What size opical zoom is good?

I am wanting to get a new digital camera. I have an Olymus D460 and
it's time I graduated to something bigger and more challenging. I
want to be able to also use it in Manual mode. The SLR cameras are
out of my budget and I was thinking of around 5 megapixel. I'm
looking at the Olympus C-5060 but it only has 4x optical zoom I could
be missing something but I see cameras with much less features and 10x
optical zoom. I would appreciate any help on this.

Thanks
Lori

"Kayla" wrote in message
...
I am wanting to get a new digital camera. I have an Olymus D460 and
it's time I graduated to something bigger and more challenging. I
want to be able to also use it in Manual mode. The SLR cameras are
out of my budget and I was thinking of around 5 megapixel. I'm
looking at the Olympus C-5060 but it only has 4x optical zoom I could
be missing something but I see cameras with much less features and 10x
optical zoom. I would appreciate any help on this.

This is an interesting question. For the same price, you
get a choice:

small size and light weight
lots of megapixels
long zoom

Pick one.

For more money you can pick two.

You probably can't pick all three at any price since
very small size and light weight are currently incompatible
with long zooms.

The answer of course is the same old answer given to all
questions like this, namely, "What do you want to do with
the camera?"

If you want a camera mostly for shooting birds and
wildlife, or candid shots from places where people don't
notice you shooting photos, get the long zoom.

If you want to make pictures on the spur of the moment but
find that you always leave your old camera at home because
it's big and heavy, then get the small size and light weight and
carry the camera in your pocket or purse.

If you want a camera for producing studio quality prints,
get the multi-megapixels.

I know that advice isn't as helpful as you'd like it to be
because until you've tried out long telephoto photography,
or tried out carrying a tiny pocket camera around, you may
not really know how much you'll like it.

You could compromise on something with an intermediate
zoom and intermediate size and weight. That might turn out
to be the best of both worlds for you, or maybe the worst
of both.

Ah the decisions! How wonderful it is to live in such a
rich consumer society where we can think about these
choices.

Alan

"Kayla" wrote in message
...
I am wanting to get a new digital camera. I have an Olymus D460 and
it's time I graduated to something bigger and more challenging. I
want to be able to also use it in Manual mode. The SLR cameras are
out of my budget and I was thinking of around 5 megapixel. I'm
looking at the Olympus C-5060 but it only has 4x optical zoom I could
be missing something but I see cameras with much less features and 10x
optical zoom. I would appreciate any help on this.

This is an interesting question. For the same price, you
get a choice:

small size and light weight
lots of megapixels
long zoom

Pick one.

For more money you can pick two.

You probably can't pick all three at any price since
very small size and light weight are currently incompatible
with long zooms.

The answer of course is the same old answer given to all
questions like this, namely, "What do you want to do with
the camera?"

If you want a camera mostly for shooting birds and
wildlife, or candid shots from places where people don't
notice you shooting photos, get the long zoom.

If you want to make pictures on the spur of the moment but
find that you always leave your old camera at home because
it's big and heavy, then get the small size and light weight and
carry the camera in your pocket or purse.

If you want a camera for producing studio quality prints,
get the multi-megapixels.

I know that advice isn't as helpful as you'd like it to be
because until you've tried out long telephoto photography,
or tried out carrying a tiny pocket camera around, you may
not really know how much you'll like it.

You could compromise on something with an intermediate
zoom and intermediate size and weight. That might turn out
to be the best of both worlds for you, or maybe the worst
of both.

Ah the decisions! How wonderful it is to live in such a
rich consumer society where we can think about these
choices.

Alan

On Fri, 27 Aug 2004 02:36:04 GMT, Kayla wrote:

I am wanting to get a new digital camera. I have an Olymus D460 and
it's time I graduated to something bigger and more challenging. I
want to be able to also use it in Manual mode. The SLR cameras are
out of my budget and I was thinking of around 5 megapixel. I'm
looking at the Olympus C-5060 but it only has 4x optical zoom I could
be missing something but I see cameras with much less features and 10x
optical zoom. I would appreciate any help on this.

Thanks
Lori

What size is good? hmmmm what are you taking pics of?

I'd say x7 optical is something to go for if you are taking 'tourist' snapshots.
It will cover a lot of ground...

what are you taking pics of?

I use a x10 optical but it's out of your price range... but I love it!!

but... what are you taking pics of?

Check out the Sony's and the Minolta's... they have big zooms...what are you
taking pics of again?

On Fri, 27 Aug 2004 02:36:04 GMT, Kayla wrote:

I am wanting to get a new digital camera. I have an Olymus D460 and
it's time I graduated to something bigger and more challenging. I
want to be able to also use it in Manual mode. The SLR cameras are
out of my budget and I was thinking of around 5 megapixel. I'm
looking at the Olympus C-5060 but it only has 4x optical zoom I could
be missing something but I see cameras with much less features and 10x
optical zoom. I would appreciate any help on this.

Thanks
Lori

What size is good? hmmmm what are you taking pics of?

I'd say x7 optical is something to go for if you are taking 'tourist' snapshots.
It will cover a lot of ground...

what are you taking pics of?

I use a x10 optical but it's out of your price range... but I love it!!

but... what are you taking pics of?

Check out the Sony's and the Minolta's... they have big zooms...what are you
taking pics of again?

The zoom range given as 4x or 7x or whatever actually doesn't tell you
what you really need to know. What counts is the actual range of focal
lengths and the kind of photography you like to do.

A 4x zoom could refer to any of the following focal length ranges:

(a) 25mm to 100mm
(b) 35mm to 140mm
(c) 50mm to 200mm
(d) any other pair that has a 1:4 ratio

These are all "equivalent" focal lengths that a 35mm film camera would
have in order to have the same capability. Many or most serious
photographers tend to think in terms of these numbers because (like
me) they used 35mm-film cameras (usually SLRs) before moving to digital.
50mm is the "normal" focal length that comes as a default with most 35mm
film SLRs and produces pictures with a "normal" perspective. Shorter
focal lengths are "wide angle", and longer ones are "telephoto".

Now, suppose you tend to take more architectural shots like urban
landscapes where the buildings crowd in upon you, or interiors of rooms.
You'll probably want to shoot in wide-angle mode a lot, and would probably
prefer case (a). On the other hand, if you take more candid shots of
people or animals from a distance, you'd probably prefer case (c); 200mm
focal length corresponds to a telescope with magnifying power of 4, based
on a normal focal length of 50mm. If you don't go to either extreme, but
just want some flexibility in framing your shots without having to move
back and forth a lot, case (b) would probably be fine.

In my case, I was coming from using a 35mm-film SLR and three lenses: a
"normal" 50mm lens, a wide-angle 28mm lens, and a telephoto zoom 70-200mm
lens. So I wanted about a 7x range overall, but I would not have been
happy with (say) 50mm-350mm because I use 28mm a lot for indoor shots.
Therefore I had to read specifications carefully to see exactly what range
was provided by each camera that I was considering. I did find one that
gave me a 28mm-200mm range (a Minolta 7i, since superseded by the 7Hi and
now the A2), and that was the one that I finally bought. There are now
other cameras that provide a similar range, so I might choose differently
if I were shopping now.

--
Jon Bell Presbyterian College
Dept. of Physics and Computer Science Clinton, South Carolina USA

The zoom range given as 4x or 7x or whatever actually doesn't tell you
what you really need to know. What counts is the actual range of focal
lengths and the kind of photography you like to do.

A 4x zoom could refer to any of the following focal length ranges:

(a) 25mm to 100mm
(b) 35mm to 140mm
(c) 50mm to 200mm
(d) any other pair that has a 1:4 ratio

These are all "equivalent" focal lengths that a 35mm film camera would
have in order to have the same capability. Many or most serious
photographers tend to think in terms of these numbers because (like
me) they used 35mm-film cameras (usually SLRs) before moving to digital.
50mm is the "normal" focal length that comes as a default with most 35mm
film SLRs and produces pictures with a "normal" perspective. Shorter
focal lengths are "wide angle", and longer ones are "telephoto".

Now, suppose you tend to take more architectural shots like urban
landscapes where the buildings crowd in upon you, or interiors of rooms.
You'll probably want to shoot in wide-angle mode a lot, and would probably
prefer case (a). On the other hand, if you take more candid shots of
people or animals from a distance, you'd probably prefer case (c); 200mm
focal length corresponds to a telescope with magnifying power of 4, based
on a normal focal length of 50mm. If you don't go to either extreme, but
just want some flexibility in framing your shots without having to move
back and forth a lot, case (b) would probably be fine.

In my case, I was coming from using a 35mm-film SLR and three lenses: a
"normal" 50mm lens, a wide-angle 28mm lens, and a telephoto zoom 70-200mm
lens. So I wanted about a 7x range overall, but I would not have been
happy with (say) 50mm-350mm because I use 28mm a lot for indoor shots.
Therefore I had to read specifications carefully to see exactly what range
was provided by each camera that I was considering. I did find one that
gave me a 28mm-200mm range (a Minolta 7i, since superseded by the 7Hi and
now the A2), and that was the one that I finally bought. There are now
other cameras that provide a similar range, so I might choose differently
if I were shopping now.

--
Jon Bell Presbyterian College
Dept. of Physics and Computer Science Clinton, South Carolina USA

Hi,

Panasonic is comming out with a 5 MP camera and a 12x zoom Leica lens in
September (Lumix fz20). The current version has very good reviews but is a 4 MP
camera. Both cameras have image stabilization, a must with long zooms.
The price for the Lumiz FZ20 is under $600 which makes it quite affordable.
Rosita

Hi,

Panasonic is comming out with a 5 MP camera and a 12x zoom Leica lens in
September (Lumix fz20). The current version has very good reviews but is a 4 MP
camera. Both cameras have image stabilization, a must with long zooms.
The price for the Lumiz FZ20 is under $600 which makes it quite affordable.
Rosita

I like my KODAK DX 6490 4 MP

38/380 zoooooooooom 10x optical

I have played with indoor close zooms. GOOD CLEAR PHOTOS

price has dropped and are dropping as a 5MP is replacing it.
Beware of re-furbs on EBAY
price one at a "legit" brick and mortar store and tale that info to a
Staples and they will match it (and 10% more taken off for the difference)
Should be able to get it around 325 or so

H

--

In the words of the IMMORTAL USED CAR DEALER:
THERE IS AN ASS FOR EVERY SEAT!