Compact advice please

watsthat · #1 (**permalink**) 13-11-2009, 03:56 PM

I apologise if this is covering old ground but I`m going to replace my Nikon Coolpix, which has given superb service and still performs faultlessly within the limitations of its specification. My main subjects are; fungi, insects, trees and family. Would there be any advantage to the 10x zoom of the Canon PowerShot SX110is? Any advice would be appreciated.

Pete

Tringa · #2 (**permalink**) 14-11-2009, 10:30 AM

I suggest you have a look at a number of photo mags. Many have sections that are mini reviews of cameras by price.

Whatever your price range there are lots of cameras and these short reviews can be useful in narrowing down the list.

When you have a shortlist, check out more detalied reviews.

You are clearly looking in the bridge camera area and a 10x zoom is fairly low these days, 15x, 18x and 20x or more exist, though reviews I have read of some of the very big zooms suggest they are not always that good at the top end.

The bottom end of the zoom range on some cameras starts at the equivalent of about 36mm on a 35mm camera. I think having a lens that gives the 35mm equivalent of about 27mm is better.

The specifications of many bridge cameras are so similar which is why the reviews are so useful.

I can only comment on one - Panasonic fz28. Here are couple of examples

Dave

watsthat · #3 (**permalink**) 14-11-2009, 02:04 PM

Thanks Dave

Its` a bit "how long is a piece of string" I know. Too many to choose from, lots of good ones but are there any that should be avoided?.
Thanks for your advice.

Pete

Tringa · #4 (**permalink**) 14-11-2009, 03:49 PM

Difficult to say Pete, but the mini reviews in mags are again quite useful. I don't think I have seen any review that say X is a poor camera, more in the line of one camera not being as good value an another.

Any of the well know names - Nikon, Canon, Fuji have some very good cameras.

Time spent reading lots of review is I think time well spent.

glsammy · #5 (**permalink**) 14-11-2009, 05:06 PM

I've read a few reviews and the Panasonic TZ8 seems to be preferred to the Canon. Not that the Canon is really bad, just more a case of the Panasonic having slightly better image quality and it's very well though out, with what has been described as the best rear screen on the market. I've recently been considering getting one myself for those occasions when I just can't be bothered to lug my other camera around.
Have a look here for a comprehensive review, compared to Canons and others.
'Compact Super Zoom' Camera Group Test (Q2 2009) Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

watsthat · #6 (**permalink**) 15-11-2009, 04:41 PM

Thanks for all advice, I`ve taken note, read the reviews and narrowed it down.

I like to travel as light as possible so a bridge camera was never going to come into it. Megapixels, image stabilization and high zoom were taken into consideration. I was impressed by the Panasonic TZ7 although I`m not really interested in the top rate video features and there were questions about the effectiveness of its image stabilization. The nearest competition, the Canon SX200is, is a bit heavier but other than this I quite fancy it.
Has anybody had experience of either camera?

Pete

freefeet · #7 (**permalink**) 15-11-2009, 06:34 PM

I just got a Fuji F70 EXR. I like it very much. Light, small, silent, good pics.

mickmassie · #8 (**permalink**) 16-11-2009, 07:21 AM

Pete, for the subjects you describe, I think a 15x zoom or more is over the top and makes a much bigger camera. I agree that the Fuji F70EXR is good for the reasons quoted but the Fuji F200EXR has a significantly bigger sensor and delivers the best image quality in it's class (albeit without a longer telephoto). M.