I want to crop/blow up pics and have decent zoom

[Robynsus]

Hello all,

I am looking for a camera that will mostly be used to take pics of my daughter. I would like to be able to crop and blow up pics. I also want a decent zoom, but don't know how far I need to go in that area. It would be great to take pics of her at sporting events in the future, but I don't know if it is worth spending lots of extra money and sacrificing other things.

I have considered the Canon A620 and the Sony H5. Yes, I know they are very different cameras, and that the H5 has all of that zoom, while the canon doesn't...I guess that is part of my dilemna..

Budget is up to $500 US dollars.

Thanks!
Robyn

[Phill D]

I would have thought any of the crop of ultra zoom cameras such as the Sony you mentioned the Panasonic FZ7 the Canon S3IS etc would be good for what you want or if size matters try the Panasonic TZ1. For sporting action if you want to shoot a lot indoors then the Fuji S9000 with the extra sensitve sensor may be a better bet. Or you could go for a dslr which would be even better but more costly although I suspect you might just just get a Nikon D50 or a Pentax ist DL2 in the US for just a little over your budget. There is always the second hand option. Anyway your best bet is to try them at a local shop & see which feels the best as I think they are all pretty good cameras.

[Andante]

I just got my Sony H5, and only had a few minutes to mess around with it tonight... but I am IN LOVE. Not only is the screen big and bright, but as advertised, it can be very clearly seen from side angles, which will make it great for sharing pics and movies with folks.

I did a handheld (no flash) outdoor shot at almost dark, with some lights and apartments at a considerable distance on the twilight setting ... used the self-timer to avoid pushing the shutter button, and it was very well focused. The couple indoor pics I took were amazing... just on auto the ENTIRE large room was evenly bright... a room that actually had only dim lighting while people were watching a home video. I love that when you move the mode selector, you can clearly see the options in big readable letters on the screen - didn't matter than I was on a dark patio and could never have seen the actual markings on the mode button. The few pics I have taken are VERY well focused... and I have been amazed at how well the infrared beam works to focus in extremely low light... or even virtually no light at all.

Can't wait to get up in the morning and really give her a workout... but this camera rocks. The flash is just incredibly good. Took a telephoto picture (on auto) of a flower pot next to our fireplace over 45 ft. away - room was quite dark, just one low watt lightbulb in the ceiling providing a little diffused light where the flower pot was. Not only did the flower pot and the bricks of the wall and fireplace come out great... but you could even clearly see the inside back brick wall inside the fireplace - behind a black mesh metal curtain.... something you can't even see with your own eyes.

I would heartily recommend the H5.

[Robynsus]

Thanks for the replies so far!

I am not that concerned with major sporting action shots...just more the zoom to get her when she is doing something far away...I know I said sporting events, but am more thinking things like graduations, etc.

Would still love to hear people's feedback on various cameras and how much zoom you think I need.

Thanks!
Robyn