slackerinabox
Lifer
I'm not looking for something with a lot of megapixels (3 to 5 is fine) but something that has lots of manual controls and a good zoom lens. Sub-$600 would be great... As-sub as possible 😉
Thanks!
Thanks!
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affordable big zoom (6x+) digital camera?
- Thread starter slackerinabox
- Start date
SynthDude2001
Lifer
I :heart: my Canon S1 IS. 10x optical zoom, 3.2MP, cost me $320 last October. I can provide more details if you want. 😛
cmdrmoocow
Golden Member
slackerinabox
Lifer
Cool! Looking into it now. I'm kinda staying away from canon because my a70 has an annoying problem locking focus - that's why I have to buy a new camera 🙁
DeviousTrap
Diamond Member
Seconded.
Either that, or increase your budget to $700 and buy a Digital Rebel with a lense. (Body = $600 + $100 for a cheap zoom lens.)
slackerinabox
Lifer
What do you guys think of the Fuji S3100, Fuji S5100, Minolta DiMage Z2, or the Kodak DX6490?
Antisocial Virge
Diamond Member
You can get a sigma 70-300mm for like $180. Get yea out to 10X or so 😉
slackerinabox
Lifer
Thanks guys - picked up these guys!
Minolta DiMage Z20
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=30-126-026&depa=0
I wanted a digital rebel but couldn't justify spending $800. This guy has 5 megapixels, a great zoom lens, and tons of manual functions for less than 300 bones.
Epson Stylus R200
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=28-103-160&depa=0
Photo quality printing and I can use it to print directly on DVDs - w00t!
Minolta DiMage Z20
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=30-126-026&depa=0
I wanted a digital rebel but couldn't justify spending $800. This guy has 5 megapixels, a great zoom lens, and tons of manual functions for less than 300 bones.
Epson Stylus R200
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=28-103-160&depa=0
Photo quality printing and I can use it to print directly on DVDs - w00t!
globalcitizen
Senior member
Olympus Ultra Zoon series? I dont know which model they are at now.
If you want lots of zoom, check out the Panasonic Lumix cameras. You might be able to get one for under $500, but they have a 12x zoom.
My dad just got back from Africa and took some amazing pictures on the safari. When I first heard Panasonic for digital camera I groaned, but after I saw the pictures I was impressed.
My dad just got back from Africa and took some amazing pictures on the safari. When I first heard Panasonic for digital camera I groaned, but after I saw the pictures I was impressed.
Ryan
Lifer
The ones I'm using now are just a generic set of 2100mAh too - I've using them for over a year - I think they're getting a little worn out from being recharged over and over again.
One thing I hate, though, is how I always forget to turn the damned thing off when connected to the USB cable. I guess that's probably why my battery life sucks too 😛 I wish it would use the USB cable as a power source when connected.
funboy6942
Lifer
I was in your same situation and I looked up every camera I could find and checked out every review. If you dont mind that your video is in QT format there is not one camera on the market in the $350 range then that can beat a Panasonic FZ3. It has a Lecia lens, takes better more detailed pics then the Canon S1 IS, AND has the largest OPTICAL zoom of 12x.
If you must have mpeg video the only closest camera is going to be the Canon S1 IS.
But if you need further proof HERE is a review head to head with the Panasonic against the Canon.
I have owned BOTH of these camers and just traded my Panasonic for the Canon ONLY because I wanted to do video and edit it out. I dont have a program to edit QT.
The Panasonics good points were vocus was spot on 99% of the time, has a Low light focus light, no purple fringing, auto focus takes about 1/2 a second, the lens cap was held on with having to remove it by pressing two buttons together, bigger screen, takes much better more detailed pics (see below for my sample), 12x Optical zoom, XP sees it as a drive so not software needed to put pics on other computers if out of town and need to email, very light weight, and has less buttons all over it makeing it less scary.
Pana bad was QT video (still 30fps but couldnt edit for me) and takes a battery pack instead of AA batteries. Thats all.
Canon good is that takes much better video at 30fps, takes AA batteries so if you need some in a pinch your set, 10x zoom, and the back screen flips so less chances you can scratch it.
Canon bad is no low light sensor, over exaggerated color, picturs are little bit blurry, auto focus sucks alot of the times and no real way to fix it like you can with the Pana, heavy, lots of buttons everywhere to the point my wife was taken by it and was afraid to take a shot, lens cap is held on with felt in the cap and comes off VERY easily, mic for sound is pointed towards the camera user so sounds of other people other then the uses are hard to hear when the user is extreamly load and overpowering, camera takes forever to focus and then it is mostly off especially indoor shots you need to press the putton alot to rethink or give up and manually do it, and last purple fringing like mad in almost every shot I take. Oh god why did I trade????????
Below the first pic I took was with the Panasonic and the second was with the Canon S1 IS.
Both cameras were set in automatic, 4 shoots with each taking the best one of to show put up.
Panasonic FZ3
Canon S1 IS
If you save them and look at them side by side pay attention to the Canon box UPC bar, writing on the box, the top towel in the basket, and the cardboard box.
Also if you need to make up your mind do check out stevesdigicam reviews. He takes the same shots with each camera (not only these two) and save the pics and check then all out. I did that before I bought the Panasonic and it turned out to be the best choice. And now after writing this am kinda kicking myself in the read end for trading mine off. Dont get me wrong the canon is a good camera though. Its just after having it in my hands and owning the Pana the Pana is a much better camera. IMO of course.
If you must have mpeg video the only closest camera is going to be the Canon S1 IS.
But if you need further proof HERE is a review head to head with the Panasonic against the Canon.
I have owned BOTH of these camers and just traded my Panasonic for the Canon ONLY because I wanted to do video and edit it out. I dont have a program to edit QT.
The Panasonics good points were vocus was spot on 99% of the time, has a Low light focus light, no purple fringing, auto focus takes about 1/2 a second, the lens cap was held on with having to remove it by pressing two buttons together, bigger screen, takes much better more detailed pics (see below for my sample), 12x Optical zoom, XP sees it as a drive so not software needed to put pics on other computers if out of town and need to email, very light weight, and has less buttons all over it makeing it less scary.
Pana bad was QT video (still 30fps but couldnt edit for me) and takes a battery pack instead of AA batteries. Thats all.
Canon good is that takes much better video at 30fps, takes AA batteries so if you need some in a pinch your set, 10x zoom, and the back screen flips so less chances you can scratch it.
Canon bad is no low light sensor, over exaggerated color, picturs are little bit blurry, auto focus sucks alot of the times and no real way to fix it like you can with the Pana, heavy, lots of buttons everywhere to the point my wife was taken by it and was afraid to take a shot, lens cap is held on with felt in the cap and comes off VERY easily, mic for sound is pointed towards the camera user so sounds of other people other then the uses are hard to hear when the user is extreamly load and overpowering, camera takes forever to focus and then it is mostly off especially indoor shots you need to press the putton alot to rethink or give up and manually do it, and last purple fringing like mad in almost every shot I take. Oh god why did I trade????????
Below the first pic I took was with the Panasonic and the second was with the Canon S1 IS.
Both cameras were set in automatic, 4 shoots with each taking the best one of to show put up.
Panasonic FZ3
Canon S1 IS
If you save them and look at them side by side pay attention to the Canon box UPC bar, writing on the box, the top towel in the basket, and the cardboard box.
Also if you need to make up your mind do check out stevesdigicam reviews. He takes the same shots with each camera (not only these two) and save the pics and check then all out. I did that before I bought the Panasonic and it turned out to be the best choice. And now after writing this am kinda kicking myself in the read end for trading mine off. Dont get me wrong the canon is a good camera though. Its just after having it in my hands and owning the Pana the Pana is a much better camera. IMO of course.
funboy6942
Lifer
EDIT I guess I needed to read better myself because you already bought one 😛
BullyCanadian
Platinum Member
I can sell you my FUJI S3100 (4mp , 6x optical) pm me if interested
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