JungleRoom
12-10-2005, 09:33 AM
So here's the deal: I'm about to buy my first digital camera. I need something good (my budget goes up to 550 dollars) but at the same time something extra small. In other words I need a good ultracompact camera. I'd keep it with me almost always (I'd keep it in the inner pocket of my jacket or something) and especially when my and my boys go on a night on the town. Here's three possible scenarios where I would need the camera:
1) My and my boys have just come out of a bar and are on the street in the middle of winter (bare in mind I'm talking about Finland now, so the winter's are dark and cold). The street lights are on and suddenly we feel the urge to start fooling around: making funny faces or somersaults. Of course, this is where I need the camera.
2) I'm at someone's house having a party. The lights are dimmed a little bit and of course I want to take some pics of my friends.
3) I'm in my room, the lights are on and I want to take pics of my cat jumping around chasing her fake-mouse.
I bet at least someone immediately says that ultracompact is totally the wrong way to go if I want to take pics in kinda low-light situations outdoors. Well, this may be the case sometimes, but I really need an ultracompact because it HAS TO FIT IN MY POCKET WITHOUT FEELING LIKE A STONE or something. On the other hand, my friend takes pics outside in the night when it's cold and snow is on the ground and he has this camera:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Sony/sony_dscu20.asp
So if a 2-3-year old 2MP camera can take acceptable pics in winter in the night in kinda low-light situation (though the street lights are on) then I'll bet the modern ultracompacts can do an even better job.
Okey, so I have other criterias as well. The ultracompact must be available in black (or in black/silver) and it must be at least somewhat stylish. One of my criteria was that the camera has to be an all-weather model due to the fact that I'm using it in Finland in winter (don't want the cold to ruin the camera) but someone told me that if, say, a mobile phone can survive the winter, so can the camera. So I guess I don't need the all-weather feature.
Right now, I have three choices and one that is kinda uncertain.
1) Sony DSC-T9
I know pros don't like Sony very much and their T-line is somewhat toyish. But still T-line gets kinda good reviews all the time. Ts are very stylish and I like the fact that T9 has that lens cover thingy (as I'd keep it in my pocket, I wouldn't want the lens to get scratches). In a review of a very big mag here in Finland, T9 won the test in its price class (though together with Panasonic FX9). T9, due to its form, would fit great in my pocket.
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/sony/dsc_t9-review/index.shtml
2) Panasonic DMC FX9
This camera is a multiple test winner here in Finland, and specswise it seems to really dominate in its class. But I don't necessarily like the design as it feeld more Canon Digital Ixus 750ish than something that is simple and ultracompact. Still, specswise it seems to rule.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Panasonic/panasonic_dmcfx9.asp
3) Olympus Stylus Verve (or Mju mini) Digital S
Specswise, this camera isn't as good as the other two but the design is kinda nice and this is an all-weather camera so it's more suitable for Finland's conditions. Many people have liked the quality in pictures it produces but I think due to the all-weather aspect it doesn't really have the same versatility that Sony and Panasonic have.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Olympus/oly_stylusverves.asp
The surprise contestant= FujiFilm Finepix Z2
This is similarly constructed as Sony but lacks the lens cover. Z2 is hyped to have better ability to take pics in low-light situations than other cameras in its class. There is, however, one kinda big nuisance. You can't reload the batteries (or connect to computer) without the dock. So if you go on a trip you have to bring to dock and the cables with you. This isn't good.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Fujifilm/fuji_finepixz2.asp
So there you have it. Now I'd really appreciate it if you could give me some advice (as I really don't know that much about cameras). Which camera out of the four would you pick? Bare in mind that A) I live in Finland B) absolutely need an ultracompact model (<180g) C) would take most of the pics outside and D) would only view them from my computer screen (so no printing).
Please help me! Thank you!
1) My and my boys have just come out of a bar and are on the street in the middle of winter (bare in mind I'm talking about Finland now, so the winter's are dark and cold). The street lights are on and suddenly we feel the urge to start fooling around: making funny faces or somersaults. Of course, this is where I need the camera.
2) I'm at someone's house having a party. The lights are dimmed a little bit and of course I want to take some pics of my friends.
3) I'm in my room, the lights are on and I want to take pics of my cat jumping around chasing her fake-mouse.
I bet at least someone immediately says that ultracompact is totally the wrong way to go if I want to take pics in kinda low-light situations outdoors. Well, this may be the case sometimes, but I really need an ultracompact because it HAS TO FIT IN MY POCKET WITHOUT FEELING LIKE A STONE or something. On the other hand, my friend takes pics outside in the night when it's cold and snow is on the ground and he has this camera:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Sony/sony_dscu20.asp
So if a 2-3-year old 2MP camera can take acceptable pics in winter in the night in kinda low-light situation (though the street lights are on) then I'll bet the modern ultracompacts can do an even better job.
Okey, so I have other criterias as well. The ultracompact must be available in black (or in black/silver) and it must be at least somewhat stylish. One of my criteria was that the camera has to be an all-weather model due to the fact that I'm using it in Finland in winter (don't want the cold to ruin the camera) but someone told me that if, say, a mobile phone can survive the winter, so can the camera. So I guess I don't need the all-weather feature.
Right now, I have three choices and one that is kinda uncertain.
1) Sony DSC-T9
I know pros don't like Sony very much and their T-line is somewhat toyish. But still T-line gets kinda good reviews all the time. Ts are very stylish and I like the fact that T9 has that lens cover thingy (as I'd keep it in my pocket, I wouldn't want the lens to get scratches). In a review of a very big mag here in Finland, T9 won the test in its price class (though together with Panasonic FX9). T9, due to its form, would fit great in my pocket.
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/sony/dsc_t9-review/index.shtml
2) Panasonic DMC FX9
This camera is a multiple test winner here in Finland, and specswise it seems to really dominate in its class. But I don't necessarily like the design as it feeld more Canon Digital Ixus 750ish than something that is simple and ultracompact. Still, specswise it seems to rule.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Panasonic/panasonic_dmcfx9.asp
3) Olympus Stylus Verve (or Mju mini) Digital S
Specswise, this camera isn't as good as the other two but the design is kinda nice and this is an all-weather camera so it's more suitable for Finland's conditions. Many people have liked the quality in pictures it produces but I think due to the all-weather aspect it doesn't really have the same versatility that Sony and Panasonic have.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Olympus/oly_stylusverves.asp
The surprise contestant= FujiFilm Finepix Z2
This is similarly constructed as Sony but lacks the lens cover. Z2 is hyped to have better ability to take pics in low-light situations than other cameras in its class. There is, however, one kinda big nuisance. You can't reload the batteries (or connect to computer) without the dock. So if you go on a trip you have to bring to dock and the cables with you. This isn't good.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Fujifilm/fuji_finepixz2.asp
So there you have it. Now I'd really appreciate it if you could give me some advice (as I really don't know that much about cameras). Which camera out of the four would you pick? Bare in mind that A) I live in Finland B) absolutely need an ultracompact model (<180g) C) would take most of the pics outside and D) would only view them from my computer screen (so no printing).
Please help me! Thank you!