I am not a photographer, I do not want to be. BUT I love photography and have a great eye for an image. The basic digital camera's are not cutting it for me anymore. I want something sharper and where I have more control. I don't mind learning how to use a camera but because I am not going into this as a living I do not want to pay a fortune.

So tell me - Why do you recommend??

Frankie, that's not an easy question to answer without asking a whole lot of questions, the answers to which might in turn generate mode questions. My initial reaction would be to go for something like the Canon G9. It's a compact camera, but not just any old compact camera - it has full manual control as well as all the usual auto modes, it has a hotshoe for flash and it has a raw mode too. It's not exactly cheap but it won't break the bank either.

A more sensible suggestion is to drop in to Conns Camera's on Clarendon Street and ask for Mike Conn. You'll pay over the odds there but you will get very sound advice and based on what you tell them they ought to be able to recommend a suitable camera for you. Even though I hadn't been in there in about six years, since leaving Dublin, Mike still remembered me when I dropped in to him during the summer.

- Thorsten.

Been seriously considering a G9 as a walkabout camera myself. THe comments here are pushing me closer to ordering one.

Frankie,  if you don't mind the idea of an SLR take the opportunity to ask the photographer on any shoots if you can try theirs and see how it feels.

P 

   For those thinking of the G9, the old model the G7 is being sold off by www.7days.com   for £274 a real bargin, i have bought one along with an extra battery and a 4gig Sandisc card.  The results are first class, the only drawback is there is no RAW.  But used along with my 20D it is not a problem.

            &nb sp;                    Colin  

I suggest you have a look at www.pbase.com once you have a short list. PBASE is a photgraphic gallery site and one of it's better features is the ability to search by camera or lens. Many of the images can be presented at full resolution so it (generally) pretty easy to find photos taken by a specific camera of a similar subject matter to what you intend to photograph. It is very good for judging how well a cameras built-in flash performs in a pub or street for example.

 
As for myself,  I have been very impresed with the picture quality from the larger canon powershot range - not the nicest looking cameras, but they seem to take great pictures.....

Gareth.

www.eyeforphotos.co.uk

Do you mean 7dayshop? If so they have the G9 for £309.

 P

  I bought this about a month ago, but for all the difference in price now the G9 would be the best buy.  the G7 certainly gives the results.

            &nb sp;                         &nb sp;    Colin