Need a new Digital Camera

[Jimbo397]

Time for a new "Compact" Digital camera, so many out there its easy to get bogged down.
Willing to pay a descent dollar for a good one, want one that will fit in the pocket.
Anyone have one that they are happy with?
or maybe one that they regret buying?

Thanks

[glc]

I highly recommend Canon. Can you define "decent dollar" a bit better?

[Statica]

Consider www.dpreview.com to do some really good feature searches. Keep in mind that the prices listed there are wrong because they seem to be the mfger suggested prices and not street prices.

[Jimbo397]

Originally Posted by glc I highly recommend Canon. Can you define "decent dollar" a bit better?

Sorry, my mistake, guess I am thinking in the $500 area. I am aware that I could get a good camera for less, but willing to go that high for a good one.

Whats your feelings on the optical viewfinder being phased out.
I have had the opportunity to use some of the newer compacts that do not have the optical viewfinder , just the lcd screen, and to me it seems hard to see that screen in the sunlight.

[rwest]

Originally Posted by Jimbo397 Sorry, my mistake, guess I am thinking in the $500 area.

Not that we get that many cameras of that caliber at Walmart, but from what I see at the photo department, Cannon and Sony are never returned for mechanical failure. Also Cannon cameras tend to include more models with a viewfinder than any other maker. Cannons and Sony's are my first choice.

Fuji and Olympus are also good choices for what we have in our line up.

Note that we really don't get many camera's in the $500 range for comparison. We carry the Nikon D50 and once I saw this really amazing Olympus, but I don't remember the model #. It had a really cool new zoom feature that was similar to picture in oicture. The back ground view was the far away shot, and the fore picture was the zoomed in shot. But these cameras are SLR's. Full size units.

I've yet to see a 'compact camera' over $400. Take heed to the fact: this info is from one photo guy at one walmart store, in one location.

[Hi Ho]

DigitalCameraInfo.com is a great site for reviews and comparisons.

I'm a fan of Panasonic point and shoot cameras. I am not a fan of Canon point and shoots. They tend to feel cheap in my opinion and I know several people who have owned them and have had issues with switches and other pieces breaking. I have had my Panasonic camera for over five years and it has had zero issues even with the beating I have given it. I even dropped it in a pool once.

I am considering upgrading to the FZ-8, FZ-18 or whatever the latest model is.

[David M]

I have a Canon A650IS

I have been extremely happy with this camera. My favorite things about the camera are that it uses regular alkalines rather than waiting hours for an expensive rechargeable to recharge. It is a true pocket camera still, although it is larger than most pocket cameras. At 12.1 megapixels, I can crop and still have enough pixels left out of what I cropped to blow up the image. At 12 megapixels, an 8 1/2 x 11 image does not look pixelated. The LCD screen on the back is bright enough to see in the daytime. I bought a 16GB SD memory cartridge and even though the camera takes 12 megabyte images, I can get hundreds of images stored on that memory cartridge. Indoor pictures without flash come out pretty darn good. Indoor flash to me looks cold and washed out. The auto stabilization really helps. The face detection is cute but not of much use. The 6x optical zoom I have found useful so that I do not become the human zoom who has to move in and out. (35-210mm lens) The data cable I have never bothered with, I just take the SD memory out and plug it into a USB reader...its quicker this way too. It loads into Picasa very quick. I usually leave the camera on AUTO unless I am taking a picture of something tricky or trying to be artistic. In the AUTO setting the pictures almost always come out really good. It is a plastic body but it feels really solid, nothing bends or creaks like you get with some plastic things. In a couple years of ownership, nothing has fallen off or gone wrong. Its gone on vacation with me to a lot of different places and in the process received some abuse.

I bought a Lowepro bag that fits it perfectly that also holds 4 spare alkaline batteries. It will take over a hundred pictures on one set of batteries, if you don't run the LCD screen excessively.


The price varies wildly...from $300 to $600
http://www.google.com/products/catal...m=5#ps-sellers

Specs:
Canon's extremely popular A Series reaches a milestone with PowerShot A650IS, its new top-of-the-line camera. 12.1-megapixel resolution offers unparalleled resolution for a compact camera, while the powerful 6x optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer Technology delivers clear, blur-free images in low light and all through the zoom range. Hallmark A-series value includes Canon's latest-generation DIGIC III Image Processor with enhanced Face Detection Technology, ISO 1600, and red-eye correction for sharp, superior-quality images.

Key Features
Image Sensor Type CCD
Resolution 12.14 Megapixel
Optical Zoom 6x
Camera Type Standard Point and Shoot
Lens
Interchangeable Lens Not Interchangeable Lenses
Optical Zoom 6x
35mm Zoom Lens 35 - 210 mm
Digital Zoom 4x
Focus Type Autofocus & Manual Focus
Focal Length 7.4 - 44.4 mm
Image Quality
Camera Resolution 12.14 Megapixel
Image Resolutions 640 x 480 ??? 3264 x 2448 ??? 2592 x 1944 ??? 1600 x 1200 ??? 4000 x 3000 ??? 4000 x 2248
Video
Video Resolutions 320 x 240 (QVGA) ??? 640 x 480 (VGA) ??? 160 x 120
Video Speed 30 fps
Max Movie Length Without Limit (Depends on the camera free memory size)
Video Format AVI ??? Motion JPEG
Exposure Control
Aperture Range f2.8/f4.8 (w/t)
Shutter Speed 15 - 1/2000 sec
White Balance Auto ??? Cloudy (Preset) ??? Fluorescent (Preset) ??? Tungsten (Preset)
Storage
Memory Type Multimedia Card ??? SD Card ??? SDHC Card
Compression Modes Fine ??? SuperFine ??? Normal
Compression Type JPEG ??? EXIF 2.2 ??? DPOF 1.1
File Size (High Res.) 5.21 MB (25 images on 128MB card)
File Size (Low Res.) 0.08 MB (about 1,600 images on 128MB card)
Flash
ISO Speeds Auto ??? 100 ??? 200 ??? 400 ??? 800 ??? 1600 ??? 80
Flash Type Built-In & External
Flash Functions Flash Off ??? Auto Flash ??? Red-eye Reduction Flash ??? Slow Sync ??? Manual
Viewfinder / Display
Viewfinder Optical
LCD Panel With LCD Panel
LCD Panel Size 2.5 in.
LCD Screen Resolution 173,000 pixels
Interfaces
Interface Type USB 2.0
Video Interface Video Out
Power Supply
Battery Type 4 x AA Batteries
Included Features
Self Timer 2 Sec. ??? 10 Sec.
Built-in Microphone With Built-in Microphone
System Requirements
Operating System Microsoft Windows Vista
General
Dimensions (W x D x H) 4.41" x 2.67" x 2.21"
Weight 0.66 lb.

* 32MB Secure Digital (SD)
* 4x AA Alkaline Battery
* Wrist Strap (WS-DC4)
* Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM
* User Guide
* Usb Cable

[glc]

I get the impression you are looking for an ultracompact, not a compact.

Look at the Canon SD960 IS. The A650 IS is larger but better.

[Floppyman]

Another vote for the Canon Digital Elph series. I'm very happy with my 10MP SD790 IS.

[XenaWP]

I would always stick to one of the major 4 manufacturers: Canon, Nikon, Olympus, or Pentax. Sony makes a pretty decent product, as does Fuji. The other makes: Panasonic, Samsung, Casio, Kodak, are not where I would put my money (especially that much money).

$500 for something super compact seems like misplaced money to me. Super compact is going to have compromised optics. Allowing light into a camera takes space. You can't avoid those physics. Pixels require size. Cramming more pixels onto a smaller sensor yields a higher numeric "megapixel" count but really does little to improve picture quality.

So generally, I'd say stick with the traditional camera manufacturer, don't focus on megapixel count but rather on sensor size.

Optical viewfinders may be "on their way out" but to me that is a detriment. It is very difficult to find a LCD that is bright enough to see in full daylight. You often end up having to attach some sort of klugy shading device to shade the LCD so you can see the little screen. Having to see settings on it can be maddening. Personally, I never use the LCD for taking photos, only reviewing them.

[Hi Ho]

I agree with you XenaWP for the most part. However, I would argue that Panasonic has become a major player in the consumer market and is making inroads in the professional market with models like the GH1. The LX3 has become the point an shoot of choice for many professionals and proves that focusing on top notch optics as opposed to megapixel count can offer results superior to similar cameras that simply cram in more pixels.

[Jimbo397]

Seriously looking at this one, but still looking.
Some of the reasons that I like this?

Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-TZ7 (or ZS3 as it’s known in North America) is a 10.1 Megapixel compact with a detailed 3in screen, HD video recording and a 12x optically-stabilised zoom.

The 3in / 460k pixel screen LCD is said by some reviews to be the best for outdoor viewing.

Plus one of the big things for me is the fact that you can zoom while making video something most compacts can’t do.


The new 12x zoom on the TZ7 / ZS3 starts at an equivalent of 25mm and ends at 300mm, equipping it with much wider coverage than most compacts, while not compromising on telephoto reach.

Any feedback on this much appreciated.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0901/09...nasonictz7.asp

[Strider]

One word of caution with http://www.dpreview.com they were bought out by Amazon.com a year or two ago (I forget) and I notice they never really give a bad bad review on a camera or if they do it's very rare (just my opinion).

[XenaWP]

Originally Posted by Hi Ho .... However, I would argue that Panasonic has become a major player in the consumer market and is making inroads in the professional market with models like ....

You could be right ... my impressions are of their offerings from a few years ago.

[Alexjfinch]

www.dpreview.com is a awesome website for camera reviews.

A few of my friends have bought this;

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonictz5/

Fantastic little compact camera that one, and it is good for the money.