dickhrm Loc: Spingfield, IL

I have a seven year old Fujifilm Fine Pix, model S3100, digital camera that I'm quite happy with. It was a gift, but I'm guessing it cost around $200 when bought. However, I know it won't last forever, hence I'm interested in replacing it, and using the old camera as a backup. I'm looking for recommendations. Important features in my current camera that I want to retain are:
1. Through the lens viewing, with the actual photo being very close to what I see in the lens, even in telephoto and macro.
2. Settings and taken pictures viewed thru the lens (as opposed to thru the LCD screen which is very difficult for me to see in daylight.)
3. While not critical, I'd like a cable connection.
4. My old film camera had a dial where for a given F-stop, and a given focus distance, one could determine how far before and aft objects would be in focus. This is a feature I'd like to have, although admittedly I've not seen this advertised anywhere, so may not be available on digital cameras.
Things I don't need, and thus do not want to pay for, are provision for interchangeable lenses and video capability.

Thanks for any ideas, or links, any of you might have.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Thanks. You've done most of the work for us. I would recommend a DSLR, since you want to change lenses. The most important part of the camera is the lens, so buy the best you can afford. Cameras tend to get upgraded as time goes by, but lenses stay with you. Below are links for camera and lens reviews. If you have a Best Buy or Target near you, you can hold them and see how they feel. It's not considered good form to go to a camera store, waste the salesman's time, and then buy online.

Camera Reviews
http://www.kenrockwell.com
http://www.dpreview.com
http://www.snapsort.com
http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/equipment.html

Lens Reviews
http://kenrockwell.com
http://photozone.de/
http://dpreview.com

Info:
http://photonotes.org/articles/beginner-faq/lenses.html

snowbear

Bridge camera, mirror-less (like Nikon 1) or DSLR.

Same as above. Every setting won't be in the viewfinder, but the important ones will be.

I don't know of any current digital cameras that don't have a cable connection.

DSLR. I'm not aware of any bridge cameras that have a DOF scale. Some zoom lenses don't have them, but primes do (at least with Nikon.)

You basically have two choices - a bridge camera or a DSLR and get a "super zoom" lens and leave it on the camera. You'll lose some image quality when compared to a lens with a smaller focal range, but photography is full of compromises. As far as video, I think on the current models, you'll probably get that whether you want it or not.

My $0.02, YMMV

SteveR Loc: Michigan

I would suggest the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150. I have a friend who has the FZ47 and gets fantastic macro photos. They come with a Leica lens which, I believe, give crisp and sharp photos from what I've seen. They run about $450, which is a bit higher than your $200 range, but well worth the outlay.

rebride

1. DSLR (optical). Bridge (electronic)
2. Newer cameras have bigger, better LCDs. Articulating, too. You'll be surprised. They will come with any camera anyways (except articulating).
3. No problem
4. Might need a chart. http://www.dofmaster.com/doftable.html (courtesy of robert-photo).
Video, will just have to live with that one.

Bridge camera. Subtract DSLR (-interchangeable lenses)

Your camera originally listed for $299.00. There is one on sale at Amazon for over $400.00. http://www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-Finepix-S3100-Digital-Optical/dp/B0002AHQLY

photo guy Loc: Chippewa Falls, WI

A lot of the new bridge cameras have nice optical zoom to them. Most have viewfinders. Prices vary and so do the features.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Jerryc41 said, "It's not considered good form to go to a camera store, waste the salesman's time, and then buy online."

On the other hand, Jerry, you did mention Best Buy!

dickhrm Loc: Spingfield, IL

Actually, I don't want to change lenses. My current fixed lens camera meets my needs quite well. My goal is to replace it virtually in kind, except perhaps with more MPs and more range in the zoom lens and maybe a cable release. But thanks anyway for your reply, especially for those links - I'm sure I'll find them helpful.

>>>Thanks. You've done most of the work for us. I would recommend a DSLR, since you want to change lenses. The most important part of the camera is the lens, so buy the best you can afford. Cameras tend to get upgraded as time goes by, but lenses stay with you. Below are links for camera and lens reviews. If you have a Best Buy or Target near you, you can hold them and see how they feel. It's not considered good form to go to a camera store, waste the salesman's time, and then buy online.>>>

dickhrm Loc: Spingfield, IL

Thanks for your comments. As I replied to another poster, I'm quite content with my current camera, especially being able to see thru the lens the exact photo that will show up on my computer screen, plus being able to view both my settings and the photo once taken in the viewfinder. I don't always see these features addressed in camera specs, so am a bit concerned as to how I find such info out for a given camera before buying it.

dickhrm Loc: Spingfield, IL

Actually I set my max cost at $500, altho I hoped to stay under $400. So the Lumix price wouldn't be out of line for me.

Do you know if this model enables being able to see thru the lens the exact photo that will show up on my computer screen, plus being able to view both my settings and the photo once taken in the viewfinder?

These features exist in my current seven year old relatively inexpensive camera, and which I very much want to retain in any new camera I might buy. Thanks.

>>>I would suggest the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150. I have a friend who has the FZ47 and gets fantastic macro photos. They come with a Leica lens which, I believe, give crisp and sharp photos from what I've seen. They run about $450, which is a bit higher than your $200 range, but well worth the outlay.>>>

dickhrm Loc: Spingfield, IL

Thanks for your reply. Re #2, I don't care how big or better the LCD screens are on newer cameras - my tired old eyes just cannot cut thru the glare of daylight, so they are virtually worthless to me in many photo situations.

Interesting that my Fujifilm camera is still available, albeit at a higher price than when I got it seven years ago. But while, as I've said, I'm quite satisfied with it, I sort of hate to buy the same exact camera for $400 plus without some improvements, such as more MPs and more zoom.

Also, while I didn't mention it before, in bright sun I have difficulty composing photos even thru the Fujifilm viewfinder due to the glare. Oddly, I don't have this problem with my much cheaper point and shoot Canon.

>>>1. DSLR (optical). Bridge (electronic)
2. Newer cameras have bigger, better LCDs. Articulating, too. You'll be surprised. They will come with any camera anyways (except articulating).
3. No problem
4. Might need a chart. http://www.dofmaster.com/doftable.html (courtesy of robert-photo).
Video, will just have to live with that one.

Bridge camera. Subtract DSLR (-interchangeable lenses)

Your camera originally listed for $299.00. There is one on sale at Amazon for over $400.00. http://www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-Finepix-S3100-Digital-Optical/dp/B0002AHQLY>>>

dickhrm Loc: Spingfield, IL

Thanks. But do these viewfinders show the actual pic that shows up on the computer screen once photos are downloaded?

And can you view settings and the like of pix you want to take in the viewfinder plus being able to view taken pix thru the viewfinder, as opposed to on the LCD screen, which is impossible for me to see in daylight? LCD screens may be ok for young eyes, but old eyes, like mine, do not do well with them due to glare.

<<<A lot of the new bridge cameras have nice optical zoom to them. Most have viewfinders. Prices vary and so do the features.>>>

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

When reviewers test cameras, they will usually say how much of the picture the viewfinder shows. It's seldom 100%. I've had cameras that showed less in the VF, so I just compensated. My D7000 shows 100%, which is a convenience. As for getting the camera settings to display in the VF, that might be more of a challenge for a less expensive camera. It sounds like you want a DSLR, like a D3200 or D5100. as the price goes up, so do the features and the convenience.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

This is a green caterpillar taken by a friend's Panasonic Lumix DMC FX47. Note that it is a bridge camera that comes with a Leica lens.
Carol Milne is the photographer.

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/376899_3921279764851_902359696_n.jpg

P.S. Note the bokeh. Also, this copied over a little darker than the original. The original is a nice bright green.

Attached file:
(Download)

BuckeyeBilly Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

dickhrm,
Why not just stick with Fuji since you're already familiar with controls, etc.? I would recommend the new HS30EXR. Here are 2 sites for you to get the info on this camera:

http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/compact-digital-cameras/fujifilm-finepix-hs30-exr-review-50007695/

http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/s/finepix_hs30exr/

The independent review by cnet rates this camera at 4.5 out of 5 stars and received the Editor's Choice award. The Fuji site gives you all the specs you need to make up your mind about it. It has a long zoom lens on it, equivalent to 24-720mm, and, yes, you can see 100% coverage in both the viewfinder and the LCD screen. I've seen the HS30 priced at between $350-$400, so it's well within your range. I've also owned 2 other Fuji super zooms myself, the HS20EXR and, my favorite, the S200EXR, so I am a bit biased towards Fuji. However, you might want to consider a Canon SX40 which has received excellent reviews and sells for somewhere in the same range as the HS30.

Unedited, natural color, Fuji HS20EXR


Unedited, Canon SX40


Unedited, natural color, Fuji S200EXR