better camera?

[schnikel]

Okay, so I have read all the past threads about cameras and mega pixels and ooptical zoom and now feel as though I can ask a question not out of ignorance.:-?

My current camera is about 5 years old, a Canon Powershot A75. It has 3.2 mega pixels and a 3x zoom lens.

From what I have read mega pixels do little and what I am ready wanting is more optical zoom lens.

Does this mean that all the new cameras out on the market now that are 3x-4x but have 10-12 mega pizels are really no better than the 5 year old camera I have now?
Examples:
Canon powershot 10 mp 3.3 optical zoom
Olympus 12mp 4x optical zoom
Kodak 10.2mp 3z optical zoom
Are any of these really so much better than what I have now that I should spend the $100+ for a new camera?

[Franco]

The reason that even the basic cameras use 10-12 mp sensors now. is simply that the sensor manufacturers don't make 6 or 8 mp anymore .
The quality of the final image is determined by the size of the sensor (not so much the pixel qty) , the type of lens used and the firmware that does the processing. Therefore you can have 3 cameras with the same sensor and lens (not that uncommon) yet get different results from each.
In your position I would look at replacing what you have (the A75 was a very popular and decent camera) only when you can afford a bigger optical zoom ,since that is your main concern .
I would look at both Canon and Panasonic.
Franco

[Wags]

i agree with your assessment. the optical zoom is the major focus, and other stuff is mostly marketing

[Sir-Packs-Alot]

Here's my "2 cents" on the subject of cameras... I find myself wanting 2 camera favorites combined into one - which inevitably will happen at some point - but it's a tossup on every hike as to which one I'll take. The first camera is the little workhorse I bring most often. It's one of those Olympus "Tough" cameras (pocket sized, big viewfinder screen, 10 megs, pretty good fixed lense, waterproof, shockproof, takes pretty good videos I post to You Tube). It goes in a front pants pocket and I can catch quick wildlife shots I'd never get with my second camera. This camera is also great to shoot photos in the rain (unlike the next camera) and has auto features like "portait" that automatically frames you center when you stick out your arm to do a self portrait and "auto-stab." - making on the fly shots not blurry. The second camera is all about the glass - the lense that is. It's a Canon D-60 (SLR) and it'll take awesome portrait quality photos. It's bigger and bulkier though - and on rainy days I don't pull it out. This particular SLR doesn't shoot video. So user friendly #1 vs. beauty of SLR #2. There are some cams making headway to close this gap - but as far as I know we are still not there. I did see a pro photgrapher selling beautiful prints of her thru-hike at Trail Days last year though...and she did it all with the little waterproof Olympus camera. As of now - the little waterproof workhorse (Olympus) is the one I'd recommend to hikers - especially long distance hikers.

[Chaco Taco]

We have always carried a Canon Powershot. Its light, and it takes great pics. There is a really awesome camera on the market right now made by Olympia at an affordable price and its really durable and waterproof
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Olympus+-+Stylus+Tough+10.0-Megapixel+Digital+Camera+-+Orange/9224118.p?id=1218062133460&skuId=9224118

[photojojo]

I recently sent my Canon G7 in for repair and I was offered a refurbished Canon PowerShot SX10 IS as a replacement. I did a little research and decided to take the offer. A few of the things I liked about it were:


20x optical zoom
It takes double A batteries
Has a built in flash and a flash hot shoe so I can use my Canon flashes or remotes

My biggest problem with most point and shoots is the low light/high iso performance. Most of that is due to sensor size and cant really be fixed until manufacturers stop the pixel wars and focus on sensor quality. Canon has sort of done this. their newest G11 camera went from 12mp to 10mp and is supposed to have much better low light performance.
While I researched the sx10 is I became very intrigued by the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS. The main thing that piques my interest on that one are:



The cmos sensor. That should allow for better low light/high iso pictures.
Faster burst speeds, 4 fps compared to the .7 fps in the sx20is.
1080p HD movies.


Both of these cameras share the same body and they're heavy when compared to other point and shoots, but light when compared to a DSLR and it's lens. I think they both fit the middle ground very well though.

(http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_sx1is%2Ccanon_sx20is&camsel=canon_sx200is&show=all)Here's a side by side of the sx20 and the sx1 Side by side comparison (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_sx1is%2Ccanon_sx20is&camsel=canon_sx200is&show=all)

Amazon has them at about a $200 difference. Amazon link (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Dphoto&tag=dpreviewbuybox-20&field-availability=-2&field-keywords=Canon+PowerShot+SX1+IS)

[white_russian]

This is what I just bought: http://www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-Finepix-A170-Digital-Optical/dp/B002HEWA1E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1260801275&sr=1-1

Its nowhere near the quality of a nice camera and lacks a lot of features, but the pictures are extremely good for the small investment. It would be nice to get a Olympus SW or something like that, but at a little more than 1/4 the price this Fuji does a decent job.

[schnikel]

Thanks for all the replys.
I think I need to stick with point and shoot cameras just because of the price and I do like how small and light they are. My wife and I do a lot of weekend hikes and some mutiday hikes and I'm just looking for a newer camera.

Chaco- that camera looks good but it may be out of our price range. This may mean that for right now if I am looking to only spend up to $150 or so Maybe it would be a waste of money, 'cause I'm not going to get to much better of a camera than what I have now, the Canon A75.

Would you all agree with this?

[tammons]

I would forget about the _x description so much and look for a camera that has a 28mm equiv on the bottom end. You want wide angle in the outdoors.

Get one with an image stabilizer.
waterproof would be a plus.

A 10X zoom in that configuration would get you out to 280mm equiv which is nice.
5x would do, IE 140mm on top, but not really long enough for wildlife.
For serious wildlife even more is better, like 300-400 or 500mm.

You cant always turn the MP down if you dont want to deal with large files.
Most of the sensors in the cameras are from the same manuf, so the differences are in the lens quality and functions.

Also for hiking you want it light weight.

Look through this review (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q408premiumgroup/). Its pretty much the best of the best for small P+S cameras.

The Canon and fuji images look the best to me.
I dont think any of them are waterproof.
An older Canon SD in the 8mp area like the 800 would be cheaper.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q408premiumgroup/

The Pentax W60 is waterproof, 28-140mm, 10mp, has image stabilization and
weighs about 4oz so maybe thats your camera. I have not seen any images from one or used one, but here is a link to a review.

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Pentax_Optio_W60/

The image quality is not up to the Canon 880IS but its not bad for a tiny waterproof camera.

[tammons]

Another review.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/W60/W60A.HTM

[GeneralLee10]

I just bought this camera I have used it some. It will take a good fall as I have done so. It does take good under water pics and video. Which I did lastnight at the hotel pool. But the pictures out of the water are very hit and miss. I will let you know more in a week when I get back I will post some links and pics and videos.

[white_russian]

The Pentax W60 is waterproof, 28-140mm, 10mp, has image stabilization and
weighs about 4oz so maybe thats your camera. I have not seen any images from one or used one, but here is a link to a review.

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Pentax_Optio_W60/

The image quality is not up to the Canon 880IS but its not bad for a tiny waterproof camera.

I bought a W60 a while back, took a few pictures in the back yard, returned the camera the next day. Pictures were not good.

[schnikel]

[quote=tammons;932990]
http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Pentax_Optio_W60/

Great link! thanks Tammons.

One last question:
What is really the difference in optical zoom from say a 3x to a 5x?

I saw where you posted about finding something around 28 mm on the bottom end but to remain in my price range, $150 or so, that may not be possible.

do you think I should save up to get a higher endmodel, equiv. to 28mm, or get what I can with the money I have now?

[bigcranky]

The "x" ratio in a zoom doesn't matter nearly as much as the actual field of view it covers. I would look hard for a camera with a moderately wide angle lens -- a "28mm equivalent" or thereabouts. (The actual focal length will be something like 5mm or 6mm, but it will have an equivalent field of view to a 28mm lens on an old 35mm film camera.) The long end of the zoom can be anywhere from 85mm to 200mm equivalent -- I would look for something in the 110-140mm range. So a 28-135 equivalent would be a nice range for a compact pocket camera. That's about 5x, and it's fine.

The big improvement in compact cameras in the last few years has been optical image stabilization. I would not buy a p+s camera without it -- it makes that much of a difference in the final photos. (It doesn't help freeze the action when your kids are running around, but it makes a HUGE difference in hand holding sharp photos of things that aren't moving too fast.) Especially if you want some 40x zoom monster, you will simply not be able to hand hold the camera at the long end of the zoom and get sharp photos without O.I.S.

Panasonic and Canon offer a lot of cameras with this feature. Here are some choices:

http://www.adorama.com/IPCDMCFS15S.html
http://www.adorama.com/IPCDMCFS15K.html
http://www.adorama.com/IPCDMCFS25S.html
http://www.adorama.com/IPCDMCFX48K.html
http://www.adorama.com/IPCDMCZS1S.html (super zoom compact)
http://www.adorama.com/IPCDMCZR1BK.html

http://www.adorama.com/IPXOW80GM.html (not stabilized, but waterproof)

[Powder River]

Okay, so I have read all the past threads about cameras and mega pixels and ooptical zoom and now feel as though I can ask a question not out of ignorance.:-?

My current camera is about 5 years old, a Canon Powershot A75. It has 3.2 mega pixels and a 3x zoom lens.

From what I have read mega pixels do little and what I am ready wanting is more optical zoom lens.

Does this mean that all the new cameras out on the market now that are 3x-4x but have 10-12 mega pizels are really no better than the 5 year old camera I have now?
Examples:
Canon powershot 10 mp 3.3 optical zoom
Olympus 12mp 4x optical zoom
Kodak 10.2mp 3z optical zoom
Are any of these really so much better than what I have now that I should spend the $100+ for a new camera?

Once cameras reached about 7 megapixels I would say it was sufficient. You will definitely see better image quality than your 3mp camera by moving up. The other factor will be that speed has increased dramatically in certain models, from focus time to shutter lag. If you're only spending $100 I wouldn't expect any miracles, but I would double check whatever you pick with reviews on Amazon and professional review sites. You don't have to know anything about cameras to get a feel for whether a camera is a dud or not by reading those.

[Zoooma]

The first camera is the little workhorse I bring most often. It's one of those Olympus "Tough" cameras (pocket sized, big viewfinder screen, 10 megs, pretty good fixed lense, waterproof, shockproof, takes pretty good videos I post to You Tube). It goes in a front pants pocket and I can catch quick wildlife shots I'd never get with my second camera. This camera is also great to shoot photos in the rain . . .

As of now - the little waterproof workhorse (Olympus) is the one I'd recommend to hikers - especially long distance hikers.

I've been needing a camera for my hike. I've been on too many trips now where the only images stored are in my mind. Thanks for your posting!! Olympus owes you a commission 'cause you just sold me on the Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 (http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Stylus-Tough-8000-Stabilized-Black/dp/B001P06Q5C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1261477538&sr=1-1)!