[RAILhead]

Gathering opinions and narrowing things down to two factors (all others are equal):

1. 8 megapixels with 3x optical zoom
2. 6 megapixels with a 10x optical zoom

Which would you go for?

[misc]

Canon.

Oh wait!

[brapper]

option b.

[DeathMan]

I'd go with 6mp. But if you plan on printing lots of really big prints, maybe you want 8mp.

6 will go pretty big, though.

[Dork.]

You want optical zoom. The more, the better.

Resolution only does two things for you: lets you print bigger pictures at the same quality level, and cover up for sensor and camera system quality glitches. What are you likely to want to print? 4x6? 5x7? 8x11? The difference between 3 MP and 6 MP might be enough to make a difference. But between 6 MP and 8 MP? not so much.

Optical Zoom means that you're using the full resolution of the sensor to take the picture, even when you zoom in. The camera optics are focusing a smaller region of the light on the entire sensor. This is a Good Thing. Digital Zoom means that the camera is zooming by "using" a smaller area of the sensor, and (maybe) interpolating to get back to the full-frame size. You probalby won't be happy with those pictures at much more than 2x zoom.

We have a Canon Digital Rebel 6MP SLR camera. (And by "We", I mean my wife, since she's the photographer.) That 6MP camera takes excellent pictures that can be blown up to full 8.5x11 size with no apparent loss in quality. (On good photo printers, too. Let's just say I have connections....) But she can use her Canon Rebel series lenses on that camera, so optical zoom is not a problem.

[RAILhead]

I'm leaning toward the 6mp option, too, especially since my current camera has 10x optical. FWIW, I'm looking at the Olympus SP-500 UZ: http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_se...p?product=1189

[KeriVit]

optical zoom rules.

[sek929]

Optical zoom all the way.

[OldManMac]

The megapixel difference can't be seen, so I would choose the smaller camera. I have a 4MP, 3X Optical, and a 4MP, 10X Optical, and I generally carry the smaller camera everywhere. The other one goes with me when I'm shooting distance stuff, like animals, farther out scenery, etc.

[RAILhead]

Here's the thing I'm "struggling" with, though:

I use the C-756 4MP 10X Optical and I want to shoot larger images. I'm trying to decide if I want 2 or 4 more MP.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

1. Get an SLR. Some are pretty cheap nowadays (prosumer Rebel, etc).
2. Get any optical zoom you want. Hell, get something small (28-80) now, and save up for a telephoto later.
3. Be better off.

That is all I have to say.

greg

[triskele]

I have the same camera, and I'd say 2 more is plenty. And besides the difference between 6 and 8MP unless you're blowing them up bigger than 8x10 isn't really noticable.

[Railroader]

I chose a 5MP camera with a 12X optical zoom over a 7MP camra with a 3X optical zoom. My theory was that I wasnt' shooting billboards or poster size prints, and a better optical zoom could get me "into the shot" better than cropping a larger resolution camera could.

With the more powerful zoom I can get a better shot because people are less concious of the camera and are more natural. People often comment "Taht is a good picture of me. I didn't even realize you were taking my picture, you were so far away."

Optical.

[climber]

I would second the recommendation to look at a DSLR. It is not about the megapixels or the zoom. When I look at some of your images on your web page, I see that you have both a desire and an eye for a good photo. I do not think a newer camera of the same type will help you much.

A DSLR will perform better in low light with less noise. You can also control the depth of field with it, which is very helpfull. If you want to take really good macro shots like you have on your web page this week, a dedicated macro lens will simply blow you away.

I am partial to the Nikon D50 or D70, But the Canon Digital rebel would also be a good choice.

Simply put the DSLR with an inexpensive kit lens will exceed any consumer digital camera out there. You then have the option of adding lenses to suit you needs. (sports, macro, etc.)

Keep the camera you have when you need something compact to carry around. Get a DSLR to use for everything else.

[RAILhead]

I've thought about dSLR, but they're just more than I want to spend for what I do. I should have clarified my reasoning for more MP better, too:

My 4MP gives me 2288px wide shots. I like to downscale my pics for use as desktop images and such, so let's say I scale to 1920px wide. A 6MP will give me 2816px wide (23% wider than 4MP) and it will look at bit better than the 4MP downscale if there's any artifacts or noise in the image.

That's where I was coming from as far as wanting more MP goes — and obviously, the 8MP would be the "best" for this specific example/circumstance.

[RAILhead]

sorry dp

[climber]

I understand, but at least consider this:

Spend $370 on a SP-500 and get a negligible improvement in your photos, or spend $800 on a D50 with lens and get a huge improvement with lots of expandability.

4mp is more than enough for for any desktop photo or print to 8x10. The Nikon D2Hs is only 4mp, but it has a higher effective resolution than an 8mp consumer camera. It definitely beats my D70 at 6mp.

Personally I would have a consumer camera that is small, rugged and portable. Something with a small zoom, so it would fit in a shirt pocket. Right now I also have an older 4mp Nikon coolpix camera. Since it is older it is not particularly compact by todays standards. If I were to replace it, I be more interested in smaller case, not higher a resolution sensor.

[turtle777]

The difference between 6 and 8 MP is a penis discussion.

Take the optical zoom.

-t

[RAILhead]

First off, thanks for all the posts — they've been extremely helpful. I'm now looking at the Panasonic DMC-FZ30, which is getting stellar reviews.

It's not only 8MP, but it's 12x optical and around $550. Of course, this open the discussion back to dSLR — but I'm having a hard time with the whole needing to buy 2 or 3 lenses to cover zoom, regular, macro, etc.

Too many choices...

[Goldfinger]

Depends on sensor size.

[RAILhead]

Originally Posted by Goldfinger

Depends on sensor size.

1/1.8"

[climber]

You do not need to get 2-3 lenses. Just start out with one good inexpensive lens. For macro work you can always use a close-up filter added to that.

[RAILhead]

Well, I bit the bullet and grabbed the the Panasonic DMC-FZ30. The reviews are great and I'll have 10 days to play with it to decide for sure.

[OreoCookie]

Nobody can answer your question, it all boils down to personal preference. These days, megapixel don't really matter to most of us. I have 5, and for what I do, I don't need more.

But the camera looks very nice, enjoy.

[KeriVit]

Originally Posted by RAILhead

Well, I bit the bullet

Pretty....

[badidea]

Originally Posted by RAILhead

Well, I bit the bullet and grabbed a LUMIX with Leica lens

Great choice!

[Dork.]

Originally Posted by OreoCookie

Nobody can answer your question, it all boils down to personal preference. These days, megapixel don't really matter to most of us. I have 5, and for what I do, I don't need more.

But the camera looks very nice, enjoy.

Actually, there are so many variables in what makes a good digital camera picture -- sensor performance, lens quality, image processing algorithms inside the camera itself -- that I think you can't really judge a digital camera on features alone. You need to try it out for a while, and see how good the pictures look to you, keeping in mind that the media you print it out on does make a difference. And if you find a brand that you like, odds are that their next camera will use similar sensors, lenses, and algorithms. So it is perfectly reasonable to ask your friends how they like their cameras and base a decision on what they brands they like and dislike.

As you evaluate the pictures, try sending a dozen or so to one of the outfits that make digital prints for you (like iPhoto). They likely have better output equipment than you have. Send a variety of prints (low light, high contrast, etc.) so that you can get a good feel about how the camera will perform over a variety of conditions.

[Sealobo]

i will choose which ever lense is sharper.

[Sealobo]

dp.