Camera's

[marantz1300]

I know nothing about camera's.Whats the best cheap.easy to use  digital camera for bringing out the detail in guitar pics? All auto would be even better .

[Alex]

First, it's cameras, not camera's.

Second, it really depends on your budget. Do you want to spend a 100£ or a 1000£, or somewhere in between. Quite often "more expensive" equates to "better", although there are of course differences.

Many of the really nice pictures are done on expensive digital compact cameras or SLRs; cheap and portable digital cameras will often not be able to match the picture quality. That said, experimenting with tripods and no flash/natural lighting can produce nice effects, such as this picture I took with my cr@ppy Kodak digital.
(settings were low color saturation, high contrast, tripod, no flash).

Compare it with this picture with the flash on and standard settings:

[Modular1]

+1
The trick is to leave the flash off (if its on the camera). This will require the camera to be held extremely steady so I recommend using a tripod and the timer so you are not physically pushing the button on the camera when it fires.

[FELINEGUITARS]

Definitely get a tripod and a camera that allows you to set aperture priority.
A small aperture like an f16-f22 would be good but take too long for a handheld shot so tripod is your friend

Daylight can be great for pix
Nolly always took nice daylight pix and there were some recent pix of a Blackmachine that looked fab in natural light taken by another forum member.

I tend to use studio flash which is another style altogether but potentially expensive

[tomjackson]

I always think Canon make really nice compacts.

Even the most complicated SLR camera will have a automatic mode so I wouldn't worry about that.  
But I guess you are talking about point and shoots.

I'd spend a little more than the cheaper makes like Fujufilm or Casio and go for Nikon, Panasonic or Canon.
Some of the cheaper ones offer more megapixles but they are often let down by poorer optics.  I'd rather have a better lens and lower MP.  

Saying that, the Kodak pic above looks nice....shows how a tripod and no flash can help as all have said

[Modular1]

Some of the cheaper ones offer more megapixles but they are often let down by poorer optics.  I'd rather have a better lens and lower MP.

+1

[marantz1300]

Thanks for all the useful information.
I'll have up to £150,any particular models to look out  for?
Is it worth going secondhand?

[Telerocker]

I have a Canon D1100 which came with a free (extra) zoomlens. Bought some extra filters and a real flash. Total spend: 550 euro. You can literally do anything with it. Photo's are very good/sharp. You can't compare a digital reflexcamera with a cheap digital pocketcamera.

[Alex]

Thanks for all the useful information.
I'll have up to £150,any particular models to look out  for?
Is it worth going secondhand?

http://www.chip.de/bestenlisten/Bestenliste-Digitalkameras--index/index/id/996/

Sony Cybershot scores best apparently for the budget options. My wife has that and it's pretty good, but it uses quite expensive memory cards. The Nikon Coolpix P7000 also scores well.

If you can, save more money and buy a better one eventually.

[Roobubba]

Before I went down the DSLR route, I bought a Canon IXUS 70. This is going back a few years, but it's still going strong and was an EXCELLENT purchase - I still use it occasionally and my wife uses it a fair bit even after about 5 years...

I am a fan of Canon cameras - I can't deny my bias - but I'm a fan because of that IXUS 70. It got me into photography and really got me thinking about my pictures, such that now I'm 'interested enough' to have bought a DSLR and a range of really nice lenses.

If I was spending 150 quid now, I'd be looking at the updated versions of that same camera. Thoroughly recommended for that kind of price bracket.

[_tom_]

Consider a 2nd hand Canon S95 or similar. I got one to take to Canada with me (didn't fancy lugging a dslr around) and was so impressed with it! Got some great shots (as good as I'd get with my bigger camera) and having a full manual mode is really useful. I took it around with me every day as it just slips into a pocket rather than having to take a backpack to carry it in.

[Modular1]

Consider a 2nd hand Canon S95 or similar. I got one to take to Canada with me (didn't fancy lugging a dslr around) and was so impressed with it! Got some great shots (as good as I'd get with my bigger camera) and having a full manual mode is really useful. I took it around with me every day as it just slips into a pocket rather than having to take a backpack to carry it in.

Canon all the way baby. I've got an s95 as a small carry about for when I can't be bothered to lug my 600D around. It's a great compact.

[marantz1300]

Thanks everyone.I bought a used Sansung WB500 with tripod for £65. A couple of test shots seem very clear and sharp.I'll try using the timer .

[Roobubba]

Yay for all our Canon recommendations! :D

[38thBeatle]

I like Canon too. Ixus range has been a firm favourite in chez 38th for many a year. I bought Mrs 38th a lovely Powershot SX210 a while back and she is very happy with it. I have a Nikon DSLR which is also superb but a lot more expensive.