Need help finding a camera

[Evil Baby]

I'm not sure if one exists, but I'm looking for a camera with the Panasonic TZ3's zoom but more in the form factor of the Canon sd1000. I'm hoping not to spend any more then $500 but the budget is flexable.

[goofball]

no such beast.

[Ojam]

Canon TX1?

[KorruptioN]

Do you know if you actually need that sort of zoom range?

[Evil Baby]

yeah. It's my girlfriend looking for the camera and right now we have the Panasonic DMC-FZ20 which is great for when she's at the zoo and such but she takes a lot of reference pictures of birds and she wants a small camera that she can bring with her pretty much everywhere.


We have a huge hydro field in our backyard and when she's walking the dog she see's a lot birds that she needs to get some detailed images of.(for her paintings). The TZ3 is as big as she is willing to go, she was just hoping for something smaller even if it cost her a pretty penny.

[Evil Baby]

Canon TX1?

looks interesting. I'll have to see if I can find one in store to play around with. Just reading soem reviews and they are a little discouraging.

[CSAgent]

Go DSLR, entry level Rebel XT with lenses can be had under $500 used. Birds are a difficult subject to shoot, you won't be able to get close to them with a point and shoot without spooking them - unless your gf's like Snow White and they flock to her while singing along with their chirping.

[Evil Baby]

Go DSLR, entry level Rebel XT with lenses can be had under $500 used. Birds are a difficult subject to shoot, you won't be able to get close to them with a point and shoot without spooking them - unless your gf's like Snow White and they flock to her while singing along with their chirping.

She will be getting a DSLR in a year or two but she needs something light anbd compact, DSLR doesn't fit that bill AFAIK. She can get the pics close enough with her FZ-20 but it has a 12x optical zoom so she doesn't have to get too close to the birds. Really hoping for soemthing with at least a 6x but hopefully better.

[KorruptioN]

The FX20 has a 36-432mm lens... there aren't really any compacts (other than the odd Canon TX1) that can cover such a range. Canon's G9, A650IS, and A720IS can reach up to 210mm.

[Evil Baby]

The FX20 has a 36-432mm lens... there aren't really any compacts (other than the odd Canon TX1) that can cover such a range. Canon's G9, A650IS, and A720IS can reach up to 210mm.

Well I wouldnt' need a lens with that range, but the best zoom possible on a small form factor. The TZ3 alsmost fits the bill I just wish it was a little smaller. Like I said, I doubt the camera she is looking for exists but I was just checking to see if I was wrong.

[sfu_engineer]

I do not think there is a camera that suits your needs. If you want a larger 10x like zoom factor you need a physically larger lens and camera. If you opt for a smaller camera it is physically impossible to put good optics in such a small body. I think what you have already suits the bill. If you want anything smaller you lose the zoom.

Why not get a used Nikon D40 ($349 from Henrys) which is pretty tiny for a DSLR and get a Nikon 55-200mm VR lens for $200? Although slightly larger than your current setup (well maybe a lot larger) it will be a wicked impressive performer!

[Evil Baby]

I do not think there is a camera that suits your needs. If you want a larger 10x like zoom factor you need a physically larger lens and camera. If you opt for a smaller camera it is physically impossible to put good optics in such a small body. I think what you have already suits the bill. If you want anything smaller you lose the zoom.

Why not get a used Nikon D40 ($349 from Henrys) which is pretty tiny for a DSLR and get a Nikon 55-200mm VR lens for $200? Although slightly larger than your current setup (well maybe a lot larger) it will be a wicked impressive performer!

We're just not in the market for the DSLR at the moment. It will come but she wants a portable camera with a large zoom.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T100 looks pretty close to soemthing she would be able to settle for but she'd rather avoid sony, mainly so we can re-use our SD cards that we have. I mean 5x optical would be better than 3x opitcal. Of couse the higher zoom the happier she'd be, but she has her FZ-20 and I'm sur in the not to distant future a DSLR that she'll be using for serious photos. This is more for when she's just out on walks with the dog or at the gorge.


edit:

I found a few other cameras that might be good enough for her needs. Going to have to do some checking up on them.

Samsung NV11
Nikon Coolpix S4
Ricoh Caplio R5
Ricoh Caplio R6

Not even sure how many of these are available in Candada.

[KorruptioN]

I do not think there is a camera that suits your needs. If you want a larger 10x like zoom factor you need a physically larger lens and camera. If you opt for a smaller camera it is physically impossible to put good optics in such a small body. I think what you have already suits the bill. If you want anything smaller you lose the zoom.

Why not get a used Nikon D40 ($349 from Henrys) which is pretty tiny for a DSLR and get a Nikon 55-200mm VR lens for $200? Although slightly larger than your current setup (well maybe a lot larger) it will be a wicked impressive performer!

I do not recommend this. Everybody is so eager to recommend them. Why? The FZ20 that the OP has can already reach up to 432mm (equiv). The D40 + the 55-200VR will "only" be able to reach 300mm, and even at a larger aperture! Now, the difference will be image sharpness, colour depth, noise control, detail reproduction, the list goes on... but talking strictly in terms of reach, the TZ3 can about as much (280mm).

Cameras like the Sony T100 aren't good choices either... because the folded-optic lens suffers in terms off sharpness and light falloff.

[sfu_engineer]

I do not recommend this. Everybody is so eager to recommend them. Why? The FZ20 that the OP has can already reach up to 432mm (equiv). The D40 + the 55-200VR will "only" be able to reach 300mm, and even at a larger aperture! Now, the difference will be image sharpness, colour depth, noise control, detail reproduction, the list goes on... but talking strictly in terms of reach, the TZ3 can about as much (280mm).

Cameras like the Sony T100 aren't good choices either... because the folded-optic lens suffers in terms off sharpness and light falloff.

Although you may not have the reach and are limited to a bit smaller apertures. You have a much higher, and clearer, ISO range to work in. This allows you to have higher shutter speeds needed for steady hands while using a telephoto and help to capture and stop motion in a photo. Higher ISO's also allow use of smaller apertures to get more depth of field as well. Finally I find it is much easier to change your shutter speed, aperture, and ISO values on a DSLR than on a point-and-shoot.

I guess for the OP there may not be a camera that suits his needs and may be better off staying with his current camera instead of blowing $500+ now on something that is merely a stop-gap solution.

[GZero]

If it weren't for the incompatibility with SD cards, I'd recommend the new Olympus. 7x zoom.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0801/08...ylusseries.asp

Or try a Pentax, though it only has 5x

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0801/08...axoptiom50.asp



Keep in mind these were recently announced and it may be a few months before they're seen on store shelves.