The Olympus Pen E-P1 has DSLR (digital single lens reflex) like quality that offers even the novice photographer a powerful easy to use camera with a compact look and feel.

In this article, we will look at the top 5 reasons why it might be worth considering investing in this digital camera.

1. The image quality is impressive. You will find excellent color with quality saturation levels. When taking photos of people, you will find quality skin tone levels. The Olympus Pen E-P1 gives a good selection aspect ratios (including 4:3, 16:9, 3:2 and 6:6) and a range of compression which includes RAW, metering, exposure and white balance. So all in all, a good image quality, with a low noise and high levels of sharpness and detail.
2. You will like the sleek look with a compact retro design. The camera features are really easy to use for beginner photographers. If you are new to photography, the Olympus Pen E-P1 will give you all the features a heavy duty SLR will have in an easy to use design.
3. The E-P1 digital camera has interchangeable lens that is retractable. Just like a compact camera where the lens can retract into the camera body, the E-P1’s lens can collapse into the main lens which makes it really easy to store. For someone who enjoys traveling light, this is ideal.
4. This Olympus Pen E-P1 has an excellent playback mode. Browse photos with a 14x magnification, and playback video with sound. Something else you will find quite cool is A ‘Multi Exposure’ playback feature. This allows you to stack two to four pictures combined into a single photo.
5. HD movie mode is good. The camera records at 30FPS with stereo sound. If you want to avoid taking a digital camcorder on your travels, the E-P1 is more than capable of shooting short videos, but it should not be considered as a replacement for your camcorder.

Are you considering buying an Olympus Pen E-P1 digital camera? This stylish, yet powerful SLR feature like camera is ideal for on the go photography. So whether it is a wedding, or a holiday you can be sure to travel light but still have the tools to take quality image where ever you choose.

Be sure to check out my site for the cheapest deals online http://www.squidoo.com/Olympus-PEN-E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1 FAQ:

Question: Can I use Nikon lens on the Olympus PEN E-P1?
And what adapter do I have to buy if I have to buy any?

Answer: No. Look at the distances between the focal plane and the bayonet on the Nikon and the Olympus, you will see that they are very different. Add some kind of adapter and the difference is increased. That means even if you did find an adapter, the Nikon lenses would not focus at infinity.

Just find some good used Olympus lenses and use them.

Question: Can anyone tell me why they made the olympus pen e-p1? Looks like a gimmick to me.

Answer: Canon and Nikon have a near lock on traditional dSLR design sales. Olympus and Panasonic are trying to discover and/or create greener pastures for themselves.

It’s a darn sexy looking camera but 4/3 sensors always struggle with the noise issue. This will likely end up being an orphan format.

Question: Need advice on Olympus Pen E-P1?
I am a amateur photographer, before I was looking for a superzoom prosumer camera, particularly interested in Canon SX10 (20X zoom). Then out come this attractive Olympus Pen which is small in size but have all capabilities of a DSLR. Since zooming is an important factor to me, can any one enlighten me what zooming capabilities does the two kit lenses (M. ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 lens and M. ZUIKO DIGITAL 17mm 1:2.8 Pancake lens) possess? How far can they zoom, ie, are they equivalent to a PNS camera 2X, 3X, 4X or?

Answer: You won’t get anything like you want with a Pen… go back to the SX-10. To get lenses equal to the range of the SX-10 on the Pen will cost you much more, make the camera much larger and heavier, and more difficult to handle.

Question: Olympus E-P1 or other DSLR at same price?
I want to buy a DSLR camera. Then I see Olympus E-P1. Now I’m confused either to buy PEN E-P1 or other DSLR at same price!

Answer: To be clear the E-P1 is no dSLR. It doesn’t have an optical through the lens viewfinder… the (d)SLR’s namesake… or a dedicated AF sensor. However it does have interchangeable lenses, and the same size sensor as Olympus/Panasonic dSLRs.

Anyways the Micro-Four-Thirds (µ4:3) system that the E-P1 is part of is relatively new, so there are hardly any lenses available for it as of yet. Though you can adapt lenses from other systems, with certain limitations. Also this no speed demon when it comes to autofocus (depending on the lens you use, it’s somewhere in-between a compact and a dSLR). But then the main selling point of this camera is size. It’s far smaller than any dSLR. Smaller than its cousins the Panasonic G1 and GH1 as well. Particularly when using one of the two kit lens options. Plus since the image you see while composing is electronic rather than optical you get a live preview your current shooting settings (just like a compact digital).

Ultimately which is “better”… an E-P1 or a dSLR… depends on which of these aspects are more important to you.

Question: Is the Olympus E-P1 the end for bulky DSLR’s?
The worlds first micro four thirds camera (Just a bit bigger than compact) with a sensor the same size as semi pro DSLR’s. It’s all there apart from built in flash and viewfinder. But these can be added on. Picture quality RAW JPEG is equivalent if not better in some cases. HD Video is probably the best I’ve ever seen on a camera with no stutter and incredible quality. Lenses will be flying out thick and fast for this one and already comes with wide angle and mid zoom. The size is a pocket sized dimension with a retro PEN look that is amazing. But will all this be enough to convert the masses? Well I believe this is the advent of a new era in cameras. True its not full sensor but does that really matter? But every now and then in camera history there is a revolution and with the gamut of semi-pro DSLR’s on the market are going as far as they can spec wise then the change is inevitable. God bless Olympus!

Answer: With the exception of the Leica M8 and the Leica/Panasonic L-1 DSLR the Olympus PEN digital is just about the best looking interchangeable lens digital cameras available. But it’s not a DSLR.

Great size, lovely finish cool design, decent resolution and sensor; brilliant. No optical viewfinder, no rangefinder or pentaprism; not brilliant.

God bless Olympus, I agree. I’m not old enough to have owned a PEN or trip first time round, but loved my rugged little mju 2 (stylus 2) 35mm camera. They always do something different, and have actually led the market with many innovations (self cleaning sensor, live view) we now take for granted.

The sensor size is a very slight issue in that it requires very wide lenses to replicate conventional wide angles in traditional terms. It also leads to a restriction on the usability of small apertures, the future scope for resolution (not that 12Mp isn’t enough for most) and issues such as image noise.

Olympus (and Minolta) always were pioneers, mavericks, interesting to see what they are going to come up with next.

Question: Seeking advice on Olympus Pen E-P1?
What zooming capabilities do the two kit lenses have? If they aren’t gonna get me far in terms of zooming, do help recommend a zoom lens (not too pricey ones please, just good enough to start with) to go along with this camera. Also, would this camera be good for macro pics?

Answer: There are a variety of lenses available in the micro 4/3’s format, but once you start adding a longer zoom the advantages of the PEN E-P1 start to diminish and you’d be better off with a conventional DSLR.

I really like the E-P1 but I doubt I’ll like it enough to seriously consider buying one.

Are you the kind of person that hangs out in a lot of cold, wet, and sandy places? Apparently the good folks at Olympus think some of us do. So much so, that they’d like to convince you how much you need to buy the Olympus Stylus 790SW Waterproof Digital Camera. My first reaction upon reading about the waterproof, shockproof, freeze-proof (really?) and sand-proof features of the 790SW, was hey that’s a nice idea. My second reaction was what’s so special about that, and shouldn’t all cameras be built like that to start with?

Shouldn’t all cameras be able to take a little abuse? All digital cameras should be able to be dropped from four or five feet without damage. All digital cameras should be sealed well enough that sand or water won’t find a way in. It’s just a question of good build quality. Olympus however thinks this is a big revelation and a major marketing point for the Stylus 790SW. The bigger question though is, does it take good pictures?

Being a waterproof camera shouldn’t just mean you can hold the camera underwater, and it won’t leak. It still needs to take good pictures. While the 790SW can be held underwater (up to 33 feet according to Olympus), the pictures it takes are not so great. In fact, if you do take it underwater, plan on taking a lot of pictures. Most will turn out quite distorted and blurry, but the more pictures you take the better your chances of getting a few good ones. In addition, the LCD is pretty much unusable underwater, as it’s just too hard to see. You’ll have to just point, click and hope for the best.

Meanwhile, back on dry land, it appears the Olympus Stylus 790SW is really out of it’s element. If you decide to buy a 790SW, you need to be aware, that you are sacrificing image quality for durability. There are other cameras that will take better pictures for the same price. Lower ISOs are fine, but anything over 200 and your going to see noticeable image noise. Color saturation and sharpness are also below standard when compared to other cameras in this price range.

If your favorite game is “let’s bury the camera in the sand”, then the Stylus 790SW is the camera for you. If however it’s not, here’s a few other detracting factors in mind when considering the 790SW:

- non standard XD memory cards

- grainy picture quality

- LCD is hard to read due to overly reflective coating

- automatic setting defaults are calibrated poorly

- menus slow down manual tweaking efforts

For the right person (Indiana Jones, Laura Croft, Edmund Hillary) in the right place (Antarctica, Great Coral Reef, Sahara), this Olympus Stylus is the perfect camera. If you don’t fall into one of those categories at least part of the time, then spend your money elsewhere. While the 790SW sets a good example for other camera manufacturers in terms of durability, you’ll get significantly nicer images from a number of other digital cameras.

Olympus Stylus 790 SW FAQ:

Question: I need help viewing the pictures on my Olympus Stylus 790 SW and on my computer.?
I recently purchased an Olympus Stylus 790 SW with Olympus Master 2. I uploaded a lot of pictures to my computer, but they’ve all disappeared! They’ve disappeared from both my camera and my computer, even though I didn’t delete anything. I need the pictures, so I would greatly appreciate anyone who could help me. I’ve searched my entire computer and I have no clue as to where they could have disappeared to.

Answer: Depending upon the “program” you used to transfer the images to your computer, there should be two things to look for: 1) the default file folder that the program sends your image files to and 2) the option to delete the files automatically from your cameras memory card needs to be unchecked.

That said, buy yourself a nice little under $10 card reader and copy your image files using your computer skills to a file folder you name yourself and can find again.

IF after finding the default image file folder, you find that your images are not there, you will need to get an image recovery program and a second memory card. You can use the second card until you recover the images from the first. Using the old card, will assure that you will never recover any of the old image files, because you will have “written” over them with the new photos you take.

Question: Should I get the Nikon S51 or Olympus Stylus 790 SW?
I really can’t decide! Does anyone have either of these cameras?

Answer: I have the Olympus. It is outstanding. I can take it swimming in the local swimming pool. I would definitely recommend it. Go for the Olympus.

Question: Is the Olympus Stylus 790 SW a good camera? Why do they sell $300 underwater housing for it…?
I think it looks cool and it would be one I wouldn’t have to worry about breaking but is it worth $300 and do you have to buy the underwater housing for another $300? I thought it was waterproof on its own?

Answer: Waterproof housings allow you to go *deeper* underwater.

Question: Can you change the Olympus Stylus 790 SW so it takes black and white photos?

Answer: Don’t waste your time. Direct black and white images made in cameras are inferior to converted RGB image files. Two steps: 1. set the saturation on the file to -100. Save the imge as a different name so you do not overwrite the original file. 2. Set the black threshold, white threshold and then adjust the mid-tones until the image look’s better.

Question: Do olympus stylus 790 sw’s charge with the usb cable?

Answer: No, it does not. You need to use the battery charger.

Question: Do the pictures come out grainy with the Olympus Stylus 790SW 7.1MP Waterproof Digital Camera?
I want to buy an Olympus Stylus 790SW 7.1MP Waterproof Digital Camera with Dual Image Stabilized 3x Optical Zoom but I’m afraid that the pictures will come out grainy or the quality of the camera and pictures won’t be that great.

Answer: It depends on the settings you are using on the camera. You should use “Auto” mode rather than manual mode.

Also if you use the camera in low light (indoor pictures), then most of them will be noisy unless you are using a camera which can take good low light pictures (like Nikon S700 , Fujifilm F40fd).

Question: Is the Olympus Stylus 790SW really as good as it sounds?
Anyone own this? Can you stand on it? How about dip it in water and take a picture? Which version is best?

Answer: Honestly, no its not as good as Olympus hoped. Most of the time you can go underwater to take pictures the first and maybe the second time but usually on the third, it leaks and ruins the camera. I can say that half the time they will cover the warranty, but they don’t have to if they don’t feel it was a manufacturing problem. Believe it or not the warranty does not cover liquid damage. The seals are suggested to be changed once a year and it costs over $100. These are just some things I wanted you to know.

Question: Could I use the olympus stylus 790SW to go scuba diving?
or would that just be good for more shallow water? Obviously the olympus 770sw goes 33ft and the 790 only 10ft, but would it damage the 790 if I brought the camera more than 10 ft down?

Answer: It could damage the camera if you take it deeper than 10ft. If you want to go deeper Olympus has an underwater housing that will let you take the camera deeper.

Picking a digital camera brand is something that comes down to what the individual needs the camera for. What are the person’s goals with the camera? Personal use or professional use? These are just a few of the many questions one should ask them self before picking the brand they feel is best for their needs. Generally, there are a few brands that tend to dominate the digital camera industry. Firstly there is Canon, usually the cameras with the highest technology. Secondly there is Kodak, which is known for a great balance and a very easy to use interface. Then there is Sony, which most people claim is quite similar to Canon, and is basically an alternative. Lastly, Olympus has quite a few good cameras, and is known for having unique features that many other cameras do not have.

When picking a digital camera, one should know that each camera falls into a certain category. These categories include ultra compact, compact, creative compact, SLR-like, and SLR. Ultra Compact are very small, easy to fit in your pocket, although with this comes very small buttons which people often find hard to use (many Sony cameras are ultra compact). Compact cameras are the most common cameras for people to buy, usually can fit in convenient places (for example, your pocket), and the buttons and such are usually not too small or too big. Most brands tend to have cameras that fall under this category since they tend to be so popular. Then there is creative compact, which contains much more options as well as features. Generally more expensive, but is good for those who enjoy playing around with photos. SLR-like are a bit bigger, very easy to control (bigger buttons), and are usually good for those taking pictures in places with little light. Lastly, SLR are the largest cameras. They tend to offer the best quality of picture, best pictures in areas with little light, and best overall kind of camera.

Picking a camera brand highly depends on what category you want (as described above). Generally, most brands stick with one or two of the categories above when creating their cameras. If you are looking for something ultra compact, look into Sony. If you are looking for something SLR, or SLR-like, look into Olympus. Picking a brand is often a choice of preference, but do not be fooled by just the brand name of a camera.

Getting the perfect camera, is never an easy thing, due to the constantly changing technology. Fortunately, there are plenty of helpful websites online, that can narrow down your search and help you find the camera with all the features important to you.

Digital Cameras FAQ:

Question: I don’t really know anything about digital cameras but I want to buy one. What are the cameras called, that are not digital, just “normal” ones? I used to like those better because the quality seemed to much more professional. The lighting seemed warmer, colors seemed brighter. On digital cameras it seems that everything looks paler, etc. Is it just me? I wanted a digital camera that had those qualities to it, with a good price, if possible.

Answer: There are film (some technophobes call them analog) and digital cameras.

There’s nothing more or less “professional” about film or digital. It’s just a personal (or financial) choice everyone has to make for themselves. I used film and love the pictures I got from it, but I believe my digital pictures are every bit as good. Digital sensors reproduce pictures more like slide/transparency film than print/negative film. If you’ve never shot slides, it can be a more difficult adjustment for many.

The only type of picture that film is significantly better/different than digital is black & white. B&W film is made with silver chunks that give a unique look that is very difficult for digital to reproduce. If you want the closest to film look, you’ll need a D-SLR with a CMOS sensor (all the new Nikons, D5000 and above as well as Canon & most Sonys). The biggest advantages for digital are 1) less wasted materials & chemicals and 2)easily switching light sensitivities (ISO) for bright & dark.

Question: Digital camera?
I have a digital camera and its been acting weird. It won’t let you take pictures because it says on the bottom right corner that its on lock. I looked through the manual and I asked a bunch of people but they don’t know how to get it off lock.

Answer: If you are absolutely sure it’s not in the manual, how about you try Googling it… or go to the brand name website. If it doesn’t say anything on their website or on Google, you can try calling a contact number (should be on the website) and just quickly ask them. They should be able to help you out.

Question: What digital camera do you recommend?
I want to buy a digital camera in the next few months and am aware some of the ‘better’ digital cameras are very pricey.

Answer: This is a question only you can answer, if your keen on photography and want to get the maximum control then it has to be a DSLR. There are just too many restrictions with a compact, small sensor and shutter delay are just two. The only advantages they do have is size and portability.

Question: What does “Digital camera has 10x optical and 4x digital zoom” mean to the camera user?

Answer: Optical zoom is the magnification you get by moving the lens. Digital zoom is where it takes the picture and zooms in on it electronically, like the zoom when you look at a picture on your computer.

Question: What digital slr camera is best for amateur photographers?
I really want a digital slr camera, but I don’t want to spend a fortune, I’ve been looking at used ones, and refurbished but they’re all so expensive! I’ve been manly looking at getting a canon EOS rebel xs. Is that a decent camera? I currently have a canon regular digital camera and I love it.

Answer: With DSLR’s your buying into a system and Canon is far and away the most expensive, closely followed by Nikon.

Pentax, Olympus and Sony have many more features. They may be more expensive initially, but a soon as you start adding lenses, flashguns etc. they work out much cheaper for the same or Higher quality. You finish with a much more useful system for less money.

Things to look for are a bright viewfinder, good build quality, adjustments of everyday things such as EV value, focus point, metering mode etc. without having to go into a menu. These are basic to using your camera for anything other than ‘point and shoot’.

Question: What digital camera would you recommend that takes good pictures and good quality videos?

Answer: I highly recommend the canon powershot sd 1100 is. This camera takes high quality pictures that are super clear. It also takes good quality videos. You can take pictures and film in different modes, like color accent, which focuses on one color and everything is black and white, sepia, and just black and white. The battery life is long, because I used it nonstop for 2 days and the battery was still there(rechargeable). The Camera comes in blue, pink, brown, silver, and gold.

Question: Best digital camera for a student photographer?
I am currently a student in high school, and I am very interested in digital photography. I do not have a lot of experience with purchasing cameras, and I am looking for a digital camera that has great features, easy to use functions, and is durable. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Answer: SLR is good but even the inexpensive ones are $500+.

A good point and shoot that has full manual shooting capability will be $250+ and it is the minimum I would recommend for someone who thinks they might get serious about shooting since even if you upgrade later on, you can still learn how to take pictures by using the full manual mode.

Question: What is the best digital camera for self portraits?

Answer: I don’t fully understand how it works, but check out the Canon Powershot SD430, which has WiFi. I saw somewhere that the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 has a remote control, but if you were going to spend that kind of money, you could choose from any number of DSLR’s that seem to all have remote control capabilities.

I also read that the Panasonic DMC-FZ50 has a remote control, but can not confirm this. Same for the Olympus Evolt series.

SLR (single-lens reflex) cameras are the one of the best and most popular type of camera out there in the electronic world. It is important for a buyer to consider many factors before jumping in and buying a specific SLR camera.

35mm SLR cameras are probably some of the most technologically advanced cameras. There are not many other cameras that allow you to get such high quality pictures while keeping the camera so compact. Also, for the price you pay, you get amazing zoom, macro, and wide angle lenses. Nonetheless, such an amazing camera does come at a hefty price. They can cost upwards of $5000 (U.S.). This is way more than any amount you will pay for even a top brand SLR film camera. You must keep in mind the fact that although it is very expensive; the buyer is getting their moneys worth. With the SLR 35mm Cameras you have more control over pictures. Evidently, all of these cameras use 35mm film, consisting of color negative film for prints, transparency film for slides, as well as black and white, and lastly, infrared film.

Now, when picking a SLR camera, you have two options which include autofocus and manual focus. Most cameras are manufactured with auto focus, and generally manual focus is of more use to advanced photographers. Autofocus does tasks such as following the movement of your eyes so it can focus on what you’re taking a photo of. Some also have a stabilization feature which most photographers find very handy. With the benefits of autofocus do come some negatives. Autofocus cameras tend to use a lot more battery power than a manual camera does. Although the autofocus features claims to track your eye movements, it rarely does so effectively. Lastly, autofocus cameras tend to use parts that are lighter and not as durable as those used on manual cameras.

The good thing with manual cameras is that you can choose the focus, and change around several other settings as well. The manufacturers who create the most manual cameras include Olympus, Pentax, and Nikon. They are well known for their manual SLR cameras. Manual cameras are usually recommended for those who are up for a challenge, as they are obviously not as easy to sue as a camera with autofocus.

Getting the perfect 35mm SLR camera, is never an easy thing, due to the constantly changing technology. Fortunately, there are plenty of helpful websites online, that can narrow down your search and help you find the 35mm camera with all the features important to you.

SLR 35mm Cameras FAQ:

Question: What type of 35mm slr camera should I buy?
I am just thinking about buying a 35mm slr camera. I have seen some for 200 dollars. Do you think that it would be a good camera to start off with? Its a cannon.

Answer: If you are just beginning, you may want to start with an older all manual camera – manual focus, and manual settings for aperture and shutter speed. this would be REALLY cheap (you can probably get a camera and lens on ebay for like $50 – just make sure the camera and internal light meter work) and would be a good way to learn the basics of exposure. If you want something more updated, you could find a nice autofocus/autoexposure body and zoom lens for $200 or so. Canon cameras are usually a good bet; also look into Nikon cameras. You can get some really good deals on these cameras since everyone’s going digital.

Question: What would be a good 35mm SLR Camera to get for my Photography I Class?
I’m starting a Photography I class at my local college. What kind of 35mm SLR camera should I look in to getting?

Answer: Canon or Nikon. Many won’t be able to afford those two most popular and expensive brands so its up to you really. Pentax, Olympus, Kodak, those are great cameras too.

Question: What Canon 35mm SLR camera should I buy?
I recently purchased the Canon EOS 30D DSLR but want to buy a really good film camera also for film photography class purposes. However, I can’t find a good review that describes a Canon 35mm SLR for a serious amateur.

Answer: Canon made some really great 35mm autofocus SLRs. If you want a really good, professional body, look at a Canon EOS 3. A little pricey still, even used.

For a good camera that won’t break your pocketbook, try the Canon EOS Elan 7NE.

A lesser, but still good camera would be the EOS Elan IIE with eye-controlled focus.

Question: Which lenses will fit a Canon 630 35mm SLR camera?
I am buying a Canon 630 35mm SLR camera body, and already have a couple of lenses for the Canon Digital Rebel XTI. Will they be interchangeable? Do I need to buy a seperate lens for the 630?

Answer: Canon EF lenses will fit that body. There is a great selection of used lenses out there since they’re been around since the 80s.

EF-S lenses used on older cheaper Digital cameras like the Digital Rebel should not be used on an older Canon film camera. Newer and more expensive digital Canon’s have a larger Image Sensor and can use the film EF lenses.

Question: What is the difference between a SLR camera and a regular 35mm camera?
Which will take better pic’s? I am looking for either one that is best for my wedding that is coming up less than a month.

Answer: SLR refers to the viewing system – “Single Lens Reflex.” 35 mm refers to the film size. This is the most common film size these days. There are SLR’s that are not 35 mm and 35 mm cameras that are not SLR’s.

If you know very little about photography, it doesn’t matter what you try to use. There is SO much more to wedding photography than the type of camera you use. If it really matters, hire a pro.

Question: What are the benefits of getting a 35mm digital SLR camera?
I’m looking to get a entry-level digital SLR but should I wait until the 35mm sensor cameras come down in price? Is it worth it, because you are more likely to be able to get new lenses in the future for 35mm cameras, but I don’t know whether to wait or not!

Answer: Full framed digital SLR cameras are not going to go down in price much anytime soon. For example, The Canon 40d’s price has not gone down much at all in the last few months despite the release of the 50d- it is still one thousand dollars with a kit lens. Prices haven’t been going down. Get what you want now. Again, the 5d is still just about two thousand dollars body only, it was about that six months ago. Full framed cameras are worth it, but if you can’t afford it now, you aren’t going to be able to afford it for a long time- so get what you can afford.

Question: Where could I get a 35mm slr film camera for under $250 and what kinds are good?
I am taking a photo 1 course and this is my freshman year. I am taking photo 2 next year. I need a good 35mm slr camera for a good price. I heard that the canon eos is good and nikon f series but some of those are really expensive.

Answer: Your best bet is to get a Canon EOS Rebel SLR. You could get the T2 which has a lot to offer, and with a solid name like Canon it’ll be around a long time and have lots of goodies to offer your choice!

Question: What’s the best 35mm SLR camera I can buy for about $500 (brand, quality, tips, accessories, etc.)?

Answer: Nikon FM 10 with a zoom in the range of 50-200mm. Tough, reliable, fully manual, no batteries needed and it will let you focus on learning the core skills and techniques of photography. You may want to buy a lens which will also be fully compatible with DSLRs if you choose to go that route in the future.

One of the most important features that consumers look at when buying a digital camera is its zoom range capability. Whether you are going to the zoo and want to get close ups of the animals, or just for personal use, zoom is one of the most important features. Many also want a compact camera with this feature, as it is easier to carry around.

There are a few advantages of a smaller sensor, in comparison to its larger counterpart, SRL’s. The main advantage is that you need a smaller lens, and you can fit a high zoom range into a small camera which can still be carried around conveniently. In early 2000, Sony and Olympus offered a few cameras with a 10x zoom, which were a bit bulky and more expensive, were still smaller than their counterpart SLR, and had a lens which was just as powerful. Many buyers look at these two factors, price and portability.

Superzoom cameras offer such large zoom ranges that they are almost impossible to match with film cameras. The lenses are large, yet small enough to be able to have a small, compact camera, that is convenient for users to carry around.

Manufacturers are continuously competing to come out with the camera with the best zoom range. Primarily, the average was a 10x lens, but now that number is about double. Not only are the manufacturers improving the length the lens can see, but they are improving the field of vision and width.

Seven cameras, which are probably the best digital zoom cameras include:

Fujifilm FinePix S2000HD

Fujifilm FinePix S8100fd

Canon Powershot SX10 IS

Nikon Coolpix P80

Olympus SP-565UZ

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28

Sony Cybershot DSC-H50

These seven cameras all have a zoom range of 12x or more, and some of the highest wide angle views as well. They also all over image stabilization (either optical or mechanical), which is important for people who are using such a strong zoom lens. Some other important features that these cameras contain include electronic viewfinder, full control when taking photos. Generally, these cameras all look quite similar. They are not too big, and are built with a similar design. Often times, many of these cameras will actual contain the same lens as one of their counterparts. More and more digital zoom cameras are being manufactured, and with each new one, comes more outstanding features

Getting the best zoom camera, is never an easy thing, due to the constantly changing technology. Fortunately, there are plenty of helpful websites online, that can narrow down your search and help you find the zoom camera with all the features important to you.

Digital Camera FAQ:

Question: What makes a digital camera zoom really far?
I have a Canon PowerShot A95 and it has a 12x Optical and Digital zoom combined but to me, it doesn’t zoom very far at all. What is better…..a 3x optical zoom or a 12x optical zoom?

Answer: A 12x optical zoom would be better. You did not state how many times your optical zoom and digital zoom is separately. An optical zoom brings the distant image ‘closer’ to your view. But a digital image simply crops the image and expands it. In other words, the quality of a digital zoom is not as good as an optical zoom.

Cameras zoom in using the optical zoom first, and then the digital zoom.

Question: What is the difference between Optical Zoom and Digital Zoom?

Answer: Optical zoom is the maximum amount of zoom the lens itself can achieve. Digital zoom then simply “blows up” the pixels to a larger size in memory.

Thus, if you have a 10 mega pixel camera and are using a 2:1 digital zoom, you are losing a large number of those pixels because only the “center” ones are used and then blown up. Thus, you get lower resolution.

With optical zoom, the lens still is able to focus all of the available light onto the whole CCD, so you retain the full resolution.

Question: What non-SLR Digital mega-zoom camera has the biggest Image Sensor?
I’m wanting a new Digital Camera with at least 12x optical zoom with the largest image sensor possible. My current (Konica-Minolta Z3) has a 1/2.5″ sensor but I’d like one with at least 4/3 if not full-frame. Do they make any with a sensor this large or are sensors this large reserved only for SLR’s?

Answer: The only non SLR’s that I know of that use an APS-C size sensor are the Sigma DP1 and DP2. They don’t have zoom lenses though. They both have fixed focal length lenses. If you have $8,000 you can buy a Leica rangefinder but I don’t think your looking for one of those.

Question: Digital Concepts camera help with a 7.1 mega pixel optical zoom digital camera?
I just got a 7.1 mega pixel optical zoom digital camera . I put in brand new batteries and a 4GB SDHC card , then in the manual it said to format it….i did that, but when I looked at the screen it said that i can only take 8 pictures, and when i turned the camera off ….all my pictures that i took were gone.

Answer: Sounds like it is set to use the internal memory.
Read your manual and figure out how to make it save to card.

P.S. not all small P&S cameras can handle a 4GB card.

Question: How good does the 10x zoom on a digital camera do?
I am looking to buy a digital camera with a 10x zoom (Kodax) is the zoom worth it or are the pictures hard to come out clear with a digital camera zoomed in that tight.

Answer: You have to examine more features than the zoom. One thing to look at is whether the zoom is optical or digital. If it is digital- your pictures will be lower quality whenever you use the zoom. Another thing to look at is whether or not it has image stabilization- there are many different ways that cameras achieve this, but a camera with some sort of image stabilization will take clearer telephoto shots than a camera without it.

Question: What is the best compact and high zoom digital camera for me?
I want a camera that is not too bulky, but has at least 40x zoom.

Answer: Your request for a “compact” 40x zoom camera is unrealistic. Otherwise you can go with a Canon Digital Rebel XT, and then buy a telephoto zoom lens. The quality is exceptional, but the price tag is through the roof.

Question: What’s a good quality/good zoom digital camera?

Answer: Assuming that you aren’t at all in the market for an SLR, if you want a point-and-shoot with extra zoom power, I bought the Sony Cyber-shot super zoom digital camera about a year ago (model DSC-H2/H5) and really liked it (I recently upgraded to an SLR, so that’s why this answer is more in past tense). It’s bulkier than a slim pocket-size camera, but it has more SLR-like traits and, of course, a pretty good zoom! I’m sure there’s a newer and better model now.

Question: I need to get a Fujifilm FinePix A500 Zoom Digital Camera memory card and have no clue what to get?
I have had this camera for a little bit and have no clue what type of card to get for it. I’m going on vacation this next week and the camera itself only stores 5 pictures.

Answer: Somewhere in your owners manual, you will find a list of the recommended memory cards for your camera.

This is a rather old camera (introduced on 2006) so uses the xD memory card. Call the Fujifilm help line and see what limitations there are on the amount of memory capacity your camera will use.

For now, just buy a nice inexpensive 1 GB xD card and use it until you can get a definitive answer from Fuji. Since your camera is too old to use “fast” cards, you can save some money and buy cards 50x or slower.