Opinions Please

[Craig Manoukian]

What do you think of these specs?

PentaxTM 5.0 MP Digital Camera Kit - $570

Full Description

5.0 effective megapixels.
5x optical zoom is equivalent to 37.5-187.5mm in 35mm format.
4x digital zoom.
Optical and digital zooming can be combined to achieve amazing 20X zooming.
Fully automatic or manual operation.
Auto focus, auto exposure, and auto flash.
Super macro mode lets you get as close as 2cm (0.8-in.) from your subject -- such as a small coin.
1.5-in. LCD monitor delivers impressive clarity and 100% field of view.
Nine smart picture modes include landscape, night scene, flower, portrait, surf & snow, autumn color, sunset, fireworks, and text.
Infinity-landscape mode captures objects up to the horizon with clarity.
Multiple exposure feature lets you take more than one exposure on a single frame.
Nine digital filters include monochrome, sepia, and soft, plus red, pink, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
Panorama-assist mode lets you create expansive images by taking many shots and combining them using the included software.
Records up to 10 minutes of movies with video and audio as QuickTimeTM files.
Voice recording mode lets you attach messages up to 30 seconds long to still images.
File formats for still images include convenient and efficient JPEG (Exif 2.2), non-compressed TIFF. plus DCF and DPOF
File format for movies is MOV (QuickTime).
Weighs less than 7 oz. • Approx. 2.3-in. H x 3.9-in. W x 1.6-in. D.
Includes battery, charger, AC plug, USB and A/V cables, CD-ROM software, strap, 3-D image viewer.
Secure DigitalTM Media card-compatible.


Olympus® 4.0 MP Digital Camera Kit - $522

Full Description
Produce perfectly cropped 8-in. x 10-in. and larger pictures, small images for e-mailing, and add QuickTime® movies to e-mails. Select your own modes and settings or let the camera do it for you automatically.

4.0 effective megapixels.
Powerful 10x optical zoom is equivalent to 38-380mm in 35mm photography.
4x digital zoom.
Optical and digital zooming can be combined to achieve seamless total 40X zooming.
TruePicTM technology uses all pixels at all resolutions for impressive detail even at lower resolution settings.
Focusing ranges: normal (24-in. and higher); macro (2.8-in. to 24-in.); super macro (1.2-in. to 2.8-in.).
Six pre-set scene programs include portrait, self-portrait, landscape, landscape-portrait, night scene, and sports -- plus four customizable scene programs.
Image shooting effects include black & white, sepia, white board, black board, and 2-in-1 shooting mode.
Panorama mode lets you stitch up to 10 frames.
White balance system.
In-camera editing for still images and movies.
Flash modes include auto, fill-in, red-eye reduction, off, slow sync, and slow sync with red-eye reduction.
Intuitive menu system makes adjustments easy.
1.5-in. LCD monitor.
Self-timer with 12-second delay.
Still image recording formats include Exif 2.2 JPEG, DCF Print Image Matching II.
Movie recording format is QuickTime motion JPEG.
xD-Picture Card(TM) compatible.
Approx. 2.6-in H x 4.2-in. W x 2.7-in. D.
Includes batteries, charger, USB and A/V cables, CD-ROM software, wrist strap, and 16 MB xD-Picture CardTM.

TIA

[VINA DEL MAR]

I like the Pentax Tm better!These two cameras have features that I dont understand.How do you combine the digital and the optical zooming?
VINA

[mwrager]

Craig

Give us model #'s on each one. I have never used either one, but from what you have written I would go with the Pentax because of the macro function. But a big question is what is the main use for this camera?

[Craig Manoukian]

Will be used for good tank shots primarily! Macro for good close ups.

Thanks

[reefrunner]

It is very rare that I actually get 2cm from my subject in a pic, the olympus has a decent macro and I have not seen a later model olympus provide a poor pic ....where it was the cams fault. I have no experience with the pentax, either of the specs look good, but just on reputation and experience I'd go with the olympus. If you can get sample pics from both it might make it easier to make the decision.

[Craig Manoukian]

Thanks, the models are Olympus Camedia and Pentax Optio550.

[sorcerer]

Originally posted by VINA DEL MAR
I like the Pentax Tm better!These two cameras have features that I dont understand.How do you combine the digital and the optical zooming?
VINA

Vina,
On most digitals that have an optical and digital zoom, you start with the optical zoom and when you have zoomed into the maximum the digital zooming kicks in, multipling by some level the optical zoom. I rarely use the digital zoom as it tends to make the images blocky.

Craig,
I've never used the Pentax but I have used three different models of the olympus. The olympus cameras have great optics and like Kevin, I have never had one shoot a bad picture that was the camera's fault.
HTH

[Pro_builder]

Craig, I would ask Travis.
When you go into Apeture priority mode what is the highest that you can set the Apeture # at? Mine only goes to 8, but Travis shoots a lot of his pics at 16. I was told that this means a lot on how well the camera will focus on the subject?????

[middletonmark]

I pretty much ignore digital zoom.

It doesn't really capture closer information - seems to be about the same as what I can do [better IMO] with Photoshop and sharpening.

As for which is better - I really have found online review sites to be really good.

I'd also double check the manual options the Olympus allows ... as I use all the weird manual everything settings on my Nikon from time to time and in some cases am very thankful they're there.

Good luck! [both sound pretty nice]

[Jakets]

Hey Craig, If those are the only two options I would go for the Olympus. In my mind Digital zoom is a crock. The macro looks really good on the Olympus as well.

J

[Craig Manoukian]

Thanks for all of the input everyone. I've never tried an Olympus product so thatfeedback is much apprecited. Will check on the manual settings and aprature, thanks again.

Travis are you out there?

[Dracunculus]

Craig,

I would research things further. It is hard to judge the true image quality just looking at the spec sheet. There are plenty of websites which review cameras and show non-doctored images for comparison. The lens quality has as much to do with the image quality as the CCD and other electronics. In my experience, and from what I have read, the Canon and Nikon digicams give the best picture quality, and you can get pretty good ones in that price range.

HTH

David

[mgregory]

Don't know about the Pentax but I have an Olympus D-560 Zoom.
The pictures I uploaded were taken with it and my brother has an older Olympus and he has had no complaints.

I think it takes great pics and it's small and easy to use. Here the specs on it:

3.2 megapixel
3x optical zoom
10x total seamless zoom
1.8" color LCD display
Quick Time Movie modeExif 2.2 compatible

[ctiq21]

Both look good.

I have a Olympus 720 Ultra Zoom. It has a pretty good macro mode as well.

Don't pay attention to digital zoom. Just optical. Digital zoom just magnifies the optical image.

One thing with my olympus is that it does focus slowly, especially in low light situations. This should not be a problem though if you are using the camera for your tank.

[tankgirl]

Craigy, my husband, Chris, has an Olympus that he loves and thinks is an awesome digital cam (for his purposes) but I thought it was awful at coral macros - that's why I got the used Nikon Coolpix. But, that was an older model, so maybe they've improved the newer ones.