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10/16/2007 10:36:58 AM · #1 |
For anyone looking to pick up a point and shoot, I actually bought two then took one back. Did a wee bit of research on the web, but am kinda limited to what's in stock where I can shop. Yes, there's mail order, but I like to play, you know? Anyway, I bought both the Sony DSC W200 and the Panasonic Lumix TZ2. Both were the same price where I bought them. I ended up keeping the Sony.
I'd originally bought the Sony but wasn't all that pleased with its focusing or its color, so I got the Panasonic to see if I liked it better. Did unscientific tests today and compared the results. I'm sure they don't apply to all cameras of these two companies, but probably to the similar styles of cameras from these two companies.
The Sony is, despite my earlier reservations, better at color in general, but average white balance truly sucks. Color correction for anything other than outdoor shooting will have to be done in post in most cases. The Panasonic had excellent indoor color with average white balance.
The Panasonic had a bitchin' lens - 28 to 200something with a 10x OPTICAL zoom. The Sony starts at 35 and only goes to 100something, I think. I kinda don't like being limited at the low end, but there are tradeoffs.
Both essentially have what is good glass - the problem (as I see it) with P&S cameras is the in-camera processing and noise reduction algorithms. Makes you really appreciate RAW from the SLRs.
Anyway, to continue - the Sony has a soft flash that is horrible for red-eye but doesn't cause harsh shadows. However, the method it uses for red-eye reduction - firing a pre-flash - is very slow and your subjects have long since moved on from whatever pose they were in by the time the main flash fires and the frame is exposed. The Panasonic has a very strong flash that leaves rather harsh shadows and washes out things close to it, but doesn't cause red-eye and is more responsive.
In general, I didn't like the focus of either of 'em - still don't. The Sony is much better at "macro" - Panasonic doesn't do close well at all (though it could be a bit of operator error). The Sony is a bit better at exposure - the Panasonic tended to overexpose in general - something that could be corrected by using an EV setting of minus something or other.
I didn't try the Canons because the ones I had to choose from don't have IS, and believe it or not, I find it hard to hold those little things still when pressing the shutter. I suspect I'd prefer the color from the Canons because that's what I'm used to.
If you want something you can stick in a pocket and carry around regularly, I'd recommend the Sony. No need for the W200 - the W80 should be just fine. I don't see the point of 12 megapixels on a camera that size with its other limitations but that's the model I had available for purchase. I've had it set to 5 MP size and that seems to be fine. |
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10/16/2007 01:46:34 PM · #2 |
It's too bad that almost all P&S manufacturers focus on gadgetry rather than usability, let alone image quality.
When the first 35mm cameras came out all the large format shooters hated them because of the small negatives, but when the ergonomics got polished up and refined people were willing to let go of the raw image quality... the same could happen with pocket sized cameras, but they focus on making them less usable instead of more.
Buttons the size of a grain of rice do not equal usable, unless you have fingers that end in a pencil tip. A total grippable area on the camera comparable in size to a 35mm film canister, but less comfortable to hold, doesn't either.
If they would take a serious look at their market and realize that the majority of users don't print over 8x10, let alone the ridiculous sizes they claim are possible in their advertising, they'd give up this megapixel BS and make cameras people don't have to fight with and conquer before they work.
I mean, look at the Olympus Trip 35. Hugely succesful 35mm point and shoot, because it's simple and dependable. It's terrible that all of the new point and shoots on the market are just gadgets that are barely ahead of the cameras from half a decade ago in image quality, and are actually behind in usability.
Sorry for ranting, but it's just a shame that you, and everyone else deciding on a point and shoot, have to choose the lesser evils of their operation rather than choosing the best camera because of features and design. All of the manufacturers are fixing the wrong 'problems', but they love it because people keep buying their pieces of crap in hopes that the real problems will finally have been fixed. |
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