ultra compact digital camera advise

9 Jul 2006 7:47 PM

miamicuse

Can someone recommend an ultra compact digital camera?

I have already a Sony PC9 digital camcorder. I like it but half the time I
use it as a digital camera and half the time as a camcorder, for occasions
that I used it mainly as a camera it's too big and bulky. I like to get
something I can tug in my shirt pocket.

Something that can take relatively good quality pictures, capable of taking
videos for short durations, but need to be really compact.

I started to look at the Kodak EasyShare V570. Pictured here:
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/kodak/v570-review/camera-front-angled.jpg
It says it has two lenses. There's a fixed focal length 23 mm lens on the
top, and a more traditional 39 - 117 mm zoom lens on the bottom. In addition
to having two lenses, the V570 has two 5 Megapixel CCD sensors, as well --
one for each lens. Is this a good thing? or a bad thing? What kind of
lenses? Previously I have always purchased cameras with Zeiss lens which
restricted me to Sony and Rollei.

Another candidate is the Canon PowerShot SD450. Pictured here:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/SD450/ZSD45A.JPG

One question I have is what is the basic difference between a camera with
the motorized zoom (like the Canon PowerShot SD450 when you turn it on the
lens opens and protrudes and when you zoom is extends) versus the little
lens that is always tucked in (like the Nikon Coolpix S5), is the Nikon lens
not as good?

Thanks for any comments!

MC

10 Jul 2006 9:28 PM

jerry_maple

miamicuse wrote:

> Can someone recommend an ultra compact digital camera?
>

>
> Something that can take relatively good quality pictures, capable of taking
> videos for short durations, but need to be really compact.
>

Bought a Pentax Optio S6 for my 14 y.o. daughter several months ago.
Very pocketable! 6 megapixel, 3x optical zoom. Decent videos. Easy
to use. If you really want an optical viewfinder, though, look
elsewhere.
To me, the only downside is the proprietary battery, I prefer the
easier availability and lower cost of rechargable NIMH AA's, but then
I guess you can't get the extremely compact size if you use AA's.

Currently on Amazon for $215. No Amazon free shipping on this one,
they are fronting for Adorama, you might try the Adorama website
directly.

Hope this helps,
Jerry