Pocketable compact camera with wide-angle lens and long zoom
Asked 7/28/2010
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2 answers
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I’m replacing a Ricoh Caplio R7. I liked its wide-angle lens and zoom range, but the lens kept sticking and needing warranty repair. I also found the camera too thin and the zoom control too small for comfortable use, especially for my wife, who would sometimes press the shutter by accident when picking it up.
We still want something that fits in a normal pocket, but is easier to handle than the Ricoh. What compact or “travel zoom” cameras should I look at if I want a useful wide-angle lens, a good zoom range, and better ergonomics?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
16y ago
2 Answers
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Looks like you could make good use of a "travel zoom" camera and, as Frederick mentioned, dpreview.com have lots of details about them. In particular, a recent travel zoom group test shows some of the best current contenders.
From those options, I would personally recommend the Panasonic ZS5 for it's 25-300mm zoom and image/camera quality. But since you have a specific need of separate zoom controls, you may want to consider the Olympus µ-9010 then (in the U.S. you may need to settle for the 9000 model, which features a harder to use zoom control).
Originally by user46. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user46
16y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A pocketable “travel zoom” compact sounds like the best fit. Based on the suggestions here, good options to consider are the Panasonic ZS5 and Nikon Coolpix S8000, both of which offer a wide starting focal length and a long zoom range in a compact body.
If ease of handling is especially important, the Olympus µ-9010/9000 was also mentioned because its controls may suit your needs better, though control design can vary by model.
If you can accept a shorter zoom range in exchange for better image quality and low-light performance, the Canon S90 is another strong option. It was recommended as reliable, easy to use, with a fast lens and very good high-ISO performance.
So in short: look first at travel-zoom compacts if zoom range is the priority, and consider the Canon S90 if usability and image quality matter more than maximum zoom.
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