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Question

Looking to Replace my Olympus C-720 Camera

Jun 9, 2012 5:31PM PDT

Hello:

I'm in the market for a new digital camera. My old Olympus C-720 camera takes great pictures, especially in macro mode. The only problem is it eats batteries like crazy (even with the rechargeable ones) and the memory card's capacity is only 64MB. I'm looking for a new camera that has the same great features, but can hold more pictures and I don't have to carry extra batteries wherever I go. My budget it up to $200.

Thank you!

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Olympus C-720
Jun 9, 2012 11:29PM PDT

To be fair, You want to replace a $400 camera with a $200 camera.

You wont be able to do that and still have some of the features you now have.

Your camera has a viewfinder in addition to the LCD screen, and it has manual controls (Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Full Manual).
A $200 camera will have none of those features.
But it will have a lot of features you present camera does not have.

If you want a 8X optical zoom like your present camera, you will have to pay a bit more than $200 (about $240).

Take a look at what $240 will buy you:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/camera-reviews/canon/powershot-elph-310-hs/canon-powershot-elph-310-hs-review.html

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Olympus C-720
Jun 10, 2012 8:52AM PDT

Thanks for your reply snapshot2. I thought since my C-720 is so old new cameras' (with the same features) prices may have come down by now. Can you please suggest ones that have those features like my old C-720? I may be able to talk my hubby into letting me spend more money on a new camera.

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Camera Features
Jun 10, 2012 11:49AM PDT

There have been so many changes is basic camera design since the days of the C-720 that it is very difficult (near impossible) to find a camera similar to the C-720.

First - the optical viewfinder is all but dead in small cameras.
The very few with optical viewfinders do not have much optical zoom (about 4X).
You can find some cameras with electronic viewfinders. (they tend to be larger cameras).

Cameras zooms are now larger (from 15X to 35X)

Here are two to examine, they both have the same manual controls as the C-720

Panasonic ZS15 - No Viewfinder and pocket size ($220).

http://www.steves-digicams.com/camera-reviews/panasonic/lumix-dmc-zs15/panasonic-lumix-dmc-zs15-review.html

Panasonic FZ47 - Has Electronic Viewfinder - not pocket size ($300).

http://www.steves-digicams.com/camera-reviews/panasonic/lumix-dmc-fz47/panasonic-lumix-dmc-fz47-review.html

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Camera Features
Jun 10, 2012 2:36PM PDT

Thanks again snapshot2! I like the FA47. Gonna talk hubby into letting me buy it. Happy

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The model number is FZ47
Jun 11, 2012 12:31AM PDT

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(NT) Oh..yes, that was a typo
Jun 11, 2012 3:20AM PDT