Need some advice for Digital Camera Experts

[vader]

Recently went of vacation to NC and kinda got my camera wet ( long story there ).  Well needless to say it isn't working anymore.  Dam, I'm out 500 + bucks.  Start saving some money.  Then I had a brainstorm, we just had a hurricane here here and my house got tore up a bit, guess my camera got wet    Well, their gonna cover the cam and I'm undecided between the model I have Canon S2 IS or a Panasonic FZ20, anyone familiar with these

Thanks

Tim

[SirPoonga]

So you are looking for large optical zoom and at least 5mp?

[vader]

Definitely want at least 5 mp and 12 x zoon and those are the only cameras in that category.  I had the Canon S2 and it is the one that I muffed up.  I had originally considered goth but the Panasonic was out of stock so I just took the Canon.  Now I need to research again.

Thanks

Tim

[mmmPeanutButter]

can you use a camera in jail when you get arrested for insurance fraud?


 

[ChadTower]

Seriously... hey, I'm gonna commit a felony and brag about it on the internet. 

 

[Harry Potter]

can you use a camera in jail when you get arrested for insurance fraud?


 

Bubba the Big would probably use it while the owner is being violated by said Bubba.

[vader]

Geez,

You guys are so touchy.  Maybe I should have worded it differently, I was slightly embarrassed by the way it got wet and wasn't sure if insurance adjusters would like it.  The  damage did in fact happen during the hurricane and not on vacation.  During Wilma,   I decided to  take some video with my camera and while I was in the carport, a substantial gust ( I do recommend not going out in a hurricane now ) kinda gave me a good shove out into the rain, hence the water damage.  Now I'm not sure if stupidity is covered under the insurance, but it may be and I'm just to ashamed to ask them, cause I know the first thing out of their mouth " why did you go outside ?

apologies

Tim

[Harry Potter]

Relax, we're just ---smurfing--- with you. 

[vader]

I realize that, but I should have just been more truthful in the first place.  I knew the ribbing I'd take in here would be pretty bad if I told that in the first place, but I guess talking about something illegal is a tad bit worse, besides CHAD don't like me cause I'm getting a modular home  j/k

tim

[SirPoonga]

Olympus has cameras like that too.  Wait, they might only have 10x zoom.

I don't think you can go wrong with nikon, olympus, sony, or canon.

[ChadTower]

besides CHAD don't like me cause I'm getting a modular home

[vader]

Just having fun Chad....I'm at work be very productive as you can see.  BTW...they giving me a 30 day warranty on the home, is that good ?   


Poonga....the Olympus models are 10x although they may have gotten better.
ASFA Sony I have a bad taste in my mouth from them and their shoddy warranties, not to mention the memory stick size although they have increased.

Tim

[ChadTower]

As someone who used to work on Kodak's cameras for a living, don't buy one.  Just don't.  The consumer level Kodaks are pure crap, and overpriced crap at that.

And forget digital zoom, the only zoom that matters is optical.

[SirPoonga]

And forget digital zoom, the only zoom that matters is optical.

Considering the cameras he is looking at I assume he knows that

[Harry Potter]

And forget digital zoom, the only zoom that matters is optical.

Seriously, you're the first person I've ever heard say that.

Trying to explain to a pleb the difference between digital and optical is frustrating to say the least.

[ChadTower]

In my work at Kodak I used to often have to compare the functionality of our firmware against a similar model from a competitor... say, an Olympus or a Canon.  Same photo, same conditions, each camera.

The Kodaks almost always performed in an inferior way.  Blurry photos, less sharpness, etc etc.  They simply couldn't stand up, and they cost more too.  The new Kodaks at the time didn't even stand up against 2-3 year old digital cameras from companies like Olympus and that was like 3 years ago now.

At that time at least, on the consumer level, the Olympus cameras were usually the best performance for the cost.

[Stingray]

Don't let Chad fool you. He doesn't like anybody.

I still have the Mavica I bought new in 1997, so I'm sort of out of this discussion, other than the dig at Chad.

-S

[ChadTower]

I have an Olympus I bought in 1999, 1.3mp.  Been great the whole time I've had it except for shutter speed.  Still works fine. 

Need to replace it, though, I think.  We need to be able to get better pictures of the kids than a 1.3mp camera can get.

Need to replace our hi8 video camera, too, that one just seems to be dying. 

What does your average, decent quality but nothing too fancy digital video camera cost now?

[vader]

And forget digital zoom, the only zoom that matters is optical.

Suprisingly the digital zoon on the Canon was pretty good considering the interpolation it is doing, but as far as quality shots, optical is the only way
to go.  I considered DSLR in the past but didn't want to carry all the lenses
around, so I went for the Canon.  As of me wriiting this, Pansonic has the FZ30
now,  better noise reduction, faster shutter in low light and now 8 MP.  Gonna give that some consideration now.  My sister had some Kodak and it was garbage to me, but worked on fine for her, different strokes for different folks.

Tim

[ChadTower]

I would want one with a decent shutter speed, definitely.  Half of our pics of our kids are blurry because kids are fast and our shutter speed was not. 

[vader]

What does your average, decent quality but nothing too fancy digital video camera cost now?

Canon has some real nice line of digital camcorders now for around the 300.00 mark, I would take a look at that.  I stil have my Sony Hi8 around, hardly use it,
gonna buy one of them newfangled HDTV camcorders, NOT

Tim

[SirPoonga]

I would want one with a decent shutter speed, definitely.  Half of our pics of our kids are blurry because kids are fast and our shutter speed was not. 

Which is why I like my older Olympus C-3000 over my parent's newer Olympus.  Their's doesn't focus as fast and is slow.  On my camera I can just push the button and it takes a small time to focus.  My parents you have to press the button half way down first otherwise it won't focus fast enough before the shutter goes off.

FYi, great review site
http://www.steves-digicams.com/

[vader]

 

FYi, great review site
http://www.steves-digicams.com/

I've been at that site all day just reading reviews, has definitely lowered productivity at work, wait, it's always low.  If you guys get a few minutes read the review of the FZ30 and let me know what u think.

Tim

[ChadTower]

Hrm.. if you can get a decent one aroudn $300, then I should look into that soon.  We don't want to miss recording any more kid events.

[DrewKaree]

I think you meant to say "My Sony N1 got wet"

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/n1.html

[vader]

Thats a hell of a nice camera, but I have my Elph for that.....I want zoom dammit...I live in FL near the beach, 12x is godsend 


Tim