Island Images - Digital Cameras Some details & pictures of cameras used in production of this website (Pictures are not to scale!)  

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 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 S24 Ultra.  

DJI Osmo 360 December 2025 - 15520 x 7760 pixels (360 mode) 8K Video A fixed aperture (f/1.9) & focal length (8mm equivalent) twin lens '360 degree' camera. It uses some clever internal processing to stitch the images from both cameras together, but can also be used in a single camera mode for conventional shots. It has two 1" sensors so should be good in low light.

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 TZ95   May 2025 - 5184 x 2920 pixels (16:9) Bought second hand to replace the failed TZ200 as Panasonic have stopped making these 'enthusiast' compact cameras, which is a shame.  Another great compact with hinged rear screen for low or high level shots.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra January 2025 -  Phone camera technology has advanced so much over the last few years! This 'mobile phone' comes equipped with no less than five different cameras, ranging from 10Mp to 200Mp.  It's amazing to be able to carry around such a range of cameras in your pocket, although it's obviously not quite as versatile as a conventional camera.

Panasonic Lumix FZ72 - FZ82 November 2022 - FZ72 4608 x 2592 Pixels (16:9) November 2013 - September 2022 FZ82 4896 x 2752 pixels (16:9)  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 September 2014 - 24.1 Mp 6000 x 4000 Pixels 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

  Cameras on Small Unmanned Aircraft (SUAs)   Currently in Use

DJI Mini 4 Pro 12 Mp (48 Mp with processing) 4032 x 2264 Pixel (16:9 format) Maximum Take-Off Mass (MTOM) 249g   A replacement for the excellent Mini 2, but comes with obstacle avoidance sensors and generally a huge advance. I have one with the RC-2 controller, which has its own built in screen.  Not as large a sensor as the Air 2S and can't handle such strong winds. Limited to using it with the DJI 'Fly' software as the controller doesn't permit 3rd pary software, so I can't use my preferred 'Litchi' program.   Hours Flown; 49:00 (December 2025)

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: 52:00 (December 2025)

  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)

DJI Mini 2 12 Mp 4000 x 2250 Pixels (wide format) December 2020 -    Maximum 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: 120:25 (October 2024)

  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 - 2015 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 - c2012 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.

 

Panasonic Lumix TZ60 18.1 Mp 4896 x 2752 Pixels April 2015 - 2025   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.  Replaced with TZ95.

Panasonic Lumix TZ200 20 Mp 5478x3080 Pixels (wide format) September 2018 - 2024   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. Unfortunately suffered lens problems and had to be retired.

GoPro Hero 9 20 Mp 5184 x 3888 Pixels September 2021 - 2023   A 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!