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#1
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What level of zoom is recommended
I am close to buying a new digital camera.
I have been researching quite a bit on various models, but I am undecided whether to go with a 4x optical zoom, or spend more and go with a 10-12x optical zoom. Is the upgrade in zoom worth the extra $$, any tradeoffs to going higher zoom besides price? Any information appreciated. |
#2
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What level of zoom is recommended
On 2006-05-13, snow wrote:
I am close to buying a new digital camera. I have been researching quite a bit on various models, but I am undecided whether to go with a 4x optical zoom, or spend more and go with a 10-12x optical zoom. Is the upgrade in zoom worth the extra $$, any tradeoffs to going higher zoom besides price? Any information appreciated. The greater the zoom range, the more difficult it will be to hold the camera steady at the 'longest' setting ('zoomed right in'). It's also likely that the lens will let through less light at the longest settings, which makes the problem of 'camera shake' even worse. Some sort of 'image stabilisation' will be required unless you are prepared to use a solid tripod. Image quality is likely to be sacrificed in order to achieve an extreme zoom range; whether that is enough to matter to you, only you can know. If there are particular models you have in mind, see if they have been reviewed by magazines or on-line web sites - for example, http://www.dpreview.com/ and http://www.steves-digicams.com/. If you are serious about using very long focal lengths ('zooming in' from a great distance), consider using a camera that allows you to swap lenses. The results are likely to be worth the extra cost and trouble. -- -- ^^^^^^^^^^ -- Whiskers -- ~~~~~~~~~~ |
#3
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What level of zoom is recommended
snow wrote:
I am close to buying a new digital camera. I have been researching quite a bit on various models, but I am undecided whether to go with a 4x optical zoom, or spend more and go with a 10-12x optical zoom. Is the upgrade in zoom worth the extra $$, any tradeoffs to going higher zoom besides price? Any information appreciated. Only real tradeoff besides price is physical size. Definitely worth the money. If you want a shirt pocket camera though you won't get it with a 12x zoom. -- --John to email, dial "usenet" and validate (was jclarke at eye bee em dot net) |
#4
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What level of zoom is recommended
J. Clarke wrote:
[] Only real tradeoff besides price is physical size. Definitely worth the money. If you want a shirt pocket camera though you won't get it with a 12x zoom. You might get shirt pocket size with this 10:1 zoom camera... http://www.dpreview.com/news/0602/06...nasonictz1.asp David |
#5
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What level of zoom is recommended
snow wrote:
I am close to buying a new digital camera. I have been researching quite a bit on various models, but I am undecided whether to go with a 4x optical zoom, or spend more and go with a 10-12x optical zoom. Is the upgrade in zoom worth the extra $$, any tradeoffs to going higher zoom besides price? Any information appreciated. Focusing becomes more difficult at higher zoom settings. Therefore image stabilization becomes a necessity. Otherwise you'll have to use a tripod. I have a Kodak P850 which has 12x optical. It's an awesome camera for the price ($299 at Costco with docking station and carry bag). |
#6
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What level of zoom is recommended
"snow" wrote in message news:29j9g.929$oN2.16@trndny02... I am close to buying a new digital camera. I have been researching quite a bit on various models, but I am undecided whether to go with a 4x optical zoom, or spend more and go with a 10-12x optical zoom. Is the upgrade in zoom worth the extra $$, any tradeoffs to going higher zoom besides price? Any information appreciated. Depends on what you want to use it for. I bought a 10x camera last year and I rarely use the camera at that zoom. When I do use it its not for taking photos but just for looking into the distance. The trade off of course is that most higher zoom cameras are bigger, so as others have said, if you want a pocketable camera its better to go for the lower zoom. |
#7
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What level of zoom is recommended
Check this out....
Sony DSC-H1 12x optical, hand-held (cropped): http://www.cox-internet.com/kenb2002/MoonShot.jpg "snow" wrote in message news:29j9g.929$oN2.16@trndny02... I am close to buying a new digital camera. I have been researching quite a bit on various models, but I am undecided whether to go with a 4x optical zoom, or spend more and go with a 10-12x optical zoom. Is the upgrade in zoom worth the extra $$, any tradeoffs to going higher zoom besides price? Any information appreciated. |
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