Need a digital camera for a trip to Europe

[Obsoleet]

I want something small as possible.. with decent quality and the ability to record video if I want to.

I'm looking at this model http://www.kodak.com/eknec/Pag...=en_US&_requestid=8026
Looks like a newer model with some decent specs, small size and it's a Kodak (American company). I'm pretty set on this one but I'd like to poll the audience before I order something. The price of $200 is what I'd like to spend if at all possible as well, incase i break it accidentally. Brand ect isnt critical, I just tend to look at the American brands first.. if theres something undeniable with spectacular value I will buy from someone else. So feel free to suggest anything.

I leave for Europe in a month so I'd like to order something soon. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[ElFenix]

kodak's digicams are all designed in their japanese design studio and made by a singaporean firm.

 

[Obsoleet]

thanks for the advice. everyones all over the world. if kodak makes a good quality product, i'm going to buy from one of our companies.

is sony less japanese because they have operations in the USA? i dunno, ask a japanese person that question and await your answer.

 

[ElFenix]

well, all indications are they don't make a good product.


i'd see if i can find a panasonic fx33 or fx55 were i you. that's if you're really set on smallest camera. otherwise i'd probabaly pick a panasonic tz4. the tz4 is basically in a class by itself with a 28-280 lens in a rather small package. smallest camera, not by a long shot, but pocketable and you'll probably appreciate the zoom range in your travels (tz = travel zoom)

 

[jpeyton]

Panasonic TZ4

 

[Obsoleet]

i found a review on a similar (but lower and cheaper model) the the initial camera i was looking at. http://reviews.cnet.com/digita...134.html?tag=mncol;lst

Originally posted by: jpeyton
[=Panasonic TZ4]http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-TZ4K-Digital-Optical-Stabilized/dp/B0011Z6D86/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1221801119&sr=1-6[/l]

thanks im gonna take a good look at this.

 

[Obsoleet]

I think I'm going to have to go with that TZ4. Looks amazing. Found some shots from one here http://www.flickr.com/photos/LumixTZ4/ That's great.. will take good photos of my French coworkers, Paris, Barcelone, Cassano, London, Brussels and Oktoberfest will hopefully look as amazing if I use that camera.. I don't know a thing about cameras or settings for them.

This looks like a good quality point and click though. Says in a review that the 10X zoom works while recording video as well. With the wide angle lens and 10X zoom that's going to be hard to beat for $199.

Still open to suggestions but I think I found my camera. I always like to post and ask in case theres an obvious choice that's a great value in a market I'm not totally familiar with.

 

[Obsoleet]

Some were complaining about the indoor shots with that Panasonic..

so I looked at this http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Po...&qid=1221805475&sr=1-1
and it's simply too expensive. I can afford it, but don't want to. If I broke a $400 camera I'd be very angry. A $200 camera.. meh. I spend that much on only 1 grocery run rather than 2.

This one though looks like its worth considering
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Po...&qid=1221805475&sr=1-6

Thoughts?

 

[vinylswing]

You can get tz5 for around $190 from dell. Not sure whats the big difference between tz4 and tz5.

http://forums.gottadeal.com/showthread.php?t=119199

 

[Riverhound777]

I just got my Panasonic fs5k a few days ago, so far I like it. Not sure how it compares to the Tz5, i know that is one i also looked at. Got mine at newegg for $159 with free case and 2gb SD card. http://www.newegg.com/Product/...2E16830180157&Tpk=fs5k

 

[Obsoleet]

I don't totally understand cameras, but it looks like that TZ4 is in a league of its own for the price. Any final thoughts before I order one, feel free, I'd appreciate it.

 

[Jawo]

Originally posted by: Obsoleet
Some were complaining about the indoor shots with that Panasonic..

so I looked at this http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Po...&qid=1221805475&sr=1-1
and it's simply too expensive. I can afford it, but don't want to. If I broke a $400 camera I'd be very angry. A $200 camera.. meh. I spend that much on only 1 grocery run rather than 2.

This one though looks like its worth considering
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Po...&qid=1221805475&sr=1-6

Thoughts?

I've always had good luck with the Canon A and SD series. Got my sister the SD800IS over a year ago and its still working well and shes brutal with everything. Don't know why that Amazon store is charging so much for old technology! But the 870 should be cheap since the 880 was just announced. The 850 is just older. BuyDig has the 870 for $230.

The best camera equipment is from either Japan (Canon, Nikon, etc) or Germany (Lecia, Carl Zeiss, etc). IMHO I have never been impressed with a Kodak digital camera; its been too little too late to the digital party.

 

[jpeyton]

Nothing to add, except that if you shell out the extra $60 for a TZ5, you get a bigger/higher resolution screen and HD video recording, but no real difference in picture quality.

Canon's SD series is good; same with their A series. They are just not super-zoom cameras, with their optical zoom maxing out around 3-4x.

 

[AmpedSilence]

I use the SD800IS.... FANTASTIC...

My mom uses the A570IS.... also nice (and cheap!)

 

[Kelvrick]

Get an olympus waterproof one. I swear, after using a friend's, I'll never buy anything else for a P&S again.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: Obsoleet
I don't totally understand cameras, but it looks like that TZ4 is in a league of its own for the price. Any final thoughts before I order one, feel free, I'd appreciate it.

As vinylswing pointed out, the TZ5 from Dell is an amazing bargain for $190. 720p video, larger and higher-rez LCD than the TZ4.

Whatever camera you get, play with it a lot before Europe trip, so you can get a sense of it's peccadillos and ask questions.

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Nothing to add, except that if you shell out the extra $60 for a TZ5, you get a bigger/higher resolution screen and HD video recording, but no real difference in picture quality.

Canon's SD series is good; same with their A series. They are just not super-zoom cameras, with their optical zoom maxing out around 3-4x.

There are, I think, a couple with a little more reach - something like 6x. Or have they discontinued those?

Panasonic's TZ series has been mentioned a few times too, so I'll put in another vote for them: I bought my mom and dad a TZ3 for Christmas last year, and they really like it.

Nathan

 

[Hyperlite]

Originally posted by: vinylswing
You can get tz5 for around $190 from dell. Not sure whats the big difference between tz4 and tz5.

http://forums.gottadeal.com/showthread.php?t=119199

holy shit. that's an awesome deal.

edit: its dead. looks like it never worked.

 

[Obsoleet]

I ordered a TZ4 from an Amazon shop (J&R), $199 shipped. After reading reviews and looking at the facts I didn't have a better choice at $200. The only thing I know about cameras is that it's lens lens lens. All cheaper digital cameras are gonna have cheap electronic processors, but might as well get one with the most important part to a camera, a good lens like Leica.
Decided from reviews that the 720 video recording wasn't worth it.. people complain about the quality so if I want a short video I'm sure the (rather high res) that the TZ4 is capable of will be fine. Considering most videos taken will be online, 720P taken with a rather inexpensive camera with poor microphone has little use.

I told a French coworker that I was looking at a camera with a Leica lens and he seemed impressed, so I got some cool factor with this choice too. Thanks to everyone for your help with this decision, I would've known about this one without posting here. Invaluable community.

Should have the camera by the end of the week. I'll probably be messing with it and posting a questions thread per the advice from this thread.

 

[Obsoleet]

Nice, I just noticed the price jumped to around $225 for my camera, even where I bought mine from!