SOLINA DAVE

I'm interested in purchasing a compact camera as my primary camera. I was giving some consideration to an Olympus SZ-MR (24x Zoom). Comments regarding this camera, if someone is familiar with it, would be welcome.
I see that it has a sensor-shift image stabilizer, as opposed to an optical image stabilizer (OIS). To be honest, I'm interested in stepping-up my game somewhat, and moving from a relatively primitive point and shoot by todays standards, to a more challenging photographic experience. But I wish to retain the compact camera format. I like to travel very light, hence the compactness, but I'd like to be ready to take as good a shot as I can, while benefitting also from a substantial zoom feature. I realize that I'll have to deal with a puny sensor, with it's inherent diminished image quality, to accomplish this. But that's life. Trade-offs.
I guess my question is: How much consideration should I give to the stabilization differences between this camera, and cameras with an OIS format? They seem far more prominent. There again to be honest, I'd never even heard about sensor-shift before today.

Any opinion, and or advice, would be welcome. Thanks in advance everyone....................................Dave

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Just a quick note: That model seems to be discontinued

SS319

I believe that when the camera moves, especially with a small camera where the camera is much more massive than the lens, the lens will move more than the camera body. Thus, lens IS should be more sensitive to small motions than sensor shift. Obviously, your main interest will be how many stops of dampening you get with the different types of IS.

Did you look at the Canon SX60? I shot a SX20 for a few years before coming back to a DSLR and really liked it.

SOLINA DAVE

Thanks. That could make sense. Also, I'm interested in keeping things quite compact. The bridge is too bulky for me.

SOLINA DAVE

I'm sure Olympus has narrowed their selection off new compacts, and don't currently produce any cameras of this nature. But this 2011 model is available here and there, and seems to get reasonably good reviews.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

The SX60HS isn't really a compact camera. I have one and it is larger than all my compact bridge cameras. Size wise its as large or possibly a bit larger than the SL1. I'll have to put them side by side when I get home from work.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

i'm a sony man all my cameras have "steady shake", works great for hand held or monopod shots.

BJW

Not to drift too far off your specific question, but if staying compact and stable is important, you might want to look at a Panasomic Lumix G85 which has both in body image stabilization (IBIS) and with some Lumix lenses,in lens stabilization --which some say will let you leave your tripod home. I recently used a G85 on a trip abroad with very good results. A G85 with kit lens goes for about $1000.US.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

As far as the US is concerned, Olympus only makes one type of P&S any more - the Tough series. The best one of the series is the TG-5. I do not believe that it has in-body IS.

The in-body IS is capable of 5.5 stops of IS on the OMD E series. The three cameras are E-M10 mrII, E-M5 mrII, and the E-M1 mrII. The E-M10 is not splash proof (rain proof) while the other two are splash proof. I have already handheld my E-M1 mrII at 1.6 seconds producing a sharp picture. There is a web presentation of the E-M1 mrII vs. the Fuji X-T2 where the reviewer presents a sharp 10 second handheld shot from the E-M1. With an Olympus IS lense, the overall IS goes up to 6.5 stops of IS.

Your SZ-MR should be at least capable of 3 stops of in- body IS. But if you really want to be able to handhold your shots, I would look at the OMD-E series. I have the more expensive E-M1 mrII and I know the $2K in US dollars was well worth it. But I also know you can arm yourself with the E-M10 mrII for somewhere around $600 US dollars and probably with the 14-42mm lense (28-84mm in 35mm terms) in a bundle sale.

Akronrog

I have had quite good results with the Lumix ZS100 for travel. It will go in your pants' pocket, has an electronic view finder, and a larger sensor. While it does not have a very
long zoom, the photos can be cropped. As an extra, it sells for about $500.00 from reputable dealers. Hop this helps

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

It's easier to be less steady with small light cameras than larger, heavier ones. Mass and bodies in motion = Physics.

erinjay64

Forget image stabilization. Use a tripod.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

With a point & Shoot?

pterosonus Loc: Cincinnati, Ohio USA

Take a look at the Sony WX350. No longer made but readily available on eBay for $130-$150 in mint shape. 20X zoom (25-500) in a truly pocketable and light body. Great Sony G lens and effective lens based stabilization. http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/sony_cybershot_dsc_wx350_review/

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

I think both Sony and Fuji have what you are looking for. Both have APS-C bodies to offer. I would give a slight edge to Sony for a compact zoom.