Do note that the Nikon CP5700 retail price is about $1600 excluding GST, or at least that was what I was quoted last week at CP, so it's slightly beyond the upper end of your budget range. However, if you do have the cash to spare, I strongly recommend that you go down and try it out for yourself. In my opinion, it's a pretty fantastic camera with more than enough features to satisfy most prosumer-level photographers (as I'm sure CP5700 owners here will testify).Originally posted by chyeo
Think my budget around $1K to $1.5K...
Originally posted by chyeo
Yup I agree DSLR is the best but I have no money to buy...still have to splurge on some studio equipment...
I was actually quite attracted to D1X for some time...haha...
Anyway, thanks for all the advice given...how's the F707 and S602Z? How much they cost (new and 2nd hand)?
Originally posted by chyeo
The size of the camera does not matter to me...
Originally posted by chyeo
Anyway, thanks for all the advice given...how's the F707 and S602Z? How much they cost (new and 2nd hand)?
Originally posted by Peter
Hmm....actually I don't really like CP5700.
After looking thru dpreview forums, i gather the following bad points of CP5700:
1. Poor auto-focus ( contrast method ), esp in low-light situations.
Takes long time to focus or focus wrong objects
2. Shutter lag ( so bad for action shots )
3. Very poor battery life ( 90min, maybe 120 shots? )
4. No filter thread ( so can't even protect lens using UV filter )
Sorry, but don't quite understand why ppl actually go for it. Because of 8x zoom? Small and compact?
No doubt it has gd features, but I feel poor auto-focus will definitely frustrate u.
I know no camera is perfect, but to me, gd auto-focus is one of the more important things that I look for in a DC.
So far, I feel that F707's auto-focus is the best, even in no light.
Originally posted by Zoomer
Are you positively sure?
You can't lug a bulky camera with you ALL the time, you tend to leave it at home.
What good is a super good camera (D1X or whatever) if its at home and you are forced to miss taking the picture??
If you are just starting out, well I'll tell you to save for DSLR if you are the fussy type. Look at your other hobbies, you do want to get the best (or the best u can afford?)
Don't get something, only to regret it. Think of all the different situations you might want to take photos of.
Potraits - Okay
Macro Shots (Use closeup filter/extension tube)
Street (Digi fares well here cos its erasable + advantage of pivotable if u are going for cams like 707 or cp995)
Stage -- Okay, can still use teleconverter
Landscapes
Animals -- Teleconverter!
Sports - Pray for strong sunlight...else possible to get motion blur (see below)
Photojournalism - Generally okay, but if its low light/fast... (see below)
Low Light Photography --> Important cos no filter in the world can give you more stops of light! And noisy/limited ISO range will prevent you from taking nice pictures when its rather dark! (indoor functions/concerts/plays, etc)
This is the NO. 1 reason why I regretted (slightly) getting my F707, otherwise its great!