LighthouseKeepers.com

Looking for a new compact camera...

Posted By: Bob M

Looking for a new compact camera... - 07/22/11 05:57 PM

My Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 has died. All I get is distorted purplish-red images. It appears the CCD is now defective according to what I could find troubleshooting on the Net. Have any of you experience such a thing and do you know what it costs to repair?

I would like to purchase another compact digital camera but I would like to find one that has a viewfinder as well as the viewing screen. I'm finding it hard to compose a picture in the bright sunlight with just the screen. Any suggestions or advice?

Bob
Posted By: Mark Wagner

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 07/22/11 08:05 PM

I have had a Nikon S8000, for the past few years and have been very happy with it, It was dropped and broken last week and I just bought 2 of the cameras that are the next generation of my old camera, the new one is the S8100 (it is on sale at Best Buy at least thru Saturday @ $237.00) I think it would be a good buy just for it's camera ability's but it also shoots 1080p HD video of very good quality. I would suggest you give it some consideration when you narrow it down to a few.

Mark
Posted By: Bob M

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 07/26/11 11:53 AM

Thanks for the suggestion, Mark. I read up a little on it and it seems like a great camera.

I was in Best Buy last Friday and probably walked right by it. I was hoping to find a compact camera with a view finder but I'm beginning to realize that isn't going to happen. The rear screen can be tough to view in sunny conditions. Do you have any problems with that type of problem?

Bob
Posted By: WackoPaul

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 07/26/11 03:52 PM

Look at the Nikon COOLPIX P7000 if you want a compact camera with a viewfinder.. It is the newer version of what I call my dash-cam..
Posted By: Bob M

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 07/27/11 12:16 PM

Thanks for the tip, Paul. I know you're up-to-date on photo equipment and I will definitely add that camera to my list of possibilities. I guess I need to visit a camera shop and handle a few of these to see if I'm comfortable with one.

Bob
Posted By: WackoPaul

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 07/27/11 05:09 PM

It also has a hot shoe for a flash if you want to use a bounce flash with it instead of the little built-in flash..
Posted By: Bob M

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 07/29/11 12:46 PM

Hi Paul, ...I see Walmart has the CoolPix P7000 on sale for $374. If they have one in stock for that price I may buy it. No time for shipping because we will be leaving on vacation this afternoon.

Bob
Posted By: Bob M

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 07/31/11 12:02 PM

I went to two Walmarts and neither one had the P7000. I then went to Best Buy and they didn't have one either. Both offered to order it for me but I told them I wanted to see one in person first. The search continues.

Bob
Posted By: WackoPaul

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 07/31/11 03:55 PM

I don't know how near you are to East Cambridge, MA but they have a couple of camera stores that should have it. Ritz Camera and Calumet Photographic both in East Cambridge..
Posted By: Bob M

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/01/11 11:43 PM

Both those stores are north of Boston where I try to avoid, but if I can't find one to handle in person I may have to make the trip.

Bob
Posted By: Bob M

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/02/11 12:23 PM

Paul, ...What do you think about this camera. It does not have a viewfinder but certainly has a lot of technology built in.

Nikon COOLPIX S9100 12.1MP 4.1" 18x Optical Zoom Digital Camera

Let me know, thanks!

Bob
Posted By: WackoPaul

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/02/11 02:51 PM

It looks like it does everything but the dishes, Bob...
Posted By: Bob M

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/07/11 08:45 PM

Back from ten days at the Cape. The search for a new compact camera begins again!

Bob
Posted By: Bob M

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/13/11 01:40 PM

This week was too busy to continue the search for a compact digital camera. I may have to abandon the idea of one with a view finder. There are so many great options on the smaller cameras without a VF. Hoping for a sale at the right time!

:) Bob
Posted By: Bob M

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/17/11 01:13 AM

Hey Mark, ...Going to look at that Nikon S8100 tomorrow. It's on my radar right now, and on sale!

:) Bob
Posted By: Bob M

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/18/11 12:41 PM

I purchased a Nikon Coolpix S9100 yesterday. I needed a replacement for my now-defective Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3. This new camera has many creative options built in. I did some considerable shopping at BJ's, Best Buy, Walmart, etc. I finally purchased it at Best Buy where they honored their own web site price. I missed having a small camera with me and my new one fits easily in my pocket. It also does video too.

:) Bob
Posted By: WackoPaul

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/18/11 05:31 PM

Happy shooting!!
Posted By: Bob M

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/21/11 10:56 PM

The new Coolpix S9100 is an enjoyable tool. I love the 18X optical zoom. I didn't realize how powerful a zoom it is until I started looking at my pics.

:) Bob
Posted By: rscroope

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/22/11 05:54 PM

Do you have an example Bob? Reg vs Zoom? 18x is huge.
Bob
Posted By: Bob M

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/22/11 09:04 PM

I did do a couple of test pictures but I can't remember how to post photos at the CF. Facebook is so easy but I remember trying to post them at the CF with no luck so I gave up trying.

:)Bob
Posted By: rscroope

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/23/11 01:17 AM

All you have to do is reduce the size of photo to 600 x 400m and the rest is easy
Posted By: Bob M

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/23/11 12:09 PM

Send me the instructions and I'll give it a try. I've taken hundreds of photos since we bought the house at the Cape, and many would be appropriate for the CF.

Bob
Posted By: rscroope

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/23/11 05:30 PM

Hit Full Reply

Click on File Mgr

Browse takes you to your files

Select reduced size picture

Add File - File will appear above box

click on Done Adding Files

You also must have a word in the POST

SUBMIT

Attached picture 160sm.jpg
Posted By: Dave H

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/23/11 08:50 PM

Remember, that posting this way only those logged into the forums will be able to see the images for some unknown reason.
Posted By: Bob M

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/24/11 03:44 AM

Tried three times following the instructions Bob gave me. Three strikes, you're out! I've posted over 2000 photos on facebook at two private sites with no problems, but I can't get a photo to appear here. Maybe it's me...

Bob
Posted By: MrsTLC

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/24/11 05:20 AM

Bob, I saw your photos on Facebook the 18 optical looks great...
Posted By: Bob M

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/24/11 12:23 PM

I just posted another pair of photos of the Lighthouse Inn way off in the distance, and then photographed with the zoom extended. I'm very pleased with this zoom so far. I feel bad that I haven't been able to post photos at the CF. I follow the instructions given to the letter and nothing works for me. Maybe it's my age, or perhaps my Irish Heritage. Posting photos at the CF is not working for me.

:) Bob
Posted By: HCS

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/24/11 02:46 PM

Originally Posted By: Bob M
Tried three times following the instructions Bob gave me. Three strikes, you're out! I've posted over 2000 photos on facebook at two private sites with no problems, but I can't get a photo to appear here. Maybe it's me...

Bob


No Bob not you - I was never able to get the instructions to work for me, hence never could post photos here!
Posted By: RMau

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/24/11 03:51 PM

Test


Description: BY at Sapelo Island
Attached picture BY at Sapelo 3.jpg
Posted By: RMau

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/24/11 04:07 PM

Well, that worked.

A couple of observations.

- It appears that the dimensions of the photo are not critical, but the size of the file is. ie, the photo can be square, round, rectangle, etc, but it cannot be larger than 976.56 KB. Less than 1 MB is size.

- When I picked an image file that was larger than allowed, I got an error message telling me the file was too large.

- I did not see the image until I clicked 'Submit' to post. I tried 'Preview Post', but only saw my text, not the picture.

The raw images out of any current digital camera are going to be much larger than 976.56 KB. You will have to somehow shrink the size of the image file that you want to post here.

Cropping the image is one option. Resizing the image is another. Using the most aggressive jpg compression is a third method. You may even have to employ more than one approach.

Most photo editing programs, Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, Picasa (why do they all begin with a 'P'?) will do all of the above.

Rick


Description: Mansion at Sapelo Island
Attached picture Mansion at Sapelo.jpg
Posted By: Bob M

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/24/11 11:59 PM

I did keep the pic size below 600 x 400 as Bob Scroope advised. I never had a problem before the CF started with new software or whatever. Posting pics at other sites has never been a problem. Why is it a problem at the CF?

Bob
Posted By: rscroope

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/25/11 12:35 AM

Send me your photos Bob
Posted By: RMau

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/25/11 01:36 AM

Test of larger image, 960 x 1280 pixels, and a 99.3 KB filesize.

It seems to me that the Forum restriction on image size is not the dimension of image in pixels or inches or centimeters or whatever. Rather is the size of the file in KBs when it is stored on your hard drive, or the Forum's server/storage.

The filesize of an image on your hard drive is a function of many things. The dimensions of the image. The setup of the camera, including megapixels, zoom, image format, etc. The type of file, jpg, gif, bmp, tif, raw, etc. Bit depth of the color used to render the image, 16 bits, 32 bits, etc. The 'save as' choices for some image formats, especially jpg.

A jpg image is saved in a compressed format. Most image programs give you some control over the amount of compression. For instance, with an image of 400 x 600 pixels, a 1 MB image filesize, and a compression ratio of 1:1, the file will still be 1 MB after you save it.

Use the same image, but set the jpg compression to 2:1, or 50%, and your image will still be 400 x 600 pixels, but the filesize will be 500 KBs after you save it. The other 500 KBs are thrown away by the jpg algorithms.

With the original 1:1 compression, you may have been able to enlarge the image a bit, and not introduced any artifacts like blockyness, or loss of focus. But with the 2:1 compression, your ability to enlarge is greatly reduced because 50% of the images original data is gone.

Rick


Description: Fresnel Lens
Attached picture Dcp_1249.jpg
Posted By: RMau

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/25/11 02:20 AM

Because of the Forum limits, I can't post all four examples of this picture. But I'll describe them, as they sit on my hard drive. All four are versions of the same picture, a sunset shot from the ferry across Mobile Bay, taken several years ago by my wife.

Same picture, but manipulated with a photo imaging program. Note that image 3 has the largest dimensions, but not the largest file size. It is only slightly larger than the Forum file size limit of 976.56 KB, but when I tried to upload it for display here, I only get a link to the picture. It does not display in the post.

Image 1 - format not supported by Forum
Dimensions 1306 x 872
Size - 1.84 MBs
Format - tif

Image 2 - format not supported by Forum
Dimensions 1306 x 872
Size - 1.01 MBs
Format - tif

Image 3 - link below
Dimensions 1416 x 982
Size - 698 KBs
Format - jpg

And Image 4 - shown below
Dimensions 800 x 538
Size - 204 KBs
Format - jpg

Attached picture Sunset Moblie Bay Gulls 800x600.jpg
Attached File
Gulls on Mobile Bay.jpg  (0 downloads)
Posted By: Dave H

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/25/11 04:47 AM

Rick, we suggest you use JPEG's and that you set the dpi to 72dpi which is what a computer monitor displays. The recommended size is so that people don't have to scroll side to side or up and down to see the image. You can always post a link to a larger file at a hi dpi stored wherever you save/display your images on line. That way if someone wants to see the giant version they can click the link.

Another very big reason for compressing the file is that there are threads where people display many images - with a bunch of hi meg pictures in the thread it can be slow to load for some of our viewers.

Bob, you can still use the old way of posting images. That is my preference, and using the old way people are still able to see the images even if they are not members or logged into the forums.
Posted By: RMau

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/25/11 02:45 PM

Dave,

Thanks, but I have been able to post an image when I wanted to. My posts on this thread have been an attempt to explain some of the mysteries and variables of image files for other folks.

I've also learned another reason for the HL community migration to Facebook. Apparently FB makes photo sharing a lot easier, maybe by hiding some of the intricacies of image manipulation and preparation behind the scenes of a simple upload? Here on the fora, all that photo prep has to take place before the upload attempt. FB sound like 'click a button, see the pics online'.

Not enough to get me to join FB, but ...

Rick
Posted By: Bob M

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/28/11 10:59 PM

One regular, one zoomed... photos taken from the same location

Attached picture cf1.jpg
Attached picture cf2.jpg
Posted By: Bob M

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/28/11 11:01 PM

Amazing! Did it the simple way and the photos appeared.

Top photo is at the mouth of the Swan River with the lens in the normal position. Bottom photo shows the results of zooming all the way out (18X)

Bob
Posted By: rscroope

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/29/11 12:15 AM

Thanks for your persistance Bob.


That's a PRETTY AWESOME ZOOM!
Posted By: RMau

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/29/11 01:15 AM

Thanks Bob M! That is some zoom!

Rick
Posted By: Bob M

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/29/11 01:22 AM

Top photo is with the lens in the normal position facing towards the Lighthouse Inn. The bottom photo is with the zoom extended fully and you can really see the Lighthouse Inn in West Dennis, MA.

Attached picture cape weekend of aug 19 012.JPG
Attached picture cape weekend of aug 19 013.JPG
Posted By: rscroope

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/29/11 03:29 PM

That's ridiculous! Looks like you have some of Superman's Vision. Please give us the camera details again, and where you got it and price. It certainly is a dramatic upgrade from the Panasonic w/ 10x that we both had. This is definitely a must have pocket camera that can see as well as some professional lens.
Posted By: WackoPaul

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/29/11 03:59 PM

Here's a link to Nikon webpage about Bob's new Nikon..

COOLPIX S9100
Posted By: Bob M

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/30/11 03:54 AM

The 18X Optical Zoom made the sale for me. This is my first Nikon, and I have to say I'm thoroughly impressed! Bought it at Best Buy using the Bestbuy.com price of $282.50. So many additional features. I love the one button to record HD 1080 video. Press the button to record video, and press the same button to stop recording. I like that!

:) Bob
Posted By: Bob M

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/30/11 12:04 PM

Another example of the zoom capabilities exhibited in these two shots taken from the Sesuit Harbor Breakwater.

Attached picture cape weekend of aug 19 032.JPG
Attached picture cape weekend of aug 19 033.JPG
Posted By: rscroope

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 08/30/11 08:31 PM

I was 'blown away' with the two kids swimming in the Zoom!
Posted By: Bob M

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 11/21/11 01:11 PM

Update on my new Nikon S9100..

I must say this is probably the best camera I've ever owned. Just this weekend I shot almost 400 photos at the Cape (Cape Cod). Most of the photos are done in the "auto" mode. I have a steady hand so I'm able to shoot at low shutter speeds in low light. The results have been fantastic! I would highly recommend this camera for ease of use, it's compact and easily fits in your pocket or purse, and the end results are great!

:) Bob
Posted By: Bob M

Re: Looking for a new compact camera... - 02/27/12 01:38 PM

Just a quick note to say the Nikon Coolpix S9100 is going great. I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes a compact point & shoot to carry around with them.

:) Bob
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