As far as I know there are only very few. The two big Fuji's can do it for sure and movie quality is really good (but files very large):Fuji S6000/6500Fuji S9100/9600..

Yes, the Canon S5 and S3 have zooming capability and at least the S5 has stereo sound. The S5 is a tad more than you budget, but is about $100 cheaper than the S3..

You'd probably get more opinions in the beginner forum; this is the News Forum.ngk20000..

I found the Canon Powershot SD1000 that zooms really well while taking video. I wonder if that's some sort of really difficult function to put in a camera or something! Hopefully more of them start showing up!..

Steph13 wrote:.

I found the Canon Powershot SD1000 that zooms really well whiletaking video. I wonder if that's some sort of really difficultfunction to put in a camera or something! Hopefully more of themstart showing up!.

It may well be that at one time it was difficult to manage the extra drain on the batteries when recording and zooming simultaneously - especially in the case of cameras that weren't using lithium cells?.

Larger cameras, with lenses that zoom manually, are silent but I'd be interested to know how they prevent those little microphones from picking up the sound of the zooming in those that use motorised systems!.

Peter.

Peter - on the green island of Ischiahttp://www.pbase.com/isolaverde..

Another one that can do it is the Panasonic FZ50, but it is a little more expensive.Joel Orlinsky.

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Two answers depending on model: 1) They don't, 2) Some only allow zoom during recording if you shut off the audio...

The Kodak Z612/712/812 will zoom during video but they will lose focus during the actual zoom, regaining it afterward...

Isn't that the other was around? S3 a hundered less than the S5?..

Some do, but the motor will make a bit of noise while zooming. My NV15 will zoom but will mute the video while zooming. It will also pause and allow you to restart. I learned to zoom with my feet and move around smoothly and get better results than from my camcorder.  Good luck hunting for the digicam!..

1. As far as I know, none of Canon SD series allows optical zooming during movie clips..

2. Some which allow are: Canon TX1, S5IS , Casio EX-V8, Samsung N and L series cameras (e.g NV11, NV15, L77, i85 - These allow pausing too!), Kodak Z series (z1275, z812, etc.).

Steph13 wrote:.

I found the Canon Powershot SD1000 that zooms really well whiletaking video. I wonder if that's some sort of really difficultfunction to put in a camera or something! Hopefully more of themstart showing up!.

Best Wishes, Ajayhttp://picasaweb.google.com/ajay0612..

K1000Photographer wrote:.

Some do, but the motor will make a bit of noise while zooming. MyNV15 will zoom but will mute the video while zooming. It will alsopause and allow you to restart. I learned to zoom with my feet andmove around smoothly and get better results than from my camcorder. Good luck hunting for the digicam!.

Noise while zooming is no issue with the cameras with real zoom ring, S6x00 and S9x00 and FZ-50, but they're quite big and not that cheap..

K1000Photographer wrote:I learned to zoom with my feet andmove around smoothly and get better results than from my camcorder..

That's really the professional method. The pros don't zoom, they dolley or they pause and restart (the clapboard allows sound syncro in editing.)..