Choice of camera - help appreciated

I have a shortlist of 3 cameras and can not decide which is best, so some
views or impartial advice would be much appreciated. The nominated objects
of my desire are , in no particular order of preference -

Canon Powershot G6
Canon Powershot s70
Olympus 8080WZ

I nearly always take landscape photos, so the wide angle lens is always
helpful. My dilemma's are size and weight of the Olympus are a negative
factor, why choose a G6 when all the features are on the S70, apart from
flash options which I doubt I will choose. The S70 has a great spec. and is
a good size, is something missing from this camera in terms of lens quality
though ???
I currently have an Olympus mju 310 so have a good supply of XD memory cards
already. I also like to have my camera close to hand on my rucksack waist
strap, is it worth buying the 8080wz and taking time out to stop and unload
camera from rucksack as I doubt I would like to have a camera of this size
digging into me as I am walking.
My main consideration is I am looking for more creative control over my
photos so which camera is worth carrying for 15 miles to somewhere such as
Knoydart?

Help please.

"Shaun Woodward" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have a shortlist of 3 cameras and can not decide which is best, so some
views or impartial advice would be much appreciated. The nominated objects
of my desire are , in no particular order of preference -

Canon Powershot G6
Canon Powershot s70
Olympus 8080WZ

I nearly always take landscape photos, so the wide angle lens is always
helpful. My dilemma's are size and weight of the Olympus are a negative
factor, why choose a G6 when all the features are on the S70, apart from
flash options which I doubt I will choose. The S70 has a great spec. and
is a good size, is something missing from this camera in terms of lens
quality though ???
I currently have an Olympus mju 310 so have a good supply of XD memory
cards already. I also like to have my camera close to hand on my rucksack
waist strap, is it worth buying the 8080wz and taking time out to stop and
unload camera from rucksack as I doubt I would like to have a camera of
this size digging into me as I am walking.
My main consideration is I am looking for more creative control over my
photos so which camera is worth carrying for 15 miles to somewhere such as
Knoydart?

Help please.

Hi Shaun,

I have a Canon S45....a 4 mp model from a couple of years ago. It is a
superb camera. I also have a Eos D10 digital SLR, so quality and manual
features are important to me.

I keep looking at the s70, but cannot justify the upgrade! I'd go for that
great quality. Not the smallest, but you do get easy access to the features.
Some cameras offer a similar spec, but you have to play about with the menus
at every shot!. They fit into the smaller crumpler cases (John something!)
which are partly neoprene or similar and then into a pocket for ease of
getting at!

Julie

"Shaun Woodward" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have a shortlist of 3 cameras and can not decide which is best, so some
views or impartial advice would be much appreciated. The nominated objects
of my desire are , in no particular order of preference -

Canon Powershot G6
Canon Powershot s70
Olympus 8080WZ

I nearly always take landscape photos, so the wide angle lens is always
helpful. My dilemma's are size and weight of the Olympus are a negative
factor, why choose a G6 when all the features are on the S70, apart from
flash options which I doubt I will choose. The S70 has a great spec. and
is a good size, is something missing from this camera in terms of lens
quality though ???

I've just ordered a Canon S70 and hopefully will get it delivered tomorrow,
just in time for a try out in Yorkshire Dales on Sunday!

The lens seems to have done it for me. I like wide angles and the comments
all seem to praise the build quality and lens. Some reviews also suggest
it's very close to the Canon G6 in most aspects.

I also like the Olympus Mju with weatherproof housing, ideal for a blizzard
day in Scotland, but it's only a 4 MP and a 5 MP for almost the same price
as the S70.

Will keep you informed.

Jhimmy

"Shaun Woodward" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have a shortlist of 3 cameras and can not decide which is best, so some
views or impartial advice would be much appreciated. The nominated objects
of my desire are , in no particular order of preference -

Canon Powershot G6
Canon Powershot s70
Olympus 8080WZ

I nearly always take landscape photos, so the wide angle lens is always
helpful. My dilemma's are size and weight of the Olympus are a negative
factor, why choose a G6 when all the features are on the S70, apart from
flash options which I doubt I will choose. The S70 has a great spec. and
is a good size, is something missing from this camera in terms of lens
quality though ???
I currently have an Olympus mju 310 so have a good supply of XD memory
cards already. I also like to have my camera close to hand on my rucksack
waist strap, is it worth buying the 8080wz and taking time out to stop and
unload camera from rucksack as I doubt I would like to have a camera of
this size digging into me as I am walking.
My main consideration is I am looking for more creative control over my
photos so which camera is worth carrying for 15 miles to somewhere such as
Knoydart?

Help please.

Problem with many digital cameras is that the viewfinder does not display
any info, you have to use the LCD screen and viewing that is daylight can be
a bit of a hassle, especially for landscaping where composition and aperture
info etc is vital. I use a Canon G5 and whilst it gives superb quality the
screen is not easy to view.

I also own a Fuji S5500 which allows the LCD display to be viewed in the
viewfinder which makes viewing so much easier outdoors (and you get to see
all the important info without having to take your eye from the finder) the
Fuji is a really nice little camera and although only 4MP the image quality
is superb.

It's really amazing just how few even some of the more expensive digital
cameras don't give any proper info in the viewfinder. I've got an old HP 912
that was a sort of early digital SLR in that it gave a true optical view
through the finder and displayed shutter speed/aperture etc at the bottom of
the screen just like a normal SLR. Great camera just a shame it was only a
2MP job!

Martin

"Shaun Woodward" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have a shortlist of 3 cameras and can not decide which is best, so some
views or impartial advice would be much appreciated. The nominated objects
of my desire are , in no particular order of preference -

Canon Powershot G6
Canon Powershot s70
Olympus 8080WZ

I nearly always take landscape photos, so the wide angle lens is always
helpful. My dilemma's are size and weight of the Olympus are a negative
factor, why choose a G6 when all the features are on the S70, apart from
flash options which I doubt I will choose. The S70 has a great spec. and
is a good size, is something missing from this camera in terms of lens
quality though ???
I currently have an Olympus mju 310 so have a good supply of XD memory
cards already. I also like to have my camera close to hand on my rucksack
waist strap, is it worth buying the 8080wz and taking time out to stop and
unload camera from rucksack as I doubt I would like to have a camera of
this size digging into me as I am walking.
My main consideration is I am looking for more creative control over my
photos so which camera is worth carrying for 15 miles to somewhere such as
Knoydart?

Help please.

Canon Powershot s70 = 230g
Canon Powershot G6 = 496g (aprox. twice the weight of the s70)
Olympus 8080WZ = 772g (aprox. three times the weight of the s70)

Is the Olympus really worth it for three times the weight?

I currently take a digital camcorder on my walks but am getting fed up with
it because it weighs 670g so I am thinking of getting a lighter digital
camera instead. I see that the Canon Digital Ixus 40 only weighs 152g but it
does not have the higher resolution and features of the Canon Powershot s70.

RW.

my sentiments exactly regarding weight, but if I thought that the
pictures were going to be substantially better I would carry the extra
weight for some walks. The Olympus does attract great reviews tho' and
I can feel myself being drawn towards it because I have the memory
cards already.

In message <[email hidden]>

RW said:

"Shaun Woodward" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have a shortlist of 3 cameras and can not decide which is best, so some
views or impartial advice would be much appreciated. The nominated objects
of my desire are , in no particular order of preference -

Canon Powershot G6
Canon Powershot s70
Olympus 8080WZ

I nearly always take landscape photos, so the wide angle lens is always
helpful. My dilemma's are size and weight of the Olympus are a negative
factor, why choose a G6 when all the features are on the S70, apart from
flash options which I doubt I will choose. The S70 has a great spec. and
is a good size, is something missing from this camera in terms of lens
quality though ???
I currently have an Olympus mju 310 so have a good supply of XD memory
cards already. I also like to have my camera close to hand on my rucksack
waist strap, is it worth buying the 8080wz and taking time out to stop and
unload camera from rucksack as I doubt I would like to have a camera of
this size digging into me as I am walking.
My main consideration is I am looking for more creative control over my
photos so which camera is worth carrying for 15 miles to somewhere such as
Knoydart?

Help please.

Canon Powershot s70 = 230g
Canon Powershot G6 = 496g (aprox. twice the weight of the s70)
Olympus 8080WZ = 772g (aprox. three times the weight of the s70)

Is the Olympus really worth it for three times the weight?

I currently take a digital camcorder on my walks but am getting fed
up with it because it weighs 670g so I am thinking of getting a
lighter digital camera instead. I see that the Canon Digital Ixus 40
only weighs 152g but it does not have the higher resolution and
features of the Canon Powershot s70.

RW.

It really isn't a fair comparison because the Olympus 8080Z above is
such a different camera to the other two.

Optically the Olympus goes from 28mm - 140 mm with an aperture of
F2.4/F3.5 and shutter from 15 sec to 1/4000 sec. 8 Megapixels

It is undoubtedly the better of the three for landscape photography, but
at the expense of being bigger and bulkier, but certainly more highly
featured and equivalent to the full optical range of the s70 and G6
combined. The olympus also accepts wide angle and telephoto extensions
to the lens. The 8080Z is often compared with the Olympus 8 Megapixel
Digital SLR the E300. (see dpreview)

The s70 is 28mm - 100mm F2.8/F3.5 15 sec 1/2000 7 Megapixels
The G6 is 35mm -140 mm F2.0/F3.0 15 sec 1/2000 7 Megapixels

I'd say that these two cameras are better compared with the Olympus C70Z

38mm - 190 mm F2.8/F4.8 15sec 1/2000 7 Megapixels 280g

I have the C70Z and it offers lots of creative control over the images
and it is very light to carry, but the spec of the s70 looks quite good
and it does have the wider angle lens.

--
o/ \\ // |\ ,_ o Mike Clark
<\__,\\ // __o | \ / /\, "A mountain climbing, cycling, skiing,
"> || _`\<,_ |__\ \> | immunology lecturer, antibody engineer and
` || (_)/ (_) | \corn computer user"

"Shaun Woodward" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have a shortlist of 3 cameras and can not decide which is best, so some
views or impartial advice would be much appreciated. The nominated objects
of my desire are , in no particular order of preference -

Canon Powershot G6
Canon Powershot s70
Olympus 8080WZ

I nearly always take landscape photos, so the wide angle lens is always
helpful. My dilemma's are size and weight of the Olympus are a negative
factor, why choose a G6 when all the features are on the S70, apart from
flash options which I doubt I will choose. The S70 has a great spec. and
is a good size, is something missing from this camera in terms of lens
quality though ???
I currently have an Olympus mju 310 so have a good supply of XD memory
cards already. I also like to have my camera close to hand on my rucksack
waist strap, is it worth buying the 8080wz and taking time out to stop and
unload camera from rucksack as I doubt I would like to have a camera of
this size digging into me as I am walking.
My main consideration is I am looking for more creative control over my
photos so which camera is worth carrying for 15 miles to somewhere such as
Knoydart?

Help please.

I have just acquired a Nikon Coolpix 4200 - Fantastic camera with a panorama
assist progrmme built in. Check out the reviews here

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000270146/qid=1115934556/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_3_2/026-8966615-7506803

Also has a movie feature that records sound as well - negates the need for a
digicam!!!

The s70 is ok for me, except for it feeling that I am carrying a brick in
my pocket!

..I recently brought my s70 and went on holiday, taking this camera plus my
usual SLR 35mm camera with various lens. I was shocked to find that out of
about 500 photos, only 70 were taken using film. Maybe this is something
that happens irrespective of which digital you buy, but the wide angle lens
is indespensible, whilst the 50 ISO means I have great enlargements. 90% of
my photos were of rocks and forests, plus I cropped a lot, so I can't
comment on distortion on the edges.

"Shaun Woodward" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have a shortlist of 3 cameras and can not decide which is best, so some
views or impartial advice would be much appreciated. The nominated objects
of my desire are , in no particular order of preference -

Canon Powershot G6
Canon Powershot s70
Olympus 8080WZ

I nearly always take landscape photos, so the wide angle lens is always
helpful. My dilemma's are size and weight of the Olympus are a negative
factor, why choose a G6 when all the features are on the S70, apart from
flash options which I doubt I will choose. The S70 has a great spec. and
is a good size, is something missing from this camera in terms of lens
quality though ???
I currently have an Olympus mju 310 so have a good supply of XD memory
cards already. I also like to have my camera close to hand on my rucksack
waist strap, is it worth buying the 8080wz and taking time out to stop and
unload camera from rucksack as I doubt I would like to have a camera of
this size digging into me as I am walking.
My main consideration is I am looking for more creative control over my
photos so which camera is worth carrying for 15 miles to somewhere such as
Knoydart?

Help please.