Looking for a new Camera...

[chuyler1]

So my Canon PowerShot A70 just stopped working. First it would only take black photos randomly and now it just turns off as soon as the lens opens.

I'd like to replace it with something in the $200-300 range. I went through some CNET reviews and checked out some of the stores listed as well as eBay but I want to make sure I get the right deal on the right camera.

I'm looking for something with a decent zoom and decent sized lens, small enough to fit in a jacket pocket but again...not with a microscopic lens. MegaPixels is no concern really because the A70 was 3.2MP and did just fine for printing the occasional 8x10s and 4x6s but mostly posting on the web. An older model high end camera would be fine.

So after narrowing things down I came across the Canon S2 IS or the newer S3 IS (Current model is the S5). The S3 is available at buydig.com for $281 while the S2 can be found a little cheaper on Amazon.com and eBay. This is the higher end of my price range but both got decent reviews and the 10-12x optical zoom is precisely what I'm looking for.

I also see lots of package deals on eBay for a camera, memory card, tripod, and other stuff. The prices on these packages are in the "to good to be true" category so I didn't know if anyone had experience with buying a camera on eBay.

So with all that said...
* Suggest another camera to me that is under $300 that will produce great indoor/outdoor photos and has a decent zoom. I also like video recording and an external mic input would be a bonus (but I haven't found that feature yet).
* Suggest a good place to buy the camera or offer your horror stories with eBay.

 

[mazpro]

i didn't know you could pickup the S3 for so cheap now, here is a good review for it: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons3is/

I know a couple of people that order from here and they tell me it's been great, free and fast shipping. http://www.beachcamera.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=CNPSS3

I think that is a really good camera for the price now, considering they were $500 new.

 

[mountjonas]

how about the panasonic fz8
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz8/

 

[jred321]

aren't the S2 and S3 somewhat big? they don't look like they would be comfortable in any pocket. i like the canon SD series though the 3-4x zoom might not be enough for you. what about another A series canon?

 

[Raynman]

how about the panasonic fz8
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz8/

Yup. I have the FZ7, and it has served me well. The Panasonics are basically re-branded Leica cameras, which are kick ass cameras.

 

[chuyler1]

Looking at specs and reviews at CNET, the Panasonic has the edge on MPs and screen size but the Canon turns on faster and has a flip out screen. They are about the same price so it would be a tough decision to make.

Jred, I'm looking for something that might fit in a loose jacket pocket...but not your pants pocket. I'm not willing to sacrifice that much quality to have a camera that is the size of a credit card. For that I have my cell phone.

 

[chuyler1]

I was just skimming the reviews for the Panasonic and found a real turn-off. It uses a proprietary battery pack instead of standard AA batteries. I think I may stick with the Canon instead for that reason alone. I don't want to be dishing out another $50 a few years down the road because the battery pack won't hold a charge. Not only that but if I go on vacation I have to remember the charger and if the battery dies while I am somewhere I'm done taking photos until I can go somewhere to charge it vs stopping at a convenient store and picking up a pack of batteries.

 

[mountjonas]

yeah, proprietary batteries are kind of a turn-off, but luckily, i haven't run into a battery issue yet. between my wife and i, we're usually pretty good about making sure we charge the battery every night if we're on vacation. the battery on my canon g3 is still kicking after 4 years, too.

 

[chuyler1]

Thats good to here. I read through the canon reviews and there were significantly more people displeased with its performance. Low-light noise and telephoto distortion were big problems. More than one person claimed the S2 was a better camera than the S3.

I just dropped an email to my friend. I know he did a bunch of research for his new camera so he might be able to give me some tips...however his price range was open-ended and I am on a budget. I know I will have to sacrifice a little, but the last thing I want is a camera that takes worse photos than my old 3.2MP A70 with an un-useable zoom. If that happens I'd be better off with a generic point-and-shoot.

 

[genericuser]

how about the panasonic fz8
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz8/

my sister just got one of those.. that thing is insane.

 

[geomatics_tech]

Panasonic or Sony, Panasonic uses Leica lenses and Sony uses Zeiss.

 

[genericuser]

the funny part is that every single time I hear the name "Leica" I think of the guy from Eurotrip.

 

[mountjonas]

my sister just got one of those.. that thing is insane.

insane in a good way? is she a serious or semi-serious photographer? just asking, i'm in the market, too, and want to hear real world reviews/issues, problems. i'm digging the panasonic lx2, also.

 

[Raynman]

yeah, proprietary batteries are kind of a turn-off, but luckily, i haven't run into a battery issue yet. between my wife and i, we're usually pretty good about making sure we charge the battery every night if we're on vacation. the battery on my canon g3 is still kicking after 4 years, too.

Yeah, it's not too bad. The battery lasts the about the day for me, and that's with a lot of burst shooting at the race track. I got another generic battery as a spare pretty cheap and it works just as well.

my sister just got one of those.. that thing is insane.

Yep, the good kind of insane. This is from my previous gen FZ:

the funny part is that every single time I hear the name "Leica" I think of the guy from Eurotrip.

I gotta get myself to Amsterdam. (rofl2)

 

[genericuser]

insane in a good way? is she a serious or semi-serious photographer? just asking, i'm in the market, too, and want to hear real world reviews/issues, problems. i'm digging the panasonic lx2, also.

Good insane.. My sister works for the Associated Press in NYC. I'd say that's a stellar endorsement.

 

[mountjonas]

good to hear. 277 from beach camera...hmmmm.....

 

[chuyler1]

The Pana can shoot RAW format...a real bonus...so if I can deal with the battery pack issue then I suppose that is the way to go. At least then my wife won't steal my rechargable batteries for her tooth brush. (Doh! They won't hold a charge anymore after a few cycles with the brush).

 

[chuyler1]

Can anyone find a flaw with this posting?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180151634055&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNARL:US:12

It is factory refurbished but comes with a 3 month warranty. With all the stuff they give you in the auction I'm not sure how they are making money...but I suppose the reburb probably cost them next to nothing.

 

[chuyler1]

Thanks everyone who helped me in this thread. My camera finally came in today, a Panasonic DMC-FZ8. Dell had it on their site for $50 off retail and I used some AMEX points and got an additional $50 off that price. Including shipping and a 1GB memory card Dell actually had a better price than some of the other online shops.

 

[altspace]

My camera has a proprietary battery as well and you know how old it is. I've only run out of juice once since I've owned it during a photo shoot. Make sure that the memory card has a high write speed.