Zoom lenses

[MICKEY88]

old Minolta Film SLR, I did "dabble" with the manual setting but never became all that familiar with them.

Thx a bunch

is your minolta camera auto focus...if so, your lenses will work on the new Sony DSLRs

 

[collcass]

is your minolta camera auto focus...if so, your lenses will work on the new Sony DSLRs

Yes, it did have auto and manual focus. I didn't realize those lenses fit the new Sony DSLRs. Thanks for the tip.

There's no denying what I really want is the DSLR, but I don't think I'd be happy unless I had a good telephoto lense, too. maybe if I just post a photo of the camera on our fridge, something might appear for my bday

 

[awe147]

I'm looking for a pocket-sized digital camera with a decent zoom (at least 4x zoom). I was looking at the Canon PowerShots, but there do seem to be a lot of them to choose from.

Any experiences out there?

Thanks.

 

[seashoreCM]

I have a Canon SD850 (with the 4x 35-140mm equivalent zoom) and am quite pleased with it.

As far as I know, Canon has just one other super small model with about the same zoom, the SD950. This one is slightly larger than the SD850 and costs slightly more, and has more megapixels (12 vs 8 for the '850.) I'm told it gives better quality at higher ISO settings.

There is the SD800 with a wider angle minimum zoom (28mm) and a maximum zoom the same as the ubiquitous 3x zoom (35 to 105mm zoom) cameras for a total of 3.8x worth of zoom.

Digital camera hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/digicam.htm

 

[rhiansmom]

I have been happy with the Panasonic Lumix point and shoots (had two) and some have 10x optical zoom!

 

[Mickey Fliers]

So, I have decided on the D80 and now am just trying to decide on lenses. Of course, I would love the 18-200 vr, but might have to settle for the 18-135 for a bit. Dang budget.

Anywho... here is my question. On my Fuji P&S, it says I have 10x Optical Zoom. What would that equate to in lenses? Just trying to get a feel for how long the 135 will reach. KWIM?

Thanks. Sorry I am such a pain.

 

[seashoreCM]

For now, ignore the millimeter ratings stamped on a digital P&S camera's lens barrel.

Your P&S camera instructions should state the "35mm film camera lens focal length equivalent" for example 38 to 380mm or 28 to 280mm for 10x optical zoom.

The 10x or 3x or whatever is relative to the widest angle that the zoom lens allows.

135mm (35mm film camera equivalent) is a little more than the typical 3x zoom (usually 38 to 115mm) of a P&S. 200mm would be roughly 5x or 6x zoom on a P&S.

By the way, 18mm makes available a much wider angle than practically all P&S's offer, too.

Digital camera hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/digicam.htm

 

[TinksDH]

Most P&S cameras start with a 35mm equivilent focal length of 28-35mm, so your 10X zoom would translate into something between 28-280mm to 35-350mm. You could look on the front of the lens, but it will probably say something like "7.8mm" due to the sensor size.

Again, not to push you away from Nikon but if you are interested in that focal length the Sigma 18-200 HSM OS prices out in between the Nikon 18-200mm and the 18-135mm.

My check out my Flickr photostream (link in signature) if you want to see some shots from it.

 

[YEKCIM]

The S5200 zoom (10X) is equivalent to a 38-380mm lens on a 35mm film camera.

The 18-135mm (7.5X) is equivalent to a 27-203mm lens, so you gain pretty significantly on the wide end, but lose a good bit on the long end. That will be remedied when you get the 70-300vr 105-450mm equivalent), though!

Just for comparison, the 18-200vr (11.1X) is equivalent to a 27-300mm lens on a film camera.

~Y

 

[seashoreCM]

>>> Nikon vs. Sigma

Any given camera and lens combination gives a 35mm film camera equivalent focal length rating to the lens. If the lens is put on a different camera, the focal length rating may be different.

Any given DSLR camera (body) has a crop factor which should be published in the instructions. This is the number 43-1/4 divided by the actual sensor diagonal in millimeters. (For 35mm film cameras the crop factor is 1.0) (A number like 1/2.5 or 1/1.7 is not the actual sensor diagonal.)

When putting the lens on a different camera, you can start with the 35mm film camera equivalent rating for the original camera and lens combination. Divide by the crop factor of the camera the lens was originally on. Multiply by the crop factor of the camera the lens is going onto. This gives the new focal length rating for the lens.

As an example, a lens with 18-135mm rating and actually meant for a 35mm film camera, put on a DSLR with a sensor with half the diagonal (12x18mm versus 24x36mm film frame; crop factor of 2.0) will now have a 36-270mm rating.

 

[YEKCIM]

FWIW, crop factors are as follows:

Canon: 1.6X
Olympus: 2.0X
Nikon, Pentax, Sony: 1.5X

Canon and Nikon also have full frame dSLR's; there is no crop factor on those.

~Y

 

[emmabelle]

I have the Nikon D40 with the 18-135mm lens. Here's two examples of no zoom (18mm) and zoom (135mm).

18mm

135mm

I'm a visual learner, hope this helps. Sorry the images are pretty weak, I just took them out the kitchen window.

 

[AydensMom]

FWIW, crop factors are as follows:

Canon: 1.6X
Olympus: 2.0X
Nikon, Pentax, Sony: 1.5X

Canon and Nikon also have full frame dSLR's; there is no crop factor on those.

~Y

Yes no crop factor on the pro Canon and Nikon but aren't all the lenses described fall into the DX or DC camp so they won't work on a full frame camera anyways.

Pat.

 

[YEKCIM]

Yes no crop factor on the pro Canon and Nikon but aren't all the lenses described fall into the DX or DC camp so they won't work on a full frame camera anyways.

Pat.

I simply included the full frame Canon and Nikons to be all-inclusive. It is my understanding, though, that the DX Nikon lenses will function on the full frame D3 and that the D3 will automatically produce a 1.5X crop image, so all the Nikon lenses are, I guess, backwards and frontwards compatible.

~Y

 

[MrsJackSparrow]

Let me start by saying that I photograph for hobby and family enjoyment only. I have a Kodak EasyShare Z650 that takes very nice photos. I am looking into new cameras with image stabilization (I shoot mostly in sport mode to compensate for a slight tremor), a 2.5 to 3" screen, and a slimmer profile (currently 4 x 3.5") to fit better in a purse. The one I have now has 6.1 MP and a 10x optical zoom.

I use the zoom all the time and have come to rely on it quite a bit. My question is that in looking at the slimmer profile cameras, most are only at 3x optical zoom. Should I just do all of my zooming with editing software, cropping and resizing? They are pretty much just for 4 x 6 prints that go into albums or are scrapbooked. I am pleased with the performance of the Kodak, which I know is not a favorite, but as far as ease of operation and features, I am comfortable with it. I am not looking to get into professional photography and have no experience with SLRs. Looking strictly for a P&S.

Any suggestions? I do so love the zoom . . .

TIA!

 

[MHolleman]

You may like this camera. Here is the link. I actually considered this one myself.

http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=8912&pq-locale=en_US&_requestid=7423

I also saw them on Ebay, for a cheaper price.

 

[jann1033]

the problem with cropping is you are not going to get the detail you would with a larger zoom. you can only crop so far then it looks blurry. 3x is not much zoom at all.
i am guessing your sport mode raises the iso...you might want to consider something that allows some creative controls. that way you could raise the shutter speed without raising the iso( more noise with higher iso). the only p&s i know anything about is canon but i know they have a set up so you can use straight auto or play with the shutter, aperture ...between a higher shutter speed and the IS it should help cancel out your tremor. you might also want to invest in a monopod if you don't get a camera with IS,( a monopod is about the same amount of control as IS,) i have them as well sometimes and use my IS lens at a high shutter speed when i do or a tripod

 

[seashoreCM]

Optical zoom is always superior to cropping and resizing, although you may still need some cropping and resizing to get the finished picture the size you want.

Digital zoom is no different from cropping and resizing that you could have done yourself at your computer after uploading the pictures.

Digital zoom and cropping/resizing as an alternative will not give any improvement whatsoever in the finished picture in terms of reduced hand held camera shaking blurriness associated with higher amounts of optical zoom.

Digital camera hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/digicam.htm

 

[DizzyV6P]

I've found the Panasonics have the best form factor with their 5x and 10x OPTICAL zooms.

http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-...ras/model.DMC-TZ50S_11002_7000000000000005702

Most stores carry the Panasonic Lumix series so you should check it out to see if it meets your size requirements. Besides the Kodak V610(which I'm not sure they make anymore) most slim size cameras won't go beyond 3x.

 

[webshark3]

Coming very soon:

http://www.h20camera.com/home

Optio W60 (5x zoom and thin; and waterproof)