pro-sumer cameras

PowerShot Pro1
8mp
2/3" = 0.66
Swivel LCD
Optical Viewfinder Not available?
It's only 28 - 200mm
[basically it's the same as the KM A200, except it has the flash hot-shoe]

Powershot S3 IS
bad:
no external flash
1/2.5 CCD = 0.4
6mp
good:
AA
SD cards
35mm equivalent: 36-432mm - best thing I like about it.
2" swivel LCD
ISO800

Fuji FinePix S9000
sensor: 1/1.6" SuperCCD HR = 0.625
9mp
Equivalent 35mm focal length 28 - 300mm
F2.8 to F11
Auto and manual focus
ISO (80-1600)
external flash hot-shoe
RAW format shooting
Dual storage options (CompactFlash and xD-Picture Card)
Shutter Speed 30 Sec. - 1/4000 Sec
AA

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30
1/1.8" Type CCD = 0.55
8.3mp,
SD card
35 - 420mm

KM Dimage A200
8mp
2/3 inch interlaced primary-color CCD = 0.66
28-200(35mm)
Swivel LCD
no Flash hot-shoe
ISO 50

I want a long zoom(above 200mm), auto&manual focus, 8mp+,
external flash hot-shoe, macro mode, swivel LCD, Aperture&shutter priority w/manual.

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3/24/2006 7:34:02 AM

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3/24/2006 8:21:45 AM

First, more megapixels does not mean better images - with the smaller CCDs used in these prosumer cameras the photosites are so tiny (to cram 8-9 million of them in the space) that noise (basically false photosite reads from heat photons) is a greater issue than it is with 5 or 6 MP similar cameras.

Next, if you want the longer telephoto capability, your choices are obviously a bi more limited. I had the Lumix FZ20 - same focal range as the FZ30 but it was f2.8 throughout the range - and it was pretty nice. Also had a 5MP chip - not a real issue (I wasn't planning on making poster-sized prints using this camera).

However, to John's point - the problem I did have with the Lumix was the fraction-of-a-second time delay between my pressing the shutter button and the shutter actually firing. I imagine that if you are planning to use the longer telephoto end of the lens range, you are planning on nature or sports (or spying) shots that will require instant-click capability. For this reason, you might want to consider a DSLR and telephoto lens. Yes, it is likely more costly and heavier as well, but the larger CCD size means better quality images (a 6MP DSLR can produce nicer output than an 8MP prosumer unit) and film-camera-like shutter response.

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3/24/2006 9:17:40 AM