Buying advice please

[shaggy]

Hi,

I was wondering if I can get some help?
I have over the past few years had a Nikon D50 followed by a Nikon D40 kit. Both with upto 300mm lenses.

I have have generally been very impressed with the quality of shot I have had however...I have sold them both and nearly pulled my hair out!

On both kits I kept eventually finding 'post' on my photos, I am guessing through swithcing from the 18-55m lens to the 70-300mm lenses and getting 'muck' in them?

I am presently without any camera and going mad...I am going to Waddington Air Show this coming weekend and need one quick lol!

I guess I will suffer speed issues compared to my slr's? I have seen in Argos a Fuji S1000FD which looks good on paper but read mixed reviews, or more negative reviews. While scouting around I came across a Fuji S5700 for £115 on Ebay, do you think this would be a decent(ish) substitute?

I think at present my budget would stretch up to £150.

Really appreciate any advice,

Thanks

(can shots be taken through the view finder rather than viewing a screen?), may be able to stretch to £200.

[IvorETower]

I doubt that the zoom range on the Fuji 5700 will be sufficient for your airshow purposes. The S1000FD that you mention, if it's the one with the lens that goes to 400mm equivalent, should be a much better bet (especially if you can get it for under £200), but you won't get as good image quality with any "bridge" camera as you will from a proper dSLR with a suitable telephoto lens attached.