Keith, if your only purpose in buying a digital camera is to photograph orchids at reasonably close range, have a look
at the information on the Brisbane Orchid Society site at http://www.users.bigpond.com/gmcorbi...talcamera.html

Macro flash is very important. Many of the better cameras have their flash situated on top of the body. In this
position the lens shields a close (macro) object from full illumination by the flash. Then a ring flash becomes
necessary. I have this problem with my Panasonic FZ20. This camera is marvellous with natural light macro but, with
flash, half the subject is in shadow.

So for macro flash I fall back on my (relatively) cheap little Nikon Coolpix 3300. Its lens takes up little room, so
the flash illuminates the full object even at 5 cm (2") range. But note that the flash on some cameras can't adjust to
close macro range, & washes out the picture.

Having said all that, the FZ20 is excellent in all other respects. Optical zoom of 12 X, with a 35 mm equivalent focal
length of 36 to 420 mm at f 2.8; good image stabiliser for long shots; selectable ISO equivalent from 80 to 400;
selectable aperture or shutter priority, as well as the idiot proof mode I usually set; selectable metering &
autofocus, including spot for both; manual focus option; electronic viewfinder as well as the normal lcd screen (I find
the viewfinder very useful when trying to focus on an orchid 60 feet up a tree!). I've been very happy with it. And,
while a good quality slr will probably out perform it, it's still as good as my old Minolta X700 kit and far cheaper
than an equivalent digital slr kit.

On Sun, 21 Aug 2005 22:25:14 GMT, "keith ;-\)" wrote:

Hi All, I am thinking of buying a new dig camera so I am looking for
recommends and advise before I buy one.
Favourites so far, Kodak Z740, Konica Minolta Dimage Z5, Sony Cybershot H1
.Any response on these cameras or what you have/are happy with would be
appreciated .
Thanks Keith
PS All these makes & specifications make your head spin,you think you have
found the camera for you then you read a bad review or see another one you
like !

Dave Gillingham
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