Is 5x optical & digital zoom good?

Question

I want a new camera for attending sci fi conventions, normal done in a large dimly lit room where my images will be focused on a stage and normally someone under a spot light.

Someone said to get 10 mega pixels but i dont know if i should get SLR or point and shoot ?

I have found a Samsung S1050 10MP which is a good price but is the following good for what i want?

# Design/style: High zoom.

# Body material: Metal.

# 10m pixels.

# 5 x optical zoom.

# 5 x digital zoom.

# 3in LCD screen.

# Digital anti-blur.

# Face detection - 9 faces.

# Continuous shooting.

# In-camera red eye fix.

# SD memory card compatible.

# 50MB internal memory.

I understand optical zoom is better, and this one has a 5x but do you think it would be good? or should i wait save and get an SLR??

Thanks

Answer 1

i'd go with the slr. that way you can invest in a better zoom lens. most point and shoots can zoom to about 15-20 ft. and that's it. you're also going to get more exposure control which will allow you take better pictures under low light conditions. you can get an 8.0MP canon rebel xt for around $500 at b&h photo video.

Answer 2

For your listed needs there really is no camera with all those features that will do what you want in dimly lit rooms.

Your best bet is to start with a DSLR, good standard zoom lens and an external flash

DSLR's have

* Lens interchangeability

* A sensor that is over 15 times larger than P&S cameras

* The ones that are made out of metal (magnesium) have 3 inch LCD's (Nikon D3, D300 and Canon 1Ds Mark III, 450D)  all over 10MP sensors

*Continuous shooting

*Image stabilization and/or vibration reduction is best done in the lens, that is why all the Nikon and Canon cameras use lenses with that design

*Redeye is avoided by using an external flash

But the have:

*No face detection

*No digital anti-blur

*No digital zoom

*some use SD memory cards or CF cards

*no internal memory

and high zoom is not important, because you can pick any lens you want from over 30 differentness lenses.

Take a look

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_...

Most bang for the buck?  Amazon is selling the Nikon D40 with a AF-S 18-55 mm lens for under $470.  You really need to go into a camera store and hold a few DSLR's in your hands and see what YOU think.