Seeking advice on used manual digicam for low-grain pics, up to £200

[jon_marks1]

Seeking advice on used manual digicam for low-grain pics, up to ï¾£200.

 

Evening, all.

 

I'm hoping I might be able to get some pointers as to which models I

should investigate, as ploughing across the web and visiting my local

Jessops has just left me utterly confused. Apologies in advance for a

very wordy post too.

 

I'm a hi-fi anorak, and my main photographic aim (at the moment) is

taking pics of hi-fi indoors (mmm, fascinating...) I'm fairly skint,

and don't have any real lights. The only way I've been able to take

usable pics so far is with a cube slightly less than a metre on a

side and open-fronted. The two sides and top have cardboard alcoves on

them, each lined with reflective foil and each fitted with four 150w

standard lightbulbs. The rear panel is either white or dark-ish blue,

depending on what I'm trying to get a picture of. This bodge sort or

works, although I know it could be a lot better.

 

I have two auto digicams, a Canon PowerShot A300 3.2MP, and a Lumix

DMC-LC80 5MP. I bought the Lumix because I wanted a camera with less

barrel distortion and greater sharpness than the Canon, and in this it

succeeded admirably. However, there was always something about its

pics that grated very slightly, although it took a long time for me to

realise what it was - grain/noise, even on the lowest ISO 80 setting.

 

It's only recently that I've learned about things like sensor and lens

size, and how they can affect noise levels in a picture, and found

that the Canon produces less grainy pics than the Lumix for the same

settings and light levels. I do occasionally wonder how much the

lighting I have available affects the amount of grain in my pics,

though having used both cameras outside on sunny days, I can't say

there seems to be much real difference in grain between those outside

pics taken with better light and the pics I take indoors.

 

So... I'm thinking of spending up to ï¾£200 on a used manual digicam, as

I think I could do with the extra flexibility of manual over auto

anyway. Is this a practical amount, or am I realistically looking at

having to spend more cash? I don't need to blow prints up particularly

large, but obviously, like every man and his dog, I like sharp pics,

albeit not at the expense of grain. Can anyone give me some ideas as

to which models I should consider given my, ahem, basic set-up and the

fact that I'm not fussed about size, weight, burst speed, start-up

time, shutter lag, flash power or the like? I don't do any zoom stuff

either, although macro capability would be handy. (However, I might be

able to get away with using the Canon for this if it meant better

picture quality in my new camera).

 

Now that I realise it's not inherently a question of more pixels are

better no matter what, I'm wondering if I should opt for, say, a good

3-4MP camera with a biggish lens and sensor. I seem to remember

Panasonic did this in one of their cameras from a year or two back,

and I quite liked what I saw when someone sent me over a couple of

pics, some taken with the Lumix, a few others taken with one of the

Leicas.

 

Any guidance would be much appreciated.

 

Cheers, Jon.

[andrew_hall1]

>it took a long time for me to realise what it was - grain/noise, even on the lowest ISO 80 setting.

 

Look up Noise Ninja and Neat Image.

[Tim_Lookingbill]

Since noise is your issue, I'ld suggest spending some time at

dpreview.com and examine sample noise shots of several

brands of camera's.

 

All small sensor camera's will generate some noise in varying

degrees. Some worse than others. It's how they suppress it by

their incamera noise reduction processing that sets them apart.

Capturing in RAW will show you how much of the noise is

actually from the sensor allowing the user to suppress to their

own taste in editing.

 

You'll have to judge by what kind of texture of noise you like. Go

for the less splotchy clumpy rainbow color type. The current crop

of 7-8mp Nikons, Fuji's, Canons and Olympus's are the best in

providing good looking noise in the under $600 types from what

I've seen.

[andrew robertson]

Hah!

 

As long as low-grain doesn't also have to be low light, you can use dpreview's camera

comparison tool. But otherwise you might as well wish for a unicorn.

[kkeller]

Fuji f10, hands down. Can shoot up to to 1600. Bigger sensor. f11 is out now, so you may get f10 for around 200.