Anyone have the Canon SD100, Pentax Optio S, or Casio EX-Z3 digital cameras?? I need help choosing which one!!

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
F

fooshkee

Senior member
Aug 10, 2001
571
0
71
I'm looking into replacing my HP 935 digital cam with one of 3 cameras listed in the title. The HP takes great pictures (has 5 megapixels) and overall is pretty good, but it's too big for my taste and 5 megapixels is basically overkill for me, i'd be fine with 3 megapixels... the size of the camera is the most important thing to me. I actually only paid $120 for the HP camera (it was $450 retail at the time) after my employee discount and then a $250 HP Info point rebate.... so I'm thinkin' i'll ebay the HP and hopefully get $300ish... and go and buy either either the Canon SD100, Pentax Optio S, or Casio EX-Z3...

so here's my question.... of those 3 cameras, what's my best bet (or can anyone think of a better camera than those 3 that has atleast 3 megapixels, optical zoom, and is really small)...? I think I'm leaning towards the Canon because I've heard great things about the canon in general, and I can get about $50 off because of my employee discount... BUT, it only has a 2x optical zoom... that is the only thing that has held me back. Anyone have any idea if the difference between 2x and 3x is pretty big? The Casio has gotten pretty good reviews and has an awesome 2 inch lcd screen.... but i don't know about them as far as a camera company, they don't seem very big. And then about the Pentex, my friend has it and they think it's alright... you can't beat the size of it (its the smallest of all 3, fits in an altoids box) but i've heard qualms about the quality of the pictures it takes...

so there we go... ANY suggestions or advice in helping me decide would be great, thanks!

 
minendo

minendo

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2001
35,560
22
81
I just bought the canon sd100. Great camera. I really like the fact that it is small.
 
sygyzy

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
4
76
SD100 - Larger, won't fit in altoids can. Better picture quality
Z3 and S - Wait for S4 and Z4 to be released. They will be using glass lenses instead of plastic. They also suffer from faintness at the edges.

Overall, do you want size or better picture quality?
 
F

fooshkee

Senior member
Aug 10, 2001
571
0
71
Originally posted by: sygyzy
SD100 - Larger, won't fit in altoids can. Better picture quality
Z3 and S - Wait for S4 and Z4 to be released. They will be using glass lenses instead of plastic. They also suffer from faintness at the edges.

Overall, do you want size or better picture quality?
Click to expand...

overall.. I want the best picture quality (with 3 megapixels) that I can get and still have a small body like those 3 models...

what's the time frame for the release of the S4 and Z4, any idea?
 
L

LS20

Banned
Jan 22, 2002
5,858
0
0
dpreview has a comparison brtween these 3...check out the review of any of the cam and the comparison article. pentax looks the nicest to me
 
R

RgrPark

Golden Member
Mar 11, 2000
1,086
0
0
Get the Minolta Dimage XT...i was going to buy the Optio S but chose the Minolta for better quality...and don't buy the Optio S just for the size...Minolta may be bigger but it's still tiny...Minolta is thinner, better, and CHEAPER. I love it.
 
F

fooshkee

Senior member
Aug 10, 2001
571
0
71
Originally posted by: RgrPark
Get the Minolta Dimage XT...i was going to buy the Optio S but chose the Minolta for better quality...and don't buy the Optio S just for the size...Minolta may be bigger but it's still tiny...Minolta is thinner, better, and CHEAPER. I love it.
Click to expand...

hmmm i might have to look into that... it looks to tall for my liking... does it still fit in a pocket okay?
 
A

amnesiac

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
15,781
1
71
I have the Optio S, and I love it. Very easy to use, durable, fast, and takes great pictures. I highly recommend it. I bought it mostly for size, but I don't regret it. It doesn't compromise much picture quality at all, and it can fit in my jeans pocket and have a lower profile than a tin of mints.
 
F

fooshkee

Senior member
Aug 10, 2001
571
0
71
Originally posted by: BaboonGuy
why not a Canon S400? it's the same price range as those, 4 megapixels, and ultra small
Click to expand...

yeah i've been thinking about that too... it is slightly bigger than the canon sd100 but it does have an extra megapixel (which i don't care aobut, 3 is prolly good enough for me) but the 3x zoom is defintely nice opposed to the 2x in the sd100... i can't figure why the hell they only put a 2x zoom on it...

another worthy i have about the s400 is that it's been out since like marchish... it seems like it's probably time for a replacement

the downside of getting the s400 would be (besides the $80 more in price for me) is that i'd ahve to buy a 256 compact flash card when i already have this nice lexar 256 sd card... guess i could ebay the card too... stupid ebay...

is the difference between 2x and 3x optical that noticeable? or is it just more of an ego thing?
 
C

CTrain

Diamond Member
Sep 26, 2001
4,940
0
0
I have the XT and its pretty good.
I bought because of the fact that it can do unlimted movie mode + that its tiny.
This camera can be had for $250....don't know about the S and the Z3...probably over $300 easily.

My only complaint is that its has problem focusing on low lighting.
For example: if there is light in the room(but not bright) and you use the flash....it will focus on other objects as oppose to the intenting target......maybe I'm an ameuter but the only way for me to correct this is to take the flash off.

But then again....ultra small cameras all have this problem.
 
F

fooshkee

Senior member
Aug 10, 2001
571
0
71
Originally posted by: CTrain
I have the XT and its pretty good.
I bought because of the fact that it can do unlimted movie mode + that its tiny.
This camera can be had for $250....don't know about the S and the Z3...probably over $300 easily.

My only complaint is that its has problem focusing on low lighting.
For example: if there is light in the room(but not bright) and you use the flash....it will focus on other objects as oppose to the intenting target......maybe I'm an ameuter but the only way for me to correct this is to take the flash off.

But then again....ultra small cameras all have this problem.
Click to expand...

unlimited movie mode... niceeee... does it take sd cards?
 
R

RgrPark

Golden Member
Mar 11, 2000
1,086
0
0
The Dimage XT will fit in your pocket just FINE....and i think it takes the shortest time to power up as well. And the optical zoom using some sort of prism mechanism is better too..nothing has to stick out form the camera...much faster to zoom in/out...once you use the zoom camera that doesn't look like a zoom camera, you won't go back to the bulky zoom lens cameras. Got way higher ratings than the other cameras i believe.
 
F

fooshkee

Senior member
Aug 10, 2001
571
0
71
i think i'm gonna go for the dimage xt... cheapest price... and looks like its good the best features (no limit on movie recording, theres a voice recorder, 3x zoom that doesnt pop out at all) i think i'm sold...

people that have this... just to confirm... it fits fit in a regular pants pocket (isn't too tall?) and does that 3x optical zoom work as well even though it doesn't pop out?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom