Compact Cameras

Although I love my trusty Nikon D80 very dearly, it can sometimes be rather bulky to carry around with me - especially with a couple of lenses in tow. I have been pondering buying a compact camera for some time now, just so that I can always have something to hand if I want to photograph it. The trouble is, I don't really know the first thing about compacts.

I've seen a lot of good reviews about the Canon S95 (sacrilege for a dedicated Nikon user like me), but even the reduced price of £299 strikes me as a lot of money for an everyday camera. The Canon Powershot G12 is meant as an offering for "serious" users, but at £389, it's also a very "serious" investment. I could purchase a lot of kit for my D80 for that!

I'm a bit torn. When we go away on honeymoon to the Maldives, I want a small waterproof camera that I can use while snorkelling, and I certainly don't want to spend a lot of money on this. I've investigated the possibilities of underwater housing for my existing kit, but the prices are utterly ridiculous - I wouldn't see much change out of £2000 for a D80-compatible kit, which is about 3x the cost of the camera itself when it was brand new in 2006.

So, I want an underwater compact *and* a good quality "surface" compact, all for under £300. Any suggestions?

Fake Nikon Goods on eBay

Having purchased my new lens, I ordered an HB-7 lens hood - the only compatible hood that Nikon make for the 80 - 200mm f/2.8. I always recommend using one to help reduce flare and ghosting. The trouble is, most camera shops charge over £30 for what is - essentially - a piece of plastic with a screw thread.


As a solution to my problem, I trawled eBay for HB-7 hoods. Most were being sold from Hong Kong with a 2-week dispatch estimate. Not wanting to wait two weeks, I hunted out a UK seller with next-day delivery, with a reasonably priced hood around the £15 mark. Smashing, I thought. I was not so amused when this lump of crap arrived in the post:

It's not even a good attempt at being a fake Nikon hood. The logo is wrong, the box is just plain bollocks, and the hood itself is utter rubbish. It doesn't even stay on the front of the lens or fix securely. On top of that, it lets light in through the side of the lens...which rather renders it useless.

Buyer beware on eBay...

New Lens

I am now the proud owner of a Nikon 80 - 200mm f/2.8 AF-D lens. It's a lovely bit of glass - amazing to hold, and not as heavy as earlier models. The focus is sharp, and it's amazing to be able to have an f/2.8 capability all the way through the zoom range. I'm looking forward to using it at ice hockey matches when September comes around again.