Ultracompacts! oh the options!!!!

[Markay]

Ello

Looking for a nice digital camera
I can spend £200, but cheaper the better
In the ultracompact range
No less than 3x optical zoom
No less than 6megpix
2 inch or more LCD screen

Its a general 'daily life' cam, for snapping anything that comes along, for holidays, parties, nature photo's, taking pictures of objects for ebay etc etc! Indoors, outdoors! Mainly just to use on my computer (cutting and cropping) and any nice shots will get printed out on one of those kodak machines in boots

The ones that have caught my eye are

CASIO Exilim Zoom EX-Z70 - 3x zoom & 7.2 megpix

&

Pentax Optio T10 -3x zoom & 6 megpix
Love the touchscreen

Also


Sony
DSC - W50 - 6megpix , 3x zoom, 2.5inch screen
DSC - W70 - 7megpix , 3x zoom, 2.5inch screen
DSC - W100 - 8.1megpix , 3x zoom, 2.5inch screen

What shall I get?! Any advise on these cams or any other cams u think are better would be amazing

Cheers

Mark

[slipe]

The Sony W series have 2 things I prefer on a small camera. They have optical viewfinders and a physical mode dial.

I'm guessing your secret location is in the British Isles and you wouldn't find yourself in bright sunlight as often as I do in Florida. So an LCD-only camera might be fine in most circumstances. An optical finder does make it easier to quickly acquire and follow a moving target – especially when zoomed. But you get a tinier camera in the Pentax and Casio.

The Pentax has some nice features. It has a much higher resolution screen than the Casio and it is one of those new screens that can be viewed at an angle. Not as good as an articulated LCD but the next best thing. And by eliminating the buttons you get a larger screen on a tiny camera. The T10 has MPEG4 movies which I think the Z70 lacks, so they take only a quarter the space on the card with good quality. You can also use a 4 Gig SD card if you plan on a round the world trip with no external storage. I think the 6Mp 1/2.5 sensor is a little better assuming it is the commonly used Sony sensor.

The tiny Pentax cameras tend to have more corner softness than the Casio, but I never found that detracted from photos unless you are copying documents.

I would personally prefer the W50, but that Pentax looks like a dynamite camera if you don't need an optical finder and think you would like the touch screen.

[Markay]

Thank you so much for your reply, I was scared no one would respond!

You have pointed out all the things I was thinking in my head (plus more hehe)

I really would prefer an optical viewfinderand I really love how slim the other ones are! But really the pentax is 1.95cm wide and the sony2.29cm wide! So it isn't that different!

I am struggling to understand shutter speed etc! I really want a camera that is fast (as in, from when i take a picture, i can take the next one pretty much straight away). I know you can do burst fire modes etc, but my brothers camera is really annoying because it takes what feels like a life time before I can take another picture (really like 2-3 secs)

So your not that keen on the Casio? Could you advise any other cameras that meet my needs? or have a picked some good ones, just have to make a choice between those two!

Thanks again, Mark

edit/ Canon Ixus 60 ?

[slipe]

I like the Sony T9 and maybe the T10 but there aren't any good reviews yet. The T30 is also a choice with a giant LCD and stabilization but a little larger. If I can't have an optical viewfinder I would want true optical stabilization to make up for the poor hold. If fact I might prefer the stabilization to the optical finder if I didn't live in Florida. The Sonys don't have MPEG4 like the Casio and Pentax.

I had this up on another thread. You might look up some of the reviews and judge for yourself.

[Markay]

Im not a fan of those sony cameras with the small lens, just dont like the look of them!

Hmzzz I'm still undecided about which one to get!

Any more input from anyone would be fab!

[ajaynejr]

Speaking of small lenses I would consider only the models with at least an f/2.8 (at minimum zoom) lens. So many good models have it that it is not necessary to put up with a slower lens.

[Markay]

Well the Pentax has ....

Aperture and Shutter Speed
f/2.7-5.2 - from 1/2000 to 4 s
Timer 2 or 10 s

Sony W70

Aperture and Shutter Speed
f/2.8-5.2 - de 1/2000 Ã* 1 s

And the Casio Z70 says

Aperture and Shutter Speed
F 3.1 – 5.9 mm ; f 6.3 – 18.9mm (equivalent 38-114mm in 35mm mode)
Normal : 1/2 – 1/2000sec.
BEST SHOT « night shot » : 4 to 1/2000 sec.
BEST SHOT « Firework display » : 2 sec. (fixed)

I dont really know what it all means! What would you advise?

[kassandro]

The Sony W-100 is the only camera of the above with a larger 1/1.8" sensor. Consequently it should have the best image quality.

[Markay]

Hmz ok, thx for the info



CASIO EX-Z70 - 7.2 megpix, 3x zoom 2.5inch screen - about £162

Pentax Optio T10 -6 megpix, 3x zoom 3inch touchscreen -about £173

Sony DSC - W50 - 6megpix , 3x zoom, 2.5inch screen - about £150

Sony DSC - W70 - 7megpix , 3x zoom, 2.5inch screen - about £190

Sony DSC - W100 - 8.1megpix , 3x zoom, 2.5inch screen – about £213



Ohhh its so hard to pick!!!

[Markay]

Does any one know any sites that have good customer reviews with people that have actually lived with the cameras Im looking at?

Really wanna know if the Pentax's battery lasts long at all?!