Try wiping the vaseline off the end of the lens.

I've told you before that if you use Macro mode you don't need to get the camera that close.

Do cameras suffer from the humidity? do the lenses fog up?

Yes and it's something to watch out for if you have a dslr , storing damp lenses is a recipe for ****ed focusing mechanisms

Ok all, thanks for the advice.

Auto - it's more for holidays and stuff. Over xmas and New Year we're going to KL, Langkawi and Sydney for 3 weeks - mainly I want it for holidays, amazing beach shots, sunsets, monkeys in trees - all that sort of thing.

Nothing bulky would be a bonus but you see some peoples photos and they are so sharp and the colour just amazing that's what I really want.

I'm onto my 4th Sony Cybershot and as a little pocket camera they are ace, I've also got the Olympus Tough 800 which in all honesty I'm not impressed with at all, after 6 months it stopped working as it got water in it, funny for a waterproof camera.

So yeah, something not so big that is easy to use and takes brilliant, clear, crisp photos.

90% of a clear crisp brilliant photo is achieved by the user not the camera. Most point and shoot pictures are crap because as users we dont think about the end result or how to achieve it.

When people paid through the nose for film and couldn't see the result for possibly weeks they took the time to compose an image and hold the camera steady. now we just fire away willy nilly without any thought to how we are holding the camera, whether there is any light etc etc

there are plenty of free online guides to taking better pictures but the 1st place to start is how you hold the camera, at arms length with one hand is a recipe for shite pics 99% of the time, thats why most users see an immediate improvement with a bigger camera, the minute you are forced to hold a camera properly and look at the world through a viewfinder you automatically slow down down and take better pictures.

I agree, but my cybershot is ace but the DL pics I see are miles better, and that's what I want now.

Spugsy - if it's mostly for holidays I think I'd go with the compact option.

As noted the G12 gets very good reviews - highest rated compact on dpreview. This Olympus also is very good and is one of the newer "four thirds" cameras - this means much bigger sensor for more light gathering.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/CanonG12/
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympusepl3/

These'll both produce great shots - though for monkeys in trees - the zoom of compact vs telephoto on DSLR are miles apart....

On the other topic - Mrs Auto & I were in KL and Langkawi for 2 weeks in August - loved them both.... On Langkawi check out Bon Ton & Temple Tree - beautiful places to stay. Also Datai (pricy) but all the monkey action you want...

If you want tips / recommendations for things to do / places to go / eat etc drop me a mail...

Yeah we're staying at the Andaman which is next door to the Datai (Datai was £670 a night over xmas, eek!). We're there for Christmas and the 4 days afterwards, then 2 nights in the shanri la (unless anyone else can recommend somewhere nice for what is a very cheap £90 a night), then Sydney for NYE and another 6 days. Awesome. Guess I'll see you at the ball in October though?

Are these good then? I'd rather get something really good now than get something good and upgrade in another couple of years.

With the cameras - I've not roadtested them as it were - so kind of have to go on reviews. Others on here swear by the G12 though... go check them out in the store - you may well pick up a DSLR try it and love it or the G12 might not feel right, etc - try them in store, have a think and then go for it...

The Andaman looked nice - the bay is beautiful and you have the Datai restaurants a short walk along the beach. We say loads of Dusky Leaf Monkeys and the super intelligent Macaque Monkeys, wild boar, all sorts...

That location is pretty far from the other parts of the island - about 40 mins taxi - so be prepared to have most meals there and maybe pricey. Total cheap gypo suggestion - Langkawi is a duty free island - so you can buy dead cheap (but decent) beers and wines. Can of beer in shop = 1dhs at the hotel 18dhs I think... Just buy a load at the shop and stock the fridge...

Pantai Cenang is the main beach area - it's long and wide beach - pretty nice but the beach at your hotel is better. Decent restaurants there, nice italian pizza place, good sundowners at The Cliff Restaurant. If you go there for a day - stop off at Nam at Bon Ton or Straits at Temple Tree on the way back to Andaman - both excellent for food.

The cable car is worth a trip - be prepared - it's steep and very high...

KL - We stayed at Mandarin Oriental over looking the towers - was about 90 quid I think. Nice place. Traders Hotel looked very good also - the Sky Bar there is great for cocktails and views... Jalan Alor is the street for hawker food - flat BBQ pork squares were fantastic and there is a place at the far end of the street called Wong Ah Wa (or simply WAW) that do great chicken wings.

Anyways - yes we'll catch up at the ball and will tell you more...

Thanks will try that

spugsy, a professional photographer friend of mine recommended my camera, it's the nickon d90 and is fantastic...my brother had the equivalent canon and he's now switched to nikon, there's no comparison...

MM, xx

The does look pretty good like, is it easy to use? That's the one you used on your safari yeah? Those pics were amazing.

it's very easy to use, i've got a couple of lenses which are defo worth investing in...and yep, i specifically bought it for the safari...

MM, xx

The new Sony NEX range of mirrorless cameras are winning lots of praise for their quality and practicality. Smaller than a DSLR with interchangeable lenses and picture quality on a par with many pro-consumer cameras, captures 1080p HD video too.

http://www.sony.co.uk/hub/nex-compact-camera-system

Well worth considering if you want DSLR quality in a pocket sized (excluding the lens...) package.