Digital Cameras

[Strong Eagle]

Having made two horrible badly researched purchases of cheap digital cameras in the last 12 months I am going for third time lucky.

Any enthusiasts out there who would offer a recommendation?

I am not looking for a DSLR, more a higher end compact zoom camera. Wish list GPS, WiFi, decent optical zoom and decent size image sensor.

Considering the Sony HX20V.

Often, the differences between "recommended" and "highly recommended" are so small that it would take bench equipment to detect the differences, and I agree, the comments of the pro evaluators can be less than useful.

I'd take the following approach, were it I. First, I'd pick a camera with the largest sensor I could comfortably afford/carry. Bigger sensors mean better low light performance and higher "film speeds" possible.

Next, the best sensor and digitizing algorithms aint worth squat if the lens compromises performance. Two things I'd look for are resolving capability and lens speed. My experience with Panasonic Leica lenses has been very good. Fast lens speed, aka, a big aperture, is a must for any kind of high speed, action photography.

Then, I'd start the horsetrading against other features. You'll probably eliminate 90 percent of the target possibilities with your two requirements. What you have left is it.

[taxico]

panasonic lumix. TZ (decent zoom) or LX (leica clone).

[zzm9980]

panasonic lumix. .... LX (leica clone).

Actually, other way around as Leica buys them OEM from Panasonic, but same thing. LX series is excellent. I loved it before I upgraded to my current Lumix m4/4. DSLRs are too big for me to carry around. Even the m4/3 doesn't get as much use as it should...

[x9200]

panasonic lumix. TZ (decent zoom) or LX (leica clone).

I had remains of TZ7. Survived less then one year in my rugsak where it was always carried in the original pretty solid leather pouch. After the year the screen showed first signs of mechanical damage. Never hit it nor dropped it etc. Judging from the amount of replacement screens available on e-bay it's a common problem. Picture quality wise it was a pretty good camera.

[Strong Eagle]

I really like Panasonic cameras in terms of their ability to take great photos... I've have at least five different species of Panasonic.

But... I'm less than impressed with build quality... yes, they all work just fine... just not the fine "Swiss watch" mechanism that one can feel.

Caveat... last Panasonic camera I bought was four years ago.

[v4jr4]

I'm not sure if digital cameras with bluetooth/wi-fi can work as good as Panasonic Lumix/Canon Ixus/Olympus E-M5, but Google points out Samsung CL80. Well, for me, I will wipe out the bluetooth/wi-fi built in since I prefer to retouch the photos first via picasa plus lightroom, and tag the location later

[Steve1960]

Thanks for all the comments.

Panasonic TZ30 was another camera I identified in addition to the Sony plus a Samsung WTF850.

Think I will pick one of the three out of a hat!

[taxico]

I had remains of TZ7. Survived less then one year in my rugsak where it was always carried in the original pretty solid leather pouch. After the year the screen showed first signs of mechanical damage. Never hit it nor dropped it etc. Judging from the amount of replacement screens available on e-bay it's a common problem.

my wife has a TZ7 too... she's not easy on it, and carries it pretty much like you do in the free black pouch.

i think we're going on year... 4? or 3... i'm not sure. i bought it for her when it first came out.

a friend's still using the TZ6 with multiple batteries for video and photos, which was kinda why i got it in the first place.

i'd better go check the screen this weekend just to be sure...! (i hope you;ve not jinxed it...!!! :b)

[taxico]

panasonic lumix. .... LX (leica clone).

Actually, other way around as Leica buys them OEM from Panasonic, but same thing. LX series is excellent.

leica won't like hearing either comments...! but i've always wondered if the firmware can be extracted from a leica and loaded into a lumix.

then they'll be identical.

[zzm9980]

panasonic lumix. .... LX (leica clone).

Actually, other way around as Leica buys them OEM from Panasonic, but same thing. LX series is excellent.

leica won't like hearing either comments...! but i've always wondered if the firmware can be extracted from a leica and loaded into a lumix.

then they'll be identical.

No, this is Singapore. The Lumix will be missing the most important thing... The litte red logo/name badge!




http://www.linkwitzlab.com/dpp/lumix-leica.htm

http://photo.net/digital-camera-forum/00YEaC

[nutnut]

I recently bought a Lumix TS3 to complement my DSLR and to enable me to take pictures at the pool etc since it's waterproof, I must admit, I am very pleased with the photo and HD video quality. Also, as it's a tough camera, it actually feels very well made, I don't mind my kids using it in the pool.

Probably not what you are looking for, but, could benefit another reader in the future

[x9200]

I had remains of TZ7. Survived less then one year in my rugsak where it was always carried in the original pretty solid leather pouch. After the year the screen showed first signs of mechanical damage. Never hit it nor dropped it etc. Judging from the amount of replacement screens available on e-bay it's a common problem.

my wife has a TZ7 too... she's not easy on it, and carries it pretty much like you do in the free black pouch.

i think we're going on year... 4? or 3... i'm not sure. i bought it for her when it first came out.

a friend's still using the TZ6 with multiple batteries for video and photos, which was kinda why i got it in the first place.

i'd better go check the screen this weekend just to be sure...! (i hope you;ve not jinxed it...!!! :b)

I don't know man. This is the only camera I had this kind of problems with so maybe I was unlucky or you lucky enough. Funny thing this was also one of the first Panasonic cameras where they started to use this smart batteries desperately trying to prevent people from buying cheap Chinese replacements. It took I think 2 months for our Chinese kameraden to overcome this small inconvenience.

[durain]

i like my digital camera to take good photos without flash (discreet when using it in OT ). look for camera with "backside illumination CMOS" (honest, it is not made up or being pervy!)

look for the sony RX100 ($$$ ouch!), canon S110 ($$ ouch) or a nikon S9300.

[taxico]

i like my digital camera to take good photos without flash... look for camera with "backside illumination CMOS"...

for the record, that is not a selling point my wife (and i suspect most others too) will accept.

i'll probably be smacked.

heh!

[zzm9980]

i like my digital camera to take good photos without flash... look for camera with "backside illumination CMOS"...

for the record, that is not a selling point my wife (and i suspect most others too) will accept.

i'll probably be smacked.

heh!

Why not? It's quite important. Quite a few people I know who are ignorant of the basic science behind photography often ask me things like "Why do your photos look so much better than mine?" One of the key things is their constant use of the flash in auto mode.