Trip camera

I posted a general question in the beginners forum now I'm quite sure I've narrowed my choice down to the Panasonic Lumix brand.

I'm not a serious photographer not do I really want to be. I want to bring back memories from my first trip to the UK. I have no interest in video nor do I think I'll need to reach out and touch something with mega zoom.

I would like something that will fit in a pocket or small non dedicated bag/purse, wide angle, and the best possible results right out of the camera.

Thanks,
Gregg

Have you considered a Lumix ZS1? Amazon has them for $185. The ZS3 has gone up in price since the new crop of cameras came out but the ZS1 is still reasonably priced. It has the same image quality as the ZS3. The LCD sceen is slightly smaller and it doesn't have HD video.

From the point of lens quality, Panasonic does seem to have an edge, plus there don't seem to be any duds optically in the lineup. You might want to look at the FH1 which is very light and compact and has a 5X zoom. Also the FS series that preceded it are still available and are fine performers - FS7 etc. and may be available very economically. Realistically, a 4 - 5X zoom is all one needs for the usual scenic to portrait uses.

One quirk of Panasonics is that the Review function is still usually a switch rather than a button push with instant return to picture taking mode with a press of the shutter. In the menu you can select 'review hold' which holds the last pic taken until you touch the shutter again.

They also have an on/off switch instead of a button. Thus they don't inadvertently turn on in your pocket.

I'm really not up on the very latest camers but I got a Lumix LZ8 lastr year to have a pocketable camera for shipboard use and it worked out quite well. It was $100 on Amazon. I took this one with it recently.

Jack



--
http://www.pbase.com/jbrandt

I would recommend the ZS3, or it's replacement, the newer ZS7, if you can't find the ZS3 available for considerably less than the ZS7.

These are simply excellent cameras which are among the most versatile cameras you can buy and they are still fairly small, although not sub compact sized. They have large high resolution LCD's and an amazing optical zoom range of 25 wide to 300 mm telephoto (in 35 mm equivalent) at full resolution, plus take excellent HD (720p) video. And they still can fit in a pocket or small bag.

I got the ZS3 for $250 with leather case and 2 GB SD card included several months ago (at Costco, but I don't think they have any left now) and consider it an amazing bargain at that price.

If I could only take one camera with me on a trip, the ZS3 would be it.
--
Peter

ZS3 or ZS 7 because you'll find you really do want the long zoom and versatility in a travel camera.

Travels is what the ZS/TZ cameras were made for.

Gregg B. said:

I would like something that will fit in a pocket or small non dedicated bag/purse, wide angle, and the best possible results right out of the camera.

Click to expand...

.

I had the same need and got me a TZ7 ( ZS3 in the US), which does everything I need in spades. See if this kind of quality and versatility is what you want (click on the images for them to expand to full size):

ZS3 (TZ7) @ 25 mm, using Panorama Assist mode, handheld:
(unretouched & unprocessed)



.

ZS3 (TZ7) @ 300 mm, handheld, unretouched & unprocessed:



.

If desired, you can see hundreds of additional high-quality pictures I've shot with my TZ7 (ZS3) at the link immediately below in mi signature:

-
See my Lumix ZS3 (TZ7) pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/mirepapa/

Thank you all. With only about $50.00 difference in price I'll be ordering a ZS7. wish me luck!

Gregg

Now that a camera decision has been made what size SD cards would be recommended for travel usage? I would think it prudent to spread the wealth so if a card were lost or damaged All would not be lost.

I would think that the LCD screen should be protected as well, at least from scratches. Suggestions?

Thanks again for the help I've received here.

Gregg

There are screen protectors available. I saw a few on eBay, not very expensive. They look like a clear self sticking plastic. Regards. Douglas Hess

Would GPS tagging be a useful feature as you are taking it on your travels? If so, the obvious choice is the lumix TZ10.

ZS7 is the US version of TZ10, correct?

Yes, and you're in the same position as I.

I have some wonderful shots on the boat from Westminster Pier to Hampton Court but I can no longer identify a specific small bridge or large estate I shot along the way. Very frustrating. I'm considering a ZS-7 just for that purpose but it will have to come down more as my ZS-3 is less than a year old.

The ZS-3 did a wonderful job last trip to London. I took both DSLR kit (with too many lenses) and the ZS-3. I was shocked at how many times the Panny came out of the pocket and the SLR stayed in the sling bag.

Have fun and keep shooting!

The ZR3 is considerably lighter and smaller than the ZS7. The advantages of the ZS7 are the extra zoom and manual controls, which you said you don't care about. The one advantage of the ZS7 which you may enjoy is the GPS, though that can drain your battery more than you'd like.

Other than that, out-of-camera photos taken in automatic mode are basically the same. I'd go with the ZR3 (or ZR1, which is a year older and a bit cheaper) based on your first post.

A ZS7 should be here this coming week along with an extra battery. What would be my best bet for SD cards?

Thanks,
Gregg

There are many screen protectors available from flimsy and cheap to strong thin glass. From all I've read in these fora, the most recommended non-glass ones are Clarivue and Boxwave. (See their ...com sites.) They come in regular (very clear and transparent) and anti-glare which is I gather kind of like glossy and cuts resolution and contrast a little bit but greatly reduces glare in strong lighting indoors or out. (I await delivery of a pair of Clarivue anti-glare protectors.)

Gregg B. said:

Now that a camera decision has been made what size SD cards would be recommended for travel usage? I would think it prudent to spread the wealth so if a card were lost or damaged All would not be lost.

Click to expand...

I think a few 8 or 16 GB cards should do the trick. Personally, I like the idea of having back up just in case. If you plan to have internet access, sometimes it's good to upload your photos to an online sharing site, like smugmug. I use a 30 GB ipod to back up my cameras when traveling. You can buy all kinds of portable drives for this purpose. You can also go to a camera store and have dvd's made as backup as well. You see, the cost just keeps going up. And you thought the camera was the biggest decision. ;-)

Gregg B. said:

I would think that the LCD screen should be protected as well, at least from scratches. Suggestions?

Click to expand...

I use the Hoodman skin ( http://www.hoodmanusa.com/products.asp?dept=1058 ) on all my cameras.

Have a great trip. Be sure to post some photos when you return.
Daniel

--
http://danielsonkin.smugmug.com/

Gregg B. said:

A ZS7 should be here this coming week along with an extra battery. What would be my best bet for SD cards?

Click to expand...

Congrats on getting a really fun gadget!

I've had good cost-performance results with Transcend cards.
You can get one with a handy card reader (USB). Much better than
often using the tiny connector (they are only good for x number
of careful insertions) on the camera. The Transcend USB reader
is much smaller than the cable.
I also like PhotoFast cards.
I had bad luck (as have many people) with A-Data.

You need at least Class 6 cards if you are going to shoot any
video. I would have at least three cards, one empty and always
in the camera bag or on your person. One day -- collapse into bed
then out before dawn -- you will have taken out a card for back up
and then leave without a card :x in the camera.

The size of card depends on the max. number of shots you plan
to be taking. 3 x 4 GB or 2 x 4 and 1 x 8 GB may do you.
For my FZ28, I bought several cards, including a 16 GB card,
but the most I've ever shot before emptying the card more than
was just over 6 GB (about 2000 pics). You are unlikely to shoot
more than 4 GB in a day, but if you are going to be unable
to backup for several days, 16 GB may make sense.

As others already advised, keep the cards empty, backup your photos
ASAP to other media (preferably two backups). Sites like Flickr and
SmugMug exist for backup.

Another thing you might consider is getting one or two microSD cards
with adpater for full size SDHC. When you return from travelling you
might be able to use MicroSD in your current or future cell phone or
digital audio player.

When you get your cards, verify them them with H2testw v1.4
(free software for Windows -- You want to see "Test finished
without errors") or other means (filling the card with
video -- at which point you start thinking about a
small tripod -- is quite a good test).

Transcend Class Six 8 GB [TS8GBSDHC6]
Test finished without errors.
Writing speed: 8.75 MByte/s
Reading speed: 18.5 MByte/s
H2testw v1.4

Not stellar, but I'm sure it's fast enough for
HD video (and in-camera performance
is probably faster)

Another card .
Photofast (Dual Channel) Extreme Pro 16 GB [DC SDHC 16GB]
Warning: Only 15731 of 15732 MByte tested.
Test finished without errors.
Writing speed: 13.9 MByte/s
Reading speed: 18.4 MByte/s
H2testw v1.4

Benefits of SDHC card reader:
-- the risk of damage and wear to the tiny USB connector
on the camera is lessened
-- time is saved when transferring files*1
-- battery charge is saved*2, extending the useful life of batteries
-- 8 or 16 GB SDHC card + reader doubles as high-capacity,
high-speed thumb drive

[For FZ28]
1 My tests show that the camera is three times
slower -- 42 min vs 14 min to transfer 16 GB -- than
the Transcend S5 USB SDHC card reader.
2 Battery is run down because LCD stays on during
transfer.

I also think that a single spare battery is cutting it fine. The FZ7
doesn't have a viewfinder, so the LCD will get used a lot.
Until you get used to the camera, it will probably be hard to
really cut down on LCD usage.

Looking forward to seeing some of the shots from your trip.
--



If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.