All set to get P200, a few questions

I am 90 plus percent sure I am going to purchase the P200 at one of the local brick and mortar stores for $230 plus there is a $30 rebate before the weekend. I have a few last minute questions.

I believe I read the default program flash shutter speed is 1/40th. If this is true will the flash sync to higher shutter speeds should I use shutter priority?

Speaking of the flash, I've read it isn't exactly the strong point of the this camera. But the only ultra compact I have to compare is my Canon S400 which I don't think exactly has an overwhelming flash as well. Anybody know or users of both if the Sony flash is weaker/stronger then the S400?

Looking at the camera, the flash is positioned a bit further away from the lens then may ultracompacts. How is the red eye for this camera? Again, my Canon S400 is abysmal in this regard. Maybe perhaps the P200 might not bee too horrible?

Any comments on the 640x480 fine movie mode? I'm assuming it's pretty good. If I buy the camera I plan on buying a 1G memory stick pro duo at Costco for $50. it comes with an adapter for regular memory stick pro use so I'm assuming this will work ok in the P200.

Also anybody try the conversion lens with wide angle adapter?

My Canon S400 takes great outdoor pictures. But indoors it's not so good. Poor focusing in low light, slow performance and lots of red eye plus only a low res movie mode with a 3 minute limit or higher res for 30 seconds. Plus of course no control over the shutter speed or aperture. I know the P200 only has two aperture settings but shutter speed control is more important to me. It's my thinking there currently is no better digital camera value right now but if someone has suggestions for something better for $250 or less, please share but I don't want anything bigger then the P200.

geepondy said:

I am 90 plus percent sure I am going to purchase the P200 at one of
the local brick and mortar stores for $230 plus there is a $30
rebate before the weekend. I have a few last minute questions.

Click to expand...

Check fatwallet.com/c/18/ for the P200 threads to make sure you're getting the best possible in-store deal on this closeout.

geepondy said:

I believe I read the default program flash shutter speed is 1/40th.
If this is true will the flash sync to higher shutter speeds should
I use shutter priority?

Click to expand...

Used M mode, fired at 1/640 second - frame looks well lit with flash, no problems here. Probably all it does is begin the flash firing sequence before shutter release, and continue after the 1/640 second - but the CCD is read out during that 1/640th of a second time.

geepondy said:

Speaking of the flash, I've read it isn't exactly the strong point
of the this camera. But the only ultra compact I have to compare
is my Canon S400 which I don't think exactly has an overwhelming
flash as well. Anybody know or users of both if the Sony flash is
weaker/stronger then the S400?

Click to expand...

Probably about the same - 10-15 feet or so either way.

It's not going to win awards here - keep in mind the rated maximum flash distance specs, and check here and imaging-resource.com for tested distances. Expect about a dining room table away and you'll be fine on auto. Drop it manually into ISO 200 or 400 and you can stretch that a little more.

Still, most P&S cameras won't have flash that'll reach from front to back of a 100% dark garage at night - you'll have to buy the optional Sony flash attachment (or as I did, the cheap ass Vivitar super-mini AAA digital flash) and use that at night.

However, as I've found, it's good enough in almost all cases at night to get a decent, if not great shot if the people are 15+ feet away, and I take most of my group shots at a dining table length or closer, so no problems thus far.

Don't expect it to reach farther than about 20 feet! You'll need a serious SLR-like digicam or powerful slave flash for that!

Otherwise, I say it's pretty good for the numerous digicams I've owned (Sony P200, Fuji 2400, 40i, 401, 2800z, etc.) as well as compact P&S film and SLR cameras.

geepondy said:

Looking at the camera, the flash is positioned a bit further away
from the lens then may ultracompacts. How is the red eye for this
camera? Again, my Canon S400 is abysmal in this regard. Maybe
perhaps the P200 might not bee too horrible?

Click to expand...

In most of my shots, no problem - you can turn on the multi-strobe auto-red eye reduction and it works well. Maybe one or two shots at night out of a couple dozen, and only because it's straight on (ie. right into the eye and for whatever reason, the multi-strobe didn't cause the person's iris to close down).

I never really worry about this one, so there you go on that.

It certainly won't be as perfect as a slave flash on a SLR, naturally, but it's not a problem that is worse than the other digicams I've used in the past.

geepondy said:

Any comments on the 640x480 fine movie mode? I'm assuming it's
pretty good. If I buy the camera I plan on buying a 1G memory
stick pro duo at Costco for $50. it comes with an adapter for
regular memory stick pro use so I'm assuming this will work ok in
the P200.

Click to expand...

Decent for a P&S. Not as smooth as the latest MPEG-4 found in the Casio/Sanyo digicams (ie. artifact free, stable motion pans), but it's quite decent for a MPEG-1 device. You can make some nice home movies with it, edit it on Vegas Video, drop it on a DVD and watch it just fine - again, it's a P&S camera, not a camcorder, so don't expect miracles here, but decent for fun clips and so forth.

Downsides for the neurotically picky who have used HDTV and high end DV camcorders - very limited dynamic range (forget about pulling any details out of shadow areas, or doing L changes to the scene brightness), compression artifacts present (around all objects, but that's just the limitation of MPEG-1 compression at that bitrate), pans are not buttery smooth (probably due to the read-out of the CCD), and mic level noise is present for super-quite recordings.

That said, it does reach down for night shots better than many

Edits are best with Fine mode, but that's 12 minutes max per 1GB of card, so if you've got the $$$ now, get the 2GB or 4GB card if you expect to do any sort of videos on your P200! (I'd say at least 2GB - that's a decent 24min, so if you use 20 min for video, you can still capture a few rolls of images worth in the remaining space.) If you need more space, Casio EXILIM EX-S600 or Sanyo VPC-HD1 or C6 or Sony M1/M2 series for the MPEG-4 recordings, with the former two brands having the best of breed (Casio is super-small; Sanyo is Hi-def and long-zoom).

David Chien said:

Also anybody try the conversion lens with wide angle adapter?

Click to expand...

Works well, does a great job, decently crisp shots corner to corner for an adapter lens (see my other post - search part number). that said, if you want 28mm, you might as well consider the Panasonic FX01 as well - built-in 28mm and smaller/slimmer than the P200, albeit noisier at all ISO ranges, the Kodak dual-lens 23mm & regular 3x zoom camera (albeit image quality is poorer/lower resolving than the P200, the Ricoh R4 (same size and weight basically as the P200, but 28-200mm zoom with image stabilization and decent picture quality), etc.

It is just small enough that you can pocket the camera + lens attached in a jacket pocket for travel, albeit a touch bulky. Recommended however due to the fact that nothing else I've tried works as well....

David Chien said:

My Canon S400 takes great outdoor pictures. But indoors it's not
so good. Poor focusing in low light, slow performance and lots of
red eye plus only a low res movie mode with a 3 minute limit or

Click to expand...

P200 trick: set it to P mode, set focus to 3.0meters, forced flash on, auto-red-eye on.
Voila!

You can press the shutter button at any time at night, and you will find the P200 taking a photo RIGHT AWAY THIS VERY MOMENT fast due to the fact that it now doesn't have to autofocus at all (in fixed focus mode)!

Excellent for parties, group events, running babies and kids, etc. indoors because no matter how crazy people move, you WILL get that shot the moment the shutter button goes down!

(which is why I upgraded to the Sony's - most of them have fixed focus = instant shutter modes)

David Chien said:

higher res for 30 seconds. Plus of course no control over the
shutter speed or aperture. I know the P200 only has two aperture
settings but shutter speed control is more important to me. It's

Click to expand...

enter the world of night shots! bring a tripod or drop it on the floor/hood of car, and off you go! Quite interesting if you take dimly lit shots at night in the living room with TV on and the faintest dimmed lights - you're house will look quite amazing!

Noise reduction works quite well, and fixed ISO modes get you the best quality, too.

David Chien said:

my thinking there currently is no better digital camera value
right now but if someone has suggestions for something better for
$250 or less, please share but I don't want anything bigger then
the P200.

Click to expand...

I can't think of anything else either. I'm picky about image quality, and the P200 is basically it for this price range. Only thing Sony has that's better is the N1 at $499 and more expensive, just-out W100, but both can't take the 28mm lens attachment =(

Best bet? Buy the P200 today for $230, then sell it and upgrade to the N1/whatever on sale at the same $230 or so next year (they always drop prices next year on last year's model to clear them out, so you can always expect to be able to buy this year's model dirt-cheap in one year from release).

Oh, don't like the N1 much - touch screen becomes dirty FAST! W100 is okay as long as you don't need the 28mm attachment. T33's lens is nowhere as good, and response feels slower.

---

Basically, the P200 is what a P&S ought to be - super-fast response, fast to customize, fast to set it into a different mode, easy to remember where all the settings are and maneuver about the menus, excellent fixed focus+forced flash indoor shot capability, excellent outdoor day shots with or without the 28mm adapter, and....

....sadly, beats my Minolta 650si SLR using FujiFilm 200 speed negative film at poster sized beach prints due to the lower level of 'noise' (film always has film grain; digital is far cleaner of noise artifacts) and crisp shots filled with detail from edge to edge. Not only on beach shots, but also on big daylit group shots of 100+ people in several rows each! Same day, same position, and I can make a nice 8x10" print from the P200 of the same shot that matches my 650si SLR in level of detail in the people's faces and bodies! (which means, school class photos can easily be done using the P200)

The only thing I've seen out yet that might beat it a P200 is possibly the latest Casio 10.1 megapixel P&S just announced - if the rest of the camera can keep up, it'll seriously be a SLR killer for sure! (and the images on exilim.com already are pretty darn clean and full of fine detail level! Imagine a camera with bigger screen, more MP, and even better noise levels!) Only tests will show in time....

David Chien said:

I can't think of anything else either. I'm picky about image
quality, and the P200 is basically it for this price range. Only
thing Sony has that's better is the N1 at $499 and more expensive,
just-out W100, but both can't take the 28mm lens attachment =(

Click to expand...

Actually, the W100 is only $349 at Circuit City. It's probably even cheaper on line. The N1 is pricier mainly due to the fancy touch screen.

for your excellent assessment that must have taken quite a bit of your valuable time to compose. I have thought long and hard about the Panasonic FX-01 as well. I would love the IS and the 28mm for hiking. But I don't think the image quality is there. Not compared to the Sony's and Canons at least but I could be biased. Also if the Canon A620 was smaller I would possible get that as well for the more manual controls and from samples I see, very good movie mode. But I'm still feeling strongly towards the P200 plus I want to get a Sony as only owned Nikon's and Canons.

I'm curious as to why this camera is being closed out. What is it's replacement, the new W series? As far as I know, they offer no manual aperture or shutter modes, do they?

I have read about setting hyperfocal distances but don't you have to set the aperture as well. Will the trick you mention work indoors in situations where it is not extremely dark? Will subjects greater then 3 ft. to infinity be in focus? It does sound like a neat trick.

David Chien said:

P200 trick: set it to P mode, set focus to 3.0meters, forced flash
on, auto-red-eye on.
Voila!
You can press the shutter button at any time at night, and you will
find the P200 taking a photo RIGHT AWAY THIS VERY MOMENT fast due
to the fact that it now doesn't have to autofocus at all (in fixed
focus mode)!

Excellent for parties, group events, running babies and kids, etc.
indoors because no matter how crazy people move, you WILL get that
shot the moment the shutter button goes down!

(which is why I upgraded to the Sony's - most of them have fixed
focus = instant shutter modes)

Click to expand...

How could you "set focus to 3.0meters" in P200 ?

When in a shooting mode, hit the menu key and then you can scroll to a focus setting where you pick such thing as center or multi auto focus but there also is a few preset distances including 3 meters. I actually was fooling around with that setting. It does great from near 3 meters out with very little if any differences in subjects greater then 3 meters but suffers considerably in objects much closer at all then 3 meters. This is with zoom wide open, it may very at other zoom lengths.

I am really liking this camera more and more. My biggest gripe as I mentioned is the noise level with more distant objects in flash photography (a fault to some extent with all tiny sensor digicams) but it cleans up very nicely with neat image.

wongkaifat said:

How could you "set focus to 3.0meters" in P200 ?

Click to expand...

I would most definitely recommend the W7 instead. I little bigger but its a small brick great construction. Probably same chipset but slightly bigger lens, I am guessing .

Hi, I'm looking at the same options as well. I've got a Sony P5, rather old now but has served me well! I was going to buy the P200, its still on Amazon and the only simialr cameras for the price is the W50 or for a bit more the W70 or T7. Out of the three which is best? I know the T9 and W70 are newer but the specs for the P200 seem better.

Also, will there be a replacement for the p200? I'm willing to wait a bit before I buy but haven't seen anything mentioned about a replacement.

Thanks.

As I've posted elsewhere. I'm sure there may be better digicams but not better values. It's quick, built nice and takes very good 7 meg pixel pictures, all in a $200 camera.

I'm glad to see you bought the P200. I have it and LOVE it. I actually sold my Nikon D70 after I got this - not to say it compares in every way, but it fits in my pocket and I get killer shots from it - more detail than the T-series, of which I've owned all of except the T30. I also had the Canon S400, by the way. This is better, to me.

I also have the wide angle from Tiffen - the .75 one that is discontinued. DON'T get the Tiffen .45 or .5 - bad blur on the edges. The .75 is fantastic, though. I love having this option, alomng with 7.2mp, optical VF, custom white balance, and infity focus setting. I also get less red-eye shots. The onlt thing that would make it perfect would be optical image stabilzer. And perhaps a 2 second self timer. I hate it when they don;t give you that option on a small camera, as you end up using the tripod a bunch and don't want to wait 10 seconds.

I also have a UV filter on it at all times now - I just keep the extender dapter on. Protects the lens and I don't get any dust on the sensor. BTW: if you ever get dust particles in your pics, don't freak out - just blow into the lens gently, as it's extended. I've only had the issue twice and it worked great!

I've sold a lot of my friends on this camera - they're all VERY happy with it. Defintely the best value for your money out there right now. And I've had 26 digital cameras, to date.

--
Sony R1, Sony P200

The P200 sounds like the camera to get over the current crop. I'm just curious if a newer version will be out soon or why the W70/W100 doesn't have the manual features of the P200.

How is the battery life?

Battery life for me is excellent. I rarely, if ever, run out even on long days out shooting everything in sight. Defintely not an issue.

I think they've stopped the P series, for whatever reason. Who knows... maybe next year they'll come out with a newer model, but...

I agree with the W series - irritating that they don't have manual controls - and believe me, they come in handy under certain circumstances.

--
Sony R1, Sony P200

Yes so agree with the battery life and meter. As Canon owners know, they refuse to for whatever reason offer a battery meter with their point and shoot digicams only a low battery warning which basically means you have three pictures left. As a consequence I was constantly topping off the battery between uses. With the P200, I can actually run the battery down before recharging although it takes some time.

I was really hoping the Panasonic FX-01 would be my next digicam with WA and image stablization but the noise factor does it in for me. For that reason now that I own the P200 I think I may indeed buy the converter and wide angle attachment lens. Although IS would be nice, battery life and image quality with this cam are sufficient enough so that in all likelihood, it will be my candid point and shoot for quite some time.

The telephoto lense is awesome. I've been able to take some really great pictures, despite being in the top row in the bleachers. I've learned to capture some stable pictures by holding it in my hand rather than tote a tripod with me. Good luck with your camera. You'll capture so many wonderful memories.

Thanks for all the advice, am going to try the camera out in town later hopefully.