fuji finepix S5700

I have been recommended the above camera by a workmate in our advanced product support (i work for a large printer company), and i wanted a second opinion to see if it would be any good.

I need a camera to take action shots of my Dogs ( I have a lucher and really want to get some running shots) and any other animals. I am an artist and love to paint animals in movement. The problem i have at the moment is i cant do this! The camera i have is no good (it just blurs) and i can not paint from life . . .

So will the above camera do this well? If not what other cameras would be good? My budget is a bit tight at £200, in a year or so i may consider an SLR but i want to walk before i run!

Thanks for any help.

Hi Razcox, I've just had a look at the info on that camera and it takes 1.4 shots per second, personally I don't think thats enough, especially for a speeding lurcher , I have a Canon poweshot A630 which takes 1.8 shots per second and I wasn't getting very good results, you need to find something that takes more shots per second, I know have a Nikon D40 DSLR which takes 2.5 shots per second, a couple of examples

With my Canon 1.8 pics per second.


With the Nikon 2.5 pics per second


Not the best shots in the world but I hope you can see what I mean, I'd hate for you to waste your money on something that's isn't going to do what you expect it to, I'm not up on the point and shoot cameras I'm afraid, maybe someone will be able to advice you better on them. Have you considered a second hand DSLR?

Hope this info helps in some way

Christine

Just had a quick look at that and it seems i can pick up a Nikon D40 DSLR from amazon for £267.21 brand new.

Thanks for the info, it all helps!

If you go for the Nikon D40 be aware that you will have to also go for the Nikon lenses, other lenses will not auto focus on it and can sometimes be more expensive, the pic of Jack in the second shot, is with a 55-200mm lens, and the kit lens you would get with the D40 would be 18-55, and imo, would not get you in close enough, sorry to confuse the issue

Have just purchased a Nikon Coolpix P80 that in Sports Continuous mode will manage up to 13 fps but think it may be a little outside your price range but it could be that one of the earlier models will do the speed and less cost.

I would go with the Nikon D40 without doubt!

£267 that includes the kit lens AND you get £40 cachback!! End price= £227 !!!!!

Just make sure you buy from a UK retailer who sells offical UK stock (amazon are ok as thats where I got mine from and got my cashback no problems).

Sorry thought you were not looking for an SLR if you are that is different and you may find the D40 a better buy not sure if the £267 includes the lens though.

TBH I am a bit of a novice so would i be better to jump in at the deep end and go for an SLR or stick with a point and shoot? The only camera (other then a point and click) i have used was a Nikon film camera at collage.

Personaly, if finances allow, I'd go for a DSLR, you only have to learn once also they have an auto setting, which basically turns them into a p&s camera, although not the best setting for action shots, and you can always just learn one thing at a time, yes it may seem confusing and that there is a lot to learn, but if you take it one step at a time, it's not that bad, and at the end of the day, you'll probably end up buying a DSLR anyway

Plus, there are a load of lovely people on here who are always more than willing to answer any question you have, however silly you may think it may be, and believe me, I've asked some stupid ones in the past but as someone said (can't remember who) if you don't know, it's not a silly question

Since I got my Nikon, the only time I use my p&s is for taking videos of Jack's agility rounds.

For Christmas last year I got a 6500, which is a bit better than the 5700. I tried out the 5700 too, but it didn't have some of the features that the 6500 had.

I chose the 6500 over a DSLR because I really didn't think I was ready to own a DSLR. With the help of people on here, I can learn and try stuff out with this in betweener without getting completely confused. I could have learnt just the same with a DSLR, but these are a lot simpler to use and theres no changing lenses or anything, so I'm still happy with my current choice. However, I am still wanting a DSLR, whereas if you got a DSLR in the first place I guess you wouldn't... so that would be cheaper in the long run.