I am thinking of getting a digital camera. I heard the Panasonic Lumix line is good, and i like the idea of a camera with "Leica" on the lens. Do any of you have any recommendations? Other brands? The Lumix seems fast, has a nice zoom (the one I am looking at is 12:1 optical), is very light, seems rather simple, and has an optional cowbell.
Posted at May 6, 2007 05:46 AMOoooh, a Leica lens and a cowbell; it would be a mistake to pass up such a camera! Just make certain it offers a authentic swiss bell, and not some cheap, tinny sounding knockoff...
Posted by: ronbailey at May 6, 2007 11:18 AMI love my Canon Powershot S500. Lots of little adjustable features for a pocket-sized digital camera like manual and automatic exposures, etc.. Plus it takes mpeg movies in a pinch. With 5000 pixels resolution, I've never been disappointed with using it for anything work related.
I recommend a larger memory card and an extra battery though since you'll find yourself using it a lot more than expected.
Posted by: Chris at May 6, 2007 04:37 PMI like my Canon D70s just fine. It's sometimes a bit too much camera to haul around so I'm on the look out for a smaller point and shoot too.
Posted by: Karan at May 7, 2007 01:09 AMI have a panasonic with a leica lens and the 12x optical zoom. It's a good camera. I used to prefer canon, but there are a lot of features in mine (stability control, 12x zoom, flash that's easy to turn off, good menus, etc) that make me happy with my little panasonic.
I understand that sony have some good pocket cameras out at the mo. Because I'm in Japan we might be ahead of the curve, but it's worth checking.
Posted by: Emma at May 7, 2007 01:26 AMI've had a Panasonic FZ-5 for two years and I love it. Its current equivalent is the FZ-8 with even more features (though note so many as to make me ditch the FZ5). The image stabilization works wonders. The TZ3 offers much the same capability without as many manual options, and (barely) fits in a shirt pocket. A big reason to use a Panasonic versus a Sony -- SD memory cards are standard as opposed to Sony Memory Sticks.
Posted by: Yane at May 7, 2007 11:40 AMI have a Canon Eos 350D. A lot of camera for not too much money.
Posted by: joeri at May 7, 2007 02:58 PMLove your blog. I thought about this topic recently.
http://web.mac.com/jadespace/iWeb/Blogs/Now/D4CFCF8E-D0D4-4E45-8BF3-9E55CE5AF951.html
Assuming a minimum quality picture, I consider:
- portability
- 3X optical zoom
- low light usability
- movie mode
- optical viewfinder
- wireless
I like the Fuji FinePix F20 best because of its excellent low-light ability.
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/fuji_f20.html
However, being able to use the Canon SD430 to remotely spy on my dogs has an allure all its own.
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/sd430.html
Posted by: Jade at May 7, 2007 06:10 PMLook at the can of worms! Whatever you choose - in 6 months when it's obsolete and you've bought an even newer better version 6 versions newer than the one you'll eventually choose and it's too old to give to the kids or the turtle and you've dropped it twice from six feet onto concrete, then in mud, and it won't focus very well close up... I was gonna say send it to me - but then I'll be backed up in my own pile of old dead cameras so nevermind.
Posted by: cj at May 10, 2007 12:23 AMmaybe a sketch pad. what kind of sketch pads you people recommend?
and pens?
Posted by: mig at May 10, 2007 03:55 AM