Digital Camera with image stabilization cheap

[glenn kangiser]

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11099800&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=

Available through other places also but this camera with mega image stabilization takes blur free 5 megapixel pics up to equivalent of 400 zoom according to reviews, and is fairly small in size.  I ordered one.

Here's a review on this that got me going on it.

http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001055.php

[John Raabe]

I have had my Panasonic C-5060 for almost two years now and like it better all the time.

I got it for the wide angle lens (Can't remember but I think about 27mm equivalent on an SLR). Bulky but takes great photos. You will probably like the image stabiliztion of the newer model.



http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000DK39Z/103-9263288-4419820?v=glance&n=502394

[Amanda_931]

Looks good.  Leica lens and all that.

Image stabilization was what made the old Sony (old=back in the days when 1 megapixel was the heighth of luxury) Mavica reasonable to use.

I'm glad to see it coming around again.

And what look to be decent lenses on the cameras.

As far as I can tell, megapixels are cheaper than lenses.

[glenn kangiser]

Here are some pix taken with the new Panasonic Lumix -(sounds like a name for cow food)--

Most were taken at night with ambient light - no flash with the exception of a couple.  They were auto enhanced with HP Photo editor.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/glennkangiser/slideshow?.dir=/f350&.src=ph

This is our above ground house in the valley 74 miles from the underground command center.



Note that these photos were taken in about 3 steps lower than max resolution but are still larger than our old 3.1 Megapixel Minolta.

[Amanda_931]

With a lovely fluffy kitty on the piano.

Digital cameras are wonderful!  

Have fun with the new one.  

All this talk about new cameras has gotten me taking pictures for the first time in at least a year.  

[glenn kangiser]

I thought something was up -- so that was your dog, Amanda-- a very smart looking dog I might add.

That cat is Sheba - she thinks she's the queen - belongs to Kathy but when she comes to the underground command center she thinks she's mine.  Very stuck up and tricky sometimes - plays Houdini when it's time to go.  

[Amanda_931]

Hildegarde von Bouncen (Baunzen, Bountzen, etc., take your pick) is a wonderful dog.  Not young, although she did start turning grey before she was a year old.

[glenn kangiser]

A couple of pix to show the night capabilities of this camera- I couldn't have done this with any other camera I've ever had --

Zoomed about 4x and 12x optical zoom --hand held --ambient light at night--no flash -- appx 40' away on the ground -- Charlie was working 20' appx in the air.



Cutting a bracket off with the air arc

[Amanda_931]

Nice.

[Olga]

The Lumix FZ5 the excellent camera. I too think to take it. Yet has not decided what to take Lumix FZ5 or Olympys770UZ (at us Lumix FZ5 costs 460 $)

[glenn kangiser]

The most important thing about the camera is the lens, Olga. The Leica lens on the Lumix is so good it will stabilize an image while zoomed out to 12x even at night.  I have never had another camera that will do that.  It is almost impossible to take a bad or blurry picture with it.  If the other one does not have the Leica 12x optical image stabilized lens I wouldn't get it.  Some cameras look similar but are nowhere near the quality for the price.

This one was taken zoomed most of the way at night about 40' away using natural light.  

I was hand holding it with no other tripod or support - just trying to be fairly steady as I snapped the picture.

[Mommymem]

Same camera for $278
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=90147670&adid=17653&dcaid=17653&adid=17662

[glenn kangiser]

I also have a $5000 film camera - I used it for some aerial photography, but I would rather use the Panasonic  Lumix, and get reliably better pictures.

Looks like the prices are improving, Mommymem, and it was already well worth the money.  There are many look alikes out there now but without the Leica auto-stabilized lens, they don't even compare.  Note that I have not explored the advanced features.  Point and shoot is too easy.

I have only used the 12x optical zoom-- I have not tried the digital zoom.

[Amanda_931]

Neither digital nor with image stabilization--but cheap???  That's it.




Download, print out the .pdf watch the instructions with what is apparently a fun flash movie, and build your own--

[size=22]pinhole camera[/size]

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/05/downloading_des_1.php

[glenn kangiser]

Updated model of the Lumix - still top of the line.

http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001340.php



After my trip I still have to agree - it is the best camera I've ever had for a reasonable price.

Here's the macro function pix on the model I have.-

[glenn kangiser]

Here is a small video from my camera showing some of the creatures at the reunion.

Gus has a little joke.



The videos can mix right in with the photos and download to your album.  This is the lowest quality 320 x 200 I think at 10 FPS - it will also do 30 FPS.  The new one will do over double that at 800 something resolution.

[glenn-k]

Another example of the Lieca Lens image quality with the above image stabilized Lumix cameras.

I was hand holding my camera sitting on a rock shooting photos of the fire on the next mountain Northeast of me.  This is about 4 road miles or approximately 2 air miles away.  I was zoomed probably from 24x to 48x or near on these and still got a usable picture- hand held - nearly impossible with my old SLR's with film.     12x optical plus  4x digital.


Fire Bomber



Chopper dumps his load

[jraabe]

Nice examples of a great camera. No going back to film is there?

Anyone want to buy a great Pentax Spotmatic system? Or how about a Practica (opps, gave that to the Goodwill).

[glenn kangiser]

Since I splashed water on my old camera drinking from the fountain of youth and killed it, I had to get the newer model of the Lumix, recommended again, per Kevin Kelly.  He knows the bargains.  Listed there at $340 I shopped and got a recon- (actually only open box new- ) for $148 from Amazon.



http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001340.php



Unknown miner at the Fountain of youth at Roaring Camp Mining Company (Prospector Dude Ranch)

[Daddymem]

Thanks Glenn.  Mommymem just ordered this from Amazon, probably the same place-Warehouse deals.  Our old Canon died from all the blogging, well ok, you got me, it died from all the pictures of this ugly mug, electronics can only take so much.  Wonder if they make a camera with image subject improvement too??  

[glenn kangiser]

Thats the place - Warehouse Deals.  Note that as supplied the camera is set for the 10x optical.  You can go to one of the scene settings and turn on the digital telephoto for 40x zoom with stabilization.  You can get the equivalent of handheld photos through a 350 mm zoom lens.  It is pretty hard to shake enough to blur it -an exception would be very low light conditions.

The setting with the Heart on it is the point and shoot setting with everything set up to go.  It is optimized for up to 8x10 enlargements.  Thought I'd mention this to get you shooting right out of the box.  

The ArcSoft software included will make Panoramas stitching your photos together for a circular view or a long view.

Mommymem will still have to exercise caution if shooting pictures of you though.  I don't think digital image shock to the stabilized lens is covered. :-/

Here is a shot I took hand held on telephoto from across a big yard at Sassy's family reunion yesterday.

[Daddymem]

Thanks Glenn.  Look forward to playing with the new toy when it comes.  I got a beautiful subject in mind.  

[glenn kangiser]

I don't suppose you'd be able to post them, eh?

Note that it does little videos too -- about twice the quality of the earlier model.  It doesn't come with an SD memory card so you might want to get one of them ordered also -- High speed recommended.  4GB is about 50 bucks now.

http://www.nextag.com/serv/main/buyer/ProductM.jsp?shipping=Ground&sort=subtotal%2C&units=1&ptitle=80202148

[Daddymem]

I pretty much stick to newegg on that stuff you cannot touch their customer service and usually price too.  Thanks though.

[glenn kangiser]

Yeah - looks like they were the cheapest -