Racking Brain between Sony DSC P200 and a W7... here is why...

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jbraly@gmail.com - 31 Oct 2005 02:54 GMT

Here is why I cant decide between these two:

1) I am clumsy. I drop things all the time. I have a 3.1 MP HP camera
that I drop all the time, and take fishing with me, and treat like
crap, but it still works (though takes terrible pics). Ill keep it for
the fishing trips, but I hate to spend $300+ on a camera when I know
Ill be dropping it... how durible are these DSC cams?

2) Blur. My favorite transformer character, but my least favorite type
of pics to take. Ill go back to my HP cam. The slightest movement of
your hand causes severe blurs. I read these DSCs do too... is this
something a college graduate can figure out how to avoid on these
sonys?

3) I am maybe thinking of abandoning the SOnys altogether. I have a
collection of 128 and 256 SD cards which i now learn are useless to
these DCS models and I will have to buy the more expensive PRO
sticks... bummer... of course my other choice, the nikon coolpic 7900
doesnt take these cards I have either...

any suggestions?
thanks in advance.
Jazz Mann

ps... raise your hand if you remember the "Blur" character introduced
in teh Transformers movie...

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Siddhartha Jain - 31 Oct 2005 10:13 GMT

> Here is why I cant decide between these two:
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> the fishing trips, but I hate to spend $300+ on a camera when I know
> Ill be dropping it... how durible are these DSC cams?

The Sony W7 and P200, both, have metal bodies. That said, I haven't
tried dropping my DSC-W7, Canon 300D, Oly C-750 or even a cheapo
Mercury 1.3MP ever. If your camera works well even after dropping then
be grateful but I wouldn't expect even the toughest camera to work 100%
after being impacted.

> 2) Blur. My favorite transformer character, but my least favorite type
> of pics to take. Ill go back to my HP cam. The slightest movement of
> your hand causes severe blurs. I read these DSCs do too... is this
> something a college graduate can figure out how to avoid on these
> sonys?

Neither of the Sonys have blur-busting technology. Panasonic has a nice
DMC-LZ2 that features optical image stabilisation which should help you
get rid of those blurs. The camera features 5MP CCD, 6x optical zoom, a
2" LCD and sells for $219.

However, it needs to be investigated why you get blurs. Is it because
your hands shake a lot or your camera doesn't have ISO setting high
enough or the lens is too slow. Optical image stabilisation will only
help you to an extent especially in situations where you are in a
rocking boat and the light around isn't enough for a fast shutter
speed.

> 3) I am maybe thinking of abandoning the SOnys altogether. I have a
> collection of 128 and 256 SD cards which i now learn are useless to
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> ps... raise your hand if you remember the "Blur" character introduced
> in teh Transformers movie...

I chose the W7 over the P200 because its bigger body felt more
comfortable to shoot with, the larger LCD, AA batteries instead of
propreitary Li-Ions and more manual control.

Hope this helps,

- Siddhartha

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jbraly@gmail.com - 31 Oct 2005 13:49 GMT

yes indeed, very helpful, thank you.
But no comment on the nikon coolpix 7900 when stacked up against the
W7. Any comparison at all?
thanks again!
Jazz mann

> > Here is why I cant decide between these two:
> >
[quoted text clipped - 48 lines]
>
> - Siddhartha

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Siddhartha Jain - 31 Oct 2005 14:06 GMT

> yes indeed, very helpful, thank you.
> But no comment on the nikon coolpix 7900 when stacked up against the
[quoted text clipped - 54 lines]
> >
> > - Siddhartha

I looked closely at the Nikon 5900/7900 and Canon SD500 too. Struck off
the Nikons because I read too many reports for problems with low-light
auto focus. Good low-light AF was one of the "MUST" things on my list.
The Canon looked good on paper but I found it too small for comfortable
shooting when I held it in the store. Though, I am pretty happy with
the W7 now, I suggest you look at the Fuji F10/11 too. The high ISO
performance is absolutely amazing on the Fuji. I haven't seen such good
ISO performance even on high end ZLRs and IMHO, good high ISO
performance makes any camera a different animal altogether. If I had to
buy again, it would probably be the Fuji.

- Siddhartha

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