Help on choosing a portable camera

[kwyjibo]

Hi everyone, i'm about to buy a digital camera very soon but i can't decide which one to buy, there are just to many models out there.

I need this camera very soon (ill buy it next week) so any advice will be very helpful.

Here's what i'm looking for:

Budget: USD $500 max (of course, less will be better)
Size: compact (small enough to fit in my pocket)

Features
Megapixels: 5+
Optical zoom: Standard (is ultrazoom available with compact cameras?)
Image quality importance (rate from 1-10): 9
Manual controls: Shutter speed, white balance (desired, not required)

General Usage
Camera general use: traveling and social events (day and night)
Big prints: NO
Use for indoor photos or low light photos: sometimes
Use for sports and/or action photos: Yes (recreational only)

Miscellaneous
Like/hate brands: none
models in mind: Sony DSC-T30, N1, W50, W100; Canon powershot 450, Panasonic Lumix FX01, Fuji FinePix F30

Special Features
Wide Angle: NO
Image Stabilization: Yes (desired, not required)
LCD display: 2.5"

Other
Short time between photos (with and without flash)
Good battery life
Viewfinder (desired, not required)

So, that's it... i hope there's a model that fits my needs.

Thank you all for your help!

G.

[AlexMonro]

The new Panasonic TZ1 is a compact camera with a 10x zoom. It doesn't have a viewfinder though, so it might be a bit tricky to use in bright sunlight. It does have IS. Doesn't have manual controls, but does have 14 scene modes.

[kwyjibo]

It may be a nice option, the 10x zoom is very attractive. Do you have any comments about on how it performs in day and night photos? How about shooting on moving targets (kids jumping around), are the pictures blurry?

Thanks a lot for the recomendation!

Is there any other similar camera anyone would recommend? ZT1 seems to be a very good option but, if possible, i would like a camera a little more compact... ¿any suggestions?


Thanks again!


G.

[AlexMonro]

Not really a reccomendation, just repeating some specs I saw on another review site. I've not actually seen one, just thought it might meet your needs.

It has fairly high sensitivity (ISO1600) for low light action, but some other Panasonics can be noisy at the higher settings.

I doubt if you'll find anything more compact with a 10x zoom.

[kwyjibo]

And without 10x zoom?

I would prefer more compact camera with standard zoom than bigger onw with 10x. So, which more compact camera, that meet my needs, woudl you reccomend?


Thanks again!

G.

[AlexMonro]

Sorry, I don't know so much about compacts, I'm mainly interested in the superzooms.

However, things I'd suggest you might look out for are:

1) Takes standard AA batteries. These are a lot cheaper when you want to buy a spare set (and you will want a spare set, if you've only got 1 battery, it's sure to run out just before the perfect photo opportunity! )

2) Uses SD memory cards - these are used in all types of cameras, from ultra-compacts to DSLRs, so you're more likely to be able to use the same cards when you upgrade your camera.

You might want to look at the Canon A530.