Do I need a 10x zoom? About This Page:

[jjj6689]

I found both these cameras on Amazon today. All I know for sure is that I want a Fuji or Canon. I don't know if I really need a 10 x zoom or not. I am a mom who take pictures of my boys and vacation pictures. I have a $100 vivitar digital now that we got free as a reward from my DH employer.
I like the ideal of having a 10x zoom , but am unsure if I like the size. I would like to stay around $200. Should I get a smaller camera or go for the zoom.

Any advise on either of these?
Fujifilm Finepix S700 7MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom $229.94
Canon PowerShot A550 7.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom - $159.

[cherylf]

I am not an expert and only take pictures of my family and vactions, too.
I got a Panasonic Lumiz with a 12X zoom. I got it mostly for my grandchildren's dance recitals, school plays, etc. because I never know how far away I'll be sitting.
I'm not sure if I really needed it, but it sure is nice to have when I want a closeup of something. I've taken some nice pictures that I don't think I would have been able to get otherwise. One thing I have noticed is that very little motion can cause the picture to blur when I use more than 5X or 6X on the zoom. When I use the higher powered zoom, I use the viewfinder and try to steady the camera against my body. My camera also came with image stabilization (which I think helps, too)

[Mommyof2NJ]

Originally Posted by cherylf

I am not an expert and only take pictures of my family and vactions, too.
I got a Panasonic Lumiz with a 12X zoom. I got it mostly for my grandchildren's dance recitals, school plays, etc. because I never know how far away I'll be sitting.
I'm not sure if I really needed it, but it sure is nice to have when I want a closeup of something. I've taken some nice pictures that I don't think I would have been able to get otherwise. One thing I have noticed is that very little motion can cause the picture to blur when I use more than 5X or 6X on the zoom. When I use the higher powered zoom, I use the viewfinder and try to steady the camera against my body. My camera also came with image stabilization (which I think helps, too)

I bought the same one last week! I purchsed this for the same reasons you did. I had some really great vacation shots of the kids this past summer and I had used my old camera that had 3X zoom and the pictures were not clear and blurry. I was so upset and disappointed. Now when we go to disney I know my pictures are going to be great!

[LizardCop]

We just bought Jan a Fuji FinePix S5200 at Sam's for $229. It is a 5.1MP and has a 10X optical zoom. She loves it.

We "replaced" her using a Canon A85 and an Olympus D-40 (both 4MP and 3X optical zoom) as well as my old Olympus C-770 (4MP and 10X optical zoom). The lower zoom cameras were good, most of the time, and she loved the ability to go to 10X when she needed to with the C-770. The C-770 has a slight problem with low light focusing, and that was why she stopped using it.

She loves the new one!!! When she needs the longer zoom, it's there. Does she use it all the time, no.. But it's there and the camera takes great pics, many are being used along with mine in our current trip report...

DO you NEED a 10X optical zoom camera, probably not. Will it make taking photos more fun at times, YES!!! You can always use less zoom than what's available, you can never use more zoom than you have!!!

[wendybell]

I have the Fuji S9000, it's a 9MP with a 10x zoom and I love it. I can't say that I've actually used ALL of the zoom that the camera has to offer but I do like knowing I CAN if I want to or need to...

A friend of mine has the Fuji S5200 and LOVES it too... it's a great camera!

[travelinsara]

I LOVE my Canon S2 IS, don't remember the zoom at the moment, but It is by far the best feature about that camera or any camera I have ever had. There are several other things l love a bout this camera, but if there is a question of zoom, go for it..... you won't be sorry. You can shoot 'through' stuff, get detail that is wonderful. I will have to figure out how to post a couple of photo's that I took standing on the bridge at AK going into Africa looking toward Mt Everest, I took one just as Mt E looked, then I zoomed all the way out and the detail in the mountain is fantastic. I also wondered if I 'needed' all that zoom, but I have never regretted it for one second. Now to work on those action shots in low light levels! S

[Dave Marx]

I've got a Fujifilm Finepix S9000 (28mm-300mm equivalent), and really enjoy it. Jennifer has had several Canon PowerShots, and they're also really fine cameras.

If it's just for the sake of the zoom... The Canon is far more compact, which means you'll be more likely to carry it with you, which translates to more photo opportunities.

While I find plenty of uses for the telephoto end of the zoom, it's far more important to me to have a wide angle greater than the typical 34-38mm-equivalent that most digitals come with. My Fuji has a 28mm equivalent, which is far more useful to me for scenics and interiors.

I find that many amateurs over-use their telephotos (even if it's just a 3x or 4x). For example, when taking a shot of family members standing in the hub with the castle as a backdrop, they go to maximum zoom and step way back until the castle fills the frame. This means the people are relatively small in the photo. I feel they'd get much better results by using a wide angle, stepping in until their family members fill the frame (yes, the castle tends to recede into the background, but a good photo of the family will be more important to you in years to come than a good picture of the castle).

Another way to put it is that telephotos encourage photographers to be uninvolved with their human subjects. The lens has a tendency to push folks back so they become distant observers, rather than active participants. When photographing people (especially loved ones), it's usually better to have some direct involvement.

[nbodyhome]

I have a Canon S2 and LOVE it. I take all of my photos now with it, we have a smaller Canon but I don't even look at it anymore. The photo I have on here of fireworks was taken handheld with the Canon.

[JoanW]

I just came back from Sam's Club on a prescription run for Pat, and they had the S5200 for $199.81! A whole kit too! So I got it!

[LizardCop]

Originally Posted by JoanW

I just came back from Sam's Club on a prescription run for Pat, and they had the S5200 for $199.81! A whole kit too! So I got it!

That's the same kit I got Jan a couple of months ago for $229. She it and I think you will to. She had to play with it for a while, but she won't part with it now and won't use anything else...

Have Fun!!!!!!

[TravelingTots]

I have the Canon S2 IS as well. There's a new S3 out now, but it has only a few "tweaks" to the S2--overall comparable. I LOVE my S2. It offers so many automatic options that give good photos (like GREAT SpectroMagic and fireworks pictures on just the Auto setting) as well as very good manual settings. We recently bought DH a super-compact Canon (the SD800 IS, I think), and I'll use it occasionally for situations when it's not really convenient to carry the larger S2. The smaller one is a really great camera, but I find myself missing the ability to manually change the exposure settings to get a shot "just so" like I can on the S2.

I've owned Fuji and Canon, and I much prefer the clarity and color of the Canons. Here's a link to a really nice camera review site that offers information about most models... Welcome to the Digital Camera Resource Page . I've used it in buying my last two cameras and been very pleased. Good luck finding something that works for you!

[nbodyhome]

Originally Posted by TravelingTots

I have the Canon S2 IS as well. There's a new S3 out now, but it has only a few "tweaks" to the S2--overall comparable. I LOVE my S2. It offers so many automatic options that give good photos (like GREAT SpectroMagic and fireworks pictures on just the Auto setting) as well as very good manual settings.

What I like also - the S2 is lightweight, I never feel it's too heavy to carry around or too bulky. I was really surprised when I was getting great fireworks photos on auto, and nighttime parade pictures. I never was much into digital photography - but my mom offered to buy me a digital camera for Christmas, and I spent a lot of time researching. The S2 (now S3 too) is a lot of camera, a lot of features for the money. My sister ended up with a more expensive ($700?) camera, my mom offered to buy me one but this looked fine - and it was more than fine! This is the first time I feel good with a digital over an SLR film camera.

[Nancyspe]

I think you'll use the 10x zoom. I have a fuji S6000fd and love it - there have been lots of shots I never would have gotten without the zoom.. such as...

http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/16...500x500Q85.jpg

[DVC_Increda_Man]

If you are up in the nose bleed seats at Lights Motors Action stunt show, a 10x can come in handy to zoom down on the action.

I have a camcorder with 1000x zoom. Yep you read it wright, 1000x zoom and I
can tell you that its absolutely useless.

First of all it is not humanly possible to hold a camera
still enough even with the much improved motion and jitter correction
features to use a lot of zoom. So you will have to get a good heavy 3 legged
tripod to always pack around which will become a big heavy PAIN.


I'm a Nikon and Panasonic fan myself, Yvonne loves the Canon Powershot,
and Kassie likes Olympus FE's.

All cameras are good!

Its just the finger that presses the button that is bad.

[nbodyhome]

Originally Posted by DVC_Increda_Man

Its just the finger that presses the button that is bad.

I mostly agree! I get a lot of questions about my camera, but I always have - no matter what type I had. When I needed my small Canon in a pinch a couple of weeks ago, it actually was great (though I prefer having the 12x to the 4x zoom). But both are really decent cameras.

There are some cameras which just aren't very good - but I'm very happy with mine, I'd not trade it in for a $700 camera (like my sister has). If anything, I'd not mind having an S5 eventually so I can have a hotshoe.