About Me
Monday, July 02, 2007
Saturday, June 30, 2007
review of the z612 at mouthshut.com
http://www.mouthshut.com/review/Kodak_EasyShare_Z612-127407-1.html
I wrote a review for the kodak z612 camera at mouthshut.com
I was inspired to post there by Mr. Ronak Gandhi (a fellow z612 user) as i already had the nucleus of the review ready as a part of an earlier post here.
I wrote a review for the kodak z612 camera at mouthshut.com
I was inspired to post there by Mr. Ronak Gandhi (a fellow z612 user) as i already had the nucleus of the review ready as a part of an earlier post here.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Purchasing a Superzoom Camera
It was around the March of 2007 that it became evident that I couldn't do without a decent camera. The realization has been as a result of the new hobby that i have taken up - which is active birdwatching. We see birds around us daily but never ever stop to observe them and their behaviour in details. i ill be writing more on the topic of birdwatching in some post later. Now on to the topic of my camera purchase.
It was pretty much evident and obvious that I needed to go for a digital camera. Next came the very important and difficult task of selecting which camera to buy. After a careful scrutiny of digital cameras and reading various reviews, I could identify only three types of digital cameras. One is the type which is mostly around 5-7 mega pixels and optical zoom around 2-3 x. There are uncountable such cameras in the market and it is not in the scope of this discussion to enlist them. A site such as www.dpreview.com will enlist their features if you are interested. I decided that I had no use for such a camera.
The next type are the cameras around 5-7 magapixels and optical zoom around 4-6 x. Cameras in this category are few and some of them are equipped with image stabilisation. Image stabilisation is a wonderful tool to have to be able to capture blur and shake free images when you are shooting at high zoom levels. Some of the good cameras in this category are the Nikon coolpix L5 , Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ7, Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5, Canon PowerShot A710 IS, Canon PowerShot A630 and Kodak C875. All of these cameras are in the 5-7 megapixel range and with optical zooming abilities in the range of 4-6 x. Plus all of these cameras have image stabilisation.
These cameras have a range of around 28mm wide angle to about 160 mm telephoto . This no doubt is a good range to have but for me these cameras did not fit the bill. I would like to add that these cameras are good for people who want a good wide angle range in their cameras at a less price. These cameras are good for architects who want to shoot landscapes.
Finally, having written at length on this second categories of cameras none of these models fit into my requirement criteria either and I had to look at another category of cameras which I will write next about.
Before coming on to the next category of cameras, i have to add that there is another, albeit small number of cameras which bridge the gap between the cameras with optical zooms of 4-6x that I have written in the paragraph preceding this ; and the super zooms (i.e the cameras with optical zooming capabilities og 12x and above). These are only a few hand picked cameras. The Nikon Coolpix S4 and Nikon Coolpix S10 with Vibration Reduction are 6 megapixels with 35mm wide angle and 10x optical zooms . The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 are also in this category with 10x optical zooms. the TZ 1 is 6 megapixel with 35 mm wideangle while the TZ3 is 8 megapixels with 28 mm wideangle.
All these 3 cameras , the S10, TZ1 and TZ3 are classic cameras according to me with very good build quality and imaging capabilities. You can get detailed reviews on these cameras from dpreview or some such site.
Nikon Coolpix S10 is my personal favourite though among the handy , pocketable cameras.
Coming on to the superzooms, the market is less crowded and it is relatively easy to select a camera if only you can define YOUR requirement. This defining of requirement often proves to be the most difficult of all.
I will try to enlist what all were my requirements.
[1] I needed a camera which looks like an SLR
[2] The camera should have the option of addition of lenses to extend the wideangle/zoom
[3] The camera should be lightweight for single handed operability (this was one major criteria)
[4] The camera should have handy control options which are not too complicated ( this I realised retrospectively after my purchase)
[5] The camera should have good image stabilisation
[6] The camera should have manual controls
[7] The camera should be powered by AA batteries (that are available everywhere)
[8] The camera should be priced reasonably ( At most I could have paid Rs. 15000/- or $365 at the exchange rate of Rs. 41/- per dollar )
[9] Finally, the camera should have good imaging capabilities. ( Although this should have been my top most requirement, but somehow this was pushed down to the last)
With these requirements I started my search for my dream first digital camera. The very few cameras that I had to choose one from were as follows :
Canon S2IS
Canon S3Is
Nikon S10
Panasonic Lumix FZ7
Sony DSC H2
Sony DSC H5
Kodak z612
Fujifilm Finepix S6000
Olympus SP510UZ
Olympus SP550UZ
Out of these cameras, the Nikon s10 failed to start the race as it lacked manual controls. I had handled a FZ7 from close quarters but discarded it on the basis of its high price and difficult control options in my opinion. The two sony cameras although being very fine equipments did not finish the race owing to their weight and size and their general reputation in the market of not being good cameras (sony produces good handycams but not good cameras - thats what was said by experts). I must add that at one point of time it very much looked like i was finalising the H2 because of its easy availability in India and hence easy servicing options in case it needed any help.
With the Nikon, Panasonic and the two sonys out of the race, Canon S2IS suddenly looked to be the topmost contender (the S3Is being discarded owing to its steep price and difficult controls) but very soon it also fell out with my discovery of the Kodak z612. The Fuji camera also never actually started the race owing to paucity of user reports. The Olympus Sp550UZ was way over my budget .
Needless to say, it was the Kodak z612 that I ultimately ordered over at Amazon and got it delivered to a friend in the states who handed it over to another friend who was coming to India. (Here in this small space again lies a very long story about how the camera changed hands between the two of my friends ; which will be told at a later date)
After getting the z612 in my hands, I actually realised what a superb camera it was.
To tell you very frankly, my purchase of the z612 was made on the basis of elimination of the other camera models based on some reason or the other. The z612 never showed any strong points in its favour that usually draws you to any particular thing. There was a severe paucity of reviews on the camera and i could only find the review of steve's digicam to be of any use in finalising the Camera. It always was the dark horse.
In purchasing any camera, it is always advisable to handle the camera at a local store and compare it with other cameras before making the purchase. since it was not possible for me as I could find the z612 nowhere in india when I made the purchase, I decided to try out the 3D models of the various cameras online. It proved to be a really good exercise and went a long way in finalising my choice.
Now, having acquired the z612 I will enlist the pros and cons of this camera.
Pros :
[1] Extremely lightweight
[2] One handed shooting possible
[3] Extremely fast - in zooming and cycling between shots
[3] Very easily accessible controlling options
[4] Optical zoom available during videos
[5] Superb Image stabiliser
[6] Metal adapter available for attaching auxillary add on lenses
[5] Extremely cost effective - It cost me only $220
[6] Uses SD cards ; MMC cards can also be used.
Cons :
[1]Uses a rechargable lithium ion battery ( I negated this by buying an extra rechargable battery )
[2] The camera loses focus during zooming while taking videos (can't do anything about this )
[3] Suboptimal performance in auto mode in low light settings ( this can be taken care of to some extent by tweaking the manual controls )
Apart from a few things, I find this camera perfect for my requirements.
Since my purchase, I have added a 2 GB SD card, a camera carrying bag, 2.2x teleconverter lens which increases the optical zoom to 26x, a delkin screen protector is on the way, I am formulating a plan to build a harness for the camera to carry it easily in the field; and I plan to build a few other things like a differently designed bag to carry it in the field.
Special note for prospective buyers :
All the super zoom cameras that I have listed are more or less similar when it comes to imaging capabilities. If your purchasing criteria is not as strict as mine you can go ahead and select any one that you like from the list above. Always remember that you are making a compromise when you are buying these cameras over the entry level DSLR and you simply cannot expect these cameras to give you DSLR like shots. Of course , with enough practice and handling you may be able to get close but never compare these cameras to the biggies.
Since my purchase in March 2007, a few more superzooms have been added to this list. The Sony DSC H7 , Sony DSC H9 and the Kodak z712 are now also available in your list of options.
-- email me at dr(dot)abheek(at)gmail(dot)com for any queries.
It was pretty much evident and obvious that I needed to go for a digital camera. Next came the very important and difficult task of selecting which camera to buy. After a careful scrutiny of digital cameras and reading various reviews, I could identify only three types of digital cameras. One is the type which is mostly around 5-7 mega pixels and optical zoom around 2-3 x. There are uncountable such cameras in the market and it is not in the scope of this discussion to enlist them. A site such as www.dpreview.com will enlist their features if you are interested. I decided that I had no use for such a camera.
The next type are the cameras around 5-7 magapixels and optical zoom around 4-6 x. Cameras in this category are few and some of them are equipped with image stabilisation. Image stabilisation is a wonderful tool to have to be able to capture blur and shake free images when you are shooting at high zoom levels. Some of the good cameras in this category are the Nikon coolpix L5 , Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ7, Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5, Canon PowerShot A710 IS, Canon PowerShot A630 and Kodak C875. All of these cameras are in the 5-7 megapixel range and with optical zooming abilities in the range of 4-6 x. Plus all of these cameras have image stabilisation.
These cameras have a range of around 28mm wide angle to about 160 mm telephoto . This no doubt is a good range to have but for me these cameras did not fit the bill. I would like to add that these cameras are good for people who want a good wide angle range in their cameras at a less price. These cameras are good for architects who want to shoot landscapes.
Finally, having written at length on this second categories of cameras none of these models fit into my requirement criteria either and I had to look at another category of cameras which I will write next about.
Before coming on to the next category of cameras, i have to add that there is another, albeit small number of cameras which bridge the gap between the cameras with optical zooms of 4-6x that I have written in the paragraph preceding this ; and the super zooms (i.e the cameras with optical zooming capabilities og 12x and above). These are only a few hand picked cameras. The Nikon Coolpix S4 and Nikon Coolpix S10 with Vibration Reduction are 6 megapixels with 35mm wide angle and 10x optical zooms . The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 are also in this category with 10x optical zooms. the TZ 1 is 6 megapixel with 35 mm wideangle while the TZ3 is 8 megapixels with 28 mm wideangle.
All these 3 cameras , the S10, TZ1 and TZ3 are classic cameras according to me with very good build quality and imaging capabilities. You can get detailed reviews on these cameras from dpreview or some such site.
Nikon Coolpix S10 is my personal favourite though among the handy , pocketable cameras.
Coming on to the superzooms, the market is less crowded and it is relatively easy to select a camera if only you can define YOUR requirement. This defining of requirement often proves to be the most difficult of all.
I will try to enlist what all were my requirements.
[1] I needed a camera which looks like an SLR
[2] The camera should have the option of addition of lenses to extend the wideangle/zoom
[3] The camera should be lightweight for single handed operability (this was one major criteria)
[4] The camera should have handy control options which are not too complicated ( this I realised retrospectively after my purchase)
[5] The camera should have good image stabilisation
[6] The camera should have manual controls
[7] The camera should be powered by AA batteries (that are available everywhere)
[8] The camera should be priced reasonably ( At most I could have paid Rs. 15000/- or $365 at the exchange rate of Rs. 41/- per dollar )
[9] Finally, the camera should have good imaging capabilities. ( Although this should have been my top most requirement, but somehow this was pushed down to the last)
With these requirements I started my search for my dream first digital camera. The very few cameras that I had to choose one from were as follows :
Canon S2IS
Canon S3Is
Nikon S10
Panasonic Lumix FZ7
Sony DSC H2
Sony DSC H5
Kodak z612
Fujifilm Finepix S6000
Olympus SP510UZ
Olympus SP550UZ
Out of these cameras, the Nikon s10 failed to start the race as it lacked manual controls. I had handled a FZ7 from close quarters but discarded it on the basis of its high price and difficult control options in my opinion. The two sony cameras although being very fine equipments did not finish the race owing to their weight and size and their general reputation in the market of not being good cameras (sony produces good handycams but not good cameras - thats what was said by experts). I must add that at one point of time it very much looked like i was finalising the H2 because of its easy availability in India and hence easy servicing options in case it needed any help.
With the Nikon, Panasonic and the two sonys out of the race, Canon S2IS suddenly looked to be the topmost contender (the S3Is being discarded owing to its steep price and difficult controls) but very soon it also fell out with my discovery of the Kodak z612. The Fuji camera also never actually started the race owing to paucity of user reports. The Olympus Sp550UZ was way over my budget .
Needless to say, it was the Kodak z612 that I ultimately ordered over at Amazon and got it delivered to a friend in the states who handed it over to another friend who was coming to India. (Here in this small space again lies a very long story about how the camera changed hands between the two of my friends ; which will be told at a later date)
After getting the z612 in my hands, I actually realised what a superb camera it was.
To tell you very frankly, my purchase of the z612 was made on the basis of elimination of the other camera models based on some reason or the other. The z612 never showed any strong points in its favour that usually draws you to any particular thing. There was a severe paucity of reviews on the camera and i could only find the review of steve's digicam to be of any use in finalising the Camera. It always was the dark horse.
In purchasing any camera, it is always advisable to handle the camera at a local store and compare it with other cameras before making the purchase. since it was not possible for me as I could find the z612 nowhere in india when I made the purchase, I decided to try out the 3D models of the various cameras online. It proved to be a really good exercise and went a long way in finalising my choice.
Now, having acquired the z612 I will enlist the pros and cons of this camera.
Pros :
[1] Extremely lightweight
[2] One handed shooting possible
[3] Extremely fast - in zooming and cycling between shots
[3] Very easily accessible controlling options
[4] Optical zoom available during videos
[5] Superb Image stabiliser
[6] Metal adapter available for attaching auxillary add on lenses
[5] Extremely cost effective - It cost me only $220
[6] Uses SD cards ; MMC cards can also be used.
Cons :
[1]Uses a rechargable lithium ion battery ( I negated this by buying an extra rechargable battery )
[2] The camera loses focus during zooming while taking videos (can't do anything about this )
[3] Suboptimal performance in auto mode in low light settings ( this can be taken care of to some extent by tweaking the manual controls )
Apart from a few things, I find this camera perfect for my requirements.
Since my purchase, I have added a 2 GB SD card, a camera carrying bag, 2.2x teleconverter lens which increases the optical zoom to 26x, a delkin screen protector is on the way, I am formulating a plan to build a harness for the camera to carry it easily in the field; and I plan to build a few other things like a differently designed bag to carry it in the field.
Special note for prospective buyers :
All the super zoom cameras that I have listed are more or less similar when it comes to imaging capabilities. If your purchasing criteria is not as strict as mine you can go ahead and select any one that you like from the list above. Always remember that you are making a compromise when you are buying these cameras over the entry level DSLR and you simply cannot expect these cameras to give you DSLR like shots. Of course , with enough practice and handling you may be able to get close but never compare these cameras to the biggies.
Since my purchase in March 2007, a few more superzooms have been added to this list. The Sony DSC H7 , Sony DSC H9 and the Kodak z712 are now also available in your list of options.
-- email me at dr(dot)abheek(at)gmail(dot)com for any queries.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Friday, December 08, 2006
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