Been looking @ a new digital camera. I've got the Sony DSC-S30 ... works fine. The only problem is that I want a better zoom & viewfinder.

In looking @ the specs of a couple, it advertises 12x combined zoom. The breakdown is 3x optical & 4.1x digital. I take it the effective zoom to what is recorded is 4.1x?

12x is, of course, mentioned 1st, to get you. [eyecrazy] [verymad]

After the optical zoom the camera uses digital zoom on the CCD chip to attain the "12X". The problem I have found is that you loose your resolution once you start into the digital zoom sequence which is what I espected. If you have a 5 mpi camera, the digital zoom could break it down to 2 mpi by the time you fully zoom.

I have a Kodak LS443 and thats the only feature I don't like. But some cameras don't have optical zoom at all and do pure digital.

You would have to get the bigger digital cameras similar to my old Nikon FE that you put on zoom lenses if you want true zoom. I have seen those in use, huge difference in picture quality..

Always opt for the highest Optical Zoom and try to stay within that when using it. I have my Sony set so that it will not zoom past the optical limits. Likewise, my video camera - - picture really starts to fall apart.

olympus make a great 10x optical 4x digital. i had mine for 2 weeks before my crew ran it through the chipper:eek:

Optical zoom is all that counts. Digital zoom is nothing more than you cropping a picture and blowing it up on your PC. It's just a gimmick.

I love my PowerShot Pro1-- 7X optical, 8Mp:cool:

I'd highly recommend the Canon PowerShot S1 IS-- 10X optical, 3.2Mp, great little camera for $500....

Justin

Super informative answers ... thanks to all. :cool: Think Optical Zoom. :D

Thru the Chipper ... [eyecrazy] [laugh] :mad: ... insurance covered? Which Olympus was it?



I found the PowerShot:
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10044907&whse=&topnav=&cat=3264&hierPath=79*3264*

Looking @ the back of it, looks like you can look "thru the lens" type viewfinder. A "got to have".


Forrest

Not sure what your price range is but I've been looking at the Panasonic FZ10 (didn't really think that Panasonic and good camera's went hand in hand but ...) it's a great machine. 12X optical zoom, 4mp which from all accounts appears to be as good if not better than some higher resolution cameras, and just brilliant!

FWIW,

Ken

Forrest,

This past summer I picked up a Kodak DX 7630 - 6.1 MP, 3.0 optical, 4.0 digital. Currently selling for around $373. I looked at a LOT of cameras before I bought this one and it takes very good pics. Although maybe not as good as the Canon, Nikon or Panasonic, Im sure youd be happy with it. This cam gives a lot of bang for the buck and probably one of the better dig cam values out there. PM me with your e-mail if youd like some sample pics (I promise I wont send any pics of Dr. Evil in comprimising positions....[laugh] )

I asked Charlie what he's using ... he said not yet, but this is the one:



http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=10598

Dr ... your mailbox is full ... the pm response didn't go thru ... let the pics rip baby. :D

Originally posted by Forrest
I asked Charlie what he's using ... he said not yet, but this is the one:



http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=10598

yikes, what does that thing cost? Id have to sell my truck...

[eyecrazy] 8 kilobucks :rolleyes: [eyecrazy] [laugh]

well, after using many different digital point and shoots over the last few years I finally got back to my photographic roots and bought a digital rebel eos. All I can say is WOW! It ranks right up there with the first time i used my truck to tow (i know...I know)

any way, I love being back with an SLR and it is nice to get away from limited coices of lenses etc. Also, this is by far the fastest digital I've shot yet. there are a few faster ones but they are several thousand $$ for the body alone.

Mark

Forrest, let me know if you got the pics I e-mailed...

Didn't come thru Dr.

Wonder if it was too much & go bounced by the service provider ... why don't you try just one. forrestw@gbis.com

My first camera was a minolta dimage7, it died after 6 months and was very slow, but had a 7x optical zoom. My second camera is a olympus 5050 awsome camera, but only 3x optical zoom, but I bought a 1.7 teleconverter for it, it takes awesome photos. My newest camera is a conon 10d digital slr,its the fastest camera I have ever used and I have a 480mm lense for it.If it were me I would try to by a digital slr if you can afford it.

Interesting on the Minolta ...

I dropped by Costco today & tried out one of these ... 10x optical ... worked really well, easy to manuever menu ... $259 & the reviews look good.

http://www.digitalcamera-hq.com/minolta-dimage-z1-reviews.html?source=inktxml

I have a Olympus c-740. I really like it 10x optical and 3x digi zoom. It's a 3.2 megapixel. I got mine at Best buy for 350$ plus a 128MB chip for free..
http://www2.buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?ref=pricegrabber&sku=OMC740