Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
Living with a very nice film SLR, and a digital p&s, i decided to
investigate a serious ditial p&s as my travel camera: compact size,
28-200 range, manual control.
Frankly, I am disgusted that with so many companies flooding the market
with so many models that they must be running out of model numbers to
name them, they have all decided not to offer even a single model that
will appeal to a serious hobbyist like me!
The cameras with all the feature I want are way too big for the purpose
(Lumix FZ-18, oLympus 550 SZ). Cameras of manageable size make you
give up on some important featu Lumix TZ-3 (no manual control) and
LX2 (limited telephoto) are probably the best examples.
So, I'll have to decide which feature to give up: compact size (FZ-18),
manual control (tz-3), telephoto (lx-2 or Leica version). If it is
telephoto I decide to give up, then I'd also investigate the Ricoh
models that start at 24mm.
Or I could just wait until somebody offers the first p&s for me. Why
spend money and still be unhappy? 
It is not like I don't have any
cameras to take pictures right now.
What you want is difficult to find, and not just because camera
manufacturers are idiots who focus too much on gadgets & spec and not
enough on picture quality.
Because they're able to keep adding & enhancing features on P&S cameras,
it's tempting to believe they can do anything. But the physical
limitations of the small sensor size, *especially* for wide-angle, become
the deal breaker. You & I are spoiled rotten, both of us by our SLRs (you
by your film, me by my Canon 350XT). And we want those same features &
quality in a P&S. And why not?
Because it's darned near impossible to design a wide-angle wide-range zoom
lens for a camera with a tiny sensor that doesn't display quite a bit of
chromatic aberration at the wide end. Even at 35mm it's a problem (about
the only real issue with my Fuji F10 & F30). Thus a severe limitation on
picture quality that can't be overcome with all manner of added features
(image stabilization, raw shooting, manual modes, etc).
My perfect camera would have all the features you want, with slight
modification. I don't need the super-long lens (100-150 at the long end
would be fine) but I'd love to have a 24 at the bottom... but would settle
for a 28. The wide range would be great because I take photos while riding
my bike, and can't take a whole lot of time setting up my shots. Raw mode
would be nice, because you've got more to deal with when correcting
exposure issues. A decent manual mode would be nice, and I'd *love* to
have a manual or fixed-focus option (because, when taking photos while
riding, nearly everything of interest is going to be 20+ feet away). Also
long battery life (the Fuji F30 excels there!) is a must. And I'd be
willing to pay extra $$$ for a great lens!!! The lens is absolutely the
weakest link in the Fuji F30. One last thing would be reasonable moisture
protection.
So I want it all too! But for top-quality photos, I'm going to have to
stick with my Rebel 350XT. Not because it has better electronics and
shooting modes, but because I can hang a wonderful piece of glass on it.
Sigh. If I'm wrong, and you find that perfect camera, please let me know.
I want it too!
--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
Hi,
I would also more settle with your Ideas.... But right now, I will probably
buy one of the chdk-hack-compatible Canon Powershots. So I have the RAW
Format... just most of those Cameras start at 35mm... So I might try with a
conversion lens if that doesnt make it too big. I wait some time, so maybe
the Powershot S80 will be supported soon, which will solve my issues.
The cool thing with the hack is that you can let it set up hyper focal
distance for you and run scripts.
But of course after all, the hack is not such a good solution as some
programs just don't eat the raw format and need a conversion to dng with a
special tool before doing so.
The Powershot G9 will also just start at 35mm
It's really a shame for all Camera manufacturers out there, except maybe
Ricoh and Sigma which at least have an approach to something different.
(Whilst Ricohs Sensor-experiences aren't the best, Sigma just wants to
offer a fixed lens, and not something like any Zoom)
I'm in for the perfect camera too! ;-)
- Dennis