Digital Camera Recommendation

[KelvC]

Hello all, i am currently looking to purchase a digital camera, appreciate any recommendation/experience on digital cameras (i am relatively new in the photography stuff); i.e. lense, formats, pricing, features, etc.

I've been scouting around and found the following two cameras:
1. Panasonic DMC-FX01
- Leica lense
- 6.0 effective pix
- 6.3 million sensor photo detectors
- 28 mm - 102 mm (wide angle)
- 3.6x optical zoom lens
- 4x digital zoom
- with image stabilizer
- continuous drive - 3 or 2 fps, max 6 images
- Storage: SD/MMC card
- 2.5" LCD
- 150g (inc. batteries)
source: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Panasonic/panasonic_dmcfx01.asp

2. Olympus Stylus 810 Digital (mju 810 Digital)
- All weather
- 8.0 effective pix
- 8.3 million sensor photo detectors
- 35 mm - 105 mm
- 3x optical zoom lens
- w/o image stabilizer
- Storage: xD Picture Card + Internal (28MB)
- 2.5" LCD
- 185g (inc. batteries)
source: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Olympus/oly_stylus810.asp

As much i would like an SLR concept (my toy) but the reality is wifey would be using the camera too hence simplicity would be more practical in this case. ;)

[fRaNkY]

You go to the shop and see the camera... touch touch, smell smell, see see, shake shake..... :D

See which one u like, then buy. For wifey, look for something simple, fully auto.
For durability, something, all weather, uses AA battery and cost not more than RM1000.
She might prefer small in size.... function... bring her along. Better than buying something she do not like.

Remember, you only need minimum of 3mp to print a good 4R print :D. The more mp u get means the larger the memory card u need to get.

There are 3 camera shops in Summit... go and shop....tonite.

[Dreamer]

I think it's better for you to bring ur wife to the shop and let her feel the cameras in her hand. See which one she likes, sometimes the design of the camera is more important than the features. :D
Since Olympus is in ur list, hv you considered the mju 720SW? It's a 7mp, 3x zoom with (not many cameras hv this).. shock proof up to 1.5m and water proof up to 3m. This is a more "hardy" camera. :) It is still compact and the design is nice too. The Sony T series is very nice also esp. the T9. Very slim and "sexy". :)

[Firefly]

Firefly have been using many versions of the Lumix...now waiting for the launch of their dSLR.

Panasonic is known for their noisy shots at higher ISO. Other than that, Panasonic is a nice camera. Some have complain that the menu is unfriendly but firefly do not find it so.

[Dreamer]

Just got the Lumix TZ1, and it's a very nice camera. Like the GUI and also the images it produces. So far, I'm happy with it. :)

[Firefly]

Only 1 complain so far from a panasonic user....Why do they have to place the tripot screw diagonal across the shutter release button :mad:

Is the TZ1 the same?

[KelvC]

Thanks fRaNkY, i'll certainly drop by at Summit within the two days (my assumption is Summit has lower rental hence more likely for lower pricing too if compared with Pyramid)

So much features for digital point&shoot cameras. However, the really LOUD features that i have managed to capture thus far is:

1. Panasonic FX01 has wide angles (no need to squeze squeze and better scenary) and famed LEICA lense.

2. Olympus Stylus series seem to have all weather (not that i'll delibrately take photo under the rain)

Dreamer, it seems the TZ1 has 10x optical zoom, another point to consider.

Darn, why can't they make cameras like cars? ;)

[SS19flyover]

if you prefer a lower noise photos at night shot, go for fujifilm digital camera.
No other CCD producer in the market can match their performance.

after all, the CCD is the one going to determine your photos quality.

olympus noise control is the worst in the market, I own one previously, now my gf own one olyumpus too. never make the same mistake like us.

[Firefly]

If camera are like cars, We would be getting 50 ~ 100 km to the liter by now. Just a few years ago it was sub 1Mp and it cost RM3k ~ RM5k. 2 years ago it was 8Mp...this year everyone is talking of 10+Mp and all for the same $$$ :mad:

But for cars you still go from 0 to 100km (for normal saloon cars) 9 ~ 15 secs and consumption is no different 18km /lit :mad:

firefly's 8080, where got the noise :mad:

[SS19flyover]

If camera are like cars, We would be getting 50 ~ 100 km to the liter by now. Just a few years ago it was sub 1Mp and it cost RM3k ~ RM5k. 2 years ago it was 8Mp...this year everyone is talking of 10+Mp and all for the same $$$ :mad:

But for cars you still go from 0 to 100km (for normal saloon cars) 9 ~ 15 secs and consumption is no different 18km /lit :mad:

firefly's 8080, where got the noise :mad:

Firefly,
Take some shoot of your beautiful flyover at nite with the lowest ISO, view at 100%.
see wether the noise jump out from your monitor or not.

[aRwEn]

hmm.... on d positiv end, olympus' advantage iz actuali itz hardinez n all-weather featurez... i wuz usin a u-mini digital 4.0 n it went everywhere wit me, incl d jungle, cavez, in2 d water (wit an underwater casing), etc....

but it duznt take gud nite shotz.... a feature dat iz spozed 2b correctd in d mju 810 digital.... but i havent tried dat out....

so it iz basicali gud 4 photographerz who r outdoor enthusiastz....

[aRwEn]

As much i would like an SLR concept (my toy) but the reality is wifey would be using the camera too hence simplicity would be more practical in this case. ;)


since u prefer a dSLR but u wun sthin simple 2 handle 4 ur wife, tn how bout gettin urself a dSLR, n gettin her a p&s or prosumer (p&s pricez hav dropped drasticali).... but better 2 bring her out 2 choose wat she likez.... she may surprise u n end up selectin d dSLR of ur dreamz oso... tn dat wud solve ur problem.... hehehe.... :D

[Sea3]

I just got myself d FX01 & trust me no regrets ! I think so far, dis is d best compact digicam I hav ever used. I used Canon Ixus 55 & Sony T7 before dis, Sony T-series r nothing more than just sleek design ! FX01 performs much better than Ixus 55 especially nite shots. U may oso check out LUMIX FZ30 - a good start before venturing into DSLR. I own this babe as I m not prepared & willing to invest into D-SLR yet. M especially impressed wif the FZ30's 12x optical Leica lens with optical image stabilizer. (but noise problem is quite serious especially at ISO400)

[fcloh]

Just got my D50, with 1Gb SD card, camera bag, price reasonable, bought it at summit, nice customer service from them.....satisfied :D

[KelvC]

Have finally decided and bought the FX01 (inclusive of 1G SDram from Pendrive - 50x high speed) from Summit after much haggling :)

I must say, the real driving point here is the LEICA (shucks, am a s**ker for those marketing jargons :D ) 28mm widelense.

This is my first digi compact cam and am hoping this is a good long term buy after reading so many feedbacks here and other camera forum (www.dpreview.com).

Now, eager to use this new baby to photograph my incoming baby! :)

Cheers mate!

[GreyShadow]

:D I also was in the same dilema as you..
me self wan to have something similiar to dSLR, was eyeing the Pana FZ20, which cost around RM1200 only~! but it would be too heavy, too bulky and too complicated for my wifey...
So end up getting a Canon A700, which is small, light & easy enough for my wifey use... and got enough functions for me to play around with...

but still drooling over the FZ20 with 12x optical zoom, IS, Leica lense & etc.... :p