Korean Job Discussion Forums

[RobertX]

i wanna buy a canon g10, theyre all about 520000 won now, but the g11 comes out in 2 weeks - i would assume that the g10 prices will drop but in this country you never know

any thoughts, help?

thanks

[oskinny1]

I strongly recommend the G10, as a matter of fact there is one for sale! I heard the seller is ACE!!!

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=169287

[Forward Observer]

The G11 retails for about 500 USD back home. I'm going back home (for good) in about three weeks, so I'm going to wait to make a decision between a G11 or the 50D. I really want a DSLR, but having a compact that has a lot of the functions of a DSLR is tempting. Then again, there's picture quality - the 50D will take much better pictures. Then there's the 500D, which is a little bit less of a camera, but also takes movies like the G series.

It's a heck of a decision, but the G series cameras are great. I've had the G5, G7, G9, and now trying to decide between the G11 and the 50D.

I am pretty sure that the G11 will be in the 600,000 - 700,000 range. Not sure though.

Oskinny's camera is awesome. The megapixels are 14.7, whereas the G11 is 10.1 - the experts say this doesn't matter though, because the G11 will take better pictures in low light conditions.

Another thing- the g11's LCD is smaller than the g10. 2.8 inches vs. 3.0 inches.

[Hindsight]

If you want to take technically superior pictures and you have the skill to do this you need the right camera.

That said, a real photographer can get pretty good pictures out of a decent point and shoot. Heck, a real photographer doesn't need any of the auto stuff, he or she can set the aperture, shutter speed and focus without a computer's help. He can get good pictures from a point and shoot by knowing the camera and using the focus and exposure lock.

In the old days, what counted was the lens and the film. These days, its the lens and the sensor, mainly. But there's a lot else going on in these cameras. Many of them don't have real apertures, so the options for shooting are limited.

If you want to take snapshots, even really nice snapshots, and you want to have fun taking pictures, you need a relatively small, light camera, one you will carry around a lot. The G10/11 would fit the bill, but you could get fine pictures from an APS super zoom, probably for less money.

If you want to take technically advanced photos you should probably get a DSLR or one of the 43 or M43 cameras by Panasonic or Olympus (more brands to come).

There is no one perfect camera. Frankly, if I were in your shoes and had a limited budget, I might just get a $100 point and shoot with a good lens (a Canon 480 or Fuji A170) to stick in my pocket and sink the rest of my money into a good camera.

The Canon Gs are real good looking, and the kind of camera you can always find a use for down the road. But a good APS super zoom will give you much more bang for your buck, without all the extra weight and expense of a DSLR system.

Frankly, I think the APS super zoom format is the closest thing to a single perfect camera for a good photographer, short of a DSLR. You can get them in different sizes, some are fairly small, they often take AAs, and many of them have excellent lenses. The most rugged will have a rigid lens mount, like a DSLR lens.

This is an example (not a recommendation) of an APS super zoom, $328 in the States, about 550,000 won and up here:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/639338-REG/Panasonic_DMC_FZ35K_Lumix_DMC_FZ35_Digital_Camera.html#specifications

Here's an example of a cheap light one, $162 in the States:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/600949-REG/Fujifilm_15929469_FinePix_S1500_Digital_Camera.html

All that said, if you are shopping in Korea, you've got a problem. The price here seems to bear no relation to the price in the rest of the known universe for good newer models. To wit:

http://english.gmarket.co.kr/challenge/neo_goods/goods.asp?goodscode=162857168

Older and discontinued models might cost close to prices elsewhere, provided stores are trying to get rid of them. So you might find that the G10's price here is reasonable at some point. Just search gmarket.

To sum up, no one can pick a camera for you. This is not like the film days when you had three basic 35 mm formats, etc. You have to do some research. And you need to have a clear idea of how you are going to use the camera.

Photography is a great hobby. It's amazing how many talented photographers are out there, judging form sites like Flickr. And they are getting great shots on all sorts of different cameras.

[lion]

If you're looking at the Canon G9/10/11, also consider the Panasonic DMC-LX3

[Forward Observer]

The canon g11 just hit the shelves this morning in Korea.

680,000 won. Just FYI, called Pix Dix store in Myongdong.

[ChopChaeJoe]

I second the LX3, never looked back.