I want a good zoom, quality digital camera - can you help?

[WillR]

Hi,

I've spent endless hours searching past posts and reading reviews and I still can't decide.

I want a digital camera with a good zoom - I checked the Olympus 730 and HP Photosmart reviews and they both seem questionable. I'd like 3+ megapixels and hopefully no more than $500.

I have an old Sony Mavica (floppy disc style) that isn't a great camera but the zoom (digital I imagine) is a lot of fun to play with.

I really like the Canon S45 but the zoom barely exists which is what is stopping me from buying it.

Zurg or anyone else please put me out of my misery and tell me the camera I should buy - I know its out there, I just can't find it!

Thanks!

 

[Goofyish]

I would go for the Canon G3. In all the reports I've read it comes out very well.

Check out this iste for more camera reviews:

http://www.dpreview.com/

 

[WillR]

I looked at this camera - two things I wasn't crazy about. First it's only a 3 optical zoom (same as the S45) and second it drove me crazy that you could see the lens move in and out when you look through the view finder.

How about the Olympus 730?

 

[helenabear]

Just bought a G3 on Friday. I assume that if you are looking at a 10x optical zoom that you wouldn't be thrilled with a G3. It has a 4x optical (not 3x though, the G2 only has a 3x). I use the view finder almost exclusively on my cameras and while the lens is noticable in the viewfinder at times, I have already gotten used to it. I just cared more about the features (manual settings like apeture and shutter speed control as well as the manual focus ability, simple flash attachment, being more than 3 MP as my old one was and being able to use attachments on the lens) than the optical zoom.

I have heard that Olympus is a good digital brand. Here is a bunch of reviews I found in Google Olympus 730 One of the first listed on there is another good site to go to in general for reviews.

I do believe my BIL has an older version of the one you are talking about (he sacrificed MP for the zoom back then though) and he loves his. Good luck.

 

[WillR]

One more choice - how about the HP Photosmart 850xi?

I've found several reviews on the 850 but I'm having some trouble finding enough about the 850xi?

Any thoughts about this camera vs. the Olympus?

Thanks

 

[SplshMtn99]

We are looking too -- but in no rush. I've considered the Canon G3 & the Olympus C730 (or even the C740). But I think we may really hold out for the C750 coming out in May.

I have an older Olympus D450 zoom that's taken alot of use & abuse. Love it...but it's having trouble focusing when zooming.

 

[helenabear]

Photosmart 850xi

I read a few of the reviews and saw that in one they compared it to the Olympus and thought the Olympus was a better quality camera and had better photo quality at long zooms than the HP did.

 

[Zurg]

there are a few options.

start looking here http://dcresource.com/reviews/cameraList.php?sort=1&sortField=storageMethod

you can just scroll down the list looking for in the zoom column.

Olmypus jsut announced the 750 nice features including a real hot shoe. The 730 is cool too.

Fuji has some 6x cameras Nikon has an 8

Browse the list and read the reviews.


(Dan M. - thanks for the heads up )

 

[WillR]

Decision of the day....

Buy the Olympus 730 right now or wait for the release of the 740 or 750.

What exactly is the difference between the 730 and 740 ( I know the 750 has 4 megapixels).

 

[Bildmouse]

Have you checked out the Kodaks? They have a lot of features the other have and are smaller and lightweight compared to others. Prices aren't bad either!

 

[WillR]

I have looked at the Kodaks - nice cameras but they didn't have much of an optical zoom. The zoom keeps bringing me back to the Olympus 730.

Thanks

 

[Wishing on a star]

Just got the Fugi Finepix 3800... 6Xoptical, 3 megapixel...

Have only played with it. But seems super nice!

Have you checked that one out?

Hope this helps!

 

[Shadeaux]

I have a C-700, the first in the C-7xx series. It's a great camera and the 10x zoom is amazing. The C-730 has a few improvements over the C-700. I bought my camera two months before the C-730 was announced. Had I known I'd have waited! If you're interested in seeing some pictures, I have some galleries online at Pbase.
http://www.pbase.com/shadeaux
All the pictures were taken with the Olympus C-700 except for the WDW gallery and one of the sunset galleries. I can't wait to have the 10x zoom at WDW, especially at Animal Kingdom.

 

[WillR]

Shadeaux - thanks for the link to your photos - they're incredible.

I went to look at the Olympus 730 today at Comp USA and they sold the last one yesterday. I was able to see the 720 and I like the look and feel so now (I think) I'm ready to order from someplace on the web.

By the way I really like the Fuji camera but I want the video output and the Fuji doesn't have it.

 

[Shadeaux]

WillR -

I think you'll be very happy with the C-730. If you're interested in joining a great C-7xx group on Yahoo, send me an IM and I'll give you the link to the group.

 

[DVC Daisy]

I just recently purchased a C730 and I LOVE it! The zoom is great. I can definitely recommend this camera.

Shadeaux - can you send me the link to the Yahoogroup too?

Thanks so much!

Deb