I'm thinking of downgrading to a super zoom....

[sk66]

Or "upgrading" depending on how you look at it.

I have a Nikon D300...I'll be keeping that for "serious photography"....

I also have an Olympus 1030SW as my pocket/underwater/crap camera....I'll be keeping that as well.

But I feel like there are a lot of times I don't take pictures because all I have is the Olympus with me, and there are a lot of times where It's impractical to carry my D300 (or I just don't want to).

I want something "better" than the Olympus, but "easier" than the Nikon.....

I'm thinking the Canon SX1....
Or should I just go sleep it off?

[vandergus]

You could get a D40. It's pretty much the same size as the SX1 and cheaper.

But I never understood superzooms/bridge camera's anway. Basically the same image quality as a pocket digicam but...well...it doesn't fit in your pocket. I guess they have way better controls but who cares about aperture priority mode when you can't really effect the depth of field on a sensor that size anyway. Pretty wicked zoom range, though.

[sk66]

Wicked zoom range, reasonably compact for "easy" carry, better image quality than a P&S....
The biggest for me are the focal range and image quality...And while you may not be able to get a very shallow DOF in camera(it's not so much the sensor as it is the aperture), you can get a very deep DOF easily(great for scenics)..Shallow DOF can be created in post if really needed....

I don't think I want a small DSLR...lens limitations etc...

[LoveDSLR]

I'm looking for a better IQ walkabout camera too but not the size of a SX1. So my top choice (for myself) is the superzoom Panasonic ZS3/TZ7. Otherwise, I'll consider a Fujifilm F200 EXR or Panasonic LX3.

Check out this link http://www.luminous-landscape.com/re...s/pocket.shtml.

[vandergus]

better image quality than a P&S

Better in what way?

[sk66]

I might consider a G-10.....
I really want something that will shoot RAW and has a viewfinder....HD video would be a plus...

[OsmosisStudios]

SX200is, perhaps?

[inkista]

Yup, I'm with vandergus on this one.

The problem with the SX1 is that it's still using the 1/2.3" sensor that most of the other P&S cams are using. So the image quality isn't necessarily substantially any better. The pick of the litter sensor among the Canon digicams is the 1/1.7"--which is only in the G10 and the SD990IS. (Holy cow. The SD990IS does have manual mode...)

Now, granted, the difference is relatively miniscule and may not be enough to notice, but I'm a spec-geek and it grates on me that Canon pairs the smaller sensor with the bigger lenses and vice versa.

To me, unless you're an HD video fiend, the SX1 IS is too little camera for the pricetag. For $600, I'd be looking at a Panasonic G1.

[FoG]

I have been looking into this as was wanting to step up to a DSLR but changes in circumstances (movin in with missus) mean funds maybe a stretch to one so am looking into the Panasonic Lumix FZ28 and Canon SX10 iS Both have very very good right uuops and the Lumix does RAW too. I heard the Sx1 has the CMOS from the lower end DSLR hence the price and therefore better image quality (also almost as expensive as a DSLR. So a Bridge super Zoom for me to get a bit more used to aperture and Shutter control before the big leap......




does this mean I should leave now ? lol

[fletch]

Originally Posted by sk66

I might consider a G-10.....
I really want something that will shoot RAW and has a viewfinder....HD video would be a plus...

If you try to use RAW mode or the viewfinder on any super zoom after using your D300 you will get a big shock. Write times for RAW files are huge and viewfinders are either tiny or laggy or both.

Unless you need huge focal lenghts on a budget I think super zooms are just a big dissapointment. Not a small as small as a pocket cam but similar results, nowhere near DSLR quality.