4 digital cams, 1 choice

[Krpano]

Hey guys i need a tip from you, experienced digital cam users.

I want a new camera and ive been reading at dpreview alot. I resumed my choices to these 4 cameras below:

1st place

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2

(this one would be my favourite till now)

2nd place

Canon PowerShot SD900

(the latest addition)

3rd place

Fujifilm FinePix F30

(good reviews everywhere)

4th place

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

(not sure about this one, seems a bit big for me, so it would be the last choice)

From here i dunno which one to choose.

I had a Sony DSC-P200 (great one) and a Pentax Optio S7 (didnt like it and sold it already).

I want a pocketcam with lots of features, i like to play around with its fuctions.

I appreciate your help, i dont want to make another mistake and buy a bad camera again like i did when purchased the Pentax Optio S7.

:santa:

edit start here

I would like the camera to have 16:9.

And im open to other camera options too.

Edited November 6, 2006 by Krpano

[Pink Floyd Veteran]

1 and 2 are compacts and 3 and 4 are DSLR-Like (Bridge) so you cannot compare them all

If you want a pocket cam, then 3 and 4 are eliminated

Between your choices, I'd take the Lumix, bigger LCD screen

And why absolutely having a 10MP P&S? Damn marketing!! :(

Personally, I'd never buy higher than 7MP for a P&S. I am looking to buy a camera for my wife and this will be something 7MP and lower because of noise due to sensor size

[Krpano]

Thanks for your input mate.

Actually i dont need necessarialy a 10MB...i just tend to get the new models because normally they are faster and have improved menus and etc.

Are you saying the 7MB cams create less noise than a 10 MB ?

The noise is directly related to the sensor size ?

Sry but im no expert......:)

Btw, which is the 7MB camera will you be getting to your wife ?

[Draconian Guppy]

1 and 2 are compacts and 3 and 4 are DSLR-Like (Bridge) so you cannot compare them all

If you want a pocket cam, then 3 and 4 are eliminated

Between your choices, I'd take the Lumix, bigger LCD screen

And why absolutely having a 10MP P&S? Damn marketing!! :(

Personally, I'd never buy higher than 7MP for a P&S. I am looking to buy a camera for my wife and this will be something 7MP and lower because of noise due to sensor size

How exactly is the F30 a bridge camera? I always thought of it as a compact, obviously not as the canon model mentioned, but it certainly doesn't have the size of a super zoom like the S3

Thanks for your input mate.

Actually i dont need necessarialy a 10MB...i just tend to get the new models because normally they are faster and have improved menus and etc.

Are you saying the 7MB cams create less noise than a 10 MB ?

The noise is directly related to the sensor size ?

Sry but im no expert......:)

Btw, which is the 7MB camera will you be getting to your wife ?

You mean MegaPixels.

I would go for the Fuji Finepix F30... Best noise performance of all those you mentioned :)

And yes, Noise is directly related to sensor size, at least to "normal" CCD, unlike Fujis Super-CCD ( on the f30) which has the best noise performance in the "compact" area. Hence why I would chose the F30 over the others.

Click here for info on sensor sizes

And here...

[Pink Floyd Veteran]

Thanks for your input mate.

Actually i dont need necessarialy a 10MB...i just tend to get the new models because normally they are faster and have improved menus and etc.

Are you saying the 7MB cams create less noise than a 10 MB ?

The noise is directly related to the sensor size ?

Sry but im no expert...... :)

Btw, which is the 7MB camera will you be getting to your wife ?

Sensor size is more important than Megapixel. Pro 4MP camera will create way better image than some 10MP P&S camera. If I am not mistaken, P&S sensor is around 12x smaller than DSLR sensor! As the camera I want to buy to my wife, I still don't know as I didn't have a look at it. If I find something, I'll tell you.

[jordanspringer]

keep in mind of the storage mediums each camera uses (pricing etc..) for example Fuji uses its own media format, compatible only with fujifilm cameras

[Krpano]

@ maudit, yes it was a typo..i wanted to say MP....:)

and those sites are really helpful...thx.

The F30 indeed looks a good opponent, too bad they use their own media (as jordanspringer said)

But ill keep it on my list.

@ Pink Floyd

Ill keep one eye on the sensors size from now on.

Ill keep reading about it, because i must decide till next week. When i have to pick up one.

About the Panasonics, anyone here had/have used/owned one of these:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2

They look such a nice cam but i read alot about the noise problem.

Is it true or ppl are just too picky ?

Im really concerned about the noise, specially because i like to take alot of night shots (indoor and outdoor)

[sundayx Veteran]

id go for the sd900 or lx2, beautiful results from these.

[Draconian Guppy]

@ maudit, yes it was a typo..i wanted to say MP....:)

and those sites are really helpful...thx.

The F30 indeed looks a good opponent, too bad they use their own media (as jordanspringer said)

But ill keep it on my list.

@ Pink Floyd

Ill keep one eye on the sensors size from now on.

Ill keep reading about it, because i must decide till next week. When i have to pick up one.

About the Panasonics, anyone here had/have used/owned one of these:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2

They look such a nice cam but i read alot about the noise problem.

Is it true or ppl are just too picky ?

Im really concerned about the noise, specially because i like to take alot of night shots (indoor and outdoor)

Well on reviews on sites like dpreview, dcresource and stevedigicams, photographyblog, all point out that panasonics weakness with it's current cams, is noise.

I'm Guessing you have a couple of SD cards from your previous cams, So i'd say go with the SD900.

[6785077276]

Actually, all 4 are compacts, well dpreview states that they are anyway. I would consider the first 3 as compacts and the Canon S3 IS an slr-like digital camera.

The F30 has the best sensor for ISO 400, 800, 1600, 3200 in a compact. It is excellent in low light. Choose this if you like to shoot a lot in low light. If not, then go for the Canons. Don't go with the Panasonic, it is TERRIBLE at high ISOs. All in all, I would choose a Canon first as they have better image quality overall.

I have:

• Canon 400D (xti) Digital SLR
  
• Canon Powershot A620
  

1 and 2 are compacts and 3 and 4 are DSLR-Like (Bridge) so you cannot compare them all

If you want a pocket cam, then 3 and 4 are eliminated

Between your choices, I'd take the Lumix, bigger LCD screen

And why absolutely having a 10MP P&S? Damn marketing!! :(

Personally, I'd never buy higher than 7MP for a P&S. I am looking to buy a camera for my wife and this will be something 7MP and lower because of noise due to sensor size

[Krpano]

Thanks guys.

Ok, i resumed my choice to:

Fujitsu F30 (even tho i dont like much its design, but i do pretent to take lots of night shots)

Canon SD 900

About the DSLRs:

I see the N80 and 400D have no stabilizator with its basic kit, but the A100 has (builtin).

Does this make a big difference to the point of making you choose the Sony ?

Or is it possible to make clear photos with the Nikon and Canon even without that option ?

I shake alot normally, do i need a tripod all the time ?

[Melfster]

Thanks guys.

Ok, i resumed my choice to:

Fujitsu F30 (even tho i dont like much its design, but i do pretent to take lots of night shots)

Canon SD 900

About the DSLRs:

I see the N80 and 400D have no stabilizator with its basic kit, but the A100 has (builtin).

Does this make a big difference to the point of making you choose the Sony ?

Or is it possible to make clear photos with the Nikon and Canon even without that option ?

I shake alot normally, do i need a tripod all the time ?

If you take a lot indoor shots, sunset shots or night shots the F30 is the way to go. I have the F30 and its really good. It takes a little while to get use to and it does tend to have purple fringe in some shots (these can easly be corrected with photoshop.)

Anyways

check this forum out to get the answers you want

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1012.

[acoustikrage]

About the DSLRs:

I see the N80 and 400D have no stabilizator with its basic kit, but the A100 has (builtin).

Does this make a big difference to the point of making you choose the Sony ?

Or is it possible to make clear photos with the Nikon and Canon even without that option ?

I shake alot normally, do i need a tripod all the time ?

image stabilization is definitely not necessary. what do you think people have been doing on film for the past 3/4 of a century? canon does make image stabilized lenses (i don't know anything about nikon), but they generally double the cost of lenses. generally, if you shoot with enough light and use the correct shutter speed, then there should be no problems with clarity. in adverse conditions, you'll probably need a monopod or tripod regardless of image stabilization.

[raider360]

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2

They look such a nice cam but i read alot about the noise problem.

Is it true or ppl are just too picky ?

Im really concerned about the noise, specially because i like to take alot of night shots (indoor and outdoor)

I can't say anything about TZ1 and LX2, but I got today Lumix FX01. Yes. Indor night pics are not so good as from the Canon cams, but It still almost the same (I have compared it to my first Canon IXUS40 (PowerShotSD400)).

[InternalStorm]

The Lumix noise (at least on my FX50) is not that good... there is a lot of noise at any ISO higher than 200, and the way that it is removed by the camera engine is not great, as the entire picture becomes blotchy and blurry. If you are looking for a great low light in a point and shoot the Fuji will do the best. Canon is better then Panasonic, but not as good as Fuji. I personally think the S3 IS is a big waste of money because of how large it is, and how little it offers compared to a smaller camera. I used to own the Canon Powershot A85 and then the A520, and they offered great quality pictures. I have a dSLR now so I just bought the Lumix as a backup snapshot cam, and was looking more for style and design rather than the best picture quality (although it does take sharp photos, just not great at high ISO).

For a point and shoot, who cares about having the best ISO performance if the camera is too big to be handy and unnoticable... go with the smallest and best designed. I personally don't like the Pentax picture quality, Canon, Fuji, Panasonic are all acceptable with their own strengths. It's best to pick something you can hold easily... the cams with big screens often have not much room to hold the camera and it becomes awkward... the Panasonics in this right are great because they are wider than most cams (and not as tall) so you have more thumb room on the back without having to be avoiding buttons.

[Krpano]

Hey guys, i appreciate all your help.

Today i finally decided to go get my digicam...and i got a Canon EOS 400D.

Im chargind the batt. and installing the softwares/drivers.

Im so happy.

My first SLR.

Yay for me !!!

:D

[Huleboeren]

Congrats Krpano - not really a pocketsize camera tho? :D

Anyways, how do you identify the sensor size?

and what is P&S?

I own a Konica Minolta A200 - look-alike SLR :D (_not_ slr)

I thinking of buying a real one this time.

- sorry for bumping the topic

[6785077276]

Hey guys, i appreciate all your help.

Today i finally decided to go get my digicam...and i got a Canon EOS 400D.

Im chargind the batt. and installing the softwares/drivers.

Im so happy.

My first SLR.

Yay for me !!!

:D

Excellent choice! I have one too! I bought an extra 1500mAh battery + Canon EF 50mm f1.8 lens!

[craybox]

i too have been looking for my first digital SLR and realised that i probably need to remortgage the house to get one :(

did you get a good deal on the Rebel ?

i have been advised to stay away from cameras that will only allow C size sensor lenses to be attached is this one of them ?

[6785077276]

i too have been looking for my first digital SLR and realised that i probably need to remortgage the house to get one :(

did you get a good deal on the Rebel ?

i have been advised to stay away from cameras that will only allow C size sensor lenses to be attached is this one of them ?

No, the 400D can accept EF and EF-S Lenses.

EF = Designed for full frame sensors

EF-S = Designed for crop sensors, such as APS-C size