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My new P&S ?

techno-terminator
Posted 13/01/2010 - 16:04 Link
Bearing in mind that my Kodak P&S seems to have gone to the great camera park in the skies I'm now on the hunt for its replacement .

I'm not rushing into this - the K-x is my main camera and I'm still on that steep learning curve . However I do enjoy having a wee camera tucked in my pocket , and I'd like something a bit better than the inherited HP Photosmart E327 .

I'd like to stick with Pentax and have been sort of looking about and so far the P80 is looking good [ though in black - I do NOT go for these candy colour options ]

My requirements are - decent Monitor [ had got used to shooting with that most of the time - the HP one is minute [ 1 ins x 1.5 ins ] and will drive me daft soon.

Image stabilisation will be a big bonus - I do have hand shake at times.

A reasonable zoom - for some of the things I've done in the past x3 is a wee bittie small .

Not too concerned with lots of inbuilt programmes - sport setting - YES , Macro - YES a few scenes OK, and landscape

Memory card - prefer SD / SDHC since that's what I'm using now .


OK - is anyone using one ? Please could I have their views on this ?

Anyone know any 'cons' -' pros ' I would think, on a Pentax Forum are pretty obvious
let the education continue

proud owner of a couple of cameras and a few bits and bobs
Hardgravity
Posted 13/01/2010 - 17:57 Link
Why the P80?

I think that 12 meg on an APS sensor is a little OTT!

I have an old E50 which only has 8 megapixels and find that noise is a problem at higher ISO settings.

As an alternative, for a sporty type how about a WS80?

The price is OK and with the looks of the black/yellow model no one will nick it!

Check this for a price.
Cheers, HG

K110+DA40, K200+DA35, K3 and a bag of lenses, bodies and other bits.

Mustn't forget the Zenits, or folders, or...

PPG entries.
Photomonk
Posted 13/01/2010 - 18:06 Link
Hardgravity wrote:
Why the P80?

I think she has to start somewhere and then be pointed to more or less better options for her new point and shoot. If she can have the pros and cons explained, she can make a better decision on her new acquisition.

The Photomonk
Edited by Photomonk: 13/01/2010 - 18:06
RichardDay
Posted 13/01/2010 - 18:31 Link
I have the P70 and the software based image stabilisation (same as the P80) is worse than useless, it can take up to 4 seconds to record the shot. Also the AF is nothing to shout about. Using either I invariably miss shots. I now use pre-set manual focus (called snap focus by Ricoh) and no image stabilisation. In fact I hardly ever use it now apart from the odd e-bay product type shots.

If I was going for a P&S I would look for mechanical, lens or sensor, stabilisation.

I was hoping it would be an upgrade to the excellent A40, which is now discontinued and was the last metal bodied P&S actually made by Pentax, (they are now all made by Sanyo) but I've been somewhat dissapointed.

If you can stretch a bit more for a Ricoh CX1, that's what I'd do, it's better built, the controls are infinitely better, it has a 3" 920k dot screen, a decent CMOS sensor with decent DR. The performance is in a different league.

In fact, I think I'll ring SRS tomorrow and see what they'll do in part exchange.
Best regards
Richard Day

Profile - link - (click on About for equipment profile) - My Flickr site - link
Edited by RichardDay: 13/01/2010 - 18:34
JonSchick
Posted 13/01/2010 - 18:58 Link
I know this is a Pentax forum, but for reasonably priced image stabilised compact cameras with decent image quality and build, I think the Panasonic Lumix models are the ones to beat. Higher up the range then I'd also perhaps be looking either at Ricoh or possibly Canon Powershots.
Jon

Some occasional random stuff at The Photographers Block: link
Greytop
Posted 13/01/2010 - 19:10 Link
I'm with Jon, on this one. I hate to say it but small point and shoots don't appear to be a Pentax strong point

As Jon says the Lumix range are very capable, my wife has an LX3 which is a stunning package... I'll say no more
Regards Huw

flickr
techno-terminator
Posted 13/01/2010 - 19:10 Link
Hardgravity wrote:
Why the P80?

I think that 12 meg on an APS sensor is a little OTT!

I have an old E50 which only has 8 megapixels and find that noise is a problem at higher ISO settings.

As an alternative, for a sporty type how about a WS80?

The price is OK and with the looks of the black/yellow model no one will nick it!

Check this for a price.

HG - answering your points

1) I've been here before looking for a camera - originally to replace a Fuji S5000 which just suddenly died thanks to the optical sensor failing and I spent about 2 months weighing up things . The fact that I ended up with a DSLR is neither here nor there - but it shows I did consider a lot of cameras

2) I said no candy colours - so why suggest a yellow and black camera ? I had clearly indicated plain black - what I carry about I want to be so-to-speak nondescript.

3) Other than making a comment that you thought that 12 meg is a bit OTT you haven't really explained why you think that - look at my 'handle ' things have to be explained - I'm not a geek.

4) I have said I want the ability to have a sports setting - from time to time I attend Carriage Driving trials - and I have found in the past that a sports setting is very very useful then - I have also been known to take pics from moving cars , buses and trains at times too.

Richard - thanks for your comments - you have given me a few things to chew over .

I'm still open to more comments and suggestions .

I don't have a bottomless pit as regards funds for this purchase - the Ricoh is definitely stretching things a bit more than I'm happy with - after all the K-x was only bought in November , and my heating bill for the last few weeks doesn't bear thinking about
let the education continue

proud owner of a couple of cameras and a few bits and bobs
techno-terminator
Posted 13/01/2010 - 19:31 Link
JonSchick - interesting you said the Powershots - the SX 120 IS was on my list before BUT I am looking for something with a flat front so-to-speak now
let the education continue

proud owner of a couple of cameras and a few bits and bobs
Edited by techno-terminator: 13/01/2010 - 19:32
konrads
Posted 13/01/2010 - 20:18 Link
Greytop wrote:
I'm with Jon, on this one. I hate to say it but small point and shoots don't appear to be a Pentax strong point

As Jon says the Lumix range are very capable, my wife has an LX3 which is a stunning package... I'll say no more

Sorry to say it too but I believe in Fuji for a compact and I've got a few. the super ccd's are great. Also the new EXR CCD Finepix F70 with 27mm wide and 10x optical zoom you can't go wrong as a compact
K20D,24-90 3.5-5.6,50-135 2.8 + GRIP. SAVING FOR 60-250 F4
FUJI S6500 + FUJI Z33WP
Konrad
Photomonk
Posted 13/01/2010 - 20:39 Link
This probably more difficult than choosing a DSLR.

Seriously though, can we give the woman only a few recommends. I have already counted four or five brands in this short thread. The consensus is to stay away from the Optio line at present. Now what to recommend that is current and why?

The Photomonk
Edited by Photomonk: 13/01/2010 - 20:39
imagesteve
Posted 13/01/2010 - 20:47 Link
The FUJI F70 EXR is not the best compact,... It is the ONLY compact.
2x K10D bodies, 2x FA 28-200 3.8-5.6, DA 18-55, A 50 F2, 50mm Macro, 360 FGZ. Still saving for the 60-250 DA* Also have a Z10 35mm and a K1000 just for fun. IF PENTAX IS THE ANSWER, WHO CARES WHAT THE QUESTION IS...!
Quote:

konrads
Posted 13/01/2010 - 20:51 Link
imagesteve wrote:
The FUJI F70 EXR is not the best compact,... It is the ONLY compact.

What more can I say. Nothing that comes close for the price' function and quality
K20D,24-90 3.5-5.6,50-135 2.8 + GRIP. SAVING FOR 60-250 F4
FUJI S6500 + FUJI Z33WP
Konrad
konrads
Posted 13/01/2010 - 20:53 Link
Got a thunderstorm here by me again but not taking shots
K20D,24-90 3.5-5.6,50-135 2.8 + GRIP. SAVING FOR 60-250 F4
FUJI S6500 + FUJI Z33WP
Konrad
techno-terminator
Posted 13/01/2010 - 22:13 Link
OK - plus points for the Fuji - and remember I've only read about it. Still to handle it - if I can find it locally

it's a pocket sized camera , It's got Stabilisation , an inbuilt flash , lots of programme possibilities , incredible zoom and what , from reviews posted on Amazon , a good lens .

Minus points - it seems very complicated and I'm a slow learner in as much as I learn better from being SHOWN what to do than reading it from a book .

Do I actually need some of these clever things / tricks it has - after all I've got a DSLR and I'm really looking for a walk around in town camera - not a posh take pics with the real "WOW" factor.

OK konrads and Imagesteve - you are both praising it to the skies - now tell me why this is the one camera that I should buy ? What makes it so much better than the Canons Panasonic Lumixs or any other compact ?
let the education continue

proud owner of a couple of cameras and a few bits and bobs
Pentaxophile
Posted 13/01/2010 - 22:28 Link
Surely you can put any p&s into 'auto' and just forget about it? That model has a good reputation for noise control. Panasonic Lumix DMC FS62 also seems to offer great picture quality and image stabilisation for about £120. link

link
[link=https://500px.com/will_brealey/[/link]
Edited by Pentaxophile: 13/01/2010 - 22:33

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