Point & shoot recommendations, maybe Sony A6000

[wyodan]

I'm looking for recommendations on a decent point & shoot camera, or maybe the Sony A6000. I currently use an Olympus TG-2, but it doesn't have enough zoom. I have had to get far closer to a couple bears than I like, & my pics still didn't turn out good. Some of the requirements for me would be:

At least 10x optical zoom
Small enough to fit in a small belt pouch or side pocket (otherwise I will take almost no pictures)

Tough features would be nice but not required. I'm not a very good photographer, so the numbers I see on the A6000 for zoom in 35mm equivalent make no sense to me.

So what do you recommend? And thanks for any help you give me.

 

[Nrolson2002]

I assume you mean the numbers on the focal length. A 55-210mm zoom on an A6000 lens has a 4x optical zoom (210/55=4). 35mm is considered what your normal vision is. Then you have to look at a camera's sensor size. The A6000 has a APS-c sensor or a partial sensor. Not a full frame camera. A 55-210mm would have a focal length of approximately 80-315mm since it is a partial sensor. Multiple focal length times 1.5 for this particular sensor. I think for normal everyday use point and shoot camera type shooting a Sony RX100 is awesome. I am not sure what the newest one out in the RX100 line is. Very great photos. Hope I did not confuse you too much.

 

[wyodan]

I assume you mean the numbers on the focal length. A 55-210mm zoom on an A6000 lens has a 4x optical zoom (210/55=4). 35mm is considered what your normal vision is. Then you have to look at a camera's sensor size. The A6000 has a APS-c sensor or a partial sensor. Not a full frame camera. A 55-210mm would have a focal length of approximately 80-315mm since it is a partial sensor. Multiple focal length times 1.5 for this particular sensor. I think for normal everyday use point and shoot camera type shooting a Sony RX100 is awesome. I am not sure what the newest one out in the RX100 line is. Very great photos. Hope I did not confuse you too much.

Haha! I am confused now. I see how you got 4x out of the 55-210, but am confused as to what anything means beyond that. Doesn't the RX100 only have 4x zoom? That's what my TG currently has, I'm trying to get more than that.

 

[Nrolson2002]

Yes the RX has a small zoom. So it would not be great what you want it for. I think the A6000 is not the camera you are looking for either. It would require a rather large telephoto type lens to get a good close picture. Not the type of lens you could carry around in a small belt pouch. I would look for a camera with a 10x or better OPTICAL zoom. Some cameras claim a high zoom but they are digital zooms. A digital zoom introduces more "noise" into photos and they will seem more fuzzy.

 

[Nrolson2002]

Maybe check out the Sony DSCHX90V or the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZS50. I really like Sony cameras. I think they are really amazing cameras. Both have 30x optical zooms.

 

[wyodan]

Thanks. I will look at those. Is there anything about Sony that sets them apart from the others?

 

[Nrolson2002]

Just seem to take really great pictures. Good/fast autofocus. They pair with Zeiss on lenses and they seem really good. I have an RX100 and A6000. Love them both.