Time for an upgrade?

[thelawnet]

I have a Canon Ixus 800 IS (aka Powershot SD 700 http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_sd700-review/), a good compact from mid-2006.

Would I see a big improvement in photo quality from upgrading, say to the Lumix DMC-ZS3?

We take family snapshots, nothing mindblowing.

[Screenclutter]

What is it that you are unhappy about with your current camera?

[speaklightly]

thelawnet-

The Panasonic ZS1 and ZS3 cameras are specification rich and at first glance seem to offer a lot. However, as a ZS1 owner myself I have discovered one glaring flaw.

The cameras do very well out of doors. However, they are really held back by their tiny, and not powerful at all built-in flash unit. In general, these two cameras demonstrate only an 8 foot or less flash range.

I personally solved the problem because I had a slave flash on hand and ready to use. However, most users at attracted to their small physical size and the ability to slip them into a pocket or a purse. The addition of a slave flash now deteriorates the smallness factor, but it is very effective as you can see from the attached photo.

Please keep in mind that adding a slave flash with sufficient power will hit your budget for between $110.00 to $150.00.

Sarah Joyce

[thelawnet]

What is it that you are unhappy about with your current camera?

Not a lot..... More zoom would be nice. I take pictures of fungi (macro) under artificial lighting some times, and it doesn't really work. Need a bright light source, flash just washes out the detail.

I guess I'll just have to wait for it to break.

[Screenclutter]

More zoom (or telephoto range?) in point-and-shoot cameras and consumer level dSLR lenses can be quite frustrating at times due to small apertures when zooming in to a subject. In a point-and-shoot, I don't think you are missing that much when you have more "zoom" available to you unless you are thinking of more wide-angle range.

What goes wrong when you take your pictures of fungi under artificial lighting?

[KCook]

Here is a link to much more on the ZS3 -

Sacrifice control? (http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44694)

For macro work I would rather have a SLR-like ultrazoom than a compact. There are a number of these to choose from for the same budget as a ZS3.

Kelly Cook

[thelawnet]

What goes wrong when you take your pictures of fungi under artificial lighting?

Camera shake due to long exposure times if the flash is off, or washed out pictures if it's on.

[AlexMonro]

Camera shake due to long exposure times if the flash is off, or washed out pictures if it's on.
Perhaps a tripod would help?

[jekostas]

Camera shake due to long exposure times if the flash is off, or washed out pictures if it's on.

Neither of these things is going to be fixed by getting a new point and shoot. My suggestion is get one of them flexible mini tripods.