Casio Z1000 - good choice?

[sym7]

I'm just about to leap into the world of digital cameras for the first time. I know very little about them but have been told that the Casio Exilim Z1000 is a good choice. Before I buy it does anyone have any experience with this camera - is it any good? If not, can anyone recommend another slim digital camera with high quality pictures and video?

[Imperialism2024]

sym7 said:

I'm just about to leap into the world of digital cameras for the first time. I know very little about them but have been told that the Casio Exilim Z1000 is a good choice. Before I buy it does anyone have any experience with this camera - is it any good? If not, can anyone recommend another slim digital camera with high quality pictures and video?

The noise is horrible, IMO. As long as the camera has 5 megapixels of resolution, you'll have enough for crystal clear prints up to about 12"x18". It's a common myth that more megapixels increase the overall image quality. The most important factors in a P&S camera are the following, in decreasing order:

1) Ergonomics: How does the camera feel in your hands? Do you have to strain your fingers to reach buttons? Is the grip comfortable? Will you feel comfortable carrying it around? Can you live with how it looks?

2) Lens Quality: Does it list Nikkor ED, Canon, Minolta APO, Olympus ED, Schneider, or Leica on or near the lens? If not, you'll lose contrast, saturation, and other desirable photo qualities. The lens should extend and retract, as the pinhole-lens cameras have incredibly tiny lenses that allow too little light to the sensor to get better image quality. So, look for one of the terms listed, and make sure the lens is large enough to have to physically come in and out of the body. The larger the lens diameter, the better.

3) Optical Zoom range: First, if anyone mentions digital zoom to you as a "feature", ignore everything else they say about cameras: they are ignorant. Digital zoom is advertising. If you don't have a preference for how close you can get a subject, get a 3x optical zoom. If the camera features a "wide angle" lens, 5x optical zoom is the same as a 3x zoom in other cameras. If you care about getting closer to your subject, get a 6x optical zoom. If you want to get very close to your subject, i.e. for wilderness or sports shots, get a 10x optical zoom or higher. If you want long range indoor shots, get a DSLR.

4) Image Stabilization: Any camera with a telephoto zoom 6x or higher, make sure the camera has image stabilization. Any respectable camera with a high optical zoom with have image stabilization.

5) Battery: If you have a choice, and you're going to be using the camera frequently, pick a camera with a lithium ion battery, unless you work at a battery factory and can steal pallets of AA cells. If you're not going to be using the camera frequently, don't get one. Stick to film.

That being said, I would recommend looking at the following camera series for a decent all-around slim camera:
-Canon SD*** series. Current models: SD450, SD500, SD550, SD600, SD630, SD700IS
-Panasonic Lumix FX* series. Current models: FX7, FX8, FX9
-Nikon Coolpix select models. Current models: 5900, 7900
-Kodak V*** series. Current models: V550, V603, NOT V570
-Sony W** series. Current models: W30, W50, W70, W100


-Derek

[jodypress]

have a look here: www.photographyblog.com/reviews_casio_exilim_ex_z1000.php

you should also mention that Casio have been using the Pentax lens system for a while, and it is very effective, as well as good quality.

i have been using an elixim for a couple of years. the reason being, it had a quick startup to shoot time, and NO time lag when using the flash. a big problem with snapshot style cameras (especially digital ones)

i never got that when using hassleblad's and metz's or my old T90

[sym7]

Imperialism2024 said:

sym7 said:

I'm just about to leap into the world of digital cameras for the first time. I know very little about them but have been told that the Casio Exilim Z1000 is a good choice. Before I buy it does anyone have any experience with this camera - is it any good? If not, can anyone recommend another slim digital camera with high quality pictures and video?

The noise is horrible, IMO. As long as the camera has 5 megapixels of resolution, you'll have enough for crystal clear prints up to about 12"x18". It's a common myth that more megapixels increase the overall image quality. The most important factors in a P&S camera are the following, in decreasing order:

1) Ergonomics: How does the camera feel in your hands? Do you have to strain your fingers to reach buttons? Is the grip comfortable? Will you feel comfortable carrying it around? Can you live with how it looks?

2) Lens Quality: Does it list Nikkor ED, Canon, Minolta APO, Olympus ED, Schneider, or Leica on or near the lens? If not, you'll lose contrast, saturation, and other desirable photo qualities. The lens should extend and retract, as the pinhole-lens cameras have incredibly tiny lenses that allow too little light to the sensor to get better image quality. So, look for one of the terms listed, and make sure the lens is large enough to have to physically come in and out of the body. The larger the lens diameter, the better.

3) Optical Zoom range: First, if anyone mentions digital zoom to you as a "feature", ignore everything else they say about cameras: they are ignorant. Digital zoom is advertising. If you don't have a preference for how close you can get a subject, get a 3x optical zoom. If the camera features a "wide angle" lens, 5x optical zoom is the same as a 3x zoom in other cameras. If you care about getting closer to your subject, get a 6x optical zoom. If you want to get very close to your subject, i.e. for wilderness or sports shots, get a 10x optical zoom or higher. If you want long range indoor shots, get a DSLR.

4) Image Stabilization: Any camera with a telephoto zoom 6x or higher, make sure the camera has image stabilization. Any respectable camera with a high optical zoom with have image stabilization.

5) Battery: If you have a choice, and you're going to be using the camera frequently, pick a camera with a lithium ion battery, unless you work at a battery factory and can steal pallets of AA cells. If you're not going to be using the camera frequently, don't get one. Stick to film.

That being said, I would recommend looking at the following camera series for a decent all-around slim camera:
-Canon SD*** series. Current models: SD450, SD500, SD550, SD600, SD630, SD700IS
-Panasonic Lumix FX* series. Current models: FX7, FX8, FX9
-Nikon Coolpix select models. Current models: 5900, 7900
-Kodak V*** series. Current models: V550, V603, NOT V570
-Sony W** series. Current models: W30, W50, W70, W100


-Derek

Derek,
this is brilliantly helpful - thank you. I think I would have been taken in by some of the marketing gumph - your comments will guide me in the right direction. Thanks for taking the time to send this detailed message.
-Colin.

[Imperialism2024]

sym7 said:

Derek,
this is brilliantly helpful - thank you. I think I would have been taken in by some of the marketing gumph - your comments will guide me in the right direction. Thanks for taking the time to send this detailed message.
-Colin.

You're welcome. I repeated it several times daily while working in P&S camera sales, even though my company pushed the typical digital camera purchasing myths. Maybe that's one of the reasons I no longer work for that company...

At any rate, let us know which model you finally select. And make sure to post lots of pictures

-Derek