Digital Camera Showdown.

[Eclecticos]

Need help deciding which digital camera to buy.
Looking for the perfect camera in the $175-$275 Price Range.

Spent the last 3 Hours comparing different camera specs,
reading reviews, viewing hi-res pictures, and videos created with various cameras.
There are hundreds of different choices, it is frustrating.

A few features the prospect camera must have.
-Fast Shutter Speed.
-Video Recording Options.
-Atleast 7.2 Megapixels.
-Atleast 4x Zoom.
-Hi-Resolution LCD

I have narrowed it down to the following choices.

Casio Exilim EX-S10

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/4733/46791729pp6.jpg

* 10.1-Megapixel effective CCD imager
* 3x optical zoom lens covers 35mm equivalent range of 36 - 108mm
* Super slim stainless steel body that is stylish, durable and light-weight
* Large 2.7-inch "Super Clear" LCD with 230K pixels of resolution
* Face Detection and "Auto Shutter" technologies for sharp portraits
* 33 pre-programmed "BEST SHOT" scene modes for easy to difficult shooting situations.
* Attach up to 30-second audio memos to still images at capture or later.
* Record voice-only audio
* H.264/AVC (MOV format) movies at 848x480/640x480/320x240
* Movie Best Shot, Past Movie, YouTube and in-camera movie editing
* 9-point autofocus system AF modes: Multi, Spot, Tracking AF
* ISO sensitivity from 50 to 1600
* Built-in flash with Red Eye Reduction and Flash-assist function
* USB 2.0 (high-speed) data transfer to PC or Mac computers
* Li-ion rechargeable battery for up to 280 shots
* 11.8 Megabytes of internal memory and SD/SDHC/MMC/MMC Plus
* ExifPrint, PRINT Image Matching III, USB Direct-Print, and PictBridge

Sony Cybershot W-150

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/446/23327538jw8.jpg

* Sony 8.1 Megapixel effective Super HAD CCD image sensor
* Carl Zeiss 5x Zoom (30-150mm equivalent in 35mm photography)
* Zoom-coupled optical viewfinder
* Sony BIONZ high-speed image processing engine
* MPEG Movie: 640x480 VX Fine w/audio at 30fps
* Auto, Program AE, plus 11 Scene modes
* Burst at 1.6fps (up to a max of 100 frames)
* Live histogram display in capture and playback
* 9 Area Multi-point AF system with 3.9 in. minimum focus distance
* Face Detection and Intelligent Scene (iSCN) technology
* "Smile Shutter" mode
* 2.7" Clear Photo (230,000 pixels) LCD Screen with Auto Brightness
* ISO Sensitivity: Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200
* Noise Reduction: Automatically cleans up long exposure images
* Built-in flash with Auto, Fill, Red Eye Reduction and Slow Synch
* USB 2.0 Auto-Connect to host computer
* Powered by Li-ion rechargeable battery


Anyway, I was wondering which camera I should get.
If you have any recommendations feel free to post them.

[SgtM]

I would go with the Sony. Here's some pictures I took with my DSC-H7 (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14750).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24781153@N04/

[Crimson Sky]

Sony has great optics, hands down.

[Eclecticos]

I'm Upgrading from a 2.1MP Panasonic Lumix DMC-F7 Camera.
Kinda leaning toward the 8.1MP Sony Cybershot W-150.

Here are a few more cameras with similar specifications.

Panasonic DMC-TZ4K

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/4867/56559110bk2.jpg
* 8.1-megapixel effective CCD for images up to 3264x2448 pixels
* Leica DC Vario-Elmarit Lens 10x "Wide" optical zoom, covering 28-280mm (35mm)
* MEGA O.I.S. (Optical image stabilization) system
* Intelligent Exposure and Digital Red-eye Correction
* 9-point AF system with focus-assist lamp
* 2.5-inch TFT color monitor with (230k pixels)
* Program AE, Macro, Intelligent AUTO + 21 scene modes
* Burst (3fps @ 8M; 10fps @ 2M) and AE bracketing capture modes
* 640x480/320x240 (4:3) or 848x480 (16:9) QuickTime, 30fps or 10fps with audio
* Shutter speeds from 1/2000 to 8 seconds
* Built-in flash with auto, fill, slow synchro and red-eye reduction modes
* TTL Auto White Balance, 5 presets and custom set
* 27MB of internal memory plus SD/SDHC/MMC memory card slot
* Optional DMW-MCTZ5 Underwater "Marine" Case
* Plug-n-Play USB, Mass Storage compliant
* PictBridge Direct-Print compatible
* Powered by a 3.7v 1000mAh Lithium-ion Battery Pack


Nikon CoolPix S550

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/3250/29262753ul0.jpg

* 10.0-megapixel effective CCD imager
* Nikkor 5x optical zoom lens (35mm equivalent)
* Compact and lightweight body
* Macro focus with AF as close as 5.9 inches
* Exclusive Face Priority AF makes taking incredible portraits easily
* Metering: 256-segment Matrix, center, spot
* Large 2.5"-inch bright LCD color monitor (230,400 pixels)
* Automatic exposure and 15 pre-programmed Scene modes
* 640x480 @ 30fps movie mode w/sound, length limited only by memory card capacity
* Flash: Slow sync, Flash cancel/ flash off, Auto, Auto with red-eye reduction
* Nikon’s D-Lighting automatically brightens dark images in playback mode
* In-Camera Red-Eye Fix™ automatically fixes most instances of red-eye
* Approx. 52MB internal memory and SD/SDHC memory card slot
* USB connectivity, PictBridge direct-print compliant
* Runs on two standard AA batteries

[xRyokenx]

I had a Casio Exilim for a little while (broke it... my fault, not the camera's) and it was awesome. The battery lasted about an hour or something like that when the camera is on, and that is pretty impressive.

Also... I am assuming that you got the Sony due to the above post, lol.

[Eclecticos]

After closer inspection of the macro images, and pictures of
Both the Sony Cybershot W-150 and Cybershot DSC-H3 digital cameras
Posted on the Flickr.Com (http://www.flickr.com/cameras/) pictures by camera section.

I have decided to get the Sony Cybershot DSC-H3

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/4382/h33db2.jpg

[SgtM]

Good choice. You won't be disappointed.

[XcOM]

me an my bro recently got one of these:
http://www.photokina-show.com/news_images/0512_canon-eos-450d.jpg

Very good camara, best pictures i have ever taken, but at about $800-900 its bloddy expencive,

That sony camara is very good by all accounts, i can't say anything myself as i've never used one.

I hope it serves you well.

[TheGreatSatan]

Well you can still return it for the Panasonic. :)

[Eclecticos]

Yea, I really liked my old Panasonic Lumix DMC-F7.
I overcharged it one day and it got real hot and wouldn't turn back on.
Panasonic was the first brand I considered purchasing since I had a good
experience with the last one, for the most part. Lasted about 5 years.

I didn't get the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ4K, because I read several
reviews that said there was a 2 second pause or lag between pictures.

[TheGreatSatan]

I have the LZ7 and it rules

[Crazy Buddhist]

Good review here (http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/H3/H3A.HTM).

It does have all you need, including a sports mode with high shutter speeds and movement prediction. The one thing I was going to say was make sure you get a camera with an optical viewfinder - this one does not, however, the reviewer says:


The Sony H3's LCD, like all LCDs, is a very accurate viewfinder, however. At wide angle it shows 102.6 percent of the scene. At telephoto it shows exactly 100 percent.

Despite its shiny surface, I was able to use the Sony H3's LCD in direct sun, something I can't say about many LCDs these days.

So though it doesn't have the viewfinder it seemingly doesn't suffer the issue that was going to prompt me to say get a camera with one: taking pictures on most lcd viewfinders in the sunshine actually takes you back 100 or so years as you have to put a black cloth over your head. This is an issue with my otherwise superb FujiFilm FinePix F650.

Great choice.

CrazyB

[Eclecticos]

Here is a picture I took with the Sony DSC-H3

http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/1176/dsc00227kq2.jpg

[Eclecticos]

Here is another. Refurbishing the Saturn Magnetosphere. :)

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/8279/dsc00256nx6.jpg

[progbuddy]

I would go with the Nikon. Anti-shock and noise reduction comes in handy. They make amazing lenses for their cameras as well. I currently own a D200 with an 180-200 Nikkor lens, and a Nikon Coolpix P1000. the Larger one takes great macros, and the P1000 is great for everyday use and outdoor pictures.

Taken with the P1000

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m29/vashthstampede98/DSCN0672.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m29/vashthstampede98/DSCN0661.jpg

Annnnd to a pic from last year of me with the almost-serious face. :DLink (http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m29/vashthstampede98/Picturestuffs006.jpg)