Digital Camera

[BlueToffee]

My trusty Panasonic digital camera is coming to the end of it's useful life, beset by many problems.

I would appreciate any feedback on whether to replace it with a similar digital camera, or upgrade to a DSLR. And of course the next question, if I do upgrade, which DSLR would you recommend?

Any comments would be appreciated.

[TheOtherHalf]

MY OH bought me a Canon Powershot SX260 HS and its great. It takes a bit of getting used to after my pocket digital camera, but you can do so much more with it. I have the GPS on mine but you can buy without GPS for about £30 cheaper. Mine was from Amazon £199 which included memory card and case. My brother who is a camera expert recommended it. Good luck

[MichaelZZ]

If you're happy with Panasonic - as I am - there's no real reason to change. I have been absolutely delighted with my Lumix FZ-38. I'm believe the basic layout of the controls is similar across the Lumix range so you won't have a steep learning curve if you upgrade to another Panasonic. The Leica optics are pretty good too.
Unless you want an all singing, all dancing DSLR with features that you might never use and interchangeable lenses to lug around, I would stick with what you know and love, perhaps upgrading by one or two notches.

[AB Editor]

I've been looking at the Sony NEX series. You can swap lenses in the same way as a dslr, but the body of it isn't as chunky. The picture comes out very colourful though, so if you like more muted colours you're probably not going to like this.

[BlueToffee]

Thank you all for your answers, much appreciated.

[Clanad]

I finally took the leap a few months ago and bought a Canon T3i 18.5 mega-pixel DSLR. Couldn't be happier with it! I've had several of the 'point-and-shoot' minis and they do a good job for snapshots, but the feature of a really good DSLR are far superior.

Here in the U.S., the Canon with 3 lenses runs about $800 (US)... but well worth it...

[Sharingan]

I shoot with 2 Sony Alphas; one a A900 and one A700 and having bought them second hand 3 years ago when I was first starting can honestly say that they have been brill. The advantage of the Sony Alpha range is that they can take the old Minolta lenses which means you can obtain some very good lenses second hand at a fraction of the price you can get any other similar lenses for Nikon or Cannon. They have been used a lot and will take comparable images to simlar Nikon and Cannon bodies and are much lighter than either since the anti shake is in the body not in the lenses.

[BlueToffee]

Appreciate all the recommendations, just thought that if i posted again now I might get a few more opinions, they'll all be welcome.

[parkie]

I have a Lumix BT. Great little camera. Lots of hidden extras as well.