Dog Community

about to buy a superzoom camera help me camera techies!

kpwlee

Posted : 11/15/2008 7:10:21 PM

I've got it down to the

Panasonic DMC FZ28

Canon Powershot SX10IS

Kodak Z1015

But being a neophyte I don't know how (other than price) I can decide between them. I don't know how to do much with cameras but am willing to learn, have no interest in a DSLR, prefer the rechargeable batteries of the Panasonic and Kodak, but don't have too much else to say I want. I will be using the camera to photograph the Bugs and nature and want something better than the point and shoot we have now. The Kodak has fantastic reviews including from Consumer Reports, the techie in me wants the Canon because it is the most complex and I have a Panasonic little camera that is fantastic so feel happy with their stuff.

So techies can you look at the specs and let me know what you think will be straight forward, good for action shots (fast sequence), and also be one I can grow the most with.

The best prices I have found have the Panasonic as the cheapest $90 less than the Canon and the Kodak as $80 less than the Canon.

Thank you

Liesje

Posted : 11/15/2008 7:25:32 PM

Kodak, bleh. Personally wouldn't even look at it. I have a Panasonic FZ50 (with all accessories - external flash and bounce, polarizer, bag, extended warranty...) that I'm trying to sell. It's "only" a 10x optical (35-420 I think). Honestly though, even the high end of that range I would need a tripod to shoot unless the object was still and conditions were good. The image stabilization technologies do help, but at the far reaches of zoom...not really. I've never shot moving dogs with the zoom on that camera, well I shouldn't say never but the results are not that great. But it's not the camera, taking shots like that needs a good lens, good censor, and unless you've got a steady hand and great light, a mono/tripod.

kpwlee

Posted : 11/16/2008 9:31:36 AM

Thanks Lies - I have seen all three in the 'flesh' and the Kodak looks way less techie and kind of cheap BUT the online reviews have been amazing from technical sites to user reviews.

I have a leaning towards the Panasonic because I see it as a middle between the three I listed - so not too complicated but I would be able to grow with it

I really wanted the Canon S5 and tried to get one on clearance and apparently this SX10 and the SX1 'combined' replace the S5. The SX10 has gotten some mixed reviews and from that it has gone top of my list - even at the top price - to not being convinced it is worth the extra money or that I will be as able to use it as successfully as the others.

Which leaves me where I am - desperately wanting one of them but not sure what to do Huh?

Liesje

Posted : 11/16/2008 11:55:08 AM

I got the FZ50 in April and while I am pleased with the results and still believe it is/was (I'm sure newer models have replaced it) the best point-and-shoot along with the S5, I should have just made the jump to DSLR then. That is what I have been using since August, a D40x. You can get a body on eBay for less than $400 now and Cameta has tons of Buy It Now kits that come with lenses and all the accessories you need to get started. Mine is borrowed, so I'm getting one of these as soon as I sell my FZ50 and get paid for a web site. For just a hundred or two more the DSLR is a huge jump ahead. The autofocus even on the cheaper, older models puts ANY point and shoot to shame. That was the biggest difference for me, especially shooting dogs. Also my favorite lens (which I think I can get for about $200 on eBay) shoots so much clearer, sharper, with the DOF that I like than any point and shoot I've used. I used to be really obsessed with zoom, but now I can take a pic at the 200 end of my Nikon lens, crop it so it looks more zoomed in, and still get a much better result than using the 12x zoom on the FZ50. I was worried about losing the 200-420 range going from the FZ50 to the D40x with the telephoto lens, but now when I buy one I have no interest in a zoom lens (yet).