Need advice for P&S with zoom from 28-and up.

[bengt_rehn]

I need advice for buying a digital P&S with a zoom range from 28 to

at least 3X range (in 35mm term). Canon S60 or S70 seems to be an

interesting alternative. Five or six Mpix is enough. This is for my

sister who will go to New York tomorrow (from Sweden) and maybe buy

it there. She dont know much about technique but is able to learn a

modest amount. If it is simple to use its an advantage. Is there any

good reason to choose S70 over S60 (except for more pixels)? Is there

other models that are better choise, Olympus , nikon, fuji,Panasonic ?

I am greatful for all responses, but especially for the fast ones!

And cameras like Canon G6 are just too big for her.

[sl attanapola]

The Ricoh R1v has a 28-135mm equivalent zoom and is also smaller than the Olympus equivalent models.It is 5MP.

 

These sites review it:

 

http://www.shuttertalk.com/articles/ricohr1v/index.php

 

http://www.digicamreview.co.uk/ricoh_caplio_r1v_review.htm

 

http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?head=63&page=3054

 

The Olympus C-7070 and C-8080 are also quite good.

[carlo_cayetano1]

The Panasonic <a href="http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_fx7-review/">DMC-FX7</a> is pretty sleek, but doesn't have a 28, it's widest is at 35mm. I've looked at it at the local shop and it is really slick lookin' plus it has image stabilization.

[bengt_rehn]

Thank you for your help! The links was very helpful! I had no idea about the Ricoh, but it is very interesting indeed. Small size,great range,takes AA-batteries and very short shutter lag are all things that she appreciate. The Panasonic Lumix seems to be a very nice camera too, but she bought a P&S for film last year with a zoom from 35-140 and she really regret that she didnt had more wideangle.

[john_mccormack]

Your sister won't be able to buy a Ricoh in the US. Ricoh doesn't distribute cameras in North America any longer.

[sl attanapola]

Well she could buy a Nikon Coolpix - the only compact digital camera with a 24-85mm lens.The widest the competition goes without conversion lenses is around 28mm.

[sl attanapola]

Well she could buy a Nikon Coolpix 8400 - the only compact digital camera with a 24-85mm lens.The widest the competition goes without conversion lenses is around 28mm.

[bengt_rehn]

Thank you for the information! Nikon coolpix 8400 is a very fine camera that I would want for myself if I had more money (I am saving up for the successor to the Canon 20D thou). My sister like also to have a good reach in the tele range, so the Olympus C-7070 would be the best compromise between wide and telereach. However are both too big and too expensive for her. Unfortunately can I not reach her since America have a different frequens for mobilphone than Europe, so my guess is that the she will come back with a Canon S70 since she wouldnt find any Ricoh there.

[sl attanapola]

You can reach her! Try texting her! My cousin texted me from Sri Lanka and I live in the UK!

 

I know that the USA uses CDMA as opposed to GSM but this should not be a problem!

[sl attanapola]

I just realised that the FujiFilm FinePix E500 and E510 have a 28-90mm zoom!

[bill_tuthill]

According to the Dpreview.com buying guide features search, there are

only 7 models that meet your criteria, "G6 too big" being translated

as < 350 grams. Removing Ricoh, only 4. The Fuji E500 and E510 seem

just as good as the Canon S60 and S70, and cost about half as much.