Need zoom, macro and low light capability !!!

[heightl]

I'm in the market for a new digital camera and could use some advise. I need a good low light camera with high quality macro capability for 2-3 inch distance as well as a relatively good zoom, preferably in the $300 area. Any comments ??? I've been searching the posted info and am getting more lost by the moment. Anybody out there have any suggestions???

[John_Reed]

I'm in the market for a new digital camera and could use some advise. I need a good low light camera with high quality macro capability for 2-3 inch distance as well as a relatively good zoom, preferably in the $300 area. Any comments ??? I've been searching the posted info and am getting more lost by the moment. Anybody out there have any suggestions???The Panasonic DMC-FZ3 has good low-light capability, a fantastic stabilized, fast zoom lens with macro down to 5cm, and costs around $300; where's the mystery?

[leadeater]

The Panasonic DMC-FZ3 has good low-light capability, a fantastic stabilized, fast zoom lens with macro down to 5cm, and costs around $300; where's the mystery?

Couldn't have said it any better, other than to elaborate a bit further and say that the good low-light capability is because it has a focus-assist light, and the zoom goes up to 12x optical, and 48x digital.

PhilR.

[CHRIS2222]

Is the canon S1 IS any good for low light? I'm looking for a good low light camera thats easy to sneak into concerts, i doubt i can find one because most are big lens, is there any ? The panasonic fz3 looks awesome the lens is to big for events though wont be able to bring that in, i might be stuck with the canon S1 Is but if possible i rather get something better low light capability

[leadeater]

The S1 IS seems to be regarded as a poor performer in low light. However, this isn't always the case at a concert. If the performers are well-lit, this wouldn't be a low-light situation, even if the surrounding area is dark. This is assuming of course that your camera can determine exposure in a small area (spot meter).

If the concert performers are dimly lit, then I doubt that the FZ3 will do any better than the S1. A lot of the reasons why the S1 is considered a poor performer in low light is it's poor focusing ability, which of course is not an exposure problem.

The FZ3 isn't any bigger than the S1, and in fact I seem to remember that it is smaller. At any rate, if you can get an S1 into a concert, then you won't have any problem w/ an FZ3.

PhilR.

[CHRIS2222]

thanks well i took a look at the FZ2 and the lens is huge thats what makes the camera big i think to me, the canon doesnt have that huge of lens, i'll check the height and everything on cnet should have something to show how big i'll compare...

thanks
chris

I just checked and the FZ2 I saw at circuit city well is alot heavier and bigger then the FZ3, Also the canon s1 Is is alittle bigger then the FZ3, So in all i'm going for the FZ3, I THINK its a good choice, seems like everyone else is choice the majority is the FZ3