What camera? - Horizons Unlimited

**Sean Kelly** · #1 6 Jan 2001

Good timing starting this forum...

My not so trusty old 35mm compact has just given up the ghost and I need to replace it with something suitable for an overland touring trip to Aus, any ideas? I think I'll stick with film and mail home rather than go digital.

I am no expert so an SLR is probably impractical. Other requirements are quality lens/pics (obviously), flash, reliability and long battery life. I'm not bothered about automatic everything. The lens on my old camera wasn't much use for anything more than 30ft away, so I guess a longer lens could be useful.

Any advice appreciated

**Photog Rob** · #2 8 Jan 2001

Hi Sean,

Thanks for dropping by. I anticipate this question of yours will be quite frequent, so I'll answer it in the form of a separate Frequently Asked Question. Look within this forum's FAQ for:

"CHOOSING THE RIGHT CAMERA FOR YOU: COMPACT OR REFLEX?
and
"THE RIGHT COMPACT CAMERA"

I'll try to make it as easy and informative as possible.

See you there,

Roberto.

**Sean Kelly** · #3 11 Jan 2001

Hi Roberto

Thanks, just checked out your FAQ, very informative and plenty of info to digest. I'll print it off, give it to the man in the shop and stand well back while his brain boils.

Just out of curiosity, which model of compact do you actually use, if any?

Craving a long zoom...

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Sean

**Photog Rob** · #4 12 Jan 2001

Glad to have helped. I've run through more compact cameras than I care to remember in my search for the perfect one: Lately, I've used several incarnations of Pentax and Nikons, but my darling at the moment is a Fuji DL Super Mini-zoom. Great picture taking, but what I love most is its design. It's aluminium bodied and looks exactly like a Porsche-designed sardine can. Believe it or not, that's good!

If the man at the shop looks a bit new to the business, you might as well take your old camera to snap a pic of his head blowing up...

See you on the road. Remember you owe me a

! (what, didn't read the fine print of the photo forum about my rates?)

**Sean Kelly** · #5 16 Jan 2001

Hmmm.... thought I'd saved some shoe leather there, until I discovered that the Fuji is discontinued!

Beer no problem, see you on the road...

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Sean

**Sean Kelly** · #6 24 Jan 2001

Hi Rob

With your comments ringing in my ears, I went to the local camera shop where, amongst the stock, there was an end of line Fuji DL zoom for £179!

Good price, good reviews, liked it and bought it. Shoot a roll through and see what happens.

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Sean