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Recommendation P&S digital camera

Jun 21, 2011 1:59PM PDT

Hey!! in the market for a new digital camera...my camera is primarily used in catchin the action at family events and most often at concerts. I want to upgrade from Nikon Coolpix S60 (5x optical zoom, 10 MP). My concerts pics have been okay with the Coolpix but I'd like to up the zoom and MP. The pics have been blurry as of late & its not just the action shots! I'd like to stay around $200 for a camera with higher zoom & megapixels and is quick with picture taking! Any suggestions?!?!

Discussion is locked

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Light
Jun 21, 2011 2:51PM PDT

Photography is all about capturing light. To do that well, a camera needs a good imaging sensor and a brighter lens. While digital sensors have gotten better, it is still better to have a bigger one with big pixels. Compact cameras have the smallest sensors and the more MP a camera has, the smaller the pixels become. Compact cameras also have relatively small aperture lenses, and the more zoom a lens has, the dimmer it gets. There is one other issue, and that is the method by which compact cameras focus. They rely on Contrast Detection...as light gets lower, contrast is lower too, so compact cameras have a hard time focusing in low light.

I tell you these things to set your expectations; you cannot really buy an inexpensive camera that will be much better at taking photos in low light, or of action. Some of the more expensive compact cameras use some special technology that works pretty well in lower light and with action, but just barely. A good choice would be the recently discontinued Sony HX5V, still available through Amazon for $200 (it was a $350 camera when it was introduced). Here is a review:

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/HX5V/HX5VA.HTM

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Quick clarification
Jun 22, 2011 4:38AM PDT

Thank you for the informative reply. Camera buying can be quite confusing. I looked at the camera you recommended thank you for the heads up. I just want to make sure though the Sony HX5V fits better for my needs then the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H70 (16MP and 10x optical zoom). For the inexperienced camera buyer, we usually see more MP the better. If I'm reading yor post correctly that isn't always the case?! If you can just clear that up I think I'll be set on the right path. Thank you again for the advice!

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Differences
Jun 22, 2011 5:31AM PDT

More MP does not give you more detail. What is does is make larger images...but most people never print at full size, and you probably shouldn't print larger than 11 x 14 anyway. The H70's photo quality is about on par with the HX5V.

What the H70 lacks is the higher spec backside-illuminated CMOS sensor. The HX5V does have the more advanced sensor, which allows for some extra features that help with low light shots (Sony's Handheld Twilight mode) and action (10 frame per second burst mode). The HX5V also shoots 1080 HD video, while the H70 only 720 HD.

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quick clarification (cont'd)
Jun 22, 2011 4:52AM PDT

I forgot I was also looking at the Canon PowerShot SX210IS. Out of the three on the table...is the Sony HX5V still my best bet? thanks again!

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SX210 IS
Jun 22, 2011 5:48AM PDT

It is almost identical to the H70.