Is there a recommendation for a Digi Video/ still?

[Bug]

I want to video my girls and other events and use it as a good quality still camera.

The Stills are actually more important to me than the video.

6+ megapixel, 3x + optical zoom.

Everything I see out there so far focuses on the video and does still as a secondary function.

[TrogdortheBurninator]

The current generation digi stills with MPEG4 capability take remarkably high quality videos (640x480 24FPS). The downsides though are typically significant lens noise (from focusing), and sometimes limited zoom control during filming. Search the digicam forums for one with good video, as I'd suspect you will find the still on most of these cameras quite adequate.

[Bug]

Do you have anything in mind? A make and model?

 

Thanks for the input.

[PaulB]

I want to video my girls and other events and use it as a good quality still camera. The Stills are actually more important to me than the video.

If you want good quality stills, don't bother with a video camera. For less money you can get a good still camera which will take decent short videos.

 

Everything I see out there so far focuses on the video and does still as a secondary function.

Still photos from a video camera are pretty much just a marketing ploy (as is digital zoom) to make you feel better about the money you're spending. The image sensors used for good video are relatively low resolution compared to what is needed for decent still images.

[Bug]

2 for 2.

Thanks guys.

[TrogdortheBurninator]

i havent looked much at whats new. i am very happy with the stills and reasonably happy with the video on my casio ex-z750. I have noticed a fair amount of flickering though in videos with bright light. There are probably newer cameras the remedy the video problems and provide good to excellent stills. I really like the canons, but last I looked, over a year ago, they weren't doing mpeg4 video. that might have changed now. I mostly only ever looked at the ultracompacts becuase they are so convenient for climbing.

[lightning]

if you are looking for a bombproof point and shoot, I have the pentax optio w10 and it is great. waterproof and dustproof, a great camera climbing and backpacking. there is a newer model but this one is great.

 

my girlfriend has the olympus stylus 725 SW and it too is great.