Compare digital SLR-like cameras: from Canon S5, Olympus SP 560 and Sony H3, H9 to Panasonic FZ18 and Fujifilm S8000

Comparing newest ultra zoom SLR-like cameras such as Canon PowerShot S5 IS, Fujifilm S8000 / IS-1 / S5700 / S9600, Panasonic FZ-18 / FZ-8 / FZ-50, Sony DSC-H3 / H7 / H9 and Olympus SP-560 / SP550 with old Nikon 8700, Fujifilm S9000 or Sony DSC-R1 I come to the disappointing conclusion that newest are lousy. I am a real digital cameras’ fan and there are so many gadgets, which have run through my hands, but I would not like them to upgrade any of my old gadgets. Moreover, I am advising to my friends, who are in need of a new compact or ultra-zoom camera to buy 2006 or even 2005’s models. Dancing with modern digital cameras, a majority of their mfrs are notin need of making fair gadgets with good picture quality. They are making money. Therefore only marketing specialists, not engineers ruling the ball in the digital market. They are stick into the new cameras some useless but expensive features and feign them as necessary for shooting. And so, if you do not want to waste your money do not trust advertising. Remembe that digital camera serve for picture making only. In addition, the main things in a camera are the sensor and the lens together. Therefore, if you put a great lens for a shitty sensor, you will get a shitty image.
I put links to articles about comparing various SLR-like cameras bellow. There is some advice how to make a good purchase and not to waste money. If you become interested, I will be glad to see your replies and answer all your questions. Please, post your questions and opinions to the Comments directory.
- Casio Exilim EX-F1 as fastest digital SLR-like camera with CMOS sensor, better than Canon S5 and Panasonic TZ3.
After SONY’s great ultra zoom camera – DSC-R1, the new Casio EXILIM Pro EX-F1 is the next SLR-like camera with CMOS sensor. However, good guys from Casio made a clever step with this gadget. They do not want to run for useless mega pixels and put 6.6 million total pixels into 1/1.8 inch sensor. As a result, the Casio EX-F1 can shoot at an ultra fast speed - 60 frames per second.
- Panasonic DMC TZ3 vs Canon SX100 or Sony H3: the best Travel Zoom for $220
Four models present the new digital compact camera type – the Travel Zoom: the Canon Powershot SX100, the Sony DSC-H3, Panasonic DMC-TZ2 and Lumix TZ3. This camera type is a compromise between SLR-like cameras with a big optical zoom as Canon S5 or FujiFilm S8000 and compacts as PowerShot A-series or Fujifilm F40 – F50fd. Travel Zoom cameras have the same small 1/2.5 – 1/2.33” sensors. However, their 10-x zoom lens is hiding into the body; it makes this camera type handy, especially for travelers.
- Fujifilm S8000 vs S700, S9600 or F40: Great zoom for SLR-like, great sensor for Compact
Fuji Film digital camera guide can surprise any photographers with its features distribution. The small FinePix F40 has 1/1.6” Fujifilm SuperCCD HR sensor, whereas the cool 18x Fujifilm F8000 is satisfied with 1/2.35” ordinary chip. The groovy S9600 (with SuperCCD HR sensor) has not only a low light, still an infrared shooting advantage (in case of FinePix IS-1), but it is content without an optical image stabilizer. As for Fujifilm digital SLR – the IS Pro and S5 Pro, there are 6MP 23 x 15.5 mm sensor, but with 12.3 million sensor photo detectors.
- Compare 10x SLR-likes: Sony DSC-H3, Panasonic TZ2 vs Canon SX100
In an attempt to satisfy any photographer’s needs, mfrs have made a new digital camera type. There are three new: Canon SX100, Panasonic TZ2 and Sony DSC-H3 are ultra zoom digital cameras, because they have a 10x zoom lens but it’s already not an SLR-like. What is more, these are budget digital cameras, because all of these gadgets cost under $300.
- Canon SX100 IS as a Powershot S5 IS killer
Canon PowerShot SX100 IS as the first digital camera in the new budget SX series would make happy a lot of Canon’s fans who do not want to waste money on cooll and useless features. The very fact of SX series appearance says that Canon inc. at last swung its face to consumers. Moreover, this is a bold step, because this new PowerShot SX100 can compete not only with Canon’ A-series digital cameras: such as A650 or A720, but famous S5 IS.
- Olympus SP-560 vs SP-550; 18x SLR-like with E410’ processor and 826mm Tele converter
Olympus was the first manufacturer who gave birth to 18x zoom SLR-like camera. It was Olympus SP-550 with some new features: a handy body but a small and noisy 1/2.5” sensor. I don’t know if it sells successfully but some mfrs followed Olympus SP-550’s example. As a result we can see the appearance of new ultra-zoom cameras such as: Panasonic FZ18, Fujifilm S8000 and again Olympus with SP-560. Let’s look through this model and designate how good this upgrade is.


- Compare Fujifilm S8000, Olympus SP550, Panasonic FZ18 - nothing to S9100
This September Fujifilm made its fans a little happier by releasing a new SLR-like with a groovy 18x zoom lens, S8000. David Troy, Senior Product Manager, Consumer Digital Cameras, Electronic Imaging Division, FUJIFILM U.S.A., Inc. says: “By styling advanced DSLR features in a compact, easy to use digicam, we’re offering users the tools to capture photos you would swear were captured by a pro.” Let’s analyze which features of Fujifilm S8000 make us happy and force us to throw away our favorite DSLRs, compacts and even camcorders.
- Panasonic FZ18 vs. Fujifilm S8000 or Olympus SP-550; Compare 18x SLR-likes
What will happen if you stick a prefect Leica lens to the 1/2.5 inch sensor? You will waste $400 for a doubtful pleasure to have an 18x zoom on the small and noisy sensor. Besides you can participate in new SLR-like camera race with Fujifilm S8000, Olympus SP-550 UZ and cool-and-clever Panasonic FZ18. If you think that taking up the race is for your shooting accommodation it’s a wrong idea. This is running for your money. But if some time before we were running for mega pixels, now we are running for the ultra-mega-super optical zoom.
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 as cheaper alternative for Canon PowerShot S5 IS
The colossal photographer’s interest in SLR-like cameras such as Canon PowerShot S5 IS (it’s much more than Canon XTi/400D) told me than two reasons such as:
- you don’t need to change lenses so sensor remains hermetically sealed and clean,
- you can compose real time on the LCD monitor or the LCD viewfinder (including a real time histogram),
are much more important for users than high speed, image quality and other SLR’s advantages. Unfortunately Canon S5’s price is abt. $500 and willy-nilly I’d like to look for cheaper ultra-zoom camera with the same abilities.
- Choosing a SLR-like; DSC-H9 and H7 are Sony rival team against Canon S5
Sony introduced two new 8-megapixel DSC-H9 and DSC-H7 models in February 2007. Sony’s new SLR-like models must replace previous ultra-zoom cameras DSC H2 and H5.These new models both have 8.1 megapixel sensors, HDTV output, stabilized zooms and in the H9 there is Night Shot technology for, apparently, shooting in total darkness. New Sony’s SLR-like cameras have automatic face detection technology, without which any camera is now some outdated. These new cameras are strengthened with cool features like HD outputs, a 3-inch and flip-up LCD screen (only in case of H9) so that you can shoot comfortably from nearly any position etc. consequently their prices are strengthened too. So I have made a thorough research to find out everything about advantages and disadvantages concerning these two cameras.
- Canon PowerShot S5 IS’s pros and cons
I don’t really care which label my camera has: Sony, Nikon, Panasonic or Canon. Most modern electronic devices have great quality which is based on the same China components. Therefore the fact that Canon PowerShoot S5's appearance generated considerable publicexcitement surprises me a lot. What of it if so? If Canon gave birth to a new SLR-like digital camera, do all of us take off our pants and run around? In search of any groovy Canon S5 feature, which makes me so happy that I start running with naked ass, I call at some photo stores or go surfing in specialized sites in the Net. Unfortunately there were not many happy Canon S5 owners in the Net and only one shop where I could hold on and test this device pressing, twisting it and shooting with it and get a little information about it. But I can make a compilation of PowerShot S5 IS pros and cons.
- Canon PowerShot S5 vs EOS350D, Sony H9 vs A100; SLR-like cam never comes to SLR.
I was surfing in the Net and trying to choose a lens for my Sony A100 when I saw Canon's general manager’s opinion on Canon new SLR-like camera, the PowerShot S5 IS. Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. said: 'With a broad range of features and a powerful ultra-zoom lens, it is no coincidence that the PowerShot S5 IS digital camera's look and feel evokes the sense of a small, lightweight SLR'. What a clever method to take great shoots. It's as easy as ABC! No more lenses, no more choosing between Sigma, Tamron and Sony. Why must I pay $350 for Sigma 18-200 or even $450 for Sony SAL if I can buy a SLR-like and 'its feel evokes' a SLR camera's master?
- 7 best SLR-like’s specification table; Sony DSC-H5 as a cheap & clever choice
I’ve already talked about my friend’s intention to choose ultra zoom. He bought the Sony DSC-H5 for $350. And his reasons are: it’s a great camera with a big LCD and with everything you need. However, it’s a rule for the modern digital market to fill up a cam with a lot of features which you never need or use. Its manual looks like a novel and nobody can read it entirely. What about new models such as Sony DSC-H7/H9? He says that he wants to have a good digital cam but doesn’t want to pay extra money for latest models. The newest ones do not mean the best and especially it does not mean the cheapest. I think that it’s a clever method of attacking the shopping to wait for a tomorrow's model to buy today's one. Of course, with new models’ appearances you can calculate on a discount. Now he is happy and I’m happy too because he promised me to lend this gadget for a few days for shooting in sauna.
- Choosing SLR-likes compare Panasonic DMC-FZ8, Olympus SP-550 and Fujifilm IS-1/S9600. Good, expensive and very expensive.
Our next stop is Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 with 1/2.5 " 7.1 MP sensor 3072 x2304, 36 - 432mm Image stabilization 12x zoom lens from Leica, 2.5” LCD. It costs $300. Taking the piece of cake between high-end compacts (10 MP FZ50 or R1) and DSLR, Panasonic’s DMC-FZ8 offers useful and not expensive SLR-like high quality cameras. Why don’t you buy it if the price suits you and you become a photographer during your trips and want to shoot outdoor pictures and your family? The weight, inc. batteries, is 340 g (12 oz), which is convenient. After 10.1-megapixel (3648 x 2736) LUMIX DMC-FZ50 with Optical Image Stabilizer featuring (12x) optical zoom (equivalent 35 - 420 mm on a 35 mm film camera) f/2.8 LEICA DC lens for five hundred dollars, FZ8 is a clever step, especially after a huge DSC-R1.
- Choosing Digital zoom cam: Canon PowerShot S5 IS can fight with Sony DSC-H9 or H7; Canon, you really can?
Two days ago my friend asked me what camera to buy for home and nature shooting. He has a dog, a wife and owns a beautiful house with a nice garden. On the hand he has $300-500 for a photo camera and does not have any idea what cam he wants. On the other hand I am a friend of his, an electronic devices fan. And I got an excellent chance to check my talent as the comparison shopper.
First of all I sent him to the superstore with one mission: to hold for some time all digital cameras which he can examine from salesmen. And before shop guys will see that my friend does not want to buy any cam he can test ‘hand grip’ of the most compacts, SLR-like cams and my favorite DSLRs.
- The summary table of the best SLR-like camera specifications
I don’t know who gives rise to SLR-like cameras. May be this strange kind of photo devices was born because some marketing experts wanted to have a new piece of digital camera market. Some opticians may have created such an excellent universal lens that forced them to build a special camera for it. But now we see this sort of cameras for people who are ready to have a cool and big device without any SLR complexities. For those who want to capture a moment without changing (and buying) lenses. It is interesting that Canon and Nikon made their best SLR-like cameras in 2004. But Sony and Panasonic (with there lenses manufacturers Carl Zeiss and Leica) are showing activity in SLR-like market right now. I have made that table because it’s impossible to talk about photo cameras while not mentioning SLR-like ones. However when I hold Sony DSC-R1 in my hands I recall old machine gun advertisement: Better means to get back at neighbors!