soooooo confused! compact hell!

[danspoon]

I have a D70 at the moment and use it a lot for live music and portait's, I would like to suppliment this camera with a compact for more 'candid' moments. I'd also like to use it at gigs when I'm not working (so no D70) but still want to take some good photo's in low and often mad lighting conditions. I want something very compact as well. I've spent hours probably 4-5 reading through reviews and still can't make my mind up. I'm currently looking at the panasonic fx7 - f2.8 400iso and image stabalisation, but only 120 shots per charge, or the finepix Z1 f3.2 iso 800. I honestly don't know which to go for, would someone please offer their opinion and idea's please!?!!?

Thanks very much!

Danny

[sjseto]

Haven't heard from speaklightly yet (Hi Sarah!) but I'm sure she'd recommend what I'm about to, which is the Fuji FinePix F10 or the Olympus Stylus 800.

Both of us own the F10, which takes amazingly clean pictures at ISO 400 and above. It won't rival your D70, but I think that it's the best compact camera out there for low light, high ISO shooting without a flash. Plus, it has one of the brightest AF assist illuminators out there, which can come in handy for those crummy lighting situations. The downside is that perhaps it is a little bigger than what you're hoping for (you mentioned the Fuji FinePix Z1, which is positively tiny but its picture quality doesn't quite match the F10's), however I personally find it comfortably compact. Also it doesn't have very many manual controls, although for my take-anywhere camera, I don't miss them too much. Like you, I have a Nikon SLR when I need to have control.

I have an F10 gallery (http://www.pbase.com/sjseto/fujifilm_finepix_f10) if you want to see some samples.

speaklightly also owns a Stylus 800, and you can read more about it in her thread, Exploring the Olympus Stylus 800 (http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10660). She has spoken very highly about it's abilities. It has also been reviewed favourably by Steve's Digicams (http://www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/stylus800.html). I don't think its high ISO images are as good as the F10's (lower resolution, and jagged lines are visible in the sample pics), but it is weather-proof and has more manual controls. It also seems to have a more powerful flash if you need that.

Anyone else care to contribute?

[danspoon]

Hi there,

Thanks very much for the post.

I think in the UK it's called the Olympus Mju 800, if it is then it's slightly out of my budget although with ISO1600 f2.8 I can see why you reccommended it! Sounds perfect.

I think this is the model below:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0006UUC9I/qid=1123836931/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_3_4/202-4823165-0722215

If it is, how do they compare? In Terms of budget I'm looking at about £200 give or take £30.

[sjseto]

Yes, the Mju 800 is known as the Stylus 800 in North America.

The link you posted is for what is called the Stylus 500 in North America. It's body looks very similar to the Stylus 800/Mju 800 but it is not simply the 5 megapixel version of the 800. The lens is different, the ISO maxes out at 400, and it does not offer manual control over aperture and shutter speed.

A link to purchasing options for the Mju 800 is here (http://www.dealtime.co.uk/xPC-Olympus_Stylus_800_800).

[danspoon]

thanks for that Seto...

I've been looking closely at the F10 and it seems like a wicked camera and more with in my means.... I may just be buying that!