shutterpro recommends Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ7 as Best Point and Shoot Digital Camera for Sports and Action Photos Under $200.
Overview
Taking pictures of sporting events with an inexpensive, digital point and shoot camera presents challenges that cameras in this category are seldom equipped to handle. With features like a 6X optical zoom, automatic high sensitivity ISO, minimal lag time between shots, fast autofocus and unlimited continuous shooting, the Panasonic DMC-LZ7 gives you all of the tools you need to capture fast moving action at an affordable price.
- Fast action
- Easy-to-use point and shoot camera
- Under $200
What's Important for These Needs
With so many digital camera options out there, we want to focus on the features we need the most. For shooting fast action, the goal is to find a camera that offers fast shutter speeds and high ISOs with minimal shutter lag. Here are a few important areas to look at when deciding which camera is right for you:
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SHUTTER SPEED AND LAG TIME: When it comes to a digital camera’s ability to capture sports or other fast action photography, there are 2 extremely important features to look for: how quickly the camera can freeze action, and how quickly the next photo can be taken. Unfortunately, in most cases, even with all of the digital cameras available on the market today, these are usually the 2 features that most point and shoot cameras seem to struggle with. If you’ve ever tried to take a picture of your dog or cat, sometimes so much time goes by while you attempt to take a photo, that you are only left with a background and no subject. Something to keep in mind is that pressing the shutter button is a two stage process, meaning that by pressing the shutter button, the first stage is where the camera is focusing on the subject, then once the button is pressed the rest of the way, only then is the photo actually taken.
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APERTURE: Aperture refers to the size of the opening in which light is able to transfer through the lens and onto the camera sensor. A low number, such as f 2.8 is considered a large aperture, and allows much greater amount of light in than a higher number, such as f11, which is a small aperture, allowing much less light to transfer through the lens. In sports photography, we will look for the widest aperture (smallest number f stop) we can find in the given budget.
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ZOOM: In this price range, zoom options may be limited. 3X optical zoom is the industry standard on a compact digital camera, but we will hope for more than that since we are using the camera primarily for sports photography. One important detail worth mentioning: don’t be fooled by tricky advertising. For example: a camera with a 12X optical zoom may only be a 6X optical zoom with a 2X digital zoom. Optical zoom means that the magnification is happening “optically”, using glass. Digital zoom means that the magnification is happening “digitally” using the sensor. This method cuts into the megapixel count and reduces overall picture quality significantly. So, based on this information, we will only look at optical zoom.
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MODES: Digital camera manufacturers tend not to get too carried away with mode options at this price range. Scene modes should still be an option though in addition to the standard automatic modes.
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IMAGE QUALITY, ISO AND NOISE: Noise is essentially the digital version of film grain. While film grain sometimes offers a “desired effect”, noise very rarely does. Noise causes degradation of the image quality. ISO is the digital version of film speed. Typically, higher ISOs are used to capture fast moving action. Therefore, it is important for a camera to offer high ISOs in order to take sports photography. The downside to high ISOs is that noise is increased with ISO. Again, more unwanted degradation of the picture quality. We will be relying heavily on high ISOs for this type of photography, so we are looking for a camera that can produce good image quality with low noise, even at high ISOs
Leading Contenders
The Panasonic DMC-LZ7 offers another solution to sports photography on a budget. The camera boasts a 6X optically stabilized zoom lens with Leica optics. The Leica optics allow for excellent light transfer with an f2.8 aperture at the widest setting. An aperture setting this wide is an incredible find on such a compact camera design. A 2.5” LCD allows easy framing and reviewing of images. The camera offers simple mode selection by way of a dial on top of the camera. At first glance you will notice a heart symbol on the dial. Panasonic may have chosen the heart because when selected, the camera operation becomes so simple that you will fall in love with it. The camera also offers scene modes that include the ever so important sports mode
The Fuji FinePix S700 is another good option for shooting action. It has a 7.1 megapixel sensor and a 10X optical zoom. Overall operation is smooth and response time is fairly quick. The mode selection dial is set up like an SLR, with full auto and manual modes as well as scene modes. ISO settings are available up to 1600 with shutter speeds up to 1/1000 sec. Battery life is excellent, as the camera runs on 4 AA batteries and gets about 500 shots. Image playback is also nice with a 2.5” LCD
The Fuji FinePix S700 is not a top of the line ultra zoom camera by any means. As a matter of fact, it’s not even one of Fujifilm’s best attempts. It does, however, reach out to an audience of consumers looking for an inexpensive camera with a lot of zoom and the look and feel of an SLR camera.
The Olympus FE-280 redefines the expectation of what a point and shoot camera can do in terms of sports photography. Most pocket sized digital cameras cannot handle freezing fast moving action with acceptable results. The FE-280 allows this style of shooting by offering shutter speeds up to 1/2000 sec, ISOs up to 1600 and minimal shutter lag. Lithium-ion battery power helps keep the size and weight down and is a feature not normally found within this price range. An 8 megapixel sensor with 3X optical provides optimum picture results. The 2.5” LCD allows for critical framing and reviewing of shots. Additional optional accessories include an underwater housing.
Comparison Table
| Product |
|
 |
 |
| Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ7 | Fujifilm FinePix S700 | Olympus FE-280 | |
| Customer Rating: |
 
(from 152 reviews)
|
(from 252 reviews)
|
(from 21 reviews)
|
| Price | $144.95 | $159.00 | |
| Effective Sensor Resolution | 7.2 megapixels | 7.1 million pixels | 8.0 million pixels |
| Max Shooting Speed (continuous) | 3.75 fps | 1.4 fps | 3.75 fps |
| Optical Zoom | 6.0x optical | 10.0x optical | 3.0x optical |
| Image Stabilization Available | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Max Aperture (wide-angle) | f/2.8 | f/3.5 | f/3.1 |
| Max Aperture (tele-photo) | f/4.5 | f/3.7 | f/5.9 |
| Max Shutter Speed | 1/2000 sec | 1/1000 sec | 1/2000 sec |
| Max ISO Setting | 3200 | 1600 | 1600 |
| LCD Screen Size | 2.5 in. | 2.5 in | 2.5 in |
| Battery Type | AA-size (x2) | AA-size (x4) | Lithium-ion rechargeable |
| Battery Life | 250 shots | 500 shots | 180 shots |
Top Pick
In this case, I am most impressed with the Panasonic LZ7. The Fujifilm Finepix S700 has a powerful 10x optical zoom and the highest rated battery power. Where the camera lacks is in speed and quality. This particular model just does not deliver the high level of picture quality that we have come to expect from Fujifilm, Especially when higher ISOs were used. The shutter and fps ratings are also lagging behind the other 2 models. Between the LZ7 and the FE-280, both are fully capable of photographing fast moving action. The Olympus FE-280 does have the edge in resolution with 8 megapixels. Where the LZ7 outdoes the FE-280 is with its optics and ISO settings. The LZ7, with its Leica optics, make it the clear choice, and the numbers back it up. A 6x optical zoom compared to the FE-280’s 3x optical provide the LZ7 with more zooming capabilities for sports photography. Even with twice the zoom as the FE-280, the aperture rating on the LZ7 has a higher rating. Also the ISO settings on the LZ7 go all the way up to 3200. The rechargeable Lithium-ion battery that powers the Olympus FE-280 is a wonderful feature at this price range. The LZ7 once again outperforms the FE-280’s 180 shots with 250 shots on a set of AA batteries.
The bottom line is: when it comes to sports photography, the Panasonic DMC-LZ7 is a decisive winner and outperforms the other models in the categories that matter the most.
Tips
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Stick with name brand memory cards such as Lexar, Sandisk or Fujifilm. Memory cards pricing is so competitive nowadays, that the few dollars that you will save by getting a “deal” on an off brand memory card may cost you more headaches and money in the long run if the card fails.
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However much memory you think you need, get twice as much. With cameras offering more and more megapixels and high speed burst modes, you will go through memory much faster than you actually think.
