Compact, high zoom, good flash - Help?

[cwalkertx]

1:<$400 but flexible
2: Ultra compact to Compact
3: At least 6 MP
4: At least 5x Optical Zoom
5: Image Quality Rating - 7

My important features:
Size, Image Stabilization, Flash Range & Optical Zoom
Must also have movie capture with audio
SD memory card preferred but not required

Not important:
Manual controls or Optical viewfinder

I'd like a small camera with a better than average optical zoom that has a built in flash which actually reaches to the objects you've zoomed in to shoot indoors.

I have used a Pentax Optio 555 for several years. I am very happy with it, but assume technology has better to offer? I'm used to its 5x zoom and a great flash range of about 17 ft.

The improvements I'd like to find now would be:
Improved shutter lag!
Image stabilization
Perhaps a bigger LCD screen
Better video quality

In all the compact cameras I've researched, it seems the ones that have high powered zooms don't have a flash range to accompany that zoom, so it's only use is outdoors.

I have a large list of cameras I'm considering. Any suggestions or opinions are welcome!

Here's the ones I've been researching:
Vivitar Vivicam 8600s
Olympus Stylus 750
Nikon Coolpix L5
Canon Powershot A710 IS
Panasonic Lumix DMC LZ5
Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ1
Nikon Coolpix S10

[flippedgazelle]

IMO, the best of the bunch you listed would be the Panny TZ-1 and the Canon A710IS.

"In all the compact cameras I've researched, it seems the ones that have high powered zooms don't have a flash range to accompany that zoom, so it's only use is outdoors."

That statement puzzles me, as zoom will always outreach flash... can you tell us how far - in feet - you need the flash to reach?

[cwalkertx]

IMO, the best of the bunch you listed would be the Panny TZ-1 and the Canon A710IS.

"In all the compact cameras I've researched, it seems the ones that have high powered zooms don't have a flash range to accompany that zoom, so it's only use is outdoors."

That statement puzzles me, as zoom will always outreach flash... can you tell us how far - in feet - you need the flash to reach?

Thank you for replying to my post.

I recently tried a Sanyo hybrid and returned it immediately because the flash was so inferior it was useless in low light situations.

I guess I am just used to the flash on the Pentax which has always performed pretty well. And as mentioned above I get a pretty good range from it.

[John_Reed]

When you say "flashing to where you're zoomed into," that could be a LONG distance, far beyond even the range of the most powerful external flashes. For example, here's a photo I took of a singer on a bandstand about 75 feet away at a night concert:

http://John-Reed.smugmug.com/photos/104167593-L.jpg

That one was shot with my Panasonic TZ1 at full 350mm zoom, but I'll venture to say that you couldn't have reached that fellow with whatever flash you could have shined in his direction? So it seems that your true desired flash range would be something shorter, I'd guess, and probably a lesser zoom range than the TZ1's might work for you? On the other hand, it IS handy to have a pocketable camera (I took the camera into the concert in the front pocket of my 501 blue jeans). It also does a great job on shorter-range flash shots like this one:

http://John-Reed.smugmug.com/photos/81585408-L.jpg

I was probably 5 feet from those two lawyers for that shot; here's a soldier at ~15 feet, ISO 400:

http://John-Reed.smugmug.com/photos/81766118-L.jpg

[cwalkertx]

Thanks for the sample images. More for me to ponder. I appreciate your opinions. Happy Holidays

[X-SOFT]

i'm a proud owner of canon a710 IS.

buy it, without hesitation

[bascom]

The new Casio V7 sounds good. Small with 7-10x zoom.

[cwalkertx]

The new Casio V7 sounds good. Small with 7-10x zoom.

Edited to say I finally found it on the Casio site. Just announced today! You're quick. I can't wait to see some reviews, this looks very promising! Thanks