daughter on stage and general point and shoot

[michael1882]

Money not issue.. Would like newer technology.... Need more than 3x optical zoom because it doesn't look like enough in the store in our view..... Want excellant pictures in a point and shoot for wife who knows very little about cameras... Looking at
Samsung nv 7 because of 7x zoom and 7.1 mp
Canon G7 because of 6x zoom and 10 mp
Samsung digimax L85 because 5x zoom and 8.1mp and the fact that
I just bought 3 pioneer plasmas and hdmi port would be
easy for wife to view on tv, i think ?
Leica DLUX 3 because 4X zoom and 10 mp 16x9 format option
Samsung NV 10 because ? 10 mp and hoping 3x zoom is better than
others

ANY OTHERS TO SUGGEST
I know ,I don't know what I am talking about but help

thanks michael1882

[dequardo]

optical 'x' factor is almost identical so one's 3x will be virtually the same as another's. Sounds like you need a 10x or more and you'll need IS to use it. 6x MAY be enough-but not likely. Of the superzooms the S3IS and FZ7 stand out at roughly similar price points. For me, I'd choose the Panasonic FZ7.

[Ray Schnoor]

optical 'x' factor is almost identical so one's 3x will be virtually the same as another's. Sounds like you need a 10x or more and you'll need IS to use it. 6x MAY be enough-but not likely. Of the superzooms the S3IS and FZ7 stand out at roughly similar price points. For me, I'd choose the Panasonic FZ7.
While I agree that you will probably need more than a 3x zoom camera, not all 3x zooms are created equal. For example, if the wide end of the 3x zoom is 28mm (35mm equivalent), then the long end of the zoom would be 84mm (35mm equivalent). On the other hand, if the wide end was 35mm (35mm equivalent), then the long end would be 105mm (35mm equivalent). If you add in a dSLR with a ~3x zoom 70-200mm (~105-300mm in 35mm equivalent)

So these 3 3x zoom cameras would be greatly different
28-84mm focal range.
35-105mm focal range.
~105-300mm focal range.


You should pay more attention to the focal range than the "zoom" factor.

Some other important questions would be how well lit is the stage, how far away from the stage would you be photographing and would you be able to use a flash. If the stage is not "well lit", then you will need a faster lens (a lens with a lower aperture #/larger aperture). The further you are away from the stage, the less likely a flash would be of any help, if they are even allowed. "Well lit" to your eye is also not necessarily "well lit" for a camera and all cameras are not created equally in low-light situations.

Chance are that you may not even find a p&s camera which would give you the results you are hoping to get. You may want to also look at dSLR cameras with say a ~3x zoom 70-200mm lens(~105-300mm 35mm equivalent).

Just a thought.

Ray.