- Oct 23, 2000
- 9,190
- 755
- 126
NOTE: I've added a poll so that those of you who don't want to type a response can still help me decide between the S2 and the FZ30.
I've done some research online and have been able to narrow some things down based on the specs I'm looking for in a camera, but I haven't been able to find a really good "shoot-out" to help me decide which one I want to get. I'm hoping you folks can give me suggestions, particularly personal experiences - both good and bad - that will help me narrow down the field even more.
I'm looking for a camera for around (or less than) $500. I can go a bit higher for something really worth the extra cost, but not much higher. I currently have an old Olympus D450Z that I love. It is only 1.3 megapixels but it takes extremely clear and color realistic pictures and I have been very pleased with it. The main problems are that it is very slow (as much as 10-15 seconds per shot or more with a fast SmartMedia card and twice that with a slow card) and it only has a 3x optical zoom and I'd really like something with a stronger zoom. High resolution will help for larger prints but it's not as critical as overall picture quality and zoom length.
My "needs" are as follows in order of importance to me.
1) Picture quality (realistic picture is far more important than total resolution)
2) Zoom length (I really want a camera with at least 10x optical zoom since I do a lot of wildlife and sporting events photos.)
3) Capture and cycle speed (Shots per second and cycle time between individual shots. I don't need excessive speed, but don't want to wait multiple seconds between shots, again because of the wildlife and sports shots I do.)
4) Image stabilization. (This can make a huge difference for fast action and long zoom shots without a tripod, but I can do without it if the rest of the package is good enough.)
5) Uses AA batteries. (This isn't critical, but I have dozens of 2300 and 2500 mAh rechargables already and would like to use them if I can, and having lots of spare sets available makes this a big bonus for me over internal Li-Ion battery packs.)
6) Uses SD memory cards. (Again, not critical, but I'd like to be able to use the same cards from my camera in my PDA and it only takes SD/MMC cards.)
7) Metal tripod threading. (I do a lot of tripod shots, especially for long zoom stuff so I need a mount that won't strip or break. Solid plastic is acceptable but I'd prefer good metal threads.)
Some of the options I've come up with so far with what I believe to be the relevant specs are listed below. They are listed alphabetically and the dollar amount is the range of prices that show up on Pricewatch currently. I am very familiar with the quality of Canon, Fuji, and Minolta film cameras but have not ever used any of their digital products, and the only Panasonic products I have used are my portable CD player and set-top VCR.
I am not limited to only these choices so I am definitely open to additional suggestions, but the $500 budget is pretty firm. I'd LOVE to get a Rebel XT but even on sale at ~$750 that's just more than I can afford to spend.
Canon PowerShot S2 IS: ($433-$500)
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/s2is.html
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/S2IS/S2ISA.HTM
5.0 megapixel
12x optical, 4x digital (36-432mm equivalent)
Image stabilization
1.5 seconds per shot constant at max resolution
1.4 seconds per shot second constant at low resolution
2.3 frames per second in continuous burst mode (unknown frame limit)
0.6 second shutter lag with full auto focus
0.08 second shutter lag with pre-focus
Uses SD/MMC memory card
4 AA batteries
Plastic case, plastic tripod mount
Fuji FinePix S5100: ($285-$431)
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/fuji_s5100.html
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/S5100/S51A.HTM
4.0 megapixel
10x optical, 1.4 digital (37-370mm equivalent)
No image stabilization
1.9 seconds per shot constant at max resolution
1.8 seconds per shot constant at low resolution
3.45 frames per second up to 3 frames total in burst mode
1.23 frames per second up to 40 frames total in continuous burst mode
0.8 second shutter lag with full auto focus
0.1 second shutter lag with pre-focus
Uses xD picture card
4 AA batteries
Plastic case, metal tripod mount
Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3 ($269-$500)
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/KMZ3/Z3A.HTM
4.0 megapixel
12x optical, 4x digital (35-420mm equivalent)
Anti-shake feature
1.1 seconds per shot constant at max resolution
1.3 seconds per shot constant at low resolution
2.2 frames per second up to 6 frames total in burst mode.
10 frames per second up to 15 frames total, new burst available after 2 seconds, in Ultra burst mode (1280x1024 resolution).
0.3 second shutter lag with full auto focus
0.1 second shutter lag with pre-focus
Uses SD/MMC memory card
4 AA batteries
Plastic case, plastic tripod mount
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20 ($394-$550)
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/FZ20/FZ20A.HTM
5.0 megapixel
12x optical, 4x digital zoom (36-432mm equivalent) Leica lens
Image stabilization
Low light LED focus assist
0.9 seconds per shot constant at max resolution
0.6 seconds per shot constant at low resolution
3 frames per second up to 4 frames total in burst mode
30 fps movie mode
0.5 second shutter lag with full auto focus
0.1 second shutter lag with pre-focus
Uses SD/MMC memory card
Internal Li-Ion rechargeable battery
Metal case, metal tripod mount
Thanks in advance for any advice you can give!
I've done some research online and have been able to narrow some things down based on the specs I'm looking for in a camera, but I haven't been able to find a really good "shoot-out" to help me decide which one I want to get. I'm hoping you folks can give me suggestions, particularly personal experiences - both good and bad - that will help me narrow down the field even more.
I'm looking for a camera for around (or less than) $500. I can go a bit higher for something really worth the extra cost, but not much higher. I currently have an old Olympus D450Z that I love. It is only 1.3 megapixels but it takes extremely clear and color realistic pictures and I have been very pleased with it. The main problems are that it is very slow (as much as 10-15 seconds per shot or more with a fast SmartMedia card and twice that with a slow card) and it only has a 3x optical zoom and I'd really like something with a stronger zoom. High resolution will help for larger prints but it's not as critical as overall picture quality and zoom length.
My "needs" are as follows in order of importance to me.
1) Picture quality (realistic picture is far more important than total resolution)
2) Zoom length (I really want a camera with at least 10x optical zoom since I do a lot of wildlife and sporting events photos.)
3) Capture and cycle speed (Shots per second and cycle time between individual shots. I don't need excessive speed, but don't want to wait multiple seconds between shots, again because of the wildlife and sports shots I do.)
4) Image stabilization. (This can make a huge difference for fast action and long zoom shots without a tripod, but I can do without it if the rest of the package is good enough.)
5) Uses AA batteries. (This isn't critical, but I have dozens of 2300 and 2500 mAh rechargables already and would like to use them if I can, and having lots of spare sets available makes this a big bonus for me over internal Li-Ion battery packs.)
6) Uses SD memory cards. (Again, not critical, but I'd like to be able to use the same cards from my camera in my PDA and it only takes SD/MMC cards.)
7) Metal tripod threading. (I do a lot of tripod shots, especially for long zoom stuff so I need a mount that won't strip or break. Solid plastic is acceptable but I'd prefer good metal threads.)
Some of the options I've come up with so far with what I believe to be the relevant specs are listed below. They are listed alphabetically and the dollar amount is the range of prices that show up on Pricewatch currently. I am very familiar with the quality of Canon, Fuji, and Minolta film cameras but have not ever used any of their digital products, and the only Panasonic products I have used are my portable CD player and set-top VCR.
I am not limited to only these choices so I am definitely open to additional suggestions, but the $500 budget is pretty firm. I'd LOVE to get a Rebel XT but even on sale at ~$750 that's just more than I can afford to spend.
Canon PowerShot S2 IS: ($433-$500)
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/s2is.html
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/S2IS/S2ISA.HTM
5.0 megapixel
12x optical, 4x digital (36-432mm equivalent)
Image stabilization
1.5 seconds per shot constant at max resolution
1.4 seconds per shot second constant at low resolution
2.3 frames per second in continuous burst mode (unknown frame limit)
0.6 second shutter lag with full auto focus
0.08 second shutter lag with pre-focus
Uses SD/MMC memory card
4 AA batteries
Plastic case, plastic tripod mount
Fuji FinePix S5100: ($285-$431)
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/fuji_s5100.html
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/S5100/S51A.HTM
4.0 megapixel
10x optical, 1.4 digital (37-370mm equivalent)
No image stabilization
1.9 seconds per shot constant at max resolution
1.8 seconds per shot constant at low resolution
3.45 frames per second up to 3 frames total in burst mode
1.23 frames per second up to 40 frames total in continuous burst mode
0.8 second shutter lag with full auto focus
0.1 second shutter lag with pre-focus
Uses xD picture card
4 AA batteries
Plastic case, metal tripod mount
Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3 ($269-$500)
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/KMZ3/Z3A.HTM
4.0 megapixel
12x optical, 4x digital (35-420mm equivalent)
Anti-shake feature
1.1 seconds per shot constant at max resolution
1.3 seconds per shot constant at low resolution
2.2 frames per second up to 6 frames total in burst mode.
10 frames per second up to 15 frames total, new burst available after 2 seconds, in Ultra burst mode (1280x1024 resolution).
0.3 second shutter lag with full auto focus
0.1 second shutter lag with pre-focus
Uses SD/MMC memory card
4 AA batteries
Plastic case, plastic tripod mount
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20 ($394-$550)
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/FZ20/FZ20A.HTM
5.0 megapixel
12x optical, 4x digital zoom (36-432mm equivalent) Leica lens
Image stabilization
Low light LED focus assist
0.9 seconds per shot constant at max resolution
0.6 seconds per shot constant at low resolution
3 frames per second up to 4 frames total in burst mode
30 fps movie mode
0.5 second shutter lag with full auto focus
0.1 second shutter lag with pre-focus
Uses SD/MMC memory card
Internal Li-Ion rechargeable battery
Metal case, metal tripod mount
Thanks in advance for any advice you can give!