Mom's first Digital Camera (Resolved)

[NoStateofMind]

Been looking around at digital camera's for mom for Christmas and I have 3 picked out that a did minor research on. The one's I've picked were picked not just for image quality but also for their 720P video capability. I do not want them to be over complicated for her though, this will be her first. These are from $200-$300 in orice range because I want to do something special and show our gratitude towards her. That being said these are the three I am looking at:

Samsung NV24HD $198 + Shipping

Pros -
Nice compact size
Good image quality
720P Video

Cons -
Sound cuts out in video mode when zooming
Complicated menu buttons surrounding LCD (would be for her)

FUJIFILM FinePix S2000HD $230 Shipped

Pros-
Good image quality
15X Optical zoom
Large LCD
Light for its size
720P Video

Cons-
Trouble holding focus during video when set to auto
Bulky body

Panasonic DMC-FZ28K Black $324 + Shipping

Pros-
Good image quality
18X Optical zoom
Large LCD
Light for its size
720P Video

Cons-
Bulky body
??
??


Any user experiences or thoughts on these camera's would be appreciated.

Now to the Christmas tease/gift plan. I plan on getting this camera within the next week and making several video's without my mothers knowledge. Getting people to say Merry Christmas (family & friends) on video along with some pictures/music all edited together for a Christmas video for her. Place the file on her computers desktop labeled "Locked until Christmas". I think it will drive her crazy and flatter her when she does see it.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Good for you for getting Mom a nice Christmas gift!

I'd avoid the Samsung. They've historically had pretty bad autofocus issues.

How about the Panasonic TZ5? Lots of zoom, wide angle lens, and 720p video. Small-ish, too.

 

[jpeyton]

D) None of the above.

 

[996GT2]

No to the first 2. Lots of features on paper, but lacking where it counts: shooting performance and image quality. The Samsung is notorious for bad image quality at higher ISOs.

I'd recommend the Panasonic TZ5 as well. Great wide angle 10x zoom, optical image stabilization, 720P video, all in a pretty compact frame.

For something cheaper, look at the Panasonic LZ8 or LZ10. They record video at 848x480 instead of 1270x720, but have a ton of other great features for just $100-$150.

The Panasonic FX35 and FX37 are great choices for sleek, stylish ultra-compacts with ultra-wide 25mm zoom lenses and 720P video.

Panasonic's image quality now rivals (and even surpasses in some cases) the former class leader, Canon. With the VENUS IV Image processor present in their newest cameras, the Panasonic point and shoots can actually outperform many Canon models at higher ISOs.

 

[jpeyton]

It has to pass the purse test.

Panasonic FS3, TZ5 (although that's even bulky for some moms), Sony W120, Canon SD1100/770/790/880.

Who wants 720P video...you or her?

 

[NoStateofMind]

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle
Good for you for getting Mom a nice Christmas gift!

I'd avoid the Samsung. They've historically had pretty bad autofocus issues.

How about the Panasonic TZ5? Lots of zoom, wide angle lens, and 720p video. Small-ish, too.

I looked into the TZ5 series and found out they have horrid sound quality when shooting video.

EDIT, after watching some of the video's on vimeo for the TZ5 I didn't notice the horrible sound quality that was mentioned before. <shrug> http://www.vimeo.com/1536306

 

[NoStateofMind]

Originally posted by: 996GT2
No to the first 2. Lots of features on paper, but lacking where it counts: shooting performance and image quality. The Samsung is notorious for bad image quality at higher ISOs.

I'd recommend the Panasonic TZ5 as well. Great wide angle 10x zoom, optical image stabilization, 720P video, all in a pretty compact frame.

For something cheaper, look at the Panasonic LZ8 or LZ10. They record video at 848x480 instead of 1270x720, but have a ton of other great features for just $100-$150.

The Panasonic FX35 and FX37 are great choices for sleek, stylish ultra-compacts with ultra-wide 25mm zoom lenses and 720P video.

Panasonic's image quality now rivals (and even surpasses in some cases) the former class leader, Canon. With the VENUS IV Image processor present in their newest cameras, the Panasonic point and shoots can actually outperform many Canon models at higher ISOs.

This is some very helpful information. I noted my objections with the TZ5 series above this post but I am glad to hear about the image processor in the Panasonic FZ28/TZ5. Thanks.

 

[NoStateofMind]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
It has to pass the purse test.

Panasonic FS3, TZ5 (although that's even bulky for some moms), Sony W120, Canon SD1100/770/790/880.

Who wants 720P video...you or her?

Ahh the purse test, very good thinking. That's something I hadn't thought about. The video (in 720P) would allow her to grow into high definition (TV hookup). Her laptop can display 720P quite well so its a good fit. She would be using the video for taking short clips of her grandchildren and on vacations. Although I know she doesn't need 720P, I want her to have the most features for the money without sacrificing quality. This will allow her to do more with the camera for future endeavors.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: 996GT2
Panasonic's image quality now rivals (and even surpasses in some cases) the former class leader, Canon. With the VENUS IV Image processor present in their newest cameras, the Panasonic point and shoots can actually outperform many Canon models at higher ISOs.

Some Fuji's have significantly better high ISO performance than the Panny's, with the possible exception of the LX3.

That said, Panasonic has come a LONG way in the last year or so.

 

[996GT2]

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

Originally posted by: 996GT2
Panasonic's image quality now rivals (and even surpasses in some cases) the former class leader, Canon. With the VENUS IV Image processor present in their newest cameras, the Panasonic point and shoots can actually outperform many Canon models at higher ISOs.

Some Fuji's have significantly better high ISO performance than the Panny's, with the possible exception of the LX3.

That said, Panasonic has come a LONG way in the last year or so.

Only the older Fujis with the 6 MP SuperCCD HR sensors were significantly better. The latest models (F50fd, F100fd) do not have the legendary high ISO performance of the 6 MP F30fd and F31fd. Even for a 1/1.6" sensor, 12 MP is simply too much. With that many MP, the high ISO performance of the F50fd and F100fd aren't really that far ahead anymore. Also, most Fuji cameras with the SuperCCD HR tend to lack some pretty useful features, such as wide angle lenses and 720p video.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: 996GT2
Only the older Fujis with the 6 MP SuperCCD HR sensors were significantly better. The latest models (F50fd, F100fd) do not have the legendary high ISO performance of the 6 MP F30fd and F31fd. Even for a 1/1.6" sensor, 12 MP is simply too much. With that many MP, the high ISO performance of the F50fd and F100fd aren't really that far ahead anymore. Also, most Fuji cameras with the SuperCCD HR tend to lack some pretty useful features, such as wide angle lenses and 720p video.

Depends what you consider "wide angle". At a time when most digicams started around around 35mm, the Fuji S6000/S9000 series started at 28mm. The F100fd starts at 28mm, as do the Panny FX150 and TZ5.

Even the F100fd has a 1+ stop advantage at high ISO compared to the recent (non-LX3) Panny's.

It's not just the size of the sensor, it's also the design.

Even putting high ISO behind, the Fuji F100fd - and Canon SD880, for that matter - has better base ISO IQ than the Panny FX150, imo.

 

[996GT2]

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

Originally posted by: 996GT2
Only the older Fujis with the 6 MP SuperCCD HR sensors were significantly better. The latest models (F50fd, F100fd) do not have the legendary high ISO performance of the 6 MP F30fd and F31fd. Even for a 1/1.6" sensor, 12 MP is simply too much. With that many MP, the high ISO performance of the F50fd and F100fd aren't really that far ahead anymore. Also, most Fuji cameras with the SuperCCD HR tend to lack some pretty useful features, such as wide angle lenses and 720p video.

Depends what you consider "wide angle". At a time when most digicams started around around 35mm, the Fuji S6000/S9000 series started at 28mm. The F100fd starts at 28mm, as do the Panny FX150 and TZ5.

Even the F100fd has a 1+ stop advantage at high ISO compared to the recent (non-LX3) Panny's.

It's not just the size of the sensor, it's also the design.

Even putting high ISO behind, the Fuji F100fd - and Canon SD880, for that matter - has better base ISO IQ than the Panny FX150, imo.

Yeah I do agree that the Panny FX150 is way too excessive...15 MP onto a 1/1.7" sensor is just a marketing ploy to sucker uninformed people into buying the camera based on MP count. In fact, I can't even see where it's better than the $100 cheaper FX37.

Hopefully Panasonic will put the LX3's sensor into the update of the FX150 and keep the FX150 lens (or make a 25-125mm like the FX37). That way, they can still keep prices about the same, but the ISO performance will be much better. Not likely to happen, though, since going from 14.7 MP to 10 MP would probably be seen as a downgrade by uninformed consumers.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: 996GT2
Hopefully Panasonic will put the LX3's sensor into the update of the FX150 and... (or make a 25-125mm like the FX37).

Are you listening, Panasonic? Please?

 

[Specop 007]

How is the TZ5S video capabilities? Any limit on recording length (Besides the memory size of course)?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I would consider Panasonics. If video is important, I consider these features absolutely necessary:

1. Ability to zoom while recording.
2. No audio cutoff while zooming (so Samsung is automatically disqualified).
3. Good audio recording (read reviews on audio quality, it sucks when a camera has good video but you can't make out a damned thing people are saying).
4. Hopefully no recording limits.
5. Good full time autofocus.

Check out sample vids because just because a camera says it does 720p doesn't mean that it does it *well.* Depending on the camera, compression, and codec, 720p can look significantly different between different camera models. 720p is just a resolution, a length x width. It doesn't imply anything about level of detail captured, the sharpness of the video, etc.

http://www.dcresource.com/

This site is pretty good because they offer sample vids for all their cameras. Compare video quality between cameras.

 

[NoStateofMind]

Decided to get a smaller camera (purse test, thanks jpeyton) that does all the things I mentioned above. Thanks for all your input on this matter guys & gals. The camera I chose was Panasonic TZ5K (OOS now, maybe I got the last one? ) and a Transend 8GB SDHC. I'm sure mom will be thrilled. Thanks once again

 

[alexruiz]

Happy owner of a Panny Lumix LZ8K here.
Not a bad choice at all, and obviously the TZ5 will be better.

I would, however, say that they barely pass the "purse test" Neither of them is skinny.



Alex

 

[NoStateofMind]

Well camera in hand and pics look great. However, when taking video (I guess its 720P, cause all it says is 16:9H) its choppy. Sound an video is chopped up. Do I need to format the SD (8GB) card? I didn't see any options on the camera for that and don't have a card reader on my PC. Any help getting this Christmas present ready will be greatly appreciated.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

are you sure you're shooting at 30fps? the camera has settings for 30fps, 15fps, and 10fps.

is playback just as choppy directly on the camera as it is from the computer? if you have a netbook or a similarly weak cpu pc it might not be able to handle 720p video all that well. have you tried using a different pc?

 

[NoStateofMind]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
are you sure you're shooting at 30fps? the camera has settings for 30fps, 15fps, and 10fps.

is playback just as choppy directly on the camera as it is from the computer? if you have a netbook or a similarly weak cpu pc it might not be able to handle 720p video all that well. have you tried using a different pc?

Reading the manual helps. They really should think about putting a bright yellow sticker on the front saying "TURN OFF AUTO FOCUS WHEN IN MOVIE MODE". But no, dumbass me wants everything to be set up without looking at the manual :disgust:

So yeah it works fine now.

Also, my PC is plenty fast:

Antec Twelve Hundred
Asus P5B Deluxe
E6400@3.5GHz w/Scythe Infinity
2 GB Team Group DDR2-800@ 4-4-4-10
eVGA 9600GT
Seagate 160GB 3GB/s
Lite-on Dual Layer DVD
PC Power & Cooling 610W



EDIT: I take it back. The video plays fine on the camera but choppy as hell on my PC

EDIT: Mr tinkerer figured it out. The transfer from camera to PC during playback was causing the choppyness. Moving the file to my PC and then playing the file resolved this issue.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

ahhhh... that makes sense. the older tz3 or tz2 i think had AF while in movie mode, but the newer ones just use the lens' depth of field to put things in focus. kinda like those single focus disposable cameras.