Need advice on point + shoot camera

[buh_buh]

I'm going travelling in a few months, and need a new camera to take with me. Since I'll be doing a lot of backpacking and moving around I'm mostly looking for a camera that is compact in size, but can also take decent pictures. I don't expect it to be able to take professional looking pictures or anything, just something that isn't too much of a PITA to carry around with me all the time and optical zoom is a must (not a fan of digital zoom at all). Water resistant would be nice, but not a requirement. I'd be willing to spend upwards of $500ish on this camera, but would rather spend less (who wouldnt?). Any suggestions are welcome to this extreme camera n00b.

[saiyajin]

Canon SD630

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/prodde...gon=&langid=EN

[turboMiata]

none of the point and shoots will be water resistant. what about the Canon S3 IS? crap, i know nothing about these things.

[lint]

there is a pentax that is water resistant, can take it underwater about 15 feet I think. A friend of mine picked it up at costco last year. He was ok with the image quality. They didn't look stellar, but he did get the shots.

I like the canon's myself, but do a quick search on dpreview, they usually have pretty comprehensive camera reviews.

[EG STyLeZ]

if you want something small, compact and durable that'll take decent quality pictures, check out the olympus 720sw. it's waterproof up to 10 feet AND shockproof up to 5 feet! i think it retails around $450.

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_...stylus720.html

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/prodde...32&catid=22474

[buh_buh]

wow that Olympus looks exactly like what I'm looking for. Thanks. On the best buy site it says theres a 3x optical zoom, but it only mentions digital zoom on some other websites. Anybody know for sure? Do you think the price will come down a bit anytime soon?

[muse017]

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_se...duct=1225&fl=4

if this is what you are looking for...it has 3x optical zoom and 5x digital zoom.
10ft waterproof, Digital Imagistabilization which is kinda useful on low light situation.

[muse017]

Also check this out..
http://www.pentax.ca/digital/digital...hp?gal=1&pic=4

I am not a big fan of canon when it comes down to P&S cameras..haha..

[nosegrindR]

this is kind of an off-topic question, but how can companies claim that they have an optical zoom when the lens doesn't physically move? isn't that the whole point behind optical zoom? (sony cybershot's for example, claim that they have 3x optical zoom)

can anybody clarify their claims? or are they just marketing BS to people who don't know their stuff...

[Mitsu3000gt]

Originally posted by nosegrindR
this is kind of an off-topic question, but how can companies claim that they have an optical zoom when the lens doesn't physically move? isn't that the whole point behind optical zoom? (sony cybershot's for example, claim that they have 3x optical zoom)

can anybody clarify their claims? or are they just marketing BS to people who don't know their stuff...

Some lenses have internally moving pieces, so it is moving, it just isn't growing in size as you zoom in more. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

[Ichigo]

SD800 IS - its about $550ish, it has a wider angle shot to let you take better scenic pics. And has Imagestabalizer.

[EG STyLeZ]

Originally posted by Mitsu3000gt


Some lenses have internally moving pieces, so it is moving, it just isn't growing in size as you zoom in more. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

yeah that's exactly right. the 'folding' lens doesn't move in or out of the camera body. instead, it moves inside the camera body. it's similar to camcorders. they have huge optical zooms, but nothing comes in our out of the camcorder because it all moves inside the body.