Dimage Z6 or Z5? Need help choosing, and finding Z5 deal.

[A_Bug]

Hello,

This is my first time posting. I LOVE this site!


Anyhow, here is the issue: For a little over a year I have had a Konika-Minolta Dimage Z1 (my first digital camera), then later upgraded to a Z3. I am EXTREMELY happy with my Dimage Z series cameras so far. REcently, my grandmother decided that she wants a digital camera. I decided I would just give her my Z3 and upgrade to a newer Z series model. However, after reading the reviews on the Z6 on Steve's page and dcresource.com, I have some doubts. According to these reviews the Z6 has "softer" (blurier?) pictures than even the Z5 did, and Steve seems to recommend the Z5 over the Z6. However, I am having a hard time even finding a good deal or many dealers at all offering the Z5 new (all the Z5 deals cheaper than the Z6 deals I find at all are for referbished ones with a shorter warranty). I did have to send in my original Z1 for repair once, so the warranty is important to me. I take lots of nature pictures and use the zoom and macro settings extensively, so picture quality is important.

Any suggestions on what I might do, or where I might get a good deal on a NEW Z5?

Thanks!!!
ATD

[Gosepe]

Hi,

Why stick to the Minolta Z-series? The FZ series from panasonic get better reviews, as do the canon IS-S2 and the sony H1.

Think the pana fz5 is quite cheap nowadays.

Goodluck on your decision.

[A_Bug]

Thanks for the reply! Wish more people would pitch in their 2 cents too.

I like my current Z3 a lot. I have been open to other cameras since I'm getting a new one, but I've not found all the features I like in a digital camera in anything but the Z-series so far (at least for my price range - $500 or less).

I checked out that Pantasonic you suggested, but the one thing that bothers me about it is that it doesn't take AA batteries. I'm not a big fan of proprietery ANYTHING, especially those "can only get them from us" special battery packs. I like the freedom of being able to bumb batteries or have a box of AA's ready to go if I'm out on the road or something. I do a lot of nature pictures so I'm away from a charge source often.

A friend suggested I go ahead and move on up to a digital SLR. I'd be open to one of those, but money is an issue and to get zoom back it sounds like I'd have to spend a good bit on lenses? (though I know the quality would be best for an SLR).

Here are the things I consider must-have in my next camera:

12x optical and 4x digital zoom or better
good macro shots
uses SD memory cards
uses AA batteries
is durable
has a movie mode
can be plugged in directly to a computer with a USB cable, or to a TV with RCA

Let me know what ya think or if you know of other models I should be looking at. I hope to buy within a week!

ATD

[JTL]

12x optical and 4x digital zoom or better
good macro shots
uses SD memory cards
uses AA batteries
is durable
has a movie mode
can be plugged in directly to a computer with a USB cable, or to a TV with RCA

Let me know what ya think or if you know of other models I should be looking at. I hope to buy within a week!

ATDThe Canon S2 fit all those requirements as well...

The Sony H1 does not use SD cards...

[coldrain]

Indeed, sounds like the S2 IS fits all your criteria and has better image quality than the Z5/Z6 too.

[Gosepe]

Don't forget to buy a 1 gig fast SD card to get all out of the fantastic movie-mode of the S2.

About switching to Dslr, I've read on the forum that the pentax ist d is very cheap and very good. Just no movie mode of course.

Let us know what you've bought!

[BonjiB]

I must agree with the s2. It fits everything you need. Try to stay away from the H1 if at all possible. Out of all the cameras i test shot with before making my purchase the h1 came in just above last place, losing only to the kodak super zooms (in my own opinion.) About the dslr i'd stay away from it if you require 12x optical. To get the same zoom range and image stabilization of the s2 or similar 12x's you'll spend an arm and a leg on glass alone. Yeah your images will be better but how much extra cash is that worth to you? Cuz it will cost a LOT. Well into the thousands to get lenses that cover the entire 35-420mm range with image stabilization.