New Camera. Any Ideas??

[MrBrightside]

Ok, so I have decided I want a new camera but don't have the first notion on where to start. Basically I would like a good quality camera for a reasonable price.. not too much to ask ehh?

Would a Nikon Coolpix L110 be a reasonable place to start?

Cheers
MB

[EZYgoing]

Coolpix L110 looks good, another one to consider would be the Fuji Finepix S2950, it seems to be very similar to the Nikon.

S2950 benefits: Digital viewfinder (very useful in bright sunlight), bigger max zoom (504mm v 420mm), cheaper.

L110 benefits: higher screen resolution (460k dots v 230k dots), closer macro focus distance (1cm v 2cm), slightly lighter (406g v 437g).

Full comparison here

The latest Coolpix L, the L120 is also a good camera however is a bit more expensive than the L110.

[Angry Turnip]

One thing to bear in mind for these type of cameras,if your shooting moving aircraft,almost all of them suffer from shutter lag ie there is a slight delay from you pressing the shutter button,to the actual shot being taken.
It probably won`t be an issue for static or slow movers,but can be a problem for faster aircraft,as the shots may come out blurred or you may even miss the aircraft completely.

[biggles]

Mr brightside i would look at the fuji hs 10 it doesent cost the earth and it does an awful lot of stuff for the money.
it has a zoom of up to720 mm and super macro+slowmotion its a good all round cam,its fairly easy to use even for a techno numptie like me who isnt very good with technology.
the ultimate decision is yours but take the advice of the chaps who know their cams and then decide.hope you get what you want.

biggles.

[casper]

It seems to be a decent spec camera but one of the reviews I read said that the images it produces could be better. As a place to start it really depends on whether you just want to point and shoot or learn all about shutter speed, apertures, exposure etc. If the latter is the case you'll very quickly out grow the Coolpix and want to upgrade to a DSLR. I would recommend that if you can afford it then go for an entry level DSLR like the Canon EOS1000D. You can even purchase refurbished ones from Canon on Ebay for a few hundred pounds.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390308473448

[MrBrightside]

Thanks guys for all your responses.

Since posting I have had a good search on the internet at all sorts of cameras. I do honestly think a DSLR would be wasted. I wouldn't have the confidence in purchasing one at this stage but is something I may consider in the future. I guess all I want is a point and shoot camera but with a quality finish, photos I can look back on and be proud of.

EZYgoing, thanks for that. Great website for comparing! Hadn't heard of that one before. The new Nikon L120 looks quite good! I will have to have another think! 

MB

[String]

This seems to be the best point and shoot camera for value for money it gets an A/A+ rating from certain forums.
 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-Stabilized-Accessory-Replacement-Protectors/dp/B004ETUF12/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&qid=1304848979&sr=8-22
Hope this helps.

[Dave]

 
I started off using a Panasonic FX-18 (I think they're up to FX-28 now in the shops) which was a great camera, it had 8 megapixel's and 18x optical zoom, although it retails for around £200. I used it at Portrush Airshow 2008, and whilst it took decent photos, the lag between pressing the button and the picture being taken was enough for me to sell the camera right after the airshow and buy my first DSLR, and I havn't looked back since. If you're shooting aviation, the shutter lag and focus time will be tiresome.
 
I'd suggest what Casper mentioned;
 

I would recommend that if you can afford it then go for an entry level DSLR like the Canon EOS1000D. You can even purchase refurbished ones from Canon on Ebay for a few hundred pounds.

Buy a cheap second hand DSLR (£200) and maybe a 70-300mm lens (£100) and you will get much better shots than a point and shoot camera. In my eyes it would certainly be worth the little bit of extra cash.
 
Dave