Recommendation of a Good above average PnS

[sammy888]

Okay....like most here, I am a DSLR owner. I am a stickler for doing tons of researching, tracking down shops and googling before I buy anything.

My problem is I have a lady friend who just fire an email to me to ask me to help her get a good PnS for her Nepal trip. I told her about a DSLR but she hate carry to many stuff. So she is looking for something with the longest zoon lens, reliable and light. I also feel because of that...some VR/IS thingy built in would be good if anything to help stablised when shooting at the longest focal range.

I have till this Wednesday to tell her, bring her down to the shop to get it. So my usually research mode will not be enough so I am hoping those who are still using PnS would be able to throw me a few models to look into to quickly narrow the field down. Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Stefen]

F100FD from Fuji...

a nifty camera that is my backup with my 2 D300s....

 

[Orcinus_orca]

Maybe you can consider Olympus SP-570 or Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ18 for their long zoom range.
They seem to be great for outdoor shooting but performance of indoor shooting have mixed review.

Cheers,
O

 

[shekinah]

F100FD from Fuji...

a nifty camera that is my backup with my 2 D300s....

2nd that! I got mine on Sat and loving it.
It's my back up too to my 350D

 

[Rashkae]

The Panasonic FZ18 has a very nice, sharp lens, but it's getting close to DSLR size already (prosumer size), so that may be an issue for your friend. Why does she need a strong zoom? I thought wide-angle would be better for Nepal?

Well, I can suggest the Sony H10 (small and light, strong zoom).

 

[yanyewkay]

Fuji F100FD :thumbsup:

how come everyone getting a backup for DSLRs?
makes it sound like DSLR will surely fail.

 

[Exposure]

Nepal trip ? get a AA battery type Canon Powershot, becos u dun have means or time to charge battery and with AA batteries u can keep a lot in bags or buy from shops anytime.

 

[Galdor]

Sony H10 or W300.

 

[smallaperture]

For travel, my view:

Just a 3x zoom is good enough. And it should start at 28mm. Typically, you have a 28-112mm zoom.

Starting at 28mm ain't that common, although there are just a few models available.

BTW, I am also looking for such a camera, as my trusty old Casio 4Mp cam is begining to give me some problem.

So far, I have seen great reviews on the Canon Ixus860IS. Any other suggestions?

But, my suggestion to her would be to get a USED D40 with a kit lens 18-55 or 18-70 - it would not cost much more than a good PnS. Weight wise, I guess the picture you get is well worth the weight, which is less than 1kg if I were not mistaken. BTW, you can buy used, and then, sell it off after the trip, with hardly any loss! That is the great thing of our BnS.

 

[yanyewkay]

For travel, my view:

Just a 3x zoom is good enough. And it should start at 28mm. Typically, you have a 28-112mm zoom.

Starting at 28mm ain't that common, although there are just a few models available.

BTW, I am also looking for such a camera, as my trusty old Casio 4Mp cam is begining to give me some problem.

So far, I have seen great reviews on the Canon Ixus860IS. Any other suggestions?

But, my suggestion to her would be to get a USED D40 with a kit lens 18-55 or 18-70 - it would not cost much more than a good PnS. Weight wise, I guess the picture you get is well worth the weight, which is less than 1kg if I were not mistaken. BTW, you can buy used, and then, sell it off after the trip, with hardly any loss! That is the great thing of our BnS.

F100FD
28-140

getting a dslr just for a trip isn't too wise. First the learning curve is going to be steep, pics get OOF much easier than P&S. not to mention the bulk, SLRs are just odd-shaped. It makes packing really hard and takes up space

 

[TMC]

nepal trip? something that uses AA batteries or a damn long lasting battery.

So far my only experience with a PnS that isnt that power hungry is the Ixus 860. Can last about 600 shots on a single charge, jsut dont try to use video mode with it. recommend extra batteries, 2 in fact for the weather. get a 8gb SDHC card to top it up.

 

[smallaperture]

I went for a US West coast trip recently. Disney Land and Universal studios. Those rides could be a wee bit rough, but that is nothing compared to a trip to Nepal.

dSLR - you will appreciate the kind of robustness in it's built. Remember, durability, reliability and quality.

Thinking back and counting the number of serious knocks on the cam, it was like almost ten in such a tame trip. On the bus trip along the Nevada and Arizona desert, I was carrying my cam and moving from side to side to catch some of the scenes along the way. Also, moved to the front to catch a magnificent desert sunset. The cam got knocked around quite a few times. My wife dropped the cam from the table onto the floor in the hotel room. So far, the cam works flawlessly. I seriously doubt any PnS could take so much punishment. Or you will have to be extra, extra careful with your cam. But then, when fatigue takes it toll on you....... how careful could you be?

 

[sammy888]

I went for a US West coast trip recently. Disney Land and Universal studios. Those rides could be a wee bit rough, but that is nothing compared to a trip to Nepal.

dSLR - you will appreciate the kind of robustness in it's built. Remember, durability, reliability and quality.

Thinking back and counting the number of serious knocks on the cam, it was like almost ten in such a tame trip. On the bus trip along the Nevada and Arizona desert, I was carrying my cam and moving from side to side to catch some of the scenes along the way. Also, moved to the front to catch a magnificent desert sunset. The cam got knocked around quite a few times. My wife dropped the cam from the table onto the floor in the hotel room. So far, the cam works flawlessly. I seriously doubt any PnS could take so much punishment. Or you will have to be extra, extra careful with your cam. But then, when fatigue takes it toll on you....... how careful could you be?

aiyo..I know where you are coming from bro.... I have spent 2 months telling her not just about what camera is best for a trip like this, did a break down of what lens she needs and what she need to pickup plus give her free lesson if need be...in the end..she want LIGHT. Her Nepa trip is not like Indiana Jones..more like a walk about with people carry most of the stuff ( rich enough to have as many porters as she and a few other girls would want...they all senior executive in MNC lah) so that is why she want a lonnnnnng zoom. When she saw my gear she ask me who is going to carry all that? heh and then out of the blue she call to say she want to go buy a good PnS with best zoom and high enough resolution..that would be all she want.

hehe...hey I can only go so far to help her but I think if she want to stick with that..well it is up to her. I can only go so far to help someone ..not out to change the world to take DSLR all the time heheh

 

[JillValentine]

F100FD from Fuji...

a nifty camera that is my backup with my 2 D300s....

F100FD got ISO12800 right?:lovegrin:

 

[sammy888]

Fuji F100FD :thumbsup:

how come everyone getting a backup for DSLRs?
makes it sound like DSLR will surely fail.

Yalor that is what I was thinking? heheheh...in all my years I rarely have a backup..me Nikons never failed me once heheh *touch wood*

 

[sammy888]

Yalor that is what I was thinking? heheheh...in all my years I rarely have a backup..me Nikons never failed me once heheh *touch wood*

Okie I think I got some good ideas to make some head or tail about what PnS to get...thanks for the input folks....