Compact camera with Optical Zoom

Greg_M

Greg_M

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My daughter is looking for a point and shoot compact camera, with a digital zoom.
My budget is somewhat stretched at the moment (sub 5k)... but by options seem to be limited in SA at the moment...

Only real option (reviews are mixed) seems to be the Kodak Pixpro FZ55... which I'm happy to get... Just wondering if I'm missing other options?
 
first, what is this camera to be used for? then we can discuss different options
 
I promise you an iPhone is 100x better than an el cheapo tiny camera. I've bought tiny cameras that could fit in my top pocket (before iPhone's) but now that Casio camera is in the cupboard never used in years as phone cameras are on another level.

Camera phones are incredible, the technology and image quality is vastly superior.

You will be wasting your money hands down, sorry to say but that is technology.
 
PCWARITM said:
www.bobshop.co.za

Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Digital Camera 16.0 MP with 30x Wide-Angle Optical IS Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD | bobshop.co.za

Buy Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Digital Camera 16.0 MP with 30x Wide-Angle Optical IS Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD for R2,450.00
www.bobshop.co.za www.bobshop.co.za
Click to expand...
great camera, but I wouldn't exactly call it "compact", similar in size to my SX50 HS, there are proper compact Canon Powershot cameras though as below

Wrath of Khan MD said:
Camera phones are incredible, the technology and image quality is vastly superior.
Click to expand...
compact cameras aren't "tiny", this will beat the pants off any iPhone camera any day of the week without breaking a sweat:
www.ormsdirect.co.za

Canon PowerShot SX740 HS LITE EDITION (Black)

The Canon PowerShot SX740 HS LITE EDITION with its 20.3MP CMOS sensor and 40x optical zoom, this all-in-one point-and-shoot is comfortably capable of capturing subjects far away, or nearby. Assisting in keeping images stable, sharp, and in focus, the far end of the 24-960mm zoom range (35mm...
www.ormsdirect.co.za www.ormsdirect.co.za

yes iPhone technically has a higher resolution sensor, but it is physically tiny, using software tricks to mitigate physical shortcomings, and its 4x optical zoom vs 40x is not even in the same ballpark ... software tricks can't make up for the lack of a proper lens
 
All depends what she wants to do.
For 5k or less you will not get anything much better than the iPhone.
Rather look for a decent secondhand camera.
Then it depends what she want to do.
If zoom is important for birds and animals etc. Get something like a Canon SX50 or SX60. These will not fit in a pocket.
If she want something for better quality pictures and long zoom not that important but must fit in pocket. Get a small compact with 1 inch sensor.
If size and long zoom not that important, you can get nice older DSLR cameras with a lens for under 5k
 
NarrowBandFtw said:
compact cameras aren't "tiny", this will beat the pants off any iPhone camera any day of the week without breaking a sweat:
Click to expand...
That Canon PowerShot SX740 HS has a lot going for it optically but it's got a smaller sensor than my five year old iphone.
 
bwana said:
That Canon PowerShot SX740 HS has a lot going for it optically but it's got a smaller sensor than my five year old iphone.
Click to expand...
11? Apple has gone up and down in sensor sizes, many including the 17 pro still have a 1/2.55 sensor which is smaller than the PowerShot
 
Wrath of Khan MD said:
I promise you an iPhone is 100x better than an el cheapo tiny camera. I've bought tiny cameras that could fit in my top pocket (before iPhone's) but now that Casio camera is in the cupboard never used in years as phone cameras are on another level.

Camera phones are incredible, the technology and image quality is vastly superior.

You will be wasting your money hands down, sorry to say but that is technology.
Click to expand...
I second, third and fourth this.
 
We've already used the "but you have an iPhone" argument... at the end of the day, for her, it's not necessarily about picture quality, but the experience... hence the budget... NOT forking out for an "experience"... she can do that herself when she's ready
 
NarrowBandFtw said:
11? Apple has gone up and down in sensor sizes, many including the 17 pro still have a 1/2.55 sensor which is smaller than the PowerShot
Click to expand...
DPReview says the Canon PowerShot SX740 HS has a (1/2.3") 28mm² sensor, my iPhone 13 has a 35.2mm², and the main iPhone 17 camera (1/1.28") is 71.5mm²
 
NarrowBandFtw said:
and yet both its ultrawide and telephoto sensors are 1/2.55"

which will kick in precisely as one opts for that 4x zoom to get into the kind of range the PowerShot's 40x plays in
Click to expand...
I did say optically the Powershot had a lot going for it, even if it doesn't measure up when it comes to the sensors.
 
Greg_M said:
We've already used the "but you have an iPhone" argument... at the end of the day, for her, it's not necessarily about picture quality, but the experience... hence the budget... NOT forking out for an "experience"... she can do that herself when she's ready
Click to expand...

ja, the experience is always awesome on cheap cameras! :ROFL:

500 ＢＬＵＲＲＹ ideas | blurry, aesthetic pictures, night aesthetic
 
@Greg_M

Your camera is on special at Orms for R2,595 if you are still interested. Orms is very reputable, zero worries. Or if you're in Cape Town you can walk in and buy it.

www.ormsdirect.co.za

Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 Digital Camera (Black)

Small and easy to use, the Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 Digital Zoom Friendly Camera is a point-and-shoot camera featuring a 28mm wide-angle lens with a 16MP 1/2.3" CMOS sensor and a 2.7" LCD screen. Along with a variety of detection features that include face and smile detection, the Kodak PIXPRO FZ 55...
www.ormsdirect.co.za www.ormsdirect.co.za
 
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