Cyril Catt wrote: My 8 year old Canon TX1s 7Mp are still my first choice for macro shots, because they can focus down to about zero cm. Their small, robust, pistol grip design, with swivel LCD, and effective 741mm equivalent zoom, also make them handy for a number of situations in which ordinary formats are less suited.
The EX-ZR400 (and similar with respect to optics ZR-500, Zr1000, ZR1200, ZR1500) have a minimum focus distance of 1 cm (that is even closer in reality, like 0.5 mm) -- José Antonio
José Antonio, I don't mean to champion any particular camera. Many have individual advantages which can be of great value in certain circumstances, and many older models have advantages that have been generally discontinued, such as viewfinders, flash shoes, or swivel screens - which are beginning to reappear in newer models. But
Hi Cyrill I agree with you. Only wanted to inform that some models that aren't so popular as others have some excellent features that sadly are missing on the newest models, and that it's a pity. It seems that you never have a definitive model with all the desired features, the top models always miss some great features of the older, lesser ones.
I took a look at that Canon model, its peculiar design was a big advantage in some aspects (that enormous zoom in a pocket camera...) but has some disadvantages, mainly in usability (
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canontx1/ ). I miss those times where the designers took risks to produce those very original cameras.
though the TX1 is heavier than the EX-ZR400, it is more compact, the lens is better protected when not in use, has a swivel screen, and probably wins on the very rare occasion that you want to photograph the pixels of a computer or tablet with the lens rim in contact with the screen! ;-) -- Cyril
Hey, I did some similar shots with my brother's ZR400, and my FH100 to compare, the very close focus distance in super macro mode of the ZR400 meant really a difference. -- José Antonio
Thanks, José Antonio, for adding the link to an old TX1 review. It reminded me that the TX1 - like quite a few early digicams - could also be used as stereo sound recorder. I remember thinking it was a pity I hadn't had one when I was a student, as the camera could capture what was written on the blackboard, whilst the recorder could capture the whole of the lecture - far more comprehensive than my scribbled notes. I still take one along for that purpose if I attend a public lecture.
Unfortunately, although several reviews praised its convenience, there were a few major ones that appeared to have been done without reference to the manual, and which focussed on the compromises made to get so much into such a little body, particularly the need for a delicate touch on the tiny joystick, to select which of the three menus or five function groups to choose from. The small screen was also difficult for long-sighted users, and its low resolution didn't help, 'though it was sufficient to aim the camera when held overhead in a crowd, out of windows or around corners, or at ground level.
But I found the pistol grip format handy to hold in my hand, ready to bring into action, often shooting from the hip, whilst the relatively low weight was easy to hold for long stretches whilst videoing grandchildrens' sports, and the narrow lens could poke through chain-link safety fencing that surrounded some of the dangerous areas such as hockey goals. Several other makers, particularly Sanyo and Sony, also made models in the same format. But I felt the Canon was the smallest and had the widest range of capabilities.
Stockholm: Riddarholmskyrkan spire & Stadhuset tower @ 2.4 km
Mdina, Malta, from Ta'Qali, @ 1.2 km
Notodontid moth caterpillars on Eucalyptus leucoxylon - individuals are about 20mm long
Part of frieze on Tarpits Museum, Los Angeles
Los Angeles Road Sign
Statue of Christ with missing hand. Notre Dame, Paris
Spider & fly hiding in a flower
A lot of cameras could do it better. But its the one you have with you that gets the shot
--
Cyril
I would dare to tell you to try the "Soft Flash" option. It's my preferred in most situations, giving a very natural look. Only to add that I would prefer that it was an "Auto Soft Flash" or at least that you had the option to activate it always or that was automatic, depending on the light conditions. And that the "Memory" setting doesn't works with Soft Flash, independently of the Memory value for the Flash, you have to select it manually each time you power on the camera if you want to use it.
