On Aug 13, 1:49 am, RPS wrote:
I am looking for an all-purpose travel camera which I can always keep
with me. I made a list of all the features I would want and DPreview
tells me it doesn't exit! Great.

So which of the following features would you give up in a travel camera
if it were your only camera:

1. Manageable size. Not necessarily light, but should fit a big pocket.
2. At least 28mm at the wide end.
3. Approx 200+ mm at the tele end. (No tripod.)
4. IS
5. Possibility of either aperture or shutter priority.
6. Optical View Finder.

OK, no such thing at present. Therefore which are one or two of the
most dispensable features in your experience and opinion?

[BTW... if I take out optical viewfinder, I am left with one choice
Lumix FZ18, which has not been reviewed yet and seems too big anyway.

If I give up the wide angle instead I am left with Canon G7, also large
but (barely) manageable. I could live with the size, but hate to give
up 28mm.

If I give up optical finder and settle for 100+ telephoto, then there
good pocketable choices: Lumix Lx2, LX1; Leica D-Lux3, D-Lux2.]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.


OK, I'm going to take a little different tac. I have backpacked
through Belize with 2 Lieca M2s, a 24, I consider necessary this wide,
a 35mm and an 85mm, great photos. Canoed the Macal and Belize Rivers,
with the Leicas, great trip, just prior to going digital. Used a small
water resistant waist pack to hold everything. My solution for you
would be a Nikon D40(x) and Tamron 17-50 f2.8 and a Nikon 55-200 VR.
Not an expensive kit, but light weight. Results would be far better
than any of the P&S cameras you have listed. You also have f2.8 from
17-50 (25-75mm). This is something very nice to have. A Pentax K100
would be an alternative, not that familiar with Pentax lenses. Also
light weight, in camera antishake. Another the Olympus E510. DSLRs
have better response than almost all of the P&S, even though these are
bottom of the line cameras you will get exellent results, and much
less noise in darkish conditions.

Tom