Recommend a compact travel zoom
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Recommend a compact travel zoom
Hi,
Headed on a 2 week trip to India. I don't want to bring my SLR. I have an really old Olympus superzoom and a couple of year old Sony compact with 5X zoom. I think that today, I can get a superzoom in compact form factor. Some candidates are Casio Exilim EX-FH100 and Samsung HZ35W. Anyone with experience with these or others care to chime in and help?
Thanks,
M
Headed on a 2 week trip to India. I don't want to bring my SLR. I have an really old Olympus superzoom and a couple of year old Sony compact with 5X zoom. I think that today, I can get a superzoom in compact form factor. Some candidates are Casio Exilim EX-FH100 and Samsung HZ35W. Anyone with experience with these or others care to chime in and help?
Thanks,
M
#2
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,303
did you read the dpreview compact super zoom test? They liked the Samsung HZ35W.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/q210grouptravelzoom/
You can read that thoroughly and get a good overview of how all the entries handled and performed in their tests.
-David
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/q210grouptravelzoom/
You can read that thoroughly and get a good overview of how all the entries handled and performed in their tests.
-David
#3
Original Poster
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Location: Portland
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I ended up with a Panasonic ZS6. I opted for this over the other 2 after reading reviews on Amazon and dpreview and deciding that I wanted the better picture quality. Costco had the ZS6 and Amazon had the ZS7. I opted for the ZS6 because it was less expensive, longer battery life, and I didn't feel like I cared about GPS and geotagging (major feature upgrade on the ZS7 vs. ZS6.
#4
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
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Thanks for the super zoom link. I was at B and H last week playing with some of them deciding if I wanted to go compact or not, and that really helps work through the decision process.
#6
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Los Angeles,CA,USA
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+1 for the ZS6. Bought one for the wife. Solid, excellent camera, and pocketable.
Actually, it was a ZS5. Cheaper, without GPS.
Actually, it was a ZS5. Cheaper, without GPS.
Last edited by SoManyMiles-SoLittleTime; Jan 11, 2011 at 12:14 pm Reason: ZS5, not ZS6
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA Plat, DL GM and Flying Colonel; Bonvoy Platinum
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The OP has already found something, but given that he* ended up with a Panasonic and other posts here like them as well, readers of this thread might want to check out the just-announced ZS10 (TZ20 in Europe, go figure) and ZS8 (TZ18 there). Zoom now up to 16x. March availability, pricing to be announced.
More about them, with specs and Panasonic's press release, on the dpreview site here.
_________________________________
*Assumed from the OP's handle. Apologies if mikel51 is female.
More about them, with specs and Panasonic's press release, on the dpreview site here.
_________________________________
*Assumed from the OP's handle. Apologies if mikel51 is female.
#9
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Oklahoma
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Posts: 478
I want to see if anyone has more information to share.
I have looked at the Canon SX230 but it seems to not have the battery life I will need (only 100 photos without a recharge)
The Sony HX5V only has a 10x zoom and proprietary cables
So I seem to be left with the Fuji F550, Nikon S9100, Panasonic ZS10.
Thanks for any opinions and help
I have looked at the Canon SX230 but it seems to not have the battery life I will need (only 100 photos without a recharge)
The Sony HX5V only has a 10x zoom and proprietary cables
So I seem to be left with the Fuji F550, Nikon S9100, Panasonic ZS10.
Thanks for any opinions and help
#10
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SNA/LAX... somewhere sunny and warm, but crowded.
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Posts: 916
I've always had good luck with the Panasonic (Lumix), and believe...supported by many on this site and many industry reviews...that Lumix is certainly better overall product than Nikon P&S and likely Fuiji as well.
I want to see if anyone has more information to share.
I have looked at the Canon SX230 but it seems to not have the battery life I will need (only 100 photos without a recharge)
The Sony HX5V only has a 10x zoom and proprietary cables
So I seem to be left with the Fuji F550, Nikon S9100, Panasonic ZS10.
Thanks for any opinions and help
I have looked at the Canon SX230 but it seems to not have the battery life I will need (only 100 photos without a recharge)
The Sony HX5V only has a 10x zoom and proprietary cables
So I seem to be left with the Fuji F550, Nikon S9100, Panasonic ZS10.
Thanks for any opinions and help
#11
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: YQL
Programs: CX Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 117
I've just picked up the Fuji F550EXR and quite like it.
I had the Sony HX5V and I find the Fuji quite a bit better overall. The main issue I have with the Fuji is the GPS lock time is quite long; this can be overcome, at the expense of battery life, by leaving GPS logging on.
The Fuji also has RAW shooting, however it's not supported by Adobe yet, so it only works with the included Silkypix software which I don't like.
There's quite an extensive review of the F550 at kimletkeman.blogspot.com if you're interested in camera.
Adrian
I had the Sony HX5V and I find the Fuji quite a bit better overall. The main issue I have with the Fuji is the GPS lock time is quite long; this can be overcome, at the expense of battery life, by leaving GPS logging on.
The Fuji also has RAW shooting, however it's not supported by Adobe yet, so it only works with the included Silkypix software which I don't like.
There's quite an extensive review of the F550 at kimletkeman.blogspot.com if you're interested in camera.
Adrian