mantra, I made one by carefully cutting down a plastic beaker:

Nice idea, i've used a cut down baby-bottle before for an extra deep hood and always had thin black/white card, scissors and insulating tape in my bag when in the field, you never know when you need an emergency hood, makeshift mini-booth or something to reflect or absorb light.

Nice toy Al...I'm jealous.

Now there's no more excuses for bad photos from you...  

That lens hood should have your personal LOGO on it. Just kidding. One reason NIKON and the other DSLRs are reasonable in price is that the optics in cellphones have come up fast and furious, therefore competition. The optional lenses for DSLRs are still pricey.
I don't have a cell phone so I rough it with a NIKON D5000 and a Nikon D3100 plus 3 extra lenses.

Cheers Eh!