Looking to updgrade from my 3.3Mpix Hp camera.

I have no real complaints on the HP I have, its very fast and last 400+ pictures per charge, but image quality have detriorated somewhat lately and the 3x optical zoom is somewhat limiting.

So, I'm in the market for a budget superzoom camera. 3-4mPix is more than enough for me. What I need is image quality and a good zoom lens. I would wait and buy a dSLR but it looks like just the telephoto lens on the dSLRs would cost 2-3x as much as the what the budget allows. lol.

So here we have the candidates,

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ3 $438, 3.1Mpix 12X optical Stabilized lens.

FujiFlim S5100
$443, 4Mpx, 10x lens.

Olympus C-770 Ultra zoom
$589, 4Mpix, 10x Optical lens

Konica Minolta DIMAGE Z3
$600, 4.2Mpix, 12x Optical

I'm thinking I should splurge and get the Panasonic FZ20. 5.0Mpix, 12x optical stabilized lens. $800, but can't find a local retailer that has them in stock. They've been flying off shelves so I hear.

I'm not too concerned about the lack of stabilized lenses, I can shoot fairly well, but anyone that have shot a 300+mm telephoto shot in low light can tell you its a challenge, no matter how stable you can hold the camera.

What do you guys think or have any one of these cameras that like to chime in?

As of right now, I'm leaning towards the Fuji S5100...only turnoff so far is that stupid XD memory card. It has all the good things my old HP has + what I need and its relatively cheap.

Jeremy I researched most of these and I went with the Kodak 5.0mp 10x zoom (I bet a lot of people are groaning right now - but I am happy with it).

The one I really wanted was the FZ20, but it was out of my price range. It is IMO the best one of the super zooms on the market by a long shot. You can occasionally find a deal on ebay. Also, you WILL need a tripod for the high zoom shots particularly in low light even with IS.

Out in Whistler I had a client offer any camera I wanted in a certain range for a tip. I looked at the Fuji 5100 and after a few conversations with camera shops ended up going with the Canon S1 IS
10X optical zoom
Does awesome video 1hr/ with a 1GB memory card.
can use the new Microdrive cards 4/6GB~$200.
Here's a couple of pic samples:

Nice shots Tim.

I always knew that you were a bit of a bird watcher.

Smart a$$ Giz.

DSLR would be the way to go if you want good zoom. Get a Digital Rebel with a lens kit, you can get them for alot cheaper these days. If you get a regular digital with "superzoom" liek 10x optical, MAKE SURE YOU GET A TRIPOD. Anything over 3x optical zoom without a tripod is going to be blurry as hell. And digital zoom is absolutely useless if you want good pictures. If you dont want to spend the money to get a DSLR liek the rebel. Get a Canon A90 or an older A series. You can buy an adapter for them and put on certain telephoto and wideangle lenses. But again, you'll need a tripod.

Never buy a Camera from a company who doesn't make lenses. Unless you know for a fact where the lense came from. Just my two cp.

I bought the S5100.

The Canon S1 is nice, but its also $100 + tax more.

I did a few 10x telephoto test shots and they actually turned out pretty good (Auto mode). I expected with no Image stabilization the image is going to be blur without a tripod. Not so. Maybe My hands are just stable enough. I also did a few indoor max zoom (Optical and digital) in low lihgt. Camera ran into some dificulty focusing but it had a manual focus mode that helped a lot. Again, no bluriness.


I could post some test shots if someone has a spot to host them for me.

As for dSLRs, the body and the lens kit that comes with them is a good price, but have you seen the prices of telephoto lenses?? Man, talk about sticker shock.

I had a EOS10 /w a 300mm Telephoto and I never remembered that lens to be that expensive.

Email them to me and I'll host them for you.

Took some pics

You guys are going to be hating me big time after the so called spring...hehehehehe

At my beach resort this weekend.

COnditions: Slightly hazy, about 11pm, Moonlit Cloudy.

6.5s Stutter, F8, ISO 100. Manual Focus, manual exposure (obviously). No tripod, no IS, no timer used. Resting elbow on hotel belcony. on 3x optical zoom.

Fuji S5100
http://fapomatic.com/show.php?loc=8&f=penangnightsmall.jpg


Same location. Hazy, Cloudy, 0 zoom.
Full auto mode.
http://fapomatic.com/show.php?loc=8&f=penangdaytimesmall.jpg


8x optical zoom, Hazy, Cloudy
Full auto mode
http://fapomatic.com/show.php?loc=8&f=penangmosquesmall.jpg


10x optical + 3x Digital (I know its cheating)
Auto mode, Manual focus. No IS, Tripod or timer used.
http://fapomatic.com/show.php?loc=8&f=superzoom.jpg


The "boat" is next to the pic above, which is either a hall of some sort of a mosque.

Images suck a bit becasue of the conditions and I didn't have a polarizing filter with me.