Digital cameras

[sistermag]

Can anyone recommend a decent digital camera?? I am going to Australia for a month in December and want to capture everything!!! I am particularly interested in ones with decent night shots as i will be in Sydney for New years eve and the famous fireworks. I don't have a huge budget but would be lookign to spend maybe £150-£200?

[Count-A-Strong]

Go to an independant camera dealers and ask their advice would be my advice. You can't go far wrong with a canon or a Lumix.

[Hymie]

The number one determining factor in the quality photographs is not the camera, but the person operating this camera. Make sure you have loads of practice operating the camera, taking photos in different lighting conditions and of different subjects. Become familiar with the camera’s controls, wherever possible take control of the camera’s settings, rather than leaving it on automatic. Remember that the camera’s flash will only illuminate subjects up to around 3 metres away – when taking photos of fireworks it is best to have a longish exposure and a steady camera. You might want to invest in a tripod – also useful if no-one else is available to take the picture for you (using the self-timer).

On your trip to Aus, make sure you have sufficient memory cards for the number of photos you want to take. Although photo-shops will burn to disc, in my experience they charge about the same as the memory card. If not traveling light, you could pack a laptop and download each days photos to the hard drive.

One final consideration is the camera’s power source. Make sure you have spare batteries, or sufficient rechargeables to keep shooting.

[CT]

Also would like to add, practice before you go on holiday. Test settings and try things out before you're out there. That way you'll have an idea of how best to capture a shot.