[vivekiny2k]

Hi all,
Since the market keeps changing, I am posting an age old Q again. I have an S2 IS, and may have an opportunity to upgrade.

I like things like macro, long exposures for night shots, long zooms, adapters for filters etc. But I can't handle DSLRs for the complication in cleaning, storing, setting up for a pic.

Can somebody just list out the best Prosumer/P&S cameras in market at this time? I will do the research myself.
(anything better than S2 IS will do)

[tsk1979]

The best prosumer cameras(If you talk about sensor and IQ) are built by Fuji. The best colors, the best noise handling the best exposure. I wish my Canon 350D had a sensor as great as the Fuji's

But while the image quality is great, they will flounder on things like execution, miss out some silly feature etc., etc.,


That said they are the only Prosumer cams where you can push to high ISO without worrying about getting useless output, push the dynamic range without clipping highlights and go to long exposures without having your panorama awash with hot pixels.

Do I sound like an advert for Fuji? Well I don't own one, and neither intend to(I am married to canon system), but the samples and reviews I have seen are great.

Many pro shooters I know of carry the tiny F31fd from fuji as their pocket cam, and the 9000 series as the backup cam.

[vivekiny2k]

hm, I am keeping fuji S9000 and S700 on my watch then. I have had a fuji A310 long time back. loved it.

[navin]

Originally Posted by Samurai

That is because with Olympus you are buying a superb body (60%), one high grade lens and one standard lens...it usually takes 6 months, is the wait worth the 20% reduction?
Olympus Zuiko EC-14, 1.4x E-ED Digital Tele Converter

does it make more sense to get the non-SWD 50-200 and TC or the 70-300?

Originally Posted by gkrishn

1. 1x-2x (10-22canon, 10-20sigma, 12-24 tokina) price $500 to 680$
2. 50/1.8 (80$)
3. 70-300IS/70-200f4L (550$)
Any reason why you are not looking at 400d(570$)? With 400d, this kit should cost approx around 2000$. You can even get a external flash(430ex - 240$) in this budget.

The 10-22 is too slow and I dont need a super wide. I just need 24-70/2.8 IS. My Nikon 24-85/2.8-4 was very good on my F80. 10mm willl give me 16mm (FF equivalent) you will get a lot of distortion at that range. Nikon 17-55/1.6 IS on a 1.5 crop almost fits but best Nikon body I can afford is the D80 (not even the D200) partly becasue the Nikon lens is $300 more expensive than the Canon 17-55/2.8 IS.

so really my choice is either the Nikon D80 with the 17-55/2.8 IS or the Oly E3 with the 12-60/2.8-4 SWD in either case the long zoom would be a $400-500 70-300/4-5.6.

Canon's 1.6 crop makes the 17mm a bit too tall. 15mm would have been perfect but I would have grudgingly tolerated even 16mm (25.5mm FF) like I amd doing the Nikon 17-55 on the D80.

Originally Posted by vivekiny2k

I like things like macro, long exposures for night shots, long zooms, adapters for filters etc.

Oly 560UZ, Fuji S8000fd or best of all the Sony R1 (big sensor and 24mm wide!)

[navin]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

I think waiting for E-3 prices to fall is a good idea.
you can go the other route also.
1. Canon 10-22mm
2. Canon 17-85
3. Canon 70-200F4 L IS.

My fesr is by the time prices fall a $1500 Full Frame and 24-70 2.8 IS from Canon will be imminent and I'll be waitng again! :-)

I used the 17-85 and it a triffle slow and a triffle tall. and I cant change lenses while chasing kids. the 17-55 is faster but still a triffle tall (3-4mm on FF is a lot at the wide end).

Originally Posted by Samurai

it usually takes 6 months, is the wait worth the 20% reduction?

Some expect that withing a year Canon will have a $1500 FF camera. Then if I take that with a 24-70/2.8 (by then it will have IS as well) and a 70-300/IS I am set but I have to wait!

With a D80 and 17-55/2.8 ($2100) or Oly E3 and 12-60/2.8-4 SWD ($2500 but in a few months expect $2300). I dont! I get 24mm (ok 25mm on the Nikon) today!

There are no known comparisions of the above mentioned Nikon and Oly combinations. are they?

[tsk1979]

What canon comes out with will be clear at the PMA. There is a replacement for the 400D in the offing also probably.

[gkrishn]

Originally Posted by navin

There are no known comparisions of the above mentioned Nikon and Oly combinations. are they?

Hmm... So you need a true 24mm which is fast(2.8) with IS. Okie, i don't think there exist a option in canon, unless you go for FF. There is a 17-55 with IS and is a 2.8. But that is about 27mm.

[navin]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

What canon comes out with will be clear at the PMA. There is a replacement for the 400D in the offing also probably.

With Canon's 1.6 crop sensor I dont see them producing a "24-70/2.8" lens. their 17-55 is equivalent to a "28-90/2.8".

hence the option will be to wait for a $1500 full frame body and an IS verion of the 24-70/2.8. Canon has 100 service centers in India compared to only a handful for Nikon and 3?? for Oly.

So far the Oly looks like my best bet. Just waiting for Samu to wake up and ask him a few questions about the Oly like if the 70-300 is any good (atleast as sharp as the NikCan 70-300/4-5.6 VR/IS or should i wait for the 50-200 SWD, etc...

Canon 5D vs Nikon D300 - RPS Forum

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by navin

does it make more sense to get the non-SWD 50-200 and TC or the 70-300?

The only real difference between non-SWD and SWD version of 50-200 is the AF speed. The non-SWD 50-200mm is so good by itself, I rarely use the TC on it. The TC costs 1 stop and some sharpness too. I am not sure about buying 70-300mm for myself, I might buy it for longer reach, but I don't expect it to be as sharp as the 50-200mm. Actually 50-200mm is the best glass I have, and I use it very frequently. Knowing Zuiko standard lenses, I think 70-300mm will be vey good, but it won't be any closer to 50-200mm.

If considering E3, the 12-60mm SWD and 50-200mm non-SWD is a superior bet. The 70-300 being still new, not much performance data is available.

[navin]

Originally Posted by Samurai

If considering E3, the 12-60mm SWD and 50-200mm non-SWD is a superior bet. The 70-300 being still new, not much performance data is available.

What will the E3, 12-60 SWD, 50-200 cost in India. Does the E3 come with a battery pack. All the pics I see of it look like it has a battery pack attached to it's bottom.

[tsk1979]

Best of luck in trying to find that combo in India.
Market price of E-3 is expected to be around 75-80K with bill and 2 years warranty.
As for the lenses, it depends whether you can source them easily.
If possible get it from HK etc.,

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by navin

What will the E3, 12-60 SWD, 50-200 cost in India. Does the E3 come with a battery pack. All the pics I see of it look like it has a battery pack attached to it's bottom.

Checkout the rebates man...

261002 Olympus Zuiko 50mm - 200mm f/2.8-3.5 E-ED Digital Zoom Lens for the E Digital SLR System.
261014 Olympus Zuiko 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 Digital ED SWD Lens for Olympus Digital SLR Cameras
Olympus Evolt E-3 10.1 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera Body with 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 Digital Zoom Lens

You can get E3 + 12-60 combo for $2500 + 50-200mm for $695 at Adorama (after Olympus rebate). Olympus has Worldwide warranty.
That's $3195 if you can buy through US route. I really don't know about Indian prices.

[amohit]

OT: Not sure if its been talked abt here before.
Off late, my camera(Canon A80) batteries(Canon 2100 mA) are discharging very quickly. Not sure if there is somehting wrong with the camera(3 yrs old) or the batteries(3 yrs old). Is there a way to test the batteries before I invest in a new set.
Also is any one aware of any Canon service center here in bangalore?

Regards,

[Hellcat]

Canon Service center is on CMH Road Indiranagar, opposite Shanti Sagar.

[navin]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Checkout the rebates man...
You can get E3 + 12-60 combo for $2500 + 50-200mm for $695...That's $3195 if you can buy through US route. I really don't know about Indian prices.

US route might be possible. I have to ask friends but wont they have to pay duty on entry into india? What if somone came into india with such a combo would not customs ask him to either declare it and return with it or pay duty?

My boss is due to come in early Jan. If he is travelling with his CEO they would be able to manage it.

Originally Posted by amohit

OT: Not sure if its been talked abt here before.
Off late, my camera(Canon A80) batteries(Canon 2100 mA) are discharging very quickly.

maybe the batteries have lost their memory. try using the camera with a fresh set of batteries.