Island Images - Digital Cameras
Some details & pictures of cameras used in production of this website
(Pictures are not to scale!)
 
Island Images Home
About Island Images
 Great reviews of these and loads of others at the Imaging Resource
 
 
Current Cameras
The cameras fitted to most smartphones these days are more than capable of taking pictures of high quality, on a typical website sized picture it would be difficult to
tell the difference between a phone camera picture and one from a high end digital DSLR.  Some of the pictures in Island Images are taken with my phone, at the moment a Samsung Galaxy A71.
 
DJI Osmo Pocket 3
November 2023 - 
3840 x 2160 Pixels (16:9)
4K Video
A fixed aperture (f/2.0) & focal length (20mm equivalent). Very good in low light situations.  Has a super wireless mic with wind muff.  Great ability to switch the camera around from forward to self facing with just 3 clicks.
Insta360 Ace Pro
December 2023 - 
8064 x 4536 Pixels (16:9)
8K video
Fixed aperture (f/2.6) & focal length (16mm equivalent)  Bought as a replacement for the GoPro 9, but proving itself to be a very capable still and video camera, exceptionally good in very low light. Much better menu system than the GoPro. Hinged screen.
 
Panasonic Lumix FZ72 - FZ82
16.1 Mp
FZ72 4608 x 2592 Pixels (16:9)
November 2013 - Sep 2022
FZ82 4896 x 2752 pixels (16:9)
November 2022 - 
 Follow on from the FZ150 with amazing 60x optical zoom, (20mm - 1200mm 35mm equivalent). The FZ82 is very similar to the FZ72, which was just getting a little tired and internally dusty from use.
 
Nikon D7100
24.1 Mp
6000 x 4000 Pixels
September 2014 -
 
Replacement for the D80 - great all round camera with reliable metering.  18 - 105mm, 70 - 300mm Nikon AF-S,  105mm Sigma macro & 150 - 500mm Sigma DG lenses.
 
 
Panasonic Lumix TZ60
18.1 Mp
4896 x 2752 Pixels
April 2015 - 
 
Improved version of the TZ10 compact I'd had for a while, 30x optical zoom and an electronic viewfinder.  Can shoot very good panoramas.  Although to a large degree replaced by the TZ200, still in use from time to time.
 
Panasonic Lumix TZ200
20 Mp
5478x3080 Pixels (wide format)
September 2018 - 
 
Replacement for the TZ60, not quite as much zoom (24 - 360mm 35mm equivalent) but a larger 1" sensor and other updated features. This is my 'take everywhere' camera and a lot of the website pictures come from it.
 
GoPro Hero 9
20 Mp
5184 x 3888 Pixels
September 2021 - 
 
A new camera bought mainly for taking on kayak trips as it'scompletely waterproof.  I don't really like how the menu system works and it seems to switch all to readily into a time lapse sequence when I'm just trying to switch it off!
 
Cameras on Small Unmanned Aircraft (SUAs)
 
Currently in Use
DJI Mini 2
12 Mp
4000 x 2250 Pixels (wide format)
December 2020 - 
 
Maximun Take-Off Mass (MTOM) <250g
 
Bought as a replacement for the Spark.  Main advantage is that it is fitted with the DJI OcuSync 2 data transmission system so should have a much more reliable control link to and from the aircraft.  Can shoot 4K video and RAW still images.  My first Mini 2 developed a harware fault but was replaced under warrenty.
 
Hours flown: 80:10 (January 2023)
DJI Air 2S
20 Mp
5472 x 3078 Pixel (16:9 format)
February 2022 - 
Maximum Take-Off Mass (MTOM) 595g
 
Bought as a more up to date and lighter replacement for the Phantom 4 Pro with a virtually identical camera, although no mechanical shutter.  Fitted with the very reliable OcuSync 2 data link system.  Also has ADS-B detection fitted for warning of suitably equipped aircraft operating in the vicinity.
 
Hours flown: 23:35 (January 2023)
 
Retrired or in Reserve
DJI Phantom 2 Vision+
14 Mp
4384 x 2466 Pixels
November 2014 - January 2017
 
Maximum Take-Off Mass (MTOM) 1242g
 
My first remote Aerial camera platform, I found it amazing to be able to get aerial pictures with it.  Used for shooting all the photos in my 'Man With Altitude' book. Used an 'Enhanced Wi-Fi' for data connections that wasn't 100% reliable.
 
Hours Flown:  46:35
DJI Spark
12 Mp
3968 x 2976 Pixels
August 2017 - Currently in reserve
 
Maximum Take-Off Mass (MTOM) 300g
 
Bought as a 'go anywhere' mini drone that I could pack up in a rucksack and take to more remote places.  Has also been to Lanzarote twice (as in pic above).  Let down by often unreliable 'Enhanced Wi-Fi' used for the data link system, but apart from that proved to be very capable.
 
Hours Flown: 70:55 (January 2023)
DJI Phantom 4 Pro
20 Mp
5472 x 3078Pixels (wide format)
January 2017 - Currently in reserve
 
Maximum Take-Off Mass (MTOM) 1388g
 
Standby Aerial camera platform, can also shoot video.  All round improvements on the Phantom 2 with a 1" camera sensor and using the DJI OcuSync 2.0 data transmission system which gives a rock solid control link to and from the aircraft.
 
Hours Flown: 80:30 (January 2023)
 
Older Digital Cameras
 
Fuji DS7
0.31 Mp
640 x 480 pixels
Pre 2000
 
My (and Fuji's) first digital camera. Originally retailing at £599 (mine was discounted!)
I still have it and it still worked on last time I tried to use it!
 
 
 
 
 
Fuji MX-1700
1.5 Mp
1280 x 1024 pixels
Jan 2000 - Mar 2001
 
My first camera capable of 'reasonable' website pictures.
3x Optical Zoom
Now broken - lens jammed
 
 
Fuji 4900
2.4 Mp
1600 x 1200 pixels
Mar 2001 - May 2003
 
Replacement for the 1700, bought in Dubai on Australia trip.
6x Optical Zoom
Sold on.
 
 
Fuji S602
3.1 Mp
2048 x 1536 pixels
May 2003 - Oct 2004
 
Replacement for the 4900
6x Optical zoom
 
 
 
 
    Fuji F700 
    3.1 Mp
2048 x 1536 pixels
Aug 2004 -
Bought mainly for use with Fuji underwater housing, but also used on its own
3x Optical Zoom
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fuji S7000
6.3 Mp
2848 x 2136 pixels
Oct 2004 -
Replacement for the S602
6x Optical Zoom
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nikon D70
6.1 Mp
3008 x 2000 pixels
Jun 2005 - 2007
 
My first digital SLR!
Lenses are: Nikon 18-70 zoom, Nikon 70-300 Zoom, Sigma 105 Macro
 
 
 
 
'Tchibo' - 
10.1 Mp
(Picture is almost identical Minox DC1011) 
3648 x 2736 pixels
Jul 2007 - 2010
Compact camera
3x Optical Zoom
A good camera at bargain pricebut let down by poor battery performance. Replaced by TZ10.
 
 
 
Nikon P100
10 Mp
3648 x 2736 pixels
March 2011 - March 2012
 
Great 26x optical zoom and good manual features, not convinced about the sensor quality though, loosing fine details. Replaced by Panasonic FZ150
 
 
 
 Nikon D80
10 Mp
3872 x 2592 pixels
Nov 2007 -  2014
 
Another Nikon SLR - improved version of the D70 using the same lenses. Very variable metering though and replaced by Nikon D7100
 
 
Panasonic TZ10
12.1 Mp
4320 x 2432 Pixels (in wide format)
April 2010 - 2015
 
Replacement compact for the Tchibo
12x optical zoom - an excellent camera and I was really pleased with results.
 
 
 
Panasonic FZ150
12 Mp
4000 x 2248 Pixels (wide format)
March 2012 - 2013
 
Replacement for the Nikon P100, easy to carry around and with a host of features.
24x optical zoom, 25mm - 600mm 35mm equivalent.