Marc + digital camera = not good

[Marc]

Don't worry, it isn't here yet. I have been pondering whether I should take the digital plunge for roughly 6 years now, and I finally decided to bite the bullet.

So I have a Panasonic Lumix FZ7 on the way as well as a 1 GB SD card by A-Data (the pink one).

Of course I bought both considerably below MSRP through Pricegrabber.com... I love that site.

I bought that Panasonic because it can basically do just about everything my Cannon AE-1 can, including auto/manual exposure, auto/manual focus, manual shutter speed, etc. with the exception that it doesn't have an attachment for a non-integrated flash. But that's ok, most of my shooting is done outside and often times carrying around the bulky flash for the AE-1 and four AAA batteries for it got to be a pain.

So everyone better be nervous at the next AZ outing I attend.... *evil grin*

 

[JimG.]

So everyone better be nervous at the next AZ outing I attend.... *evil grin*

We were nervous about the one you attended without the camera.

 

[Greg]

Nice. I'm trying to figure out what my next digital camera should be. Here's my criteria / wish list.

Need to have:

• Compact and lightweight
• 7+ MP
• Decent optical zoom
• Flash memory
• Sport mode to take action shots. Maybe a rapid fire of a shot every half second or so?
• Decent movie mode w/ audio.
• Point and shoot, but with a quality pitcure/lens.

Nice to have:

• Waterproof/resistent
• Very capable movie mode - reasonably high quality movies for the Web - ability to capture several minutes of footage.
• Ultra lightweight/small size
• I'm partial to the Canon brand.

Any suggestions? Sorry for the hijack, Marc.

 

[Marc]

Nice. I'm trying to figure out what my next digital camera should be. Here's my criteria / wish list.

Need to have:

• Compact and lightweight
• 7+ MP
• Decent optical zoom
• Flash memory
• Sport mode to take action shots. Maybe a rapid fire of a shot every half second or so?
• Decent movie mode w/ audio.
• Point and shoot, but with a quality pitcure/lens.

Nice to have:

• Waterproof/resistent
• Very capable movie mode - reasonably high quality movies for the Web - ability to capture several minutes of footage.
• Ultra lightweight/small size
• I'm partial to the Canon brand.

Any suggestions? Sorry for the hijack, Marc.

Yeah no problem cheif. I do it all the time.

Anyway, the one I bought has all of your "need to have" requirements with the exception that it is 6 mp and not 7. That step up will pull you from the $325 range, what I paid for mine shipped, to the $450+ range. That wasn't worth it to me.

But the FZ7 records stereo sound, can do 3frames/ sec for 7 pic's or 2 frames/sec indefinitely (depending on the write speed of your SD/MMC card) has a very good quality Lieca lense, 12x optical zoom... doesn't take compact flash... but who cares? You can buy 4 gig SD cards now...

This one certainly isn't waterproof, you'll pay through the nose for that if you can even find it with your other qualifications, this one is relatively lightweight and compact for having a quality lense...

I made some comprimises so I could keep the cost reasonably below $400... but I think Panasonic's are a great value personally.

 

[Marc]

We were nervous about the one you attended without the camera.

Hoo boy... walked right into that one, didn't I...

 

[Greg]

Yeah no problem cheif. I do it all the time.

Anyway, the one I bought has all of your "need to have" requirements with the exception that it is 6 mp and not 7. That step up will pull you from the $325 range, what I paid for mine shipped, to the $450+ range. That wasn't worth it to me.

But the FZ7 records stereo sound, can do 3frames/ sec for 7 pic's or 2 frames/sec indefinitely (depending on the write speed of your SD/MMC card) has a very good quality Lieca lense, 12x optical zoom... doesn't take compact flash... but who cares? You can buy 4 gig SD cards now...

This one certainly isn't waterproof, you'll pay through the nose for that if you can even find it with your other qualifications, this one is relatively lightweight and compact for having a quality lense...

I made some comprimises so I could keep the cost reasonably below $400... but I think Panasonic's are a great value personally.

Thanks Mark. It looks a bit bulky though. Is it actually quite a bit smaller than it looks? Panasonics are indeed the best value for the money for many electronic items. I went with a Panny EDTV plasma, over the Sony, Toshiba or Phillips models and saved several hundred dollars.

 

[ALLSKIING]

Nice. I'm trying to figure out what my next digital camera should be. Here's my criteria / wish list.

Need to have:

• Compact and lightweight
• 7+ MP
• Decent optical zoom
• Flash memory
• Sport mode to take action shots. Maybe a rapid fire of a shot every half second or so?
• Decent movie mode w/ audio.
• Point and shoot, but with a quality pitcure/lens.

Nice to have:

• Waterproof/resistent
• Very capable movie mode - reasonably high quality movies for the Web - ability to capture several minutes of footage.
• Ultra lightweight/small size
• I'm partial to the Canon brand.

Any suggestions? Sorry for the hijack, Marc.

I really like my Olympus Camedia. It has just about everything. It is a few years old so it only is a 4Mp but I don't blow anything up very big anyway so the 4mp is ok. What I really like is the rapid fire it has...Great for lots of shot while skiing.

 

[Marc]

Dimensions (H x W x D): 2.84'' x 4.43'' x 3.11''

Small as far as long optical zoom digital SLR's go. You can't really have that both ways. I was more interested in a long zoom.

Weighs 0.68 pounds....

 

[skibum1321]

In classic Marc fashion, gone for a week and then posting 30 times in a day...

 

[Marc]

Ha! In that way my post rate is a little like Oprah's waist line....


(Oh no he didn't..... yes. Yes he did.)

 

[andyzee]

Good luck with the camera. Me and my wife were also hesitant to jump on the digital bandwagon but are glad we did. We purchased a fairly simple Olympus that we have been very happy with, the only complaint I have is that fact that it doesn't allow for rapid shots. I have been looking at new cameras and that is the one issue, getting all those features in a small package. Oh and I have no concerns about you bringing this to get togethers, I'll have my cam

 

[hammer]

Nice. I'm trying to figure out what my next digital camera should be. Here's my criteria / wish list.

Need to have:

• Compact and lightweight
• 7+ MP
• Decent optical zoom
• Flash memory
• Sport mode to take action shots. Maybe a rapid fire of a shot every half second or so?
• Decent movie mode w/ audio.
• Point and shoot, but with a quality pitcure/lens.

Nice to have:

• Waterproof/resistent
• Very capable movie mode - reasonably high quality movies for the Web - ability to capture several minutes of footage.
• Ultra lightweight/small size
• I'm partial to the Canon brand.

Any suggestions? Sorry for the hijack, Marc.

Have you checked out the newest Canon models? I think they are the A540 and A700.

I was looking at those as an upgrade to my Nikon Coolpix but I ended up going for the Canon S2...the 12x optical zoom was really nice. I don't think the S2 would work for you, though; it's definitely on the bigger side.

 

[Greg]

Have you checked out the newest Canon models? I think they are the A540 and A700.

The A700 looks like it meets most of my needs, except it's a 6 MP. I can live with that though. The 6X optical zoom is a nice feature for a small P&S camera...

 

[BeanoNYC]

Nice. I'm trying to figure out what my next digital camera should be. Here's my criteria / wish list.

Need to have:

• Compact and lightweight
• 7+ MP
• Decent optical zoom
• Flash memory
• Sport mode to take action shots. Maybe a rapid fire of a shot every half second or so?
• Decent movie mode w/ audio.
• Point and shoot, but with a quality pitcure/lens.

Nice to have:

• Waterproof/resistent
• Very capable movie mode - reasonably high quality movies for the Web - ability to capture several minutes of footage.
• Ultra lightweight/small size
• I'm partial to the Canon brand.

Any suggestions? Sorry for the hijack, Marc.

Give This One a look, Greg. Sorry if someone recommended it as I haven't the time to read through the thread yet. I'm almost positive that you can zoom in and out on video WHILE the camera is rolling too, which is something my camera does not do.

 

[ALLSKIING]

I really like my Olympus Camedia. It has just about everything. It is a few years old so it only is a 4Mp but I don't blow anything up very big anyway so the 4mp is ok. What I really like is the rapid fire it has...Great for lots of shot while skiing.

This is the newer Camedia and my next camera.

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product_Id=4001639&JRSource=google.datafeed.OLM+C7000ZOOM

 

[riverc0il]

greg, you would be better off getting a picture cam without movie features and a seperate video camcorder. the cheapest digital camcorder is light years better than the best integrated video cam. i know that is not the cheapest option and carrying two cams is harder, but from my experience, it is definitely the only way to go if you want good video.

 

[riverc0il]

oh, also MP is much better than optical zoom. i would rather be able to crop a nice shot than zoom. 3x has been perfect for me actually, any closer than 3x i find i am not in a good location for a shot.

 

[Marc]

oh, also MP is much better than optical zoom. i would rather be able to crop a nice shot than zoom. 3x has been perfect for me actually, any closer than 3x i find i am not in a good location for a shot.

Obviously you don't have any good looking neighbors...





I mean...




You don't take long range... uh...


Ah crap. Nevermind.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

I think you made a wise choice. Great price and with the lens made by Leica, you know you have quality optics. The camera is so new that there are not many consumer reviews but here is some from it's predesessor the Z5.
http://www.epinions.com/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC_FZ5_Digital_Camera/display_~reviews

 

[riverc0il]

Obviously you don't have any good looking neighbors...

well... jeez, look where i live!!!

besides, that is why i recommend a digi camcorder. 24x BABY!!!!!!