Steve'sDigicams

polar905 · May 13, 2006, 6:24 AM

Well I am looking for a digicam for my wife, since she likes mine a bit but finds it too big/heavy and cumbersome (Panasonic FZ30 with other gear for it.)

So the criteria for the camera is:

Must take SD cards
Budget of around 350-400CDN (maybe a bit higher with the right camera)
Compact and easy to use

She is mostly doing the family/friends snapshot kind of thing, and she is also big into flowers so I know macro mode will be important to her.

Now for the cameras I have found that seem ok:

1) Panasonic FX-01, I have not yet got a hands on with this one, but will today as I walk over to the shop to take a peek
2) Canon SD630 or SD450, nice cameras, love the screen on the 630
3) Nikon S3, originally was looking at S5 but the price put it out of reach

Any comments or other suggestions? Anyone have experience with any of these, other than handling in a store?

Thanks in advance.

peripatetic · May 13, 2006, 6:37 AM

My wife has the SD500 (or maybe SD550 - anyway it's the IXUS700 in European guise). Lovely little camera, excellent pictures and features.

I use the Canon 20D, but wanted a pocket camera and decided on the FX01, for some samples and my reasons see my photo blog:

http://peri365.blogspot.com

You won't go wrong with the Canon SD/IXUS range or the Panasonic FX01 IMO. I have no experience of the Nikon you mention, but I expect it's a fine camera too.

mtclimber · May 13, 2006, 7:18 AM

I just got a Panasonic TZ-1 for my Mom and she really likes it a lot. She gets great photos.

MT/Sarah

polar905 · May 13, 2006, 4:11 PM

Thanks for the input, I finally got to play with a FX01, and am very impressed. The TZ-1 is a nice looking camera too but my wife is more into snapshots and leaves the wildlife photos to me, so 10x zoom is not her thing. Now maybe I can convince her I need a pocket cam too and I can get the TZ-1 :-)

footfungas · May 13, 2006, 4:53 PM

If she likes the FZ30 , panasonic has a similar line but smaller and more snapshot oriented.
FZ5 is similar to the FZ20 (5 mp) not sure how high they go, FZ7 i think

polar905 · May 13, 2006, 5:03 PM

She doesn't like the size of my camera with all the toys I have for it (TC/WA/Macro/RDS/etc....) She just wanted a point and shoot basically.

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May 13, 2006, 6:24 AM	#1
polar905 Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 62	Well I am looking for a digicam for my wife, since she likes mine a bit but finds it too big/heavy and cumbersome (Panasonic FZ30 with other gear for it.) So the criteria for the camera is: Must take SD cards Budget of around 350-400CDN (maybe a bit higher with the right camera) Compact and easy to use She is mostly doing the family/friends snapshot kind of thing, and she is also big into flowers so I know macro mode will be important to her. Now for the cameras I have found that seem ok: 1) Panasonic FX-01, I have not yet got a hands on with this one, but will today as I walk over to the shop to take a peek 2) Canon SD630 or SD450, nice cameras, love the screen on the 630 3) Nikon S3, originally was looking at S5 but the price put it out of reach Any comments or other suggestions? Anyone have experience with any of these, other than handling in a store? Thanks in advance.

May 13, 2006, 6:37 AM	#2
peripatetic Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 3,599	My wife has the SD500 (or maybe SD550 - anyway it's the IXUS700 in European guise). Lovely little camera, excellent pictures and features. I use the Canon 20D, but wanted a pocket camera and decided on the FX01, for some samples and my reasons see my photo blog: http://peri365.blogspot.com You won't go wrong with the Canon SD/IXUS range or the Panasonic FX01 IMO. I have no experience of the Nikon you mention, but I expect it's a fine camera too.

May 13, 2006, 7:18 AM	#3
mtclimber Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Oregon, USA Posts: 18,143	I just got a Panasonic TZ-1 for my Mom and she really likes it a lot. She gets great photos. MT/Sarah

May 13, 2006, 4:11 PM	#4
polar905 Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 62	Thanks for the input, I finally got to play with a FX01, and am very impressed. The TZ-1 is a nice looking camera too but my wife is more into snapshots and leaves the wildlife photos to me, so 10x zoom is not her thing. Now maybe I can convince her I need a pocket cam too and I can get the TZ-1 :-)

May 13, 2006, 4:53 PM	#5
footfungas Junior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 5	If she likes the FZ30 , panasonic has a similar line but smaller and more snapshot oriented. FZ5 is similar to the FZ20 (5 mp) not sure how high they go, FZ7 i think

May 13, 2006, 5:03 PM	#6
polar905 Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 62	She doesn't like the size of my camera with all the toys I have for it (TC/WA/Macro/RDS/etc....) She just wanted a point and shoot basically.