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#1
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Which Camera is best in this list for my purposes? and a RANT about prices too... [Long!]
I am looking for a camera for use from a cruise ship's balcony to
[hopefully] catch whales, and to take photos as we come into and go out of ports both for a cruise to Mexico's west coast and to Alaska. As well I want to use the camera for other things, but a larger optical zoom factor is a must. So the following seem to be the cameras I am considering... Which of the following is the best choice in your subjective views? Some use SD cards while others require a unique and expensive memory stick. Some use AA batteries, while others use custom and expensive Li Ion Batteries. Each has different features. The lens quality is also an issue. Steve's Digicam has NOT reviewed the newest cameras in the list yet, so I cannot tell if I should even consider those cameras, except that the 18x Optical Zoom from FujiFilm is definitely a major factor. I will likely have the camera shipped to Utah as the first cruise is out of L.A. in about 6 weeks and I can then get it from my son, who lives in Utah, at the ship, where we will be meeting. I refuse to pay a higher price in Canada for a camera when the Canadian dollar is actually worth more so the camera should be cheaper in Canada! I also, to try to cut off arguements about the relative size of the market, will point out that the prices are equally distorted for the EU [which has a larger population than the U.S.], and that the retail price shown in almost every press release from each of the manufacturers reflects the price as set in Japan by corporate head office. The manufacturer's suggested retail price is NOT really set by the U.S. or Canadian subsidiary. In some cases the corporate set-up has the Canadian corporation subsidiary to the U.S. corporation, which adds a layer that has to produce a profit for the U.S. subsidiary, and that is part of the distortion in price. In other cases both the U.S. and Canadian operations are direct subsidiaries of the corporate owner in Japan. I know that... Another difference is that SOME of them recognise their warranty on both sides of the border, while others play the game of saying you have to buy in Canada for service in Canada and in the U.S. for service in the U.S. - since the camera comes out of the same factory somewhere in asia, that should be horse manure, and I've rarely seen it actually enforced. I happen to be a U.S. citizen and a Canadian citizen, born in Manhattan. So I am not trying to use a Canadian centric view... I find this sort of price disparity unfair wherever I see it... and the failure to adjust prices to reflect this sort of inequity most annoying. You may disagree but there is the old maxim that the "Customer is Always Right" and we speak with our money. The traffic over the border to upper New York state this weekend, by shoppers out of Toronto, has the crossing into the U.S. taking over an hour once someone gets in line at the border bridges. That is talking with one's money... and these manufacturers need to get their Canadian prices in line with their U.S. prices quickly or their Canadian retailers will be in deep trouble. [Rumour has it that the prices will be dropping in Canada after a show that takes place in Toronto next week. All of the major Camera manufacturers will be at the show, so I plan to ask them directly about the prices listed below. I have the time to wait a week or two before ordering, and will definitely take this opportunity.] For information on the show itself, and a list of 'vendors' go to http://www.henrys.com/webapp/wcs/sto...o/general.html So folks, which camera should I buy, and WHY should I choose that particular model, or not choose a different model, from the following list. [and Yes, I repeat that I recognise that this will all be subjective.] RsH -------------------------------------------------- 1. FujiFilm FinePix S8000fd 18x Optical Zoom 8.0 megapixel 4-AA batteries, 410 grams US$284 from Broadway Photo and C$425 from Infonec.com are the lowest prices TODAY when the U.S. and Canadian dollar are basically identical in value. You can replace Broadway's price with US$350 from Sixth Avenue Photo, since Broadway Photo seems to have a poor reputation. The argument remains the same. 2. Canon PowerShot SX100-IS 10x Optical Zoom 8.3 megapixel 2-AA batteries, 285 grams US$241 from Broadway Photo and C$373 at Mostly Digital in Ontario Again the prices are out of line since Canon in Japan has set the wholesale price in Canada at a higher amount than the wholesale price in the U.S. - This camera is hitting the marketplace NOW in October, 2007 when the U.S. dollar is worth LESS than the Canadian dollar. You can replace Broadway's price with US$300 from every photo site I've found, including Enterprise Photo, since Broadway Photo seems to have a poor reputation. The argument remains the same. 3. Canon PowerShot S5-IS 12x Optical Zoom 8.3 megapixel 4-AA batteries, 450 grams US$299 from Broadway Photo and C$438 from Cendirect.com in Montreal. Same basic issue on price.... but this camera has been in the market place longer. You can replace Broadway's price with US$330 from Enterprise Photo, since Broadway Photo seems to have a poor reputation. The argument remains the same. 4. Olympus SP-550UZ 18x Optical Zoom 7.4 megapixel 4-AA batteries, 365 grams US$276 from Broadway Photo and C$470 from Vistek in Toronto and Calgary. You can replace Broadway's price with US$318 from Enterprise Photo, since Broadway Photo seems to have a poor reputation. The argument remains the same. 5. Sony CyberShot DSC-H9B 15x Optical Zoom 8.1 megapixel, NP-BG1, PowerPack, Li-ion battery, 407 grams US$334 from Broadway Photo and C$459 from Infonec.com in Markham, Ontario, as suburb of Toronto. You can replace Broadway's price with US$385 from Enterprise Photo, since Broadway Photo seems to have a poor reputation. The argument remains the same. 6. FujiFilm FinePix S700 10x Optical Zoom 7.1 megapixel 4-AA batteries, 306 grams US$169 from Broadway Photo and C$229 from Infonec in Toronto. You can replace Broadway's price with US$188 from Amazon.com, since Broadway Photo seems to have a poor reputation. The argument remains the same. 7. Panasonic DMC-FZ18K 18x Optical 8.1 megapixel Li-ion Battery Pack ($80 to replace), 360 grams US$278 from Broadway Photo and C$549 from all the Canadian sellers I found. You can replace Broadway's price with US$390 from Vannis, since Broadway Photo seems to have a poor reputation. The argument remains the same. Weights are without the battery or memory installed, in all cases. FWIW RsH |
#2
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Which Camera is best in this list for my purposes? and a RANT about prices too... [Long!]
On Sun, 07 Oct 2007 11:15:41 -0400, RsH wrote:
I am looking for a camera for use from a cruise ship's balcony to [hopefully] catch whales, and to take photos as we come into and go out of ports both for a cruise to Mexico's west coast and to Alaska. As well I want to use the camera for other things, but a larger optical zoom factor is a must. So the following seem to be the cameras I am considering... Which of the following is the best choice in your subjective views? Some use SD cards while others require a unique and expensive memory stick. Some use AA batteries, while others use custom and expensive Li Ion Batteries. Each has different features. The lens quality is also an issue. Steve's Digicam has NOT reviewed the newest cameras in the list yet, so I cannot tell if I should even consider those cameras, except that the 18x Optical Zoom from FujiFilm is definitely a major factor. I will likely have the camera shipped to Utah as the first cruise is out of L.A. in about 6 weeks and I can then get it from my son, who lives in Utah, at the ship, where we will be meeting. I refuse to pay a higher price in Canada for a camera when the Canadian dollar is actually worth more so the camera should be cheaper in Canada! I also, to try to cut off arguements about the relative size of the market, will point out that the prices are equally distorted for the EU [which has a larger population than the U.S.], and that the retail price shown in almost every press release from each of the manufacturers reflects the price as set in Japan by corporate head office. The manufacturer's suggested retail price is NOT really set by the U.S. or Canadian subsidiary. In some cases the corporate set-up has the Canadian corporation subsidiary to the U.S. corporation, which adds a layer that has to produce a profit for the U.S. subsidiary, and that is part of the distortion in price. In other cases both the U.S. and Canadian operations are direct subsidiaries of the corporate owner in Japan. I know that... Another difference is that SOME of them recognise their warranty on both sides of the border, while others play the game of saying you have to buy in Canada for service in Canada and in the U.S. for service in the U.S. - since the camera comes out of the same factory somewhere in asia, that should be horse manure, and I've rarely seen it actually enforced. I happen to be a U.S. citizen and a Canadian citizen, born in Manhattan. So I am not trying to use a Canadian centric view... I find this sort of price disparity unfair wherever I see it... and the failure to adjust prices to reflect this sort of inequity most annoying. You may disagree but there is the old maxim that the "Customer is Always Right" and we speak with our money. The traffic over the border to upper New York state this weekend, by shoppers out of Toronto, has the crossing into the U.S. taking over an hour once someone gets in line at the border bridges. That is talking with one's money... and these manufacturers need to get their Canadian prices in line with their U.S. prices quickly or their Canadian retailers will be in deep trouble. [Rumour has it that the prices will be dropping in Canada after a show that takes place in Toronto next week. All of the major Camera manufacturers will be at the show, so I plan to ask them directly about the prices listed below. I have the time to wait a week or two before ordering, and will definitely take this opportunity.] For information on the show itself, and a list of 'vendors' go to http://www.henrys.com/webapp/wcs/sto...o/general.html So folks, which camera should I buy, and WHY should I choose that particular model, or not choose a different model, from the following list. [and Yes, I repeat that I recognise that this will all be subjective.] RsH -------------------------------------------------- 1. FujiFilm FinePix S8000fd 18x Optical Zoom 8.0 megapixel 4-AA batteries, 410 grams US$284 from Broadway Photo and C$425 from Infonec.com are the lowest prices TODAY when the U.S. and Canadian dollar are basically identical in value. You can replace Broadway's price with US$350 from Sixth Avenue Photo, since Broadway Photo seems to have a poor reputation. The argument remains the same. 2. Canon PowerShot SX100-IS 10x Optical Zoom 8.3 megapixel 2-AA batteries, 285 grams US$241 from Broadway Photo and C$373 at Mostly Digital in Ontario Again the prices are out of line since Canon in Japan has set the wholesale price in Canada at a higher amount than the wholesale price in the U.S. - This camera is hitting the marketplace NOW in October, 2007 when the U.S. dollar is worth LESS than the Canadian dollar. You can replace Broadway's price with US$300 from every photo site I've found, including Enterprise Photo, since Broadway Photo seems to have a poor reputation. The argument remains the same. 3. Canon PowerShot S5-IS 12x Optical Zoom 8.3 megapixel 4-AA batteries, 450 grams US$299 from Broadway Photo and C$438 from Cendirect.com in Montreal. Same basic issue on price.... but this camera has been in the market place longer. You can replace Broadway's price with US$330 from Enterprise Photo, since Broadway Photo seems to have a poor reputation. The argument remains the same. 4. Olympus SP-550UZ 18x Optical Zoom 7.4 megapixel 4-AA batteries, 365 grams US$276 from Broadway Photo and C$470 from Vistek in Toronto and Calgary. You can replace Broadway's price with US$318 from Enterprise Photo, since Broadway Photo seems to have a poor reputation. The argument remains the same. 5. Sony CyberShot DSC-H9B 15x Optical Zoom 8.1 megapixel, NP-BG1, PowerPack, Li-ion battery, 407 grams US$334 from Broadway Photo and C$459 from Infonec.com in Markham, Ontario, as suburb of Toronto. You can replace Broadway's price with US$385 from Enterprise Photo, since Broadway Photo seems to have a poor reputation. The argument remains the same. 6. FujiFilm FinePix S700 10x Optical Zoom 7.1 megapixel 4-AA batteries, 306 grams US$169 from Broadway Photo and C$229 from Infonec in Toronto. You can replace Broadway's price with US$188 from Amazon.com, since Broadway Photo seems to have a poor reputation. The argument remains the same. 7. Panasonic DMC-FZ18K 18x Optical 8.1 megapixel Li-ion Battery Pack ($80 to replace), 360 grams US$278 from Broadway Photo and C$549 from all the Canadian sellers I found. You can replace Broadway's price with US$390 from Vannis, since Broadway Photo seems to have a poor reputation. The argument remains the same. Weights are without the battery or memory installed, in all cases. FWIW RsH First thing I would recommend before buying ANY EVF camera - look through it. Personally, I find that the DVFs having only 110k pixels or so to be highly pixellated - I cannot really frame a picture because it bothers me too much. Other folks are evidently not bothered so much. Several cameras have EVFs with at least 220k pixels - the image is MUCH better. Don't know about you, but I don't want to curse at the camera every time I frame a shot. Last year I settled on a Kodak P850 - refurb from the Kodak online store - and I'm quite satisfied. The P series has been discontinued, but some remain at the online store. |
#3
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Which Camera is best in this list for my purposes? and a RANT about prices too... [Long!]
On Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:27:47 -0500, Lew
wrote: For whale pictures you need the longest zoom you can get that is stabilized for hand holding. Tripods are not very useful on a boat. I have not seen whales from the three cruise ships I have been on, but did get good pictures from a whale watching boat during a port call on a Hawaii cruise. I was using a Panasonic FZ-40 with 420mm equivalent, and wished for still more length. Lighting is usually sufficient for noise to not be a problem. The FujiFilm has an 18x optical zoom and is equivalent to 486mm at maximum zoom, or eqivalent to close to a 500mm zoom lens on a 35mm camera, which I can remember was a LONG zoom years ago. I have had no dealings with the sellers you mention. I have had good results with B&H, Adorama, and Amazon.com. I know of at least two cases, and have heard of others, where a company would sell cameras at a low price but will be "temporarily out of stock" if you don't buy their over-priced accessories such as memory cards, batteries, or expedited shipping. For just the camera they will take the order but not ship. Your credit card may be charged. You learn of the stock problem when you check to see why you have not received the order. Ended up buying the FujiFilm S8000fd from Beach Camera in New Jersey via my son, who lives in Utah. He ordered it online on Monday, and FedEx got it from Beach on Tuesday. It left New Jersey on Wednesday, according to the tracking number from FedEx. It should arrive in Utah on Monday or Tuesday of next week... and has to be signed for. Beach has an excellent reputation these days, from what I was able to find on the web, and the camera has a full FujiFilm U.S. warranty, which is recognised here in Canada. I will get it from him in late November and when I return to Canada will have been in the U.S. and Mexico for 8 days, so it will be under my exemption from GST and PST as it is [far] less than the C$400.00 import limit free of taxes and duties that I will be permitted. The savings is $190.91 in Canadian dollars by having my son order it, and since he gets cash back from his credit card for making the purchase, he's happy too. |
#4
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Which Camera is best in this list for my purposes? and a RANT about prices too... [Long!]
Lew wrote:
[] For whale pictures you need the longest zoom you can get that is stabilized for hand holding. Tripods are not very useful on a boat. I have not seen whales from the three cruise ships I have been on, but did get good pictures from a whale watching boat during a port call on a Hawaii cruise. I was using a Panasonic FZ-40 with 420mm equivalent, and wished for still more length. Lighting is usually sufficient for noise to not be a problem. While I've not done whale pictures myself, I have found that the 420mm zoom on the Panasonic FZ20 and FZ5 which my wife and I own performs very well. Their Leica lenses have excellent image quality. Yes, you may like more zoom, but perhaps the most important thing (my wife says) is timing both in spotting the whales and in getting the peak of the action! Cheers, David |
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