OT Digital Still Cameras and Optical Zoom limits

PeterWright wrote on 8/27/2004, 8:35 PM
I am interested in a Sony 5.1 Megapixel digital still camera - a "pocket size" model with many good features - I like the compact size and the idea of using the Memory stick straight into my Vaio laptop.
The only feature which limited its appeal is the 3x optical zoom which cameras of this size seem limited to.

But with 5.1 Mp there would be plenty of scope for zooming in Vegas without losing quality. I am not planning to do any specialised close up shooting, so I'd appreciate hearing about any experience anyone has had with this sort of lens (Carl Zeiss).

Incidentally, if digital zoom in the camera is used to go in beyond 3x, would it effectively be the same as using Pan/Crop to do this?

Thanks.

Comments

riredale wrote on 8/27/2004, 10:28 PM
You have resolution to burn.

All things being equal, I'd probably prefer to do the zooming in Vegas, so that I have the best chance of capturing exactly the best framing. If you zoom in all the way while taking the picture, you'll be stuck with what you have. The only other consideration would be whether the lens was sharpest and/or suffered the least artifacts (such as barrel distortion) at a particular zoom setting.
PeterWright wrote on 8/28/2004, 3:19 AM
Thanks Richard, some good thoughts.

I'll think I'll let the salesman stew on it for the weekend and then make his day on Monday!
farss wrote on 8/28/2004, 4:02 AM
I cannot see how there'd be much difference between the digital zoom in the camera and using Vegas to do the same thing. Although, the camera may do the zoom before compression so you may get a slightly better result.

I've got (read had, it got nicked) a Sony F828, nice camera. Was planning on doing some HD stop frame animation with it and Vegas, oh well, just have to wait for the insurance.

Bob
Chienworks wrote on 8/28/2004, 5:43 AM
A 5.1MP camera has a resolution of, say, 2560x1920, probably a little better than that. The tightest crop you can do before losing resolution is 654x480 (NTSC). This means you'll be zooming in on a portion of the frame about 1/4 the size of the original, which is equivalent to a 4x zoom. Add this to the 3x optical zoom and you get effectively 12x. Not too shabby. ;)

For almost all intents and purposes, digital zoom is meaningless. My camcorder has 18x optical and 300x digital zoom. The day i bought it i found the menu setting to disable the digital zoom so my limit is 18x. I've never even been tempted to turn it back on again. Even if optical zoom is limited to 3x, all digital zoom does is spread the same limited detail over more pixels. All this gains is a blurry image.
John_Cline wrote on 8/28/2004, 6:14 AM
Peter, Sony has about 6 models with 5.1 megapixel resolution. Might you be looking into the Sony T1? If so, it is a terrific little camera, the image quality is outstanding. Also, if you use the "Memory Stick Duo Pro" flash memory card, it wil take full-motion 30fps 640x480 video (with audio) that is also pretty outstanding. It can take about 20 minutes on a 512Mb card. I have incorporated its footage into a couple of productions with great results. The T1 is not the only Sony camera that will do this.

John
PeterWright wrote on 8/28/2004, 8:04 AM
Thanks John, Kelly and Bob.

Strangely I don't have the model number of the one I liked - I just searched and it may have been the DSC W1 - the salesman wrote "all the info" on the back of his card and gave it to me, but he wrote DSC P100, but it wasn't - that one had an off-centre lens and came in Red, Blue and something else ...the model I liked was black, central lens, about A$100 more than the P100, had similar or the same Carl Zeiss lens, but had a much larger LCD screen, and some very impressive functions.

Anyway - I'll find out on Monday.
nickle wrote on 8/28/2004, 8:59 AM
I have the dsc p92 5.1 (last year's model) and it is a great camera. I have never used the digital zoom because I can crop in photoshop or vegas or whatever if need be. I took pictures of a carburator before I took it off my van to repair. When replacing the carb I forgot how the linkage connected, so using the pictures I could zoom in (in photoshop) and see every detail so clearly that I had no problem. 128mb memory stick holds 51 pictures a the higheswt resolution, so keep that in mind as the camera comes with a 32 meg stick. The batteries are charged in a separate charger which comes with it.
PeterWright wrote on 8/29/2004, 2:32 AM
Update - after all my bravado about making the salesman stew .... and spurred on by your positive responses, I went in on Sunday afternoon and bought a W1.

I also had a look at the T1, John - an amazing slimline design for such specifications. The W1 is essentially the same camera, lens, image and function wise. The T1 was A$150 more, and for this you got the natty slim design and it used a Sony custom battery. The W1, which is still a "minnow", slightly less slim, runs on 2x AA batteries, which is handy. I bought four extra rechargeables.

I got a 256Mb pro duo memory stick and I'm off to snap the pants off it .... even if it is Sunday.
farss wrote on 8/29/2004, 2:39 AM
That's one thing I liked about my F828, no need to use memory stick thingies, damn I'm missing it..

Bob.
John_Cline wrote on 8/29/2004, 8:54 AM
Peter,

The W1 is a GREAT camera. Enjoy!

John
PeterWright wrote on 8/29/2004, 11:21 PM
I am indeed enjoying ...

One small annoyance - unbeknown to the shopman and myself till today, the duo pro memory stick cannot be read by my Vaio memory stick reader - a veteran, almost two years old - (still love the 16.1" screen, though.) It can read the supplied 32Mb stick, but not the duo pro which is faster.

My options are to use the camera via USB or spend another $50 for a USB reader, or even more for a PCMCA reader.
I don't think using the camera will be a problem ...

blobafatt wrote on 8/29/2004, 11:44 PM
In Reagrds to the Camera, if it is the T1 or T11 i must warn you that it has a problem with Red Eye. I have both and was dissapointed with the Red Eye problem. Both have Red Eye reduction feature but it doesnt work. Also note that the only difference between the T1 and T11 is the new casing on the T11 otherwise they have the same features.
riredale wrote on 8/30/2004, 4:16 PM
Peter:
Here at Fry's in Oregon one can typically pick up a "6 in 1" USB-interfaced memory card reader for maybe $10 (regular price $20). Perhaps there are discount stores out where you live, too.
PeterWright wrote on 8/30/2004, 5:20 PM
That's a good point Richard - I'll keep my eyes out for a local bargain, and meantime use the camera/usb.