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This page is a record of the various cameras, lenses and other camera related equipment we have used over the years be it DSLR, P&S or bridge cameras. This also includes the cameras I have used for Digiscoping. Some of the cameras below we no longer own but it is quite nice to reflect on some of the cameras with their own individual merits.
Panasonic TZ 35 (Jan 2014)
This page is a record of the various cameras, lenses and other camera related equipment we have used over the years be it DSLR, P&S or bridge cameras. This also includes the cameras I have used for Digiscoping. Some of the cameras below we no longer own but it is quite nice to reflect on some of the cameras with their own individual merits.
Panasonic TZ 35 (Jan 2014)
Another year another camera from Lumix in the travel market. They are quite good and you would think by now they would have all those silly irks ironed our by now. Not entirely as they make one step forward in the "sales" blub department they seem to make changes in the cameras usage. This time they have changed the zoom options. In the past you can turn off the digital zoom range so that you can go min-max with one click without going into the useless digital zoom range. This camera removes that and you are stuck with the optical zoom going straight in digital zoom. I contacted Panasonic about this only to be told ....no plans to change this. Good camera though with the addition of a 20x zoom whilst keeping the very nice 24mm wide angle lens. HD video is good also.
Nikon D300s (Dec 2012)
Added to the collection in December 2012. These day's it would be classed as old being out some 2 years but it seems that the new line of cameras are changing battery types are no longer interchangable between the D80 whereas this camera does. Nikon also have not really released a direct replacement to this camera as such so I was more than happy to have this unit. A lot has been written about this camera so I won't bore with that. It will, I am sure, be a real bonus in India as the ISO shotting levels can be raised considerably over the D80 whilst still
Panasonic TZ20 (Aug 2011) ref 224
Added to collection in August 2011 as a direct replacement for the TZ7 below with a few upgrades/fixes. Most were silly mistakes from Panasonic like the placement of the dial wheel that moved when been put in a bag. It's also got 1020p HD video recording and a welcome addition to the zoom range, not just the zoom at the top end but now it has a lovely wide angle lens of 24mm. The pictures never compete with the DSLR but for throwing in your pocket and being able to have a good zoom at both ends and a great video recorder is a real bonus and I would not be without this kind of camera.
Panasonic TZ7 (Nov 09)
This camera was added to our collection in Nov 09. It has some very good features of which the lens being a very handy one. A very wide angle of 25mm and a telephoto of 300mm is a superb addition. Another big bonus is the video recording ability as it records in HD at 720p. I can play this video directly through my Blu-Ray player via the TV without having change it's format whilst able to edit the footage through the computer. It also a pocket sized camera which we intend to fully use in our upcoming trip to India. The downside to this camera is that Panasonic have upgraded the firmware to v1.2 which is not good as this firmware stops the use of non original brand batteries being used. The cost of the Panasonic batteries is silly (£35) so I managed to source the old firmware v1.1 which I have already installed and allows the use of other brands of battery which are available at a far reduced price. If this firmware presents you with the same problem just contact me and I will pass on the v1.1 firmware. The battery issue was the only difference in the firmware change so no usage of features is lost or gained.
Nikon D80
Mandy's first step into DSLR photography with this camera. It was a real tustle at the time to decide between the Canon 400D but the Nikon just edged it although it does seem that many more Canon lenses (for Canon cameras) are available at cheaper prices than the equivalent Nikon offerings but we have no problems in using generic lenses from Tamron and Sigma.
Nikon P5100
Another camera I am currently using for Digiscoping. The best camera I have had so far for this purpose with great picture quality although in comparison to the Samsung NV3 the focus can be a little slow to lock and to be honest is not quite as accurate...but when you do get it right...Wow! More on the camera and other cameras is in greater detail on the left hand manu under Digiscoping.
Nikon 3100
Our first ever good point and shoot that was excellent for Macro work although it is hard to believe it only has a 1.5" LCD screen
Canon S3 is with 12x Optical Zoom
An adaptor which allows other lenses like teleconverters, wide angle and Macro has been bought along with the macro lens. The macro lens allows the camera to take macro pictures from a distance which helps tremendously when photographing sensitive subjects. The macro modes within the camera will still be useful for some subjects but with the macro lens so easy to attach it will be interesting which is used more over time. Mandy uses this camera a lot and has found the leap from point and shoot to a more manual quite rewarding. The change has lead to a deeper understanding being required so only time will show if this camera suits us. It does have a few features which are very good for Mandy's favourite form of photography, macro, and that is the screen has the ability to swivel out from the camera and be moved to the required angle for viewing no matter where the lens be pointed wether that be over head or on the ground.
Konica Minolta Z3 with 12x Optical Zoom
The camera I picked up at the Birdfair in 2005 was a camera I had had my eye on for a while. It seems just right for me as a more general approach to photography has been taken.This camera has been a pleasure for me to use as all the functions that I like are readily accessed with it's ability to use it as a point and shoot or, if you feel more adventurous then a more manual approach can be attained. I have to admit that I mainly use the auto function but it does this well enough for me.
Nikon 4500
This had some very important features including a very high quality lens and the body of the camera could be swivelled into a position where the LCD could be seen no matter what position the scope was in so in effect it allowed the scope to stay at an optimum state whilst the camera ease of body rotation allowed the user a more comfortable stance.
Samsung NV3
The Samsung NV3 has been bought with one task in mind. That is Digiscoping which I have been experimenting with since 2003. This is a way of gaining high quality images of subjects at varying distances and especially those at long distance. The camera I began with was a large "brick" a Nikon 4500 but it was one of the few cameras able to fulfil this task. The NV3, as you can see, has an internal zoom which often is the best for digiscoping as the camera lens sits tight up against the spotting scopes lens
Mandy has the following
Lenses Sigma Macro 105mm F2.8 EX DG/Sigma 100-300mm F4 Lens/Tamron 28-200mm f3.8-5.6 XR Di Asph IF Macro Lens/ Sigma 1.4x Teleconverter
Accessories Marumi Macro Ring Flash/Manfrotto Tripod 055MFV/Manfrotto Tripod Head 393
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