P&S Camera recommendation

Panasonic T2 is about the best wet-wet-wet p&s there is. Sony's TX5 version of waterproof is not on par with a Lumix T2 BUT w/ better vids.

I can sense you are concerned with video (waterproofing is not the biggest issue I suppose...myriad ways to...). Well then, go FULL HD (1920 x 1080)! Such as Sony TX7.

Don't ever compromise for a 720p, then upgrade to 1920 x 1080 a few months down the road. It's a waste in the long run (which is very short term these days)l

Quickie on p&s, the basics. Sonys are bad on yellow/orange backgrounds. Nikons are noisy but great with blue backgrounds. Canon is nothing suspect nor super in any ONE aspect (except, repairs). Olympus, probably the better of the crop but not commensurate with its price . Fuji (FINEPIX) is never a top pick but they are above decent and probably the biggest bang for the buck!

Leica p&s...let's not get started.

 

This is for madbad

I'm guessing this message is for madbad. Great advice RSLvictorSOTX. Congratulations madbad for buying the best there is.

I, on the otherhand, are already leaning towards buying Panasonic Lumix ZS3. The only disadvantage I find here is that there's no manual function. I don't know how to use a dslr, but a manual function could get me started in more artistic photography. This is the reason why I'm still contemplating. I might buy Canon Powershot SX200 IS instead.

I went to the store yesterday. Didn't find any Panasonic digicams, but I saw the SX200 IS. It looks sturdy and nice. However, the sales representative talked me into buying Sony Cybershot W380 instead. It's so compact. Plus, it has free extra battery and a small tripod. My only hesitation is that it only has 5x optical zoom. Now I'm confused I'm still open to suggestions

I'm going to a different store this coming Sunday. Hopefully I'd find Panasonic Lumix there.

 

venkatesh,

It was actually for you. P. Lumix TS 2 is the better of the 2 when compared w/ Sony TX 5.

So, you're gonna need a p&s digicam w/ manual options too, a full HD video (don't
bother with 720 progressive or 720 interlace), 12 times zoom preferably at 2.8 constant? Joking. And etcetera, etcetera.

Er, that's a tall order even if you throw into the mix the higher ends (micro 4/3rds) of the Pentaxes, Olympuses, Leicas, P. Lumixes, etcetera.

Good luck in your search for a COMPROMISE.

RvS




p.s.

 

My bad.

Sorry. I stopped reading when I saw the word "waterproof". I thought the message was for madbad.

I can't find any reviews about Lumix T2.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

Update

Yes. I know it's impossible to find a point-and-shoot camera that has it all. I think manufacturers (may it be of cellphones, digicams, and what not) deliberately compromise one function from the other. Otherwise, if they make the ultimate product, they would sell only that particular item and never gain profit from their other models. Besides, not all buyers would appreciate other functions of an all-in-one camera. Some of them would choose a cam specifically for sports, for underwater, for sceneries, etc.

Today, I bought that digicam, of course with your help and suggestions. The previous digicams I owned were Canon, which is the only brand I have been exposed to and the only brand that I associate with digicams. But with the suggestions given here, I pondered on other options and read reviews ... until I short listed my choice to only 2: Canon SX200 IS and Panasonic Lumix ZS3.

These 2 digicams were neck and neck when it comes to the specs, with Canon having a slight advantage because of the manual mode. However, qualitywise and budgetwise, ZS3 got more praises, and a lot of Web sites proclaimed that it was the "ultimate" superzoom compact cam of 2009. Thus, I decided to have ZS3 reserved for me. But up to the last minute, I had been pondering whether I could do without the manual mode. I'm not a pro, but I know my interest in learning good photography is there. And without the manual function, I wouldn't be able to explore that. Who knows? This interest could lead me into buying my first SLR. In the end, I bought ... wait for it ... ZS7 instead.

I have read CNET's review of this model, and it wasn't as impressive as ZS3. But what the heck! This is a new cam. It has just been released last Dec/Jan; therefore, there weren't enough review to confirm its full functionality. But basically, ZS3 is its predecessor and thus could be at par with this cam, with added features such as manual mode, power IS, and GPS.

But you know what really convinced me? See the reviews here: http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC_TZ10_ZS7/
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWzYZGltyxY
http://vimeo.com/10051035

 

Sample

I used it already.

This one was taken with burst mode


This one was an image from the video


This one was taken with burst mode also


Other files that have better quality, which maximized the allowed MB here, could not be uploaded.

 

pannie cameras use proprietory Li batteries and they are quite expensive

 

ahh, i know now where u secretly stash away all your cutie pictures in

 

panasonic lx-5 is a nice p&s