need camera: action shots, outdoor landscapes, etc

[epicwinter]

I need a new good digital camera. I will be using outdoors, i take a lot of high speed action shots and a lot of scenery shots. I backpack quite a bit in both the winter and summer so i would like something at least semi compact or at least not super heavy and also something that can withstand elements such as snowstorms and such.

Some features that are important to me:
-quick focus
-quick shutter speed
-Great shot to shot speed ( for action shots and i want the camera to have no delay when i press the button)
-preferable guess 6 mega pixel or greater
- >= 6x optical zoom

thanks

Can someone make some suggestions, i am not a digital camera expert but am an avid photographer. From the research i have done it sounds like i might be looking for a "compact ultra zoom" camera.

[bascom]

What's your price range? Do you want a VF? There aren't many zoom cameras that are small and light enough for backpacking. Here are some small ones with high zoom:

Canon A700, 6MP, 6x zoom but no IS
Kodak V610, 6MP, 10x zoom but no IS
Pana LZ5, 6MP, 6x with IS
Pana TZ1, 5MP, 10x with IS

[Telecorder]

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Panasonic/panasonic_dmcfz7.asp

[epicwinter]

What's your price range? Do you want a VF? There aren't many zoom cameras that are small and light enough for backpacking. Here are some small ones with high zoom:

Canon A700, 6MP, 6x zoom but no IS
Kodak V610, 6MP, 10x zoom but no IS
Pana LZ5, 6MP, 6x with IS
Pana TZ1, 5MP, 10x with IS


Thanks for replying .My price range is variable, ideally under 300 but realistically up to 500 and maybe a little more if i know i am getting something that will really meet my needs...i hate buying things twice and i would spend more to get one that will last several years. I take a lot of pictures, often with a 35 mm still and i have an older olympus digital i use as well.

Maybe a dumb question but I am drawing a blank on what VF is?

I know my requirements contradict each other, often i am taking skiing photos and will be lined up a significant distance from the lines the skiers are skiing. because they are too exposed to set up on them. I often will go on multi day backpacking trips in the summer and overnight snow camping trips so light and not huge are semi important. But I don't expect to get something that is super small that also serves the function i need.

-I like the canon a700 but no image stabilization.
-THe kodak 610 sounds like something i would want to buy the next version of with that new technology
-The panasonic really packs a lot into a small camera but I can't buy a camera without a normal viewfinder

[epicwinter]

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Panasonic/panasonic_dmcfz7.asp


Hmmm. This has all the features just a little on the big side, it sounds like i have to either sacrifice zoom or size.

[Telecorder]

Hmmm. This has all the features just a little on the big side, it sounds like i have to either sacrifice zoom or size.

Others may disagree, but for the Prosumer zooms w/IS, Pany is probably the leader.

I'd strongly suggest going to a store and handling the various models to get a first hand feel of each. You might also look at the FZ5. I've had mine since last November and its not quite as bulky as the FZ7. Both of these have lens' that only extend ~1" at full 12X/432mm zoom. There are a number of small belt-loop pouches these will easily fit in.

Again, the best advice is to handle the various suggested models first hand....

[bascom]

Maybe a dumb question but I am drawing a blank on what VF is?
...
-The panasonic really packs a lot into a small camera but I can't buy a camera without a normal viewfinder
VF is a vievfinder. Yes the TZ1 has no viewfinder. If you want an optical VF then check the Canon A700. The FZ5 and FZ7 have an EVF (electric VF).

Yes your requirements contradict each other. If you want high zoom with IS and VF, it won't be a small camera.