S2 IS vs H1 vs FZ5 vs S5200

[Tuga]

Hi,

I have decided to buy my first digital camera, but i am VERY, VERY "confused".
I narrowed my search to the Canon S2 IS, Sony H1, Panasonic FZ5 and Fuji S5200 (also known as S5600).
From all these, which do you think is the best "all purpose" camera?
Image stabilization is very cool and usefull, but, in low light, with moving subjects, is it good enough?
I read a review on the S5200 that says it has excellent image quality, but compared with the others, how good is it really? Does the ability to increase ISO, without ruin the shot with noise, compensates the lack of Image Stabilization?
Since i never had a digital camera i don´t know if i really need the S5200's extra ISO. I do know however that i want to avoid using flash when possible.
Any sugestion?

Thanks for any help!

[swgod98]

Image stabilization is very cool and usefull, but, in low light, with moving subjects, is it good enough?

Short answer: No.

ISO 1600 on the Fuji is not that impressive, though. The point is, it's there. As an overall camera, the S5200 is a really good choice.

If you aren't too concerned about ISO 800 and 1600, IS and the higher zoom range of the other camera's will be very nice features for you...The S2 is definitely in the lead as far as "all around" feature set.

[Tuga]

Thanks for the reply swgod98.

By the way, is the feature set of S2 IS much better than the others? Excluding the rotating LCD and the movie mode, which i won´t use to often (or never).
I like S2 IS but i'm concerned with its image quality at highter ISOs. Again, i don´t really know if i need them.

What i know is that i want a durable camera. I'm not thinking in buying another in the next few years (5+).

:confused:

[roxydog]

Gidday
As swgod98 says out of those cams your best bet would be the higher ISO cam-i have the S2 and FZ5 and they are definately not low light - no flash good pic cams ,although i have seen some good lowlight pics from both - must be the cameraman
Cheers Dom

[swgod98]

By the way, is the feature set of S2 IS much better than the others?

It's not necessarily BETTER per se, but there are more. As you mentioned, the rotating LCD. Movie mode w/ stereo sound and ability to capture while taking video. Burst mode is 2.4fps.

ISO 400 captures are not that bad in comparison to other ISO400 limited UZ camera's. In fact, quality wise, I'd venture to guess it's right about in the middle...? Of course, the S5200 at ISO400 blows the S2 away at ISO400. Still, no camera has everything! If only!! :D

Since you aren't concerned about video, or the rotating LCD, the H1 very well might be a good choice for you. It has a nice 2.5" LCD and the flash is supposed to be brighter than the S2. I'd even recommend the FZ5 if you are interested in the size. Some people say it doesn't feel as solid though *shrug*

Deciding on the right camera really can be a pain ;)

[Tuga]

Deciding on the right camera really can be a pain ;)

I totally agree. I'm getting crazy :eek:

Well, there's one thing that bothers me: there are no reviews (not that i know) on the S5200 in the sites i usually see; DCRP, DPReview, Steve´s Digicams, Megapixel.net, Imaging-Resource, ...
I saw only one in Photoxels, which said good stuff about the camera. But i would also like to know the cons, which where in a certain extent neglected by the review.
Does anyone know other sites with good reviews on the S5200?
Or does anyone know the "bad things" of this camera?

Anyway, i need a camera that takes good photos outdoors and also good indoor photos of kids, dog, partys, groups (at home, restaurants, auditoriums). From time to time i will take photos at concerts, but that's not a major issue. So, maybe i don't really need the high ISOs, at least if i use flash. Or maybe i need :confused:

By the way, does S5200 have a good macro performance?

Thanks for the replies. :)

[Jason25]

I use a Sony H1, have had it for about 2 months now. It's very user-friendly, and the command dial on the front is fantastic as far as manual controls go. My only real gripes are the high ISO performance (naturally, with a P&S) and the flash is overpowered, even on the lowest setting. It washes out the subject if you don't diffuse or bounce it somehow. Other than that, very nice camera!

[swgod98]

Or does anyone know the "bad things" of this camera?

So, maybe i don't really need the high ISOs, at least if i use flash.

By the way, does S5200 have a good macro performance?

Well, people have been taking pictures with digitals for a long time now, none of which (that I know of) have had ISO over 400 until very recently. I'd also bet that a majority of people don't even use the ISO settings.

I have an uncle with a Rebel XT and he came to me asking why his pictures at indoor volleyball games were blurry...and why the recent wedding pictures he took (indoors AND outdoor at sundown) were blurry. I asked him if he knew about ISO and he was like, "wha?!?".

Anyways, I don't know much about the S5200's macro capability. As far as bad things go about it? I don't hear too much bad about it.

[Risky Business]

I have the S2 and I highly recommend it - it has a great overall feature set. For me, the good video functionality was a big selling feature (zoom/IS/pictures during filming/stereo audio).

But as far as high ISO goes, in my opinion, the 400 setting is utterly useless. If video is not that important to you, perhaps you should consider the FZ20 instead.

[pas49ras]

Hi,
I read a review on the S5200 that says it has excellent image quality, but compared with the others, how good is it really? Does the ability to increase ISO, without ruin the shot with noise, compensates the lack of Image Stabilization?
Since i never had a digital camera i don´t know if i really need the S5200's extra ISO. I do know however that i want to avoid using flash when possible.
Any sugestion?

Thanks for any help!
I just bought a Fuji 5200 for my daughter because she shoots mostly at indoor ice skating shows and in the past, I've been totally disapointed with my attempts to get a good quality, blur free photo. I have a Nikon Coolpix 8800 with IS and its NO match for the higher ISO of the Fuji. She has taken pictures with her new camera that have knocked my socks off. The Fuji is a clear winner if you need to take pictures w/o flash or pictures of anything moving. The lack of reviews are because the camera is fairly new...

[Tuga]

Thanks all for your comments. They are proving to be valuable. Although I haven´t decided yet.

[yoho]

I totally agree. I'm getting crazy :eek:

Well, there's one thing that bothers me: there are no reviews (not that i know) on the S5200 in the sites i usually see; DCRP, DPReview, Steve´s Digicams, Megapixel.net, Imaging-Resource, ...
I saw only one in Photoxels, which said good stuff about the camera. But i would also like to know the cons, which where in a certain extent neglected by the review.
Does anyone know other sites with good reviews on the S5200?
Or does anyone know the "bad things" of this camera?

Anyway, i need a camera that takes good photos outdoors and also good indoor photos of kids, dog, partys, groups (at home, restaurants, auditoriums). From time to time i will take photos at concerts, but that's not a major issue. So, maybe i don't really need the high ISOs, at least if i use flash. Or maybe i need :confused:

By the way, does S5200 have a good macro performance?

Thanks for the replies. :)

Hello, I'm comparing these camera's and been having a dificult time as well. I found a review at camera.co.uk for the s5600 (european model to the s5200) that has helped me narrow it between the fuji and panasonic fz5, you may find helpful in your comparisons. One benefit that fuji offers is adjustable LCD lighting that helps in the dark shots. On the other hand the fz5 has included a rechargable 300 shot battery, weighs 100gr less and is smaller than the fuji.
The question I have does anyone know which has the more user friendly pc software?
Thanks for your response.
Yoho

[tim11]

FZ5, S2 and H1 all have Image Stabiliser which is really helpful for non-moving subjects. With IS I can shoot a sharp pic of only 1/4 sec. (sometimes when I really concentrate). Unless you are really really fussy then one of the 3 should do.
For outdoors I will be happy with any one of the 3.
For indoors photo indoor photos of kids, dog, partys, groups (at home, restaurants, auditoriums) one of them will do providing the subjects are within flash range. But keep in mind that flash range is limited. My FZ20 popup flash reaches only 3 metres (about 9 - 10 feet) on ISO100 and up to 7 metres on ISO400; and the flash on the 3 cams aren't any better.
Now in lowlight - no flash situation. The 3 cams above will suffer in dim light - no flash allowed or when subject is out of flash range. So if you are to use the camera indoors at ice skating rink with dim light then Fuji S5200 is the one.

[jan247]

just wondering... y'd you leave out the S2 in your options? (hehe, trying to choose a new cam for myself as well)

[Gosepe]

I use the FZ5 and the S2. They are both great. Bur they are both bad in low light. If you really take a lot of low light pictures take a DSLR or maybe the Fuji. Or wait till they figured out how to improve lowlight ability on compact ultra zoom camera's!

[sofko]

Hi all!
I had the same dilemma for the digital cams. First I wanted to buy Canon a610, because I did'n want to spend more than 300$ for the camera.I excluded S2 IS, Sony H1 and Panasonic FZ20 because they are rather more expensive. Than, I saw the price for Fuji s5200 round (300$) and i switched the order for Fuji. I wanted a camera with bigger optical zoom, and Fuji s5200 delivers it in the that price range. In the meantime I found some reviews and this review http://www.digitalcamerainfo.com/content/Fujifilm-FinePix-S5200-Digital-Camera-Review-.htm sold me the fuji.:cool:

[Tom Merilin]

That the Sony H1 and the Canon S2 both have unusable ISO400 stop, the situation isn't better than in the FZ5 (u can look at DPR, at the S2 and the H1 review to see that in ur eyes) .
Now what im trying to say is that these 3 cameras are so popular, and they are from big companies, u can manage very well without ISO400. These cameras are aimed to use with low ISO, thats y they have their IS system.
Think for a moment, what is better- longer exposure with the IS and low ISO or shorter exposure with high ISO?
Even in the S5600 that is really doing better job with the noise, there is no place to compare ISO400 to ISO100.
The lens is maybe the most important part of the camera, much more than noise at high ISO, LEICA's lens is far better than Fuji's one.
There are very few reviews about the S5600, that's really concern me, from the 2 i read (photoexle and digitalcamerainfo) one liked the S5600 and the other said: "But even though it has some of the specs of higher-end cameras – especially in zoom range and ISO – there's a reason so many cameras cost twice as much, or even ten times more. They work better".

[Coolrocker]

FZ5, S2 and H1 all have Image Stabiliser which is really helpful for non-moving subjects. With IS I can shoot a sharp pic of only 1/4 sec. (sometimes when I really concentrate). Unless you are really really fussy then one of the 3 should do.
For outdoors I will be happy with any one of the 3.
For indoors photo indoor photos of kids, dog, partys, groups (at home, restaurants, auditoriums) one of them will do providing the subjects are within flash range. But keep in mind that flash range is limited. My FZ20 popup flash reaches only 3 metres (about 9 - 10 feet) on ISO100 and up to 7 metres on ISO400; and the flash on the 3 cams aren't any better.
Now in lowlight - no flash situation. The 3 cams above will suffer in dim light - no flash allowed or when subject is out of flash range. So if you are to use the camera indoors at ice skating rink with dim light then Fuji S5200 is the one.

You mentioned that all 3 cameras have image stabilizer, which is helpful for non-moving subjects. I was wondering, can it help stabilize a picture of, let's say a graffetti, while you're in a moving subway train?

I know it's a weird question, if you can't answer it, that's ok :D

[tim11]

You mentioned that all 3 cameras have image stabilizer, which is helpful for non-moving subjects. I was wondering, can it help stabilize a picture of, let's say a graffetti, while you're in a moving subway train?

I know it's a weird question, if you can't answer it, that's ok :D

It is a weird question but I assume you are serious?
It's been a long time since I studied Physics.... mmm...... RELATIVE MOTION and stuff.... but let me try. If you are on a moving train trying to take a picture of a grafitti then you will become a fixed refenrence point and the grafitti will become a moving subject with the speed of the moving train.
And back to IS. If your hands are shaking as a moving train then no IS in the world will save your day.