Digital Camera Recommendations

[Blackadar]

I'm going to buy a semi-decent camera to replace the old, cheap digital we currently have. Since I like to hike, I like something with a decent optical zoom. But I bet most of the pics will be taken of the family indoors, so I need an all-purpose camera. I'm not going over $250. Here are the leading candidates - I need opinions/help on which one to buy and other suggestions are welcome. HELP!!!

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
Fujifilm FinePix S1800
Nikon Coolpix L110
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55

[Comey]

I own the Panasonic Lumix TZ5. Love it. Takes some great shots, and some incredible videos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qxJBnanPmI is one example (though there are better ones on there). I know it's not one you're looking at, but it's a recommendation of Panasonic. My father, who is a professional photographer, took the TZ5 to Germany with him, as well as a professional-grade camera. When he got back, he looked at the pictures, and could not tell what he shot with what.

I'm not the biggest fan of the Coolpix cameras. May be the one I had, but it just never stabilized.

[stevew]

Of the list, I'd go with the Nikon or the Sony, or this canon Amazon.com: Canon PowerShot SX120IS 10MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Images Stabilized Zoom and 3-inch LCD: Electronics

If you want a rechargeable battery, the Sony would be the choice. I think the other two use AA. Basically all 3 of these are great cameras which I'm sure you'd enjoy.

[Barkeep49]

I have a Panasonic DMC-TZ5S and love it. I hiked all over New Zealand and Australia with it and was very pleased. I also use a cheap Panasonic model at work and think it takes very good pictures. I will say that Panasonic has a bit of a reputation for going through batteries. This is true of my work camera which use AA, though my personal camera has its own battery and has excellent battery life.

[Izulde]

So I'm looking at new cameras for when I go to Japan for two months this summer. My primary concerns are:

1. Needs to have good zoom
2. Should take good quality auto mode pictures
3. Provides image stability for my shaky arsed hands
4. Needs to have better indoor/low-light picture quality than my Sony (which I notice is a problem with every Sony camera I've had - beautiful outdoor and good light shots but awful indoors/with low light).

I've done a ton of reading and reviewing over this President's Day Weekend and have narrowed it down to the following two cameras:

Amazon.com: Canon SX40 HS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 35x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7-inch Vari-Angle Wide LCD.: Camera & Photo
Amazon.com: Panasonic DMC-FZ150K 12.1 MP Digital Camera with CMOS Sensor and 24x Optical Zoom (Black): Electronics

Anybody have any experiences with either of these cameras?

[Comey]

My father, who does professional photography here and there, picked up the Panasonic. He did a lot of research with those two cameras, as well as the Sony HX100.

If you haven't tried it out yet, look at the Sony HX9V. I know you said you've had some issues with Sonys in low light, but I use the Sony as my concert camera. Best camera I've ever owned, easily.

[Izulde]

Thanks for the advice. I'll look into it.

[sterlingice]

I have an older Canon (S3 IS) but it's like a great, great grandfather of that SX40 IS- at least 5 years older. The low light is mediocre but I have to think it's improved a lot over 5 years. So, unfortunately, not much help. However, I absolutely love the Canon image processing back then. I had friends with Panasonics and Sonys and it just blew them away. However, again, I would hope they have improved in 5 years, too.

SI

[Izulde]

Doing some more research, I'm leaning towards the SX40. I'm not comfortable enough to mess with manual settings and it seems like the image quality overall is far better than the Panasonic and considerably better than the Sony.

I'm also a huge fan of the extra zoom in the SX40.

[Scoobz0202]

Have you thought about the S100? I know with the zoom of the SX40 it better fits your zoom requirement, but for travel the S100 is compact and is quality. (I don't have it, I have the S95.)

[stevew]

I always liked Canon products and the S3IS and it's offspring are all great cameras. I think you're getting up into the money where you could consider getting an SLR if you wanted to. I don't sell the stuff anymore, but I think you're looking at some good products.

this looked helpful

http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon-SX...anasonic-FZ150

[stevew]

dola-
That site is really freaking cool.

[Izulde]

Yeah I was looking through that site earlier myself.

No interest in an SLR. I know P &S and bridge cameras aren't as good a quality, but I also value the convenience factor.

5x zoom on the S100 is too short for me, unfort.

I'll be going to Best Buy later this week to check out the SX40 (google lists it as being there) plus whatever else catches my eye.

[Glengoyne]

I'll give the. Third or fourth +1 on the Canon SX40 and its predecessors. I've taken EXTREME zoom shots without a tripod, and the results are amazing. Like the others I've got a years old model, but also have to believe that the product line still delivers and has likely improved.

[sterlingice]

How does extreme zoom work nowadays? Again, with my old, old S3 IS, I'll sometimes run into trouble with maxing out the zoom at 12X. I'm really curious how things are when you crank that up to 35X.

Also, if you're looking to go a little less expensive and more compact, the Canon SX130 IS is good line. It's like you took the SX40 and chopped it in half. The zoom is "only" 12X but it's a lot smaller. We got one of the predecessors for my dad (SX110 or maybe 120) and he took it to Kenya and got some great shots. That said, if you're fishing in the 30X zoom arena, then it may not be powerful enough. It seemed to have power similar to my S3 when I was playing with it, but if you're looking to go higher than that, then it probably won't meet your needs.

SI

[Izulde]

I went with the SX40. My 35x zooming experiences in store worked out great.

I compared it to other cameras in the store, like the Sony HX9V and HX100, as well as the Canon SX130. The SX40 was the best image quality and most comfortable for my hands and it wasn't even close.

After I stepped away from the cameras and browsed other stuff, I came back to the cameras area and kept gravitating to the SX40.

I won't get a chance to try it until tomorrow - have to go teach a class and finish grading papers for my 8:30 am section tomorrow, but I can't wait.