Re: Fuji Finepix / Canon Powershot / Kodak Easyhare ...

On Sat, 07 Jan 2006 11:00:01 GMT, David J Taylor wrote:

> We have different preferences on batteries, although I wouldn't put it as
> strong as a disagreement, simply making a different choice. A
> "disagreement" sounds as if it needs to be settled one way or the other,
> whereas a preference does not.

Well, it may not have been you, but I recall someone here being
quite vociferous about how big a problem AA batteries were, always
ending up rolling on the floor, not being able to power cameras very
long, so I tend to notice when people simply state a preference.
All battery types have their strong and weak points. If I could be
assured that all cameras that used lithium rechargeables would be
able to easily get inexpensive replacements for at least the next 40
or 50 years (whether I want to continue using the camera or not),
I'd be much more inclined to not consider AA batteries so favorably.
Sony uses very small "gumstick" rechargeable batteries in some of
their products, such as players and MiniDisc and CD players. They
are available (but not interchangeable) as either NiMH or Lithium.
But the NiMH gumsticks (which last year were improved from 1100mah
to 1400mah) understandably last only 1/2 as long as NiMH AA cells
that power the same products, are very difficult to find, and cost
more than 10 times as much. I think Sony has now reduced the price
to $20 each. Standard, readily available, inexpensive lithium
batteries don't yet exist. When they do, I'll be all for them.


> I don't accept that the speed gain by improved sensitivity (if any) of the
> Fuji over other models in its class is anything like as much as the speed
> gain available through image stabilisation (IS). The best IS systems
> offer three stops, gains through a better CCD one stop at most. We will
> see all manufacturers using better CCDs as time progresses, and I'm
> delighted to see Fuji leading the way.

Does the Panasonic camera you recommended offer the full three
stops advantage? The better CCD in the Fuji F10 seems to have
provided more than a one stop improvement. If we assume that the
Panasonic FZ5 consistently provides a 2 stop advantage, and the
S5200/S5600's better sensor only provides a 1 stop advantage, then
yes, the FZ5 has a 1 stop advantage over the S5200. But still, only
applicable to camera shake. For subject movement the Fuji would
have a 1 stop advantage over the Panasonic. Whichever you prefer,
the difference is not very great, and that's why it seems
unreasonable to say that you'd never recommend a camera with 10x
zoom that doesn't offer IS. There are so many other factors to
consider. Where it would be easier to make a choice is if Panasonic
offered two models, one with and one without IS, but were otherwise
identical.


> Of course, if you need the faster shutter speed for stopping subject
> movement, image-stabilisation will not help you. However, I have been
> surprised by the number of times it /does/ help you - even with wide-angle
> lenses, For example, you are shooting at ISO 100 to minimise noise. On a
> dark winter's day here the exposure outdoors with a darer subject can be
> as low as 1/8s even at a reasonable aperture. Having the IS there can
> make all the difference, even with a wide-angle lens. Yes, at times you
> can brace using available objects and surfaces, but many times you cannot.

But that's conveniently avoiding the advantage that a better
sensor provides. You can shoot at ISO 200 and 400 with very little
noise, which would allow you to use a faster shutter speed. If this
is a sticking point in the selection of a camera, a good DSLR that
can take low noise shots at ISO 800 or higher would be needed.


> It's through actual field experience of using cameras both with and
> without IS that I make my strong recommendation.

There's nothing wrong with your preference, but all too often
when someone makes recommendations to others, they'll either leave
out weak points (such as noisier sensors, among other things) or
fail to mention advantages other cameras might have. I'd be much
more likely to accept the advice of someone that said "If you need a
camera that can do A, the Panasonic FZ5 is ideal, but if you need it
to do B, the Kodak P850 is more suitable for what you want." When
one camera model is always recommended, the tendency is to think
"Yeah, I had a feeling you'd say that." <g>

.

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