No Clue What to get

[RALIKA]

I have no clue what to get. I have seen the pansonic one with 12x zoom looks good. I have about 250-450 to spend on camera. I want some with nice zoom for taking stuff far away. I like my moms pansonic for because it takes like 3-5 pictures in a row so you can capture the fire works. I want it to be easy to use. And not too big. My moms pansonic is 3-4 years old. Hers looks like this one Panasonic DMC-FZ7K Digital Camera. Please help me choose one i am so clueless when it comes to cameras. I also want a fast shutter spead. On my moms u have to change settings at night for it to be fast otherwise it is so slow you can't take pictures. thanks

[Anewman]

I have no clue what to get. I have seen the pansonic one with 12x zoom looks good. I have about 250-450 to spend on camera. I want some with nice zoom for taking stuff far away. I like my moms pansonic for because it takes like 3-5 pictures in a row so you can capture the fire works. I want it to be easy to use. And not too big. My moms pansonic is 3-4 years old. Hers looks like this one Panasonic DMC-FZ7K Digital Camera. Please help me choose one i am so clueless when it comes to cameras. I also want a fast shutter spead. On my moms u have to change settings at night for it to be fast otherwise it is so slow you can't take pictures. thanks

My votes
S3 IS (http://www.buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=CNPSS3)

and

Panasonic TZ1 (http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?oid=147857&WT.mc_n=3&WT.mc_t=U&cm_ven=COMPARISON%20SHOPPING&cm_cat=CNET&cm_pla=DATAFEED->PRODUCTS&cm_ite=1%20PRODUCT&cm_keycode=3)

The Canon is a better all around camera but you may consider it a tad big, since you want a small camera the Panasonic TZ1 is about $100 cheaper and very compact.

[RALIKA]

i mainly want it for going to disneyland and world lol :D

[ukcatfan]

I like my moms pansonic for because it takes like 3-5 pictures in a row so you can capture the fire works.

I am asuming that you are talking about it taking 3-5 fairly quickly. That may not give you the results that you are expecting. I personally prefer firworks shots that use a long shutter speed. I usually go around 2 seconds, but you must use a tripod.

The first sticky thread on this board covers fireworks in detail.

I also give my vote on the Canon S2 or S3. A little bigger on the point and shoot side, but they really are not that big.

[RALIKA]

my moms you hold down the take picutre button and it takes 3-5 back to back for fireworks and yes some come out blurry.

[Kelly Grannell]

Considering you want to use it for WDW and Disneyland, you will need the high ISO capability. Canon is cleaner than Panasonic. Unless pocketability is a must, I'd choose any Canon with IS over any Panasonic with OIS.

[RALIKA]

i am not too worried about how big is it my my pansonic is pretty big

[Kelly Grannell]

then just get the Canon S3 IS. 12x zoom, literally more than 50% LESS noise at ANY ISO setting compared to the Panasonic TC-1. That's the objective part.

The subjective part: it feels better in my hand than the TC-1.

At that price (around $350) you can't get a better camera with IS.

If you want to go further in photography and have the budget to be stretched a little bit, get a Pentax ist*DL body with Sigma 18-125 lens and you'll get a full-fledged dSLR with picture quality even BETTER than the S3 IS. (I think about $500 total after rebate?)

[RALIKA]

how big is that though i don't want something too big since i am not a pro. I do want excellent pic of disneyworld and land. My mom is fuzzy sometimes.

[Kelly Grannell]

here's the complete specifications and features (http://www.pentax.ca/digital/digital_slr/istdl/index.php) of Pentax ist*DL

here's the link for Sigma 18-125 lens (http://sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3287&navigator=6). Don't worry about the MSRP, it's inaccurate.

[manning]

You can see the size of the Panasonic TZ1 here:

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_tz1-review/

Also look at the Sony H2 or H5.

One thing, before you buy get to a camera store a put each of those cameras into your hands and handle them. Ask them what their return policy is. You don't want to buy where they charge a restocking fee on returns. You want to be able to to return the camera if you don't like it. Some stores will give you two weeks.

If you have a COSTCO near you check out the cameras they have. They have a 30 days no questions asked return policy. Just bring it back with all the packing and sales receipt and you will get a refund

[Kelly Grannell]

and for an objective comparison between Sony H5 vs Canon S3 click here (http://landakphotography.blogspot.com/2006/07/sony-dsc-h5-pros-and-cons-vs-canon-s3.html).

[RALIKA]

the pentax can you take picture from looking thur the lcd. and is there somewhere i can see picture comparsions. spending 200 for a lot better camera isn't a big deal for me. and the extra lens what does it do and does the pentex do well for fireworks does it have burst mode. oh can you get batteries backs that recharge for them my moms pansonic do otherwise i would go thur a ton of aa. i go to disneyland all the time only 4 hour drive and take anywhere for 600-1000 on my moms pansonic.

[Kelly Grannell]

1. dSLR means Single Lens Reflex, there is no LCD preview, you see it from the viewfinder. The way it's supposed to. It's more accurate and also more visible especially under the bright-light situation.

2. any camera can take fireworks, look at the fireworks sticky at thetop of this forum

3. obviously you haven't read the link if you ask about the burst mode. I'm sorry, this is where I draw the line. I've given you the link, read it.

4. about the batteries, again, I've provided you the link for you to read. I'm not re-typing everything that's available over there just for your convenience.

5. being able to change lens means giving you the possibility to buy specialty and/or higher quality lenses in the future.

6. no offense, but please type properly, it's very hard to understand what you want to say.

7. finally, read my photography lesson carefully. Just click the 2nd link in my signature.

[RALIKA]

Sorry i didn't mean to offend anyone and i have been reading your links i am getting more confused though. I like being able to take pictures from the lcd proabley cause that is the way i was taught to use my mom's and the way i use most of the time. I like being able to take from lcd for like when you are taking pictures of parade then you can watch it too. I read one firework post on this forum but i think it was the wrong one. Thanks for all your help i really appciate it. I will try to type better. I reread what i write but i add words that should be there but aren't there. Yes I have a very hard time in english in school.

[Kelly Grannell]

Okay, for you needs then maybe S3 IS will be more than enough camera for you. I think it's about $350 and takes AA batteries. Just like any camera that requires AA batteries, you should use rechargeable AA batteries instead of the use-once type.

I personally can take picture by having one eye looking through the viewfinder and the other looking from the side of the camera so I still can take pictures and watch the parade etc.

The link on the topic of Fireworks is at the top of the page of the photography board. You can't miss it. Burst mode is NOT the way to take fireworks photos.

To help you further. The Pentax does have burst mode and it uses AA batteries too.

[RALIKA]

which is faster 1/2000 or 1/4000. Is there a good book i can buy that explains the iso and all the differant things or does the manual on the camera do that?

[manning]

Sorry i didn't mean to offend anyone and i have been reading your links i am getting more confused though. I like being able to take pictures from the lcd proabley cause that is the way i was taught to use my mom's and the way i use most of the time. I like being able to take from lcd for like when you are taking pictures of parade then you can watch it too. I read one firework post on this forum but i think it was the wrong one. Thanks for all your help i really appciate it. I will try to type better. I reread what i write but i add words that should be there but aren't there. Yes I have a very hard time in english in school.


You didn't offend anyone but guess who just did? That was uncalled for. Your english isn't that bad. Keep up the good work. One day you will write better than a lot of us.

Here is a complete review of the H5. The only difference between the H2 and H5 is in the number of megapixels I think.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonyh5/

[Kelly Grannell]

manning, if you have problem with me, take it to the moderator.

I already gave EVERYTHING for her to read yet she didn't even bother reading it... and I have to re-write everything for her convenience? now YOU offend me.

[Kelly Grannell]

which is faster 1/2000 or 1/4000. Is there a good book i can buy that explains the iso and all the differant things or does the manual on the camera do that?

1/4000 is faster than 1/2000, don't know why you need that speed, though.

Digital Photography for Dummies is a good start, but there is a lot to read (about 200 pages), though.

[AZ JazzyJ]

A lot of good information has been posted by several individuals and I hope that we can all take the information and use it to make an informed decision. Camera gear can be a very personal choice and one that breeds a lot of brand loyalty. I hope that we can all work together to make this forum one where everyone feels welcome and no one feels belittled nor looked down upon. A lot of great threads have been posted as a result of the community working together as a whole to educate each other. I want to see that continue so I would ask everyone to review their posts and try to look at them objectively and make sure that they read with the proper tone that you intended. Posting electronically it is hard to capture the emotion you wanted to express which makes it easy to be misconstrued. It is a good habit to get into to read your post objectively and see whether it could be taken in any way other than what you intended.

Jeff

[jann1033]

ralkia, i couldn't stand the longggg time i had to wait between pics on a little digital so i got a dslr( i had a film slr previously)...it would take you some getting used to but it's a nice hobby to learn...i almost got the canon s2IS(3 is next model out ) and they have a lot of user friendly effects like night shot, think they have a fireworks, color swap in camera..etc. the IS makes it nice cause it 's less blurry due to camera shake( IE when you move the camera by mistake) i liked the size and fit better than some others i tried...but if you really think you like photography, you might want the dslr, just because it's a big kid camera( ;) ) that will still be usable after you develop more skills...if you just want to take good snapshots and maybe a little "fancy" stuff and don't want to really learn photography the s2/3 is great for that

and as far as any English problems go, see if you have a spell check and just do it before you post...i always do or people would think i am writing some long dead ancient language rather than English
:lmao:

and in line with jazzy's post, i read this again and want to clarify...i think the s2/3 is great and am still considering getting one for hubby ( and me on some days too)but just wanted to say my opinion of why I personally got one over the other...don't need any "rioting" from the countless s2/3 friends here :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

[RALIKA]

Thank You. I am still researching them i am very torn on what to get lol. Its a very hard desicion. lol

[mhutchinson]

When I ran in to trouble deciding, I went to one of the several review sites online that also include sample photos. Especially the ones that intentionally take pictures of the same locations and items with the various cameras. I'd download full size images to my PC and then pick apart what I liked and disliked with each piture to see if that carried through on the other pictures taken by the camera. :happytv: As examples, are the whites realistically white, or does the water shots look like water or is overly blue, or does one photo appear better detailed than another. :3dglasses

When seeing the capability of a camera in this context it does meet that old saying about 'a picture being worth a thousand words'.

Mike