Best Prosumer model?

[JohnBrowning]

Any thoughts on the Sony F828 versus the Canon Pro1 versus the DiMage A2 versus the Nikon 8700? (Not interested in dSLR at this point because the best thing I like about digital cameras is using the LCD to take pictures.)

[speaklightly]

John,

With everything considered, most consider the 8mp consumer digital cameras to be a really bust. They are prone to noise and the digital photos produced by my Nikon 8700 are no better than my Fuji E-550, the Sony W-1, or even the Kocera M410R which is only a 4mp digital camera. So please be wary and very careful in your search.

No, the Kyocera M410R is not a stabilized digital camera and one has to keep the shutter speed on the high side, but I have been very pleased indeed with the digital photos that it has produced. I am now "on the road" so please be aware that my ability to be a constant contributor will be greatly reduced.

Sarah Joyce

[George Riehm]

Any thoughts on the Sony F828 versus the Canon Pro1 versus the DiMage A2 versus the Nikon 8700? (Not interested in dSLR at this point because the best thing I like about digital cameras is using the LCD to take pictures.)

Sarah has brought up some good "jacket pocket" size cameras, but if I read your request correctly, you are looking for a longer zoom all-in-one.

That being the case, you might want to consider the FZ family from Panasonic. I could get into a long disertation on why cramming 8 MegaPixels into a .66" form-factor presents challenges and problems, but instead, suffice is to say that it has not worked as well as everyone thought.