I'm sitting here looking proudly at my new purchase. A camera. I can't believe I've actually done this, but I am so envious of all the superb photos on this forum and in the galleries that I couldn't possibly emulate with my Coolpix.
After some research on the internet, advice from a friend, and then the coincidental thread started by Littleowl earlier today, I went out and bought a Panasonic Lumix FZ38 18x. We are lucky to have a photographic retailer locally that is very competitive on price. I paid £249 for it, which I think is an excellent price, and the friendly and obliging retailer is on hand should I need help or if it goes wrong. He recommended this particular camera for a technophobe like me who wants an automatic point and shoot with a good zoom.
I now have to read the instructions. Don't hold your breath for any pictures just yet!!
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Hi Sparrow
What good news - can't wait to the see the photos. We have a Panasonic Lumix G10 and they are really quite lovely cameras. I wish you many many days of happy snapping!
Regards
Kerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezmo6310/
Hi Birdwatcher
Your photos are really really lovely, a mile away? wow you would never know, it's so clear. Love the second one the drops are full of detail.
My Husband has bought me the Panasonic Lumix G1 , together with an additional 45-200mm zoom lens (equivalent to 90-400mm on 35mm basis). It is very light to carry and easy to use as long as I don't try and be too clever, but I am sure I will get used to it with more practise.
Birdwatcher, they are lovely photographs. The osprey is so clear, having been so far away from you and love the raindrops.
Hi Everyone,
Buzzard said:If you really get the hang of it, I can't wait to see the Nasal Hairs on your Goldfinches LoL :-)
ROFL Buzzard - The nasal hairs will be my first photo!!!
I may be some time reading this manual.
Love the raindrops - and the Osprey over a mile away!
I'll be sure to post my first decent bird picture, if ever I discover how to switch the thing on! Serously, I'm not that bad, but almost!!!
Oh right, fanks Buzzard - not content with taking all of the Goldfinches you've now resorted to stealing my jokes!!! On a personal note, one needs a Goldfinch to study the nasal hairs in the first place! - Don't listen to him Sparrow! And stop shaking the camera, the on switch is on the top!
Hi Sparrow, congratulations on an excellent purchase. I know several people who have the Lumix and the photos are brilliant - as Birdwatcher has illustrated.
Good luck with the manual. I purchased a Samsung WB550 Compact a while back as an "always have with me" second camera. That didn't come with a printed manual, although it is on the disk. I decided I wanted a written version rather than just the "on pc" one so I located it on the Samsung website and printed it out. 117 pages and a small rainforest later I have just about read through the index. I am now in the realms of "try it and see" mode LOL.
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Hi Sparrow.All the best with your new camera. Can't wait to see some pictures. :-)Those are wonderful pictures, Birdwatcher. Thanks for posting.
Paul.
Warning! This post contains atrocious spelling, and terrible grammar. Approach with extreme edginess.
Hi all,
You will NOT believe what I have just done. What a dumbo. I downloaded the software that came with the new camera, thought I knew what I was doing and attempted to download 3 pictures I took of the dogs. (Moderators shut your ears) the bloody thing started to copy every single photograph on my computer, and believe me there are thousands of them, most of them important. I couldn't stop it. I then thought I would select all and delete, just to get them off the software programme. This worked fine. Then I discovered it had deleted every single photo from my computer!!!!!!! I have just spent the last hour retrieving them all from my back up pen drives and still haven't finished. I could be here for several more hours yet. Am I the sort of person to be trusted with a new camera?
Unknown said: Hi Birdwatcher Your photos are really really lovely, a mile away? wow you would never know, it's so clear. Love the second one the drops are full of detail.
Oops sorry All, the viewing platform is 900 yards away from the nest the climb up to it is 1 mile.
Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. ~ Mark Twain
Oh Sparrow! How lucky that you had all your photos on pen drives. I guess you have found this out the hard way now but the software doesn't make a copy of all your photos - it just accesses them from your "My Pictures" folders to enable you to edit them etc. Make yourself a cup of tea and start again in the morning. It's very late now and you are probably too tired and furious to concentrate.