Compact cameras with high zooming abilities?

[Syringer]

Are there any equivalents to the Panasonic Lumix DMC series that offer 10x zoom in a small package?

 

[996GT2]

The Panazonic TZ5 is really your best bet given what you are looking for. What don't you like about it?

 

[Syringer]

Oh nothing wrong with it, just wondering if there existed alternatives.

 

[episodic]

Canon A710IS
Canon SX110IS

The panny is much better. . .

 

[garritynet]

Got my girlfriend a TZ5 today and she loves it.

 

[996GT2]

Originally posted by: Syringer
Oh nothing wrong with it, just wondering if there existed alternatives.

There are some alternatives to the TZ5 in that size/price range from Canon and others, but none of them are as good as the Panasonic when considering all the important factors: features, image quality, appearance and build quality, etc.

The Panasonic has image quality to rival the Canons, 28mm wide angle coverage, offers 720p video recording, has a fast 2.5 FPS burst shooting rate, a large 230k LCD screen, and many other features you simply won't find in other compact superzooms.

 

[extra]

Panasonic TZ4 or Panasonic TZ5. For the win.

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: 996GT2

Originally posted by: Syringer
Oh nothing wrong with it, just wondering if there existed alternatives.

There are some alternatives to the TZ5 in that size/price range from Canon and others, but none of them are as good as the Panasonic when considering all the important factors: features, image quality, appearance and build quality, etc.

The Panasonic has image quality to rival the Canons, 28mm wide angle coverage, offers 720p video recording, has a fast 2.5 FPS burst shooting rate, a large 230k LCD screen, and many other features you simply won't find in other compact superzooms.

I've been reading up on the SX110IS and from what it sounds like it has more manual operational modes, whereas the Panasonic is more point and shoot..and since this will be my primary camera I think that'll be nice to have..

Plus 720P seems to suck up a LOT of space--137mb for a minute of recording?

In terms of appearance I think the SX110 looks better as well.

 

[996GT2]

It's your choice really; I was just summing up the advantages of the TZ5:

1) considerably smaller (about a centimeter in each dimension)
2) much better screen ( I said 230k before, it's actually 460k, which is twice the resolution of the SX 110)
3) more useful zoom range of 28-280mm compared to 36-360mm. Not quite as long on the long end (not very noticeable), but much wider on the wide end. So when you shoot landscapes or large groups, you don't have to move back nearly as far.
4) the Canon shoots 0.7 or 1.2 frames/sec, the TZ5 does 2.5 FPS for 5 frames.

Despite not having a full manual mode, the TZ5 does let you choose ISO, exposure compensation, exposure bracketing, and has a lot of scene modes to fit a particular situation (for example, long exposure night shooting). I don't think a full manual mode is really a huge selling point on a P&S, since you can't really get creative with the aperture settings (due to their tiny sensors, all P&S cameras are incapable of rendering shallow DoF).

That's just my 2 cents.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: Syringer

Originally posted by: 996GT2

Originally posted by: Syringer
Oh nothing wrong with it, just wondering if there existed alternatives.

There are some alternatives to the TZ5 in that size/price range from Canon and others, but none of them are as good as the Panasonic when considering all the important factors: features, image quality, appearance and build quality, etc.

The Panasonic has image quality to rival the Canons, 28mm wide angle coverage, offers 720p video recording, has a fast 2.5 FPS burst shooting rate, a large 230k LCD screen, and many other features you simply won't find in other compact superzooms.

I've been reading up on the SX110IS and from what it sounds like it has more manual operational modes, whereas the Panasonic is more point and shoot..and since this will be my primary camera I think that'll be nice to have..

Plus 720P seems to suck up a LOT of space--137mb for a minute of recording?

In terms of appearance I think the SX110 looks better as well.

I recently got myself the TZ5 and like it a lot. In regards to disk space, get a 16gb SDHC and you're good to go.