Camera Purchase help for dummy (me)

[SirStev0]

I have never owned a digital camera and know very little about them, but the GF wants a new camera and I owe her a xmas/vday/bday present.

Looking to spend somewhere in the range of $250 dollars.

Here is what I was told to look for:
She hates small cameras and slim builds. Wants something bigger and not tiny.
Would like around 10 Megapixels
At very least 5x Opt Zoom
At least 2.5 LCD display


Would also like a good quality camera and a decent deal (and the world... while we are at it).
Have had Fuji Film and Kodak in the past and has always like the brands, but not that important.


Her Uncle gave me some pointers and I have found a few that might work... would love to get your guys opinions and any suggestions or sites I should check out...




Found thus far:
Fujifilm Finepix S1000fd = $219
10 MP, 12X Op Zoom, 2.7 LCD display

Kodak EasyShar Z1012 IS = $223
10.1 MP, 12X Op Zoom, 2.5 LCD display

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 = 293$
10.1 MP, 18X Wide Angle Zoom, 2.7 LCD display



Any info is appreciated. All Suggestions welcome. Thanks in advance.

 

[AnnonUSA]

I have had the predecessor to the Kodak Z1012....Love the Camera. Takes great pics, easy to operate good zoom.

 

[garritynet]

Don't forget the Lumix TZ5. Its bigger than most point and shoot cameras but still small enough to fit in a purse.

 

[jpeyton]

Canon SD1100 IS or SD880 IS

 

[ivan2]

make sure to ask if she wants it in pink.

 

[Sedition]

Originally posted by: garritynet
Don't forget the Lumix TZ5. Its bigger than most point and shoot cameras but still small enough to fit in a purse.

I am looking for a camera as well and this is like the 5th thread someone suggested the Lumix TZ5 or TZ4.

Are they really that great or is it just one guy with a hard-on for them (or with stock in them)?

 

[tdawg]

You may want to consider this: text. It's about $100 more than the panasonic you listed, but I'm sure she'd really appreciate you for this. Plus, she'll have more creative versatility and the ability to create better images, image-quality wise, than pretty much any P&S.

 

[bobdole369]

Second the kodak z1012is - I used and still use a z812is, same camera and lens/different chip and sensor. I played with a 1012is in the store and the functionalitiy is similar. It takes great video too! Uses AA batteries (eats them for breakfast actually - a set of normal AA alkalines lasts for 25 pictures, "digital AA"s about 35, the rechargeable nimh about a hundred, and if you pony up the $30 for the charger and the real kodak brand li-Ion rechargeable - $30? - over 250.

Fantiastic pics straight out of the camera - long zoom (i think its 12x opt) - with IS that actually works! and it lets you do "creative mode" - PASM, whatever you want to call it - Program, Aperture priority, Shutter priority, or full manual. Essentially it gives you full control of the exposure, which is great when learning how to take good pictures.

 

[extra]

I'd stick with panasonic or canon for a point and shoot. And yes, the tz4/5 are really that good. However they are fairly small. 10x optical zoom, though. Out of your list, by far, get the fz28. Tell you what. Go to the store and bring a memory card. Take an iso 800 and iso 1600 picture on the kodak camera you have listed and compare it on your screen at home to the panasonic. =0 I used to have a fuji superzoom point and shoot (forget the exact model, it was from 2006).. the interface was good but the picture quality was pretty poor. I ended up ebaying it. It did great at iso 100 and in the middle of the zoom range though. In contrast, my wife's little panasonic fs3 that was like $89.. when we got it, she took an iso 1600 pic of our cat on this red and blue afghan. I didn't believe her that it was iso 1600. (and i'm an slr user!)

 

[SirStev0]

thanks for all the information thus far... Might have to try what Extra suggested.

 

[toronado97]

I just purchased a Panasonic TZ4, 10x optical zoom, 8 megapixels. Circuit City had it for 200 bucks. Takes amazing pictures thus far, even up into ISO 800 as quite usable prints which is no simple feat for a 200 dollar point and shoot. It's small enough to be very portable but with the longer range zoom and great image stabilization, can be a good starter camera for outdoors scenes and the like as well.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: SirStev0
thanks for all the information thus far... Might have to try what Extra suggested.

You may also want to check for opinions on other sites that are camera-oriented, such as DPReview.com, Stevesdigicams.com, DCResource.com, Imaging-Resource.com, etc.

Don't fall into the trap of determining that one or two brands produce only "good" cameras. All brands have produced losers at some point.

For example, Fuji uses 2 different kinds - not just sizes - of sensors in their cameras. The Fuji cameras that use conventional CCD sensors are pretty average. The Fuji cameras that are based on the Super CCD sensors capture some of the best images around.

Case in point: in DPReview's "Premium Camera Group Test", the Fuji F100fd was considered the overall winner.

The Kodak Z1012 you listed is by many accounts a very fine camera. Unfortunately, there are many Kodak-bashers out there who know very little about the brand, but because Kodak produces some truly mediocre cameras, these folks narrow-mindedly assume all Kodaks are bad. Or its just easier for them to drink Canon/Panny/Sony/whatever Kool-Aid. You're doing yourself a grave disservice if you dismiss the Kodak Z1012 out of hand without further research.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: Sedition

Originally posted by: garritynet
Don't forget the Lumix TZ5. Its bigger than most point and shoot cameras but still small enough to fit in a purse.

I am looking for a camera as well and this is like the 5th thread someone suggested the Lumix TZ5 or TZ4.

Are they really that great or is it just one guy with a hard-on for them (or with stock in them)?

Well, the TZ4/5 is pretty unique with the size/zoom ratio, although Canon has the SX110 IS which is a direct competitor.

Yeah, there's a Panasonic, umm, "Evangelist" around here. Panasonic does generally produce good cameras, though.

 

[RedWolf]

Originally posted by: extra
I'd stick with panasonic or canon for a point and shoot. And yes, the tz4/5 are really that good. However they are fairly small. 10x optical zoom, though. Out of your list, by far, get the fz28. Tell you what. Go to the store and bring a memory card. Take an iso 800 and iso 1600 picture on the kodak camera you have listed and compare it on your screen at home to the panasonic. =0 I used to have a fuji superzoom point and shoot (forget the exact model, it was from 2006).. the interface was good but the picture quality was pretty poor. I ended up ebaying it. It did great at iso 100 and in the middle of the zoom range though. In contrast, my wife's little panasonic fs3 that was like $89.. when we got it, she took an iso 1600 pic of our cat on this red and blue afghan. I didn't believe her that it was iso 1600. (and i'm an slr user!)

I'll echo what Flipped Gazelle said. Check dpreview, imaging-resource, and dcresource.com. Generally Fuji's cameras with the super ccd are regarded as not just the best low light cameras but often the best by quite a bit. Their F30/F31 and S6000 are regarded as the best P&S cameras for low light. Years after the F30/31 were discontinued they still sell on ebay for more than their original price. They are highly sought after. I would take a look at the Fuji S8000FD or the more recent S100FS.

Panasonic has made great strides in it's low light performance recently. The FZ28 is a very solid camera. Canon is probably the safest. They rarely produce anything surprising or innovative but also rarely produce something poor. Kind of the Honda or cameras.

 

[Sedition]

Originally posted by: RedWolf

Originally posted by: extra
I'd stick with panasonic or canon for a point and shoot. And yes, the tz4/5 are really that good. However they are fairly small. 10x optical zoom, though. Out of your list, by far, get the fz28. Tell you what. Go to the store and bring a memory card. Take an iso 800 and iso 1600 picture on the kodak camera you have listed and compare it on your screen at home to the panasonic. =0 I used to have a fuji superzoom point and shoot (forget the exact model, it was from 2006).. the interface was good but the picture quality was pretty poor. I ended up ebaying it. It did great at iso 100 and in the middle of the zoom range though. In contrast, my wife's little panasonic fs3 that was like $89.. when we got it, she took an iso 1600 pic of our cat on this red and blue afghan. I didn't believe her that it was iso 1600. (and i'm an slr user!)

I'll echo what Flipped Gazelle said. Check dpreview, imaging-resource, and dcresource.com. Generally Fuji's cameras with the super ccd are regarded as not just the best low light cameras but often the best by quite a bit. Their F30/F31 and S6000 are regarded as the best P&S cameras for low light. Years after the F30/31 were discontinued they still sell on ebay for more than their original price. They are highly sought after. I would take a look at the Fuji S8000FD or the more recent S100FS.

Panasonic has made great strides in it's low light performance recently. The FZ28 is a very solid camera. Canon is probably the safest. They rarely produce anything surprising or innovative but also rarely produce something poor. Kind of the Honda or cameras.

Thank you both for the info.