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First off I know little abt digital cams

But I have a friend who has an older Sony H1 that
swears that the trend towards 12 megapixel and up units
is ludicrous as not that many megapixel are needed
unless making huge poster size pics

One thing I do LIKE VERY MUCH abt his H1 is the 12x
zoom!!

So I have two questions:

1. Is anything above 2 megapixel really a waste?

2. is it possible to get a low cost camera with 12x
zoom like his?

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
>But I have a friend who has an older Sony H1 that
>swears that the trend towards 12 megapixel and up units
>is ludicrous as not that many megapixel are needed
>unless making huge poster size pics

He's pretty much right.

>One thing I do LIKE VERY MUCH abt his H1 is the 12x
>zoom!!
>
>So I have two questions:
>
>1. Is anything above 2 megapixel really a waste?

Depends what you want.

2 megapixel is plenty for web publishing, and quite adequate even for
online viewing (1280x1024 is only 1.3MP after all)

But if you want prints then you should use a higher resolution, for
standard prints at e.g. 10x15 6MP will give better details. And prints
in A4 will benefit from 10-12MP.

A yet higher resolution will only reduce the size of the individual
sensor cells (more of them must be fit on the same aras) even more,
resulting in more picture noice and less sensitivity.

On the other hand a higher resolution does give you more leeway for
cropping.

>2. is it possible to get a low cost camera with 12x
>zoom like his?

Check out http://dpreview.com. There you can search for cameras with
your desired features.

12x zoom is rather at the far lower end of today's P&S cameras.

jue

Jürgen Exner <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>1. Is anything above 2 megapixel really a waste?
>
>Depends what you want.
>
>2 megapixel is plenty for web publishing, and quite adequate even for
>online viewing (1280x1024 is only 1.3MP after all)
>
>But if you want prints then you should use a higher resolution, for
>standard prints at e.g. 10x15 6MP will give better details. And prints
>in A4 will benefit from 10-12MP.

Actually, let me amend this. 5-6MP will be fine even for A4 prints when
viewing them from a normal viewing distance. Only when getting really
close, kind of with a magnification glass, then you will probably see
some artifacts.

jue

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news(E-Mail Removed)...
> First off I know little abt digital cams
>
> But I have a friend who has an older Sony H1 that
> swears that the trend towards 12 megapixel and up units
> is ludicrous as not that many megapixel are needed
> unless making huge poster size pics
>
> One thing I do LIKE VERY MUCH abt his H1 is the 12x
> zoom!!
>
> So I have two questions:
>
> 1. Is anything above 2 megapixel really a waste?
>
> 2. is it possible to get a low cost camera with 12x
> zoom like his?

I've successfully blown up pics from a 3mp camera to A3. However, if the
subject contains a lot of detail such as tree leaves or grass it can appear
fuzzy on the print even at A4. So I suggest a 5-6 mp camera at least for A4.
This should give you plenty of leeway. Suggest you check out the review
sites like dpreview.

PDM

On Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:56:26 -0500, me wrote:

> First off I know little abt digital cams
>
> But I have a friend who has an older Sony H1 that swears that the trend
> towards 12 megapixel and up units is ludicrous as not that many
> megapixel are needed unless making huge poster size pics
>
> One thing I do LIKE VERY MUCH abt his H1 is the 12x zoom!!
>
> So I have two questions:
>
> 1. Is anything above 2 megapixel really a waste?
>
> 2. is it possible to get a low cost camera with 12x zoom like his?

IMHO - waste depends on how you define it and what you plan to do. If all
you want is to upload photos to the internet, then 1mp is quite adequate.
If you want to print out 8x10's 5mp would be good. If you want to look to
the future . . .

I'd suggest you look at the Kodak online store for some refurb units -
great prices - I believe they have a 24x model - I use a P850 - 5mp and
12x.

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> First off I know little abt digital cams
>
> But I have a friend who has an older Sony H1 that
> swears that the trend towards 12 megapixel and up units
> is ludicrous as not that many megapixel are needed
> unless making huge poster size pics
>
> One thing I do LIKE VERY MUCH abt his H1 is the 12x
> zoom!!
>
> So I have two questions:
>
> 1. Is anything above 2 megapixel really a waste?
No. You can't make a good 8X10" print with 2 Mp. More
pixels in the photo lets you crop and still make good prints.
>
> 2. is it possible to get a low cost camera with 12x
> zoom like his?

A good lens with that large a zoom lens is expensive to
make. I'd be suspicious of an inexpensive camera with that
long a zoom.

Image stabilization is very useful with a long zoom.
Otherwise, you will have to depend on a tripod or other way
to keep the camera steady. I lost some shots recently
because I used a 6X zoom and forgot to turn on image
stabilization.

Marvin <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>Image stabilization is very useful with a long zoom.

s/zoom/focal lenght/

>Otherwise, you will have to depend on a tripod or other way
>to keep the camera steady. I lost some shots recently
>because I used a 6X zoom and forgot to turn on image
>stabilization.

That very much depends on focal range of the lens, not its zoom factor.
A 18-55mm is a 6X zoom lens, but you really don't need a tripod or image
stabilization any more than with a fixed-focus standard normal lens.

jue

"David J Taylor"
<david-(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>Were I looking for a very compact 12X optical zoom camera I would consider
>the Panasonic TZ7. There's more information here:

wow thanks for all the info guys!!!!!

all I have right now is a fixed lens Fuji point and
shoot and without a zoom its useless I think.....
agree?

Das trut <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Only consider the optical zoom that the camera has. The
>digital zoom might be handy (and even useful at times) but it's no
>comparison to having true optical zoom.

wow! Great info thanks guys!!

So what abt just buying a used Sony H2 off ebay? I
checked an looks like they go for abt $125

Or..... are the more modern choices with same features
or better for roughly same money?

Cost is a consideration for me

Das trut <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>>all I have right now is a fixed lens Fuji point and
>>shoot and without a zoom its useless I think.....
>>agree?
>
>If a camera is able to capture images it is NEVER useless. If it's as I
>suspect, a model with a smaller diameter lens on the front, hang onto it.


It is a Fuji FinePix 1300