Best 15-18x super zoom camera? Suggestions?

[porphyra]

Hi all

I am planning to buy a superzoom camera, in the 15-18x zoom range. So far the main contenders seem to be Panasonic's DMC-FZ18 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/514299-REG/Panasonic_DMC_FZ18S_Lumix_DMC_FZ18_Digital_Camera. html), Olympus' SP-560 UZ (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/515752-REG/Olympus_226085_SP_560_UZ_Digital_Camera.html), Fujifilm's FinePix S8000fd (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/514550-REG/Fujifilm_15774199_FinePix_S8000fd_Digital_Camera.h tml), and Sony's DSC H7 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/477404-REG/Sony_DSCH7B_Cyber_shot_DSC_H7_Digital_Camera.html) (however this one is 15x while others are 18x).

Canon S5 doesn't qualify as it only has 12x zoom, although I have the S3 and love it.

So far the Panasonic seems to be the pick of the reviewers and I am leaning towards it (apparently all things equal this can take on the Sony S5). Anyone have any other suggestions? Or should i stick with the S5 since the extra 6x zoom (18x vs 12x) is not worth it.

I will be leaving for NY at the end of the week and will buy it from B&H. The camera will go with me to India where I will be using it in a car rally - I don't have the time to learn a DSLR right now (I will eventually but not now). So a good IS is also important - (Panasonic and Canon have the best ones i hear).

I would appreciate any help from the many photo gurus on this forum. Thanks.

[JAC]

My dad got the Olympus' SP-560 UZ, and he seems pretty happy with it. Annoyances: does not support a lens filter, and uses xD. You can get it for $340 at NCIX, too. Sale expires today.

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=27461&promoid=1058

[porphyra]

My dad got the Olympus' SP-560 UZ, and he seems pretty happy with it. Annoyances: does not support a lens filter, and uses xD. You can get it for $340 at NCIX, too. Sale expires today.

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=27461&promoid=1058

Wow, I didn't really look at the xD card aspect. I have a ton of SD cards lying around. It would suck to move to xD for one camera.

Fuji S8000fd incorporates an SD for the first time (along with its usual xD). And apparently its quite similar to the Olympus, so I think I will be looking closer at it instead. Also with the S8100fd out soon, its prices are dropping.

[ryan_lau100]

Hi all

I am planning to buy a superzoom camera, in the 15-18x zoom range. So far the main contenders seem to be Panasonic's DMC-FZ18 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/514299-REG/Panasonic_DMC_FZ18S_Lumix_DMC_FZ18_Digital_Camera. html), Olympus' SP-560 UZ (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/515752-REG/Olympus_226085_SP_560_UZ_Digital_Camera.html), Fujifilm's FinePix S8000fd (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/514550-REG/Fujifilm_15774199_FinePix_S8000fd_Digital_Camera.h tml), and Sony's DSC H7 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/477404-REG/Sony_DSCH7B_Cyber_shot_DSC_H7_Digital_Camera.html) (however this one is 15x while others are 18x).

Canon S5 doesn't qualify as it only has 12x zoom, although I have the S3 and love it.

So far the Panasonic seems to be the pick of the reviewers and I am leaning towards it (apparently all things equal this can take on the Sony S5). Anyone have any other suggestions? Or should i stick with the S5 since the extra 6x zoom (18x vs 12x) is not worth it.

I will be leaving for NY at the end of the week and will buy it from B&H. The camera will go with me to India where I will be using it in a car rally - I don't have the time to learn a DSLR right now (I will eventually but not now). So a good IS is also important - (Panasonic and Canon have the best ones i hear).

I would appreciate any help from the many photo gurus on this forum. Thanks.


Zoom can be deceiving when it comes to putting it in the "x" ranges. Reason being is that X just means how many times zoomed it is from the widest to the most zoomed. ie a camera may have a 35mm wide angle view when zoomed out. 12x means its just that multiplied by 35mm effectively giving 420mm. Think about mm as almost like a degrees of view. The best way to look at it is check out what the most "zoomed" area will yield you in mm.

Saying this I am not too familiar with many other names except for Canon and I can vouch for their S5. As it comes to Fuji they have amazing iso noise suppression. IMO I would have to stick to a cam with some type of IS since you will be taking photos at such a huge distance. Remember the more zoomed you are the more amplified the shake is from your hand creating an unsharp image.

[porphyra]

True.

So looking at the specs. the canon S5 12x = 36 - 432 mm equiv.

And the Panasonic DMC-FZ18 18x = • 28 - 504 mm (35 mm equiv).

So in this case there is a fair bit of difference. Plus apparently the quality of the Leica lens on the panny is quite good.

[ryan_lau100]

True.

So looking at the specs. the canon S5 12x = 36 - 432 mm equiv.

And the Panasonic DMC-FZ18 18x = • 28 - 504 mm (35 mm equiv).

So in this case there is a fair bit of difference. Plus apparently the quality of the Leica lens on the panny is quite good.

ive always loved the panny. ive tried a few of them and they are fantastic. just dont get caught up in the leica label. from what i know the lense isnt made by them but is only "approved" by them. basically the lense is made by someone else and leica slapped their label on it so long as it passes their quality testing but dont get it mixed up it isnt a TRUE leica lense.

i love the panny so that would be my choice eventhough im a canon guy. i only say that because its not the SLR line =P

[KorruptioN]

Aside from the fact that you already have an S3... do you actually need the zoom range? The Olympus SP-560 and Fuji S8000fd both have similar limitations... poor sharpness edge to edge and fringing is a real problem, not to mention the focus errors from time to time.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympussp550uz/page6.asp

[l69norm]

.... The camera will go with me to India where I will be using it in a car rally - I don't have the time to learn a DSLR right now (I will eventually but not now). ....

Is a super zoom with IS the right camera for this? I assume you're trying to capture rally cars in action? Maybe some night shots with the pit crews working on the cars?

[Vitulla]

For some reason I find the zoom to slow on the panny and find the focus slow when zoomed in at 12x or more.

[frogger]

You'll basically have to focus on areas then wait for the rally cars to pass through that area and hope you catch them at the right moment.

[porphyra]

Umm, actually i will be in the rally car myself! Sorry should have clarified that. I will be taking the pictures at times when I am the navigator (and on the slower, time-mapped stretches). My co-driver/navigator will similarly take pictures too. Moreover this is not a speed rally, but more of an endurance rally through the Indian desert (Thar) in Rajasthan (similar to the Dakar rally). Hence, we are not talking crazy speeds either.

Why is why i was insistent on a longer range, quick focussing and a good IS laden digital camera. Thank you everyone for your suggestions though.

[frogger]

Wow.. I have to say IS, DSLR or prosumer, can only do so much.. sounds very optimistic. Have you tried your S3, zoomed, as a passenger in a car?