Somehow in my search for a camera, I missed the Kodak Easyshare V610 which was reviewed in today's Times. From the looks of it, it would have been a hard pick, but I would have probably still wound up with the Panasonic.
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The $450 EasyShare V610 offers a 10X optical zoom, equivalent to a 38-380-millimeter lens on a traditional film camera.
Interesting - In addition, the camera is only .9 inches thick and both lenses have 6.1 megapixel sensors. It has an "impressive" telephoto and macro mode. It also includes bluetooth. Ok... I'm starting to get a little worried... but then...
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The Panasonic includes image stabilization, and it captures crisper photos than the Kodak.
PHEW... I can't imagine taking pictures at 10X without stabilization unless I carry a tripod everywhere I go. I'm also really happy about the crispness of the Panasonic's photos. For $150 less, I'm still very happy with my buy.
It looks like the V610 will be the first real contender for the TZ1. True - no image stabilization (except in video mode... which is strange ), but everything else looks pretty darn good. People keep comparing the TZ1 to the Canon S2/S3, but the V610 is the first truly pocketable ultrazoom (and therefore a much better comparison). I wavered at the last minute and didn't get the TZ1... so at this point, I think I'll wait and see how Jeff's review of each turns out (both the TZ1 and V610 are scheduled to be reviewed this month - June). Not knocking the TZ1 at all - but it will really be interesting to see how it holds up against a much smaller ultrazoom with MPEG-4 video (finally!!!). Imagine getting an hour of video on your 1GB SD card instead of 10 minutes??
__________________
Nikon D70 | 18-70 | 50/1.8 | 70-210
Pentax Optio W20 Film
Nikon F100: 5 fps, weather-sealed, full frame 'sensor' and VR & AF-S compatibility
Yeah, the TZ1 is superiour to the V610 in most ways, but the TZ1 is a true zoom, whereas the V610 fakes a zoom with two lenses and a huge gap in coverage between the ranges.
Also, take a look at how large the outer lens is on the TZ1, and then look at how small each of the two lenses are on the Kodak. Larger lens, more light. I'd like to try the V610 in low light situations, because I can't imagine it not being awful.
The V610 seems to be pretty decent, though, if they can work out the gap in zoom ranges, image quality (very very soft, lots of purple fringing, etc.), optical image stabilization, and let you zoom while taking a video. Other than all of those things it's great.
I expect that the digital cameras we all want will be available in three years or so - tiny shirt-pocketable cameras with huge zooms, HD resolution video, 20+ hours of battery life, and noise-free crystal clear images in any light condition.
...The V610 seems to be pretty decent, though, if they can work out the gap in zoom ranges, image quality (very very soft, lots of purple fringing, etc.), optical image stabilization, and let you zoom while taking a video. Other than all of those things it's great.
Surprisingly, you can zoom while taking a video with the V610 (albeit with a detectable zoom motor 'whirr'). Another reason why I think it is the closest competitor to the TZ1.
Uhhh... I wasn't trying to say that one camera is better than the other... only mentioning that it will be interesting to see how the two cameras compare when Jeff does the reviews this month.
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Originally Posted by jough
I expect that the digital cameras we all want will be available in three years or so - tiny shirt-pocketable cameras with huge zooms, HD resolution video, 20+ hours of battery life, and noise-free crystal clear images in any light condition.
Yeah, it'll happen.
Although I agree with much of what you're saying, your sarcasm and any-brand-other-than-mine-sux attitude kind of reminds me of the reason I don't frequent the Canon forum as often anymore. Don't forget the target audience here: someone looking for a pocketable, ultra-zoom hybrid - capable of decent stills and more than 10 minutes of decent video on a 1GB card. Manual controls and laser-sharp dSLR image quality are not necessarily factors worth considering for this crowd. While I think that Kodak really missed the mark on the price point for this audience (way too expensive!), I think otherwise they seem to be right on the mark with the feature set. They've got my interest... and I'm pretty picky.
But seriously, you're probably right about the image quality/etc... but I'm curious to see the objective review from Jeff.
Peace out.
__________________
Nikon D70 | 18-70 | 50/1.8 | 70-210
Pentax Optio W20 Film
Nikon F100: 5 fps, weather-sealed, full frame 'sensor' and VR & AF-S compatibility
Not sarcasm - those really are the features that I want in a camera.
Such camera doesn't exist yet, but three years ago I wouldn't have thought the TZ1 would be in my hands by 2006 either.
I'm not saying that anything but my brand sucks - I'm saying that they ALL suck in different ways.
I have no allegiance to Panasonic. My two-week old TZ1 is the first Pany I bought, and looked at the Kodak seriously before finding it lacking in every respect but size when compared to the TZ1.
I do like that it takes mpeg4 video. I didn't like that the video quality is really awful looking.
I liked that it was smaller than the TZ1, which is just slightly larger than I really want.
Am I wrong in my assessment? Does the v610 not have a gap in its zoom range? Are its low light photos not noiser than the TZ1? Does it not exhibit more softness and purple fringing than the TZ1 does?
Tell me I'm wrong, show me test shots or videos that look better than the TZ1, or whatever, but don't reject observations as fanboyism if you agree that they're accurate.
Not sarcasm - those really are the features that I want in a camera.
Really?? 20+ hour battery life and crystal clear images in any light condition?? In... 3 years? We'll see...
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Originally Posted by jough
I'm not saying that anything but my brand sucks - I'm saying that they ALL suck in different ways.
True. True.
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Originally Posted by jough
I do like that it takes mpeg4 video. I didn't like that the video quality is really awful looking.
How bad was it? Seriously - that's the kind of info I'm waiting for in Jeff's review. Do you know where I can find a sample online or something?
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Originally Posted by jough
Am I wrong in my assessment? Does the v610 not have a gap in its zoom range?
You are correct - there's a gap.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jough
Are its low light photos not noiser than the TZ1? Does it not exhibit more softness and purple fringing than the TZ1 does?
Probably, but I honestly have no clue - that's why I'm waiting for a professional review.
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Originally Posted by jough
Tell me I'm wrong, show me test shots or videos that look better than the TZ1, or whatever, but don't reject observations as fanboyism if you agree that they're accurate.
That's kind of my whole point. I'm not saying one is better than the other (in fact I've mentioned this fact several times now), but... eh... you are.
Seriously - it's almost funny at this point, but I'll go ahead and say it again: I'm not saying one camera is better than the other. I'm just saying they are similar and I'm waiting for a professional review of each so that I can compare them.
__________________
Nikon D70 | 18-70 | 50/1.8 | 70-210
Pentax Optio W20 Film
Nikon F100: 5 fps, weather-sealed, full frame 'sensor' and VR & AF-S compatibility
I said that's what I want, not actually expect to have in three years (my expected "life" of my TZ1, although who knows if my needs will change in a year or two).
I looked at a LOT of cameras and decided on the TZ1 because it was better than other cameras in its class in a number of areas. The Kodak wasn't even close. I am saying that the TZ1 is a superior camera to the Kodak v610 in every way that matters, other than size.
Yeah, it's a bold statement. I can make it pretty confidently, though, not because the TZ1 is so great (although I really like it), but because the Kodak is lacking in so many areas. The TZ1 is cheaper, too.
As far as sample vids - I'll see if I can dig them up. It's been a couple of weeks since I disqualified the v610 from the list of my potential next camera.
There are enough good reviews out there to gauge an opinion. Although you probably won't have to wait that much longer now for the major sites to post some thoughts. I've found this site has been useful for collecting review links:
NYTimes on the Tizzy (TZ1) vs. Kodak V610
), but everything else looks pretty darn good. People keep comparing the TZ1 to the Canon S2/S3, but the V610 is the first truly pocketable ultrazoom (and therefore a much better comparison). I wavered at the last minute and didn't get the TZ1... so at this point, I think I'll wait and see how Jeff's review of each turns out (both the TZ1 and V610 are scheduled to be reviewed this month - June). Not knocking the TZ1 at all - but it will really be interesting to see how it holds up against a much smaller ultrazoom with MPEG-4 video (finally!!!). Imagine getting an hour of video on your 1GB SD card instead of 10 minutes?? 
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