The lens is rather slow, particularly at the long end of the zoom (f6.3) which means things will have to be quite bright to get a good telephoto shot.

Too many megapixels on a small sensor tends to make for poor sensitivity and low light performance also. Megapixels are a great selling point but anything over ten or so in a compact camera is stretching the limit of what can be effectively used. The pixels on the chip are so small that very little light falls on each one of them. I have a twelve megapixel compact with a long zoom and usually keep it in five megapixel mode because I get better pictures that way most of the time.

I have three compact digital cameras at the moment, I use an old 3.2 megapixel Nikon I got for $7 at the flea market as a shop camera for use in a dirty environment where I don't really care if it gets dropped or damaged and I'm often surprised at how good the pictures are that it takes.

Here's a few shots I've posted on DU from my long zoom compact, a Panasonic ZS15.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/103610950

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10369847

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1036&pid=9699

elleng

(130,895 posts)

4. Thanks. Expect to use it largely for outdoors/sunsets at my riverside cottage

Reply to Fumesucker (Reply #3)

Wed Nov 13, 2013, 09:26 PM

Nov 2013

(probably NOT in deep winter weather,) and occasionally for baby pics.

Daughter due in Dec, in NJ, I'm in MD, so 'special occasion' baby pics. Light situation obviously will vary in these circumstances. Hope to post cottage pics here, maybe a baby or 2 pic in the Lounge!

Fumesucker

(45,851 posts)

5. I agree with Alfredo

Reply to elleng (Reply #4)

Wed Nov 13, 2013, 09:49 PM

Nov 2013

The Canon he linked to looks good, fast lens and high sensitivity for good pictures in low light without always having to use a flash. If you try both ways you'll find non flash pictures often are much better and more natural looking than with the flash turned on, that will be nice for baby pictures. Keep the zoom to as little as possible in low light and you'll get better shots.

The biggest single trick to getting good pictures with a digital camera really is to take ~lots~ of them and then sort through later, even if 90% aren't good you'll still end up with some good ones. It doesn't cost anything more to take a lot of pics than just a few with a digital camera and your chances of getting shots you like increase with the number you take. I use burst mode a lot for candid type shots (hold down the button and the camera keeps taking pics one after another).

The video capabilities on the modern cameras is really nice too, better than even expensive camcorders just ten years ago or so.

Congratulations on becoming a grandparent.

elleng

(130,895 posts)

6. Thanks for the info and the congrats.

Reply to Fumesucker (Reply #5)

Wed Nov 13, 2013, 10:05 PM

Nov 2013

Daughter mentioned 'burst' feature, so she can have video-like pics of baby.

My main interest (may be misplaced,) is to be able to post pics here, on FB, and send in e.mails to others, EASILY. Did have great Nikon DSL years ago, never a pro but took lots of travel pics. Now I want to share my cottage with everyone, and will want to have baby pics for myself and others.

alfredo

(60,071 posts)

7. It can do about 8 frames a second at lower resolution. At full res you near 4 FPS.