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What would people opt for were they about to buy a new camera right
now?

I'm looking at the superzoom cameras specifically, those offering 10x
or 12x zoom. Image stabilisation and continuous shoot (possibly looking
for first 5 or final 5 with a good number of shots per second) are
important, as are aperture sutter speed control. Fitting of extra
lenses (wide angle and telephoto) is a must, as is good focus speed
(want it to focus straight away). ISO up to 800 is probably as much as
I need.

I'm looking to move away from Fuji as their cameras don't offer proper
image stabilisation (just ISO ramping). I'm not ready for SLR and don't
know if I really need it.

Oh, no battery guzzling either...

Ian (Beefy_SAFC)

On 14 May 2006 11:04:58 -0700, Beefy_SAFC <> wrote:
> What would people opt for were they about to buy a new camera right
> now?
>
> I'm looking at the superzoom cameras specifically, those offering 10x
> or 12x zoom. Image stabilisation and continuous shoot (possibly looking
> for first 5 or final 5 with a good number of shots per second) are
> important, as are aperture sutter speed control. Fitting of extra
> lenses (wide angle and telephoto) is a must, as is good focus speed
> (want it to focus straight away). ISO up to 800 is probably as much as
> I need.
>
> I'm looking to move away from Fuji as their cameras don't offer proper
> image stabilisation (just ISO ramping). I'm not ready for SLR and don't
> know if I really need it.

There are a whole bunch of good cameras in this category:

Canon S3IS
Kodak P850
Panasonic FZ7
Sony H2

to name a few. All of them will have their partisans here (I have the
FZ5, the predecessor to the FZ7, and would recommend it), but at
the end of the day, they're pretty much all good cameras.

You might want to consider buying from a shop that stocks a bunch of
different models, and trying them out to see which one is most
comfortable to hold and to use.

-dms

I'd go for the Canon S3 because it can zoom during movies. Picture quality
is similar and feature-wise, they all have a ton of features. It's a very
tough choice.

Its refreshing that so far there is not a post from the "if it doesn't look
like a 1936 Exacta it can't be a serious camera" crowd . . .

"bmoag" <> wrote:

>
> Its refreshing that so far there is not a post from the "if it doesn't
> look like a 1936 Exacta it can't be a serious camera" crowd . . .
>
>

Well, if it hadn't been for Ihagee ....

Beefy_SAFC wrote:
>> What would people opt for were they about to buy a new camera right
>> now?
>>
>> I'm looking at the superzoom cameras specifically, those offering 10x
>> or 12x zoom. Image stabilisation and continuous shoot (possibly
>> looking for first 5 or final 5 with a good number of shots per
>> second) are important, as are aperture sutter speed control. Fitting
>> of extra lenses (wide angle and telephoto) is a must, as is good
>> focus speed (want it to focus straight away). ISO up to 800 is
>> probably as much as I need.
>>
>> I'm looking to move away from Fuji as their cameras don't offer
>> proper image stabilisation (just ISO ramping). I'm not ready for SLR
>> and don't know if I really need it.
>>
>> Oh, no battery guzzling either...
>>


The last line kills it.
All CCD sensored cameras are battery guzzlers.
It takes a lot of power to wind a 12x zoom lens in and out too.
However the good news is the cost of batteries for some of these cameras is
modest.
FZ20 Panasonic is now superseded by the FZ30. When I bought my FZ20 the
checkout chick remarked "at least they look like a real camera"!!!! The
Leica F/2.8 Vario Elmarit lens is just about the best around and results in
amazing photos from a consumer camera. The next in the up range is an
Olympus E300 - dual lens kit. There are still some of these around in
stores. I know they are no P&S but the take incredible pictures. The single
lens kit is selling in Aussie stores right now for $875 AUD and represents a
rare bargain for a real DSLR, 8 megapixel camera.

Douglas

Beefy_SAFC wrote:

> What would people opt for were they about to buy a new camera right
> now?
>
> I'm looking at the superzoom cameras specifically, those offering 10x
> or 12x zoom. Image stabilisation and continuous shoot (possibly looking
> for first 5 or final 5 with a good number of shots per second) are
> important, as are aperture sutter speed control. Fitting of extra
> lenses (wide angle and telephoto) is a must, as is good focus speed
> (want it to focus straight away). ISO up to 800 is probably as much as
> I need.
>
> I'm looking to move away from Fuji as their cameras don't offer proper
> image stabilisation (just ISO ramping). I'm not ready for SLR and don't
> know if I really need it.
>
> Oh, no battery guzzling either...

Your choices for the features you list among current production are pretty
much the Canon S3IS, the Panasonic FZ7, the Panasonic FZ30, the Sony
DSC-H2, and the Sony DSC-H5.

First thing to do is go over to <http://www.dpreview.com> and read the
reviews carefully. No matter which one you go with you'll find something
lacking in it that is present in another model--none of them are perfect.

Personally I went with the FZ7, which is very nice for the price but not
perfect. Annoyances include close focus at the long end of the zoom range
in "macro" mode only--this precludes manual setting of aperture and shutter
speed at full zoom; no hot shoe or PC connector or other way to connect a
flash (the Wein PND servo works fine though); no remote release (have to
use the self-timer for macro photography to avoid shake); closest focus is
limited, again a problem for macro photography; no RAW mode (but none of
the point-and-shoot superzooms have this); aux lenses are not readily
available--you order them from Panasonic and pay full list or order them
from a Japanese seller on ebay and pay even more.

The S3 IS has somewhat better macro capability, it's the only
point-and-shoot of which I'm aware that matches the macro performance of
the Coolpix 9xx series. It also has a fold-out LCD, which I find that I
miss in the FZ7. Otherwise the capabilities are pretty similar--if I had
to choose between the two of them right now I'd probably go with the S3.

The FZ30 is all around the most capable of the bunch but it costs about the
same as a Nikon D50 SLR and isn't a whole lot smaller. It has RAW format,
a flash shoe, provision for a remote release, a fold out LCD, close focus
at the long zoom without going into macro mode, and the lens doesn't
retract so you can stick a filter on the end of it without an adapter.
Still won't get as close as the 990 without an auxiliary lens though. I do
find myself regularly wishing that I had spent the extra 200 bucks or so.

The Sonys seem to be "me-too" products with no great strengths or
weaknesses.



>
> Ian (Beefy_SAFC)

--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

The one thing in favour of the Fuji S5600 is that it doesn't eat
batteries that heavily. However, the lack of proper image
stabilisation is a pain.

Plan is to sell this and some other stuff, to invest in a camera that
is a little more state of the art than Fuji is able to produce. ISO
ramping is not image stabilisation.

If I can get a decent number of shots out of the camera before battery
replacement and recharge, that could be a clincher. I'd prefer using
AA rechargable, but this is not essential.

Ian (Beefy_SAFC)

D Mac wrote:
> Beefy_SAFC wrote:
> >> What would people opt for were they about to buy a new camera right
> >> now?
> >>
> >> I'm looking at the superzoom cameras specifically, those offering 10x
> >> or 12x zoom. Image stabilisation and continuous shoot (possibly
> >> looking for first 5 or final 5 with a good number of shots per
> >> second) are important, as are aperture sutter speed control. Fitting
> >> of extra lenses (wide angle and telephoto) is a must, as is good
> >> focus speed (want it to focus straight away). ISO up to 800 is
> >> probably as much as I need.
> >>
> >> I'm looking to move away from Fuji as their cameras don't offer
> >> proper image stabilisation (just ISO ramping). I'm not ready for SLR
> >> and don't know if I really need it.
> >>
> >> Oh, no battery guzzling either...
> >>
>
>
> The last line kills it.
> All CCD sensored cameras are battery guzzlers.
> It takes a lot of power to wind a 12x zoom lens in and out too.
> However the good news is the cost of batteries for some of these cameras is
> modest.
> FZ20 Panasonic is now superseded by the FZ30. When I bought my FZ20 the
> checkout chick remarked "at least they look like a real camera"!!!! The
> Leica F/2.8 Vario Elmarit lens is just about the best around and results in
> amazing photos from a consumer camera. The next in the up range is an
> Olympus E300 - dual lens kit. There are still some of these around in
> stores. I know they are no P&S but the take incredible pictures. The single
> lens kit is selling in Aussie stores right now for $875 AUD and represents a
> rare bargain for a real DSLR, 8 megapixel camera.
>
> Douglas

Right, the S3 has my attention (not for the movie mode, but for the
other specs). I have Olympus TCON17 and WCON07 lenses I'd like to
keep and use.

Can this be done and what adaptor would I need?

Ian (Beefy_SAFC)

"Beefy_SAFC" <> wrote in message
news: oups.com...
> Right, the S3 has my attention (not for the movie mode, but for the
> other specs). I have Olympus TCON17 and WCON07 lenses I'd like to
> keep and use.
>
> Can this be done and what adaptor would I need?

Sorry, can't help there. Not familiar with the lenses or adapters for the
S3.

>
> Ian (Beefy_SAFC)
>