a200 vs pro1 vs fz30k

[jnev]

hello... i'm trying to decide which camera i should get. they're all more or less around the same price, and they all have attributes that i like. the a200 has a ton of features, and from what i've heard excellent image quality, the pro1 also i've heard has good image quality, and i love the zoom of the panasonic. i shoot some action, a lot of scenery/nature, and i'd like to try some night shots, so it should be able to go to a high iso without much noise in the image. full manual controls are a must for me, as well as a decent movie mode. i really like a moveable lcd screen, and i'd prefer the camera to use sd or cf cards, though not a must. i'd really like a manual lens. the smaller the better, though i realize that nothing is going to be considered pocketable in this class of cameras. which camera is the best for me? are there any others that i should consider?

thanks guys... currently i have a fujifilm f700, which just isn't cutting it anymore.

[jnev]

Budget

<$600, including memory

Size

the smaller the better, though nothing will be small in this class of cameras

Features

6mp is fine

>=7x

* How important is “image quality” to you? (Rate using a scale of 1-10)

10

Do you care for manual controls?

biiggg priority right here

General Usage

* What will you generally use the camera for?

nature, sports/action, portraits once in a while

* Will you be making big prints of your photos or not?

once in a while, not a big priority

Will you be shooting a lot of indoor photos or low light photos?

usually not, but definetely want it to have good indoor shots

Will you be shooting sports and/or action photos?

yes

Miscellaneous

Are there particular brands you like or hate?

anything thats fairly well known and has a good reputation is fine. i dont want sony, their ui sucks (imo), and i hate them for their damn rootkits (offtopic)

Are there particular models you already have in mind?

km a200, canon pro1, panasonic fz30k

(If applicable) Do you need any of the following special features? (Wide Angle, Image Stabilization, Weatherproof, Hotshoe, Rotating LCD)

wide angle and image stabilization would be nice, a rotating lcd would be REALLY nice.

[jnev]

anybody want to help me? i'm also looking at the canon IS S2. how does it compare to the other camera's? it's a bit cheaper than them..

[jnev]

what is it with this board?? i posted a question here before and no one answered me then either...:confused:

[D70FAN]

Sorry jnev, Sometimes it's quick and sometimes it's slow getting an answer here. I would think that all of your choices have merit, since there are a lot of people buying the S2 IS, A200, and the FZ30. Image stabilization is a wonderful thing when coupled to a long focal length. Bottom line is pick the camera that most appeals to your needs. You probably can't really go wrong.

I'm sure that others will come along here shortly to tell you how much they like their choice, and maybe why as well.;)

[jnev]

thanks for the post haha. only reason i was a bit pissed was because a few months ago i made another post about what camera i should get and nobody reponded to me then, either.

i think this weekend i'm gonna go to costco and buy the Canon S2 IS. it's the cheapest be a lot (~$450), which appeals to me a lot as i'm a student, but also because after thinking it over for a while, i just dont feel as if i'm gonna end up using half of the features of the more high-end cameras like the a200. i have NO need for 8mp, i very rairly print out my shots, and when i do they're in 8x10, which 5mp is fine for (right??). i'll see how it goes.

[bond007]

i had my eyes on the panasonic FZ5 for awhile too

[D70FAN]

thanks for the post haha. only reason i was a bit pissed was because a few months ago i made another post about what camera i should get and nobody reponded to me then, either.

i think this weekend i'm gonna go to costco and buy the Canon S2 IS. it's the cheapest be a lot (~$450), which appeals to me a lot as i'm a student, but also because after thinking it over for a while, i just dont feel as if i'm gonna end up using half of the features of the more high-end cameras like the a200. i have NO need for 8mp, i very rairly print out my shots, and when i do they're in 8x10, which 5mp is fine for (right??). i'll see how it goes.

Sounds like a great choice. I know there are several people on these boards that have the S2 IS, olove the camera, and post some great shots. 5MP is plenty.

Enjoy...;)