Point and Shoot under $200

[fishsuse29]

Hi,

I just set up my tank and am looking at geting a basic camera I can use to document the progress of my tank and take ID pics etc. Im looking at spending around $150-200.

I've read alittle on here and looked at some reviews and found these models to pretty good.

Panasonic Lumix LZ8
Samsung s1050

Any Feedback on these models or others I should be looking at in the price range would be great.

Thanks
Mike

 

[t5Nitro]

sony w150 I've seen down to $179 at best buy.
or canon SD790 I've seen down to $229.

In point-and-shoots, those two brands specifically are my choice. Except the 750 sony which uses a sony lens, avoid that one. Carl zeiss is really nice, but canon has really nice point and shoots also. I wouldn't touch the samsung personally. The panasonics are only really nice in my opinion for being really easy to use, but what point and shoot isn't easy to use? They have their auto intelligent mode, but in my opinion, that's all I have to say for them. I do know some (or maybe all) panasonics have a high speed burst.

As far as picture quality, my choice would be sticking to one of the two I mentioned if you wanted to keep it closer to $200. Just my thoughts.

HTH

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Only considering these *two* cameras, my vote is for the slightly less expensive (yet IMO superior) Lumix. I will try to further research the topic but if not, the LZ8 has my vote. I prefer both over the Canon and Sony because of the ability to manually control the camera.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/com...ung_s1050,sony_dscw150,canon_sd790is&show=all

 

[fishsuse29]

Thanks for the responses, It doesn’t have to between just these two cameras. Any others you think I should look at in this price range is much appreciated.

 

[Slakker]

I have the S1050 and I've been very happy with it. Just about the only thing that I find it lacking for tank shots is RAW format, but I've been able to get some really great photos out of it. I got it for $129. IMO it's quite capable of good tank shots, you won't get SLR quality macros out of it, but you can get pretty close with a tripod and several hours of practice

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Ideally you really need RAW for tank shots, but your just not going to get it in this price range.

 

[fishsuse29]

Thanks for all the advise. I also saw just saw a thread titled Macro shots with a sony Cyber shot, the pictures look pretty impressive for a point in shoot. Any opinions on this camera (Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T20)

Slakker
Do you have any pictues that you wouldnt mind sharing

 

[t5Nitro]

Do they make the T20 yet? The T77 or whatever it is, is out now. Runs a little more than $200. I don't know exactly what the T20 was, but if it's just the older model of the new T77 and has the touchscreen, you're paying a lot more for that screen. Before going there I'd go with the W150 for under $200.

Never had experience with the LZ8. My personal opinion though... just don't like the newer panasonic cameras that I work with. They don't have options to manually control it that the lz8 would though. I just like carl zeiss lenses that sony uses. Canon has good lenses too. On most the apertures are even 2.7 or 2.8.

 

[90sShooter]

The T20 I took those pics with is about 2 years old... so not sure how it stacks up to cameras available now, since it seems every day something new comes out...

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

My beef problem with the T20 is that the camera makes all the decisions. You can't boss it around or shoot RAW. 90sShooter seemed to make it sing though.

 

[fishsuse29]

Thanks for all the help. I looked at a bunch of cameras this weekend. Although the features on the larger cameras like the samsung and panasonic where better. I ended up geting the SONY W150.

I choose the Sony because it does almost everything the others do and it is much smaller and more sylish so I should be able to get even more use out of it. Plus I am hoping to upgrade to DSLR in the next year or two anyway, and the sony will make a great second/travel camera.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

No it doesn't do almost everything the others do. It is smaller and stylish which makes it look cool, but you won't get near as much use out of it. The LZ8 would have also prepped you for a DSLR, allowing you to take the reigns of the horse yourself. The Sony won't at all, as it makes all decisions, leaving you to hope it picked the right ones and the results are okay.