Best point and shoot camera?

[Atty]

I've been needing a good point and shoot camera for a while, something really high quality, but still simple to use.

Mainly for use at partys, on vacation, or just random pictures that need taking.

Thanks!

 

[Deleted member 4644]

The Panasonic LX3 is great. It is expensive as heck (at least $400-500) and out of stock a lot of places, but it give you full manual control, RAW shooting, ISO 3200 and it is pretty small. It also has full auto modes that are amazing.

It is NOT as good as a dSLR, but for its size and price it is a camera that will last you a LONG time.

 

[soydios]

IMO the LX3 is positioned as a pocket camera for a DSLR user, as evidenced by its lack of telephoto. The G10 would be a better camera in that price bracket as a single camera to own.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

Originally posted by: soydios
IMO the LX3 is positioned as a pocket camera for a DSLR user, as evidenced by its lack of telephoto. The G10 would be a better camera in that price bracket as a single camera to own.

Actually, this is true.

 

[Atty]

Maybe a little bit less expensive? Willing to pay the extra price but I doubt I'll be using all those extra features, since it will be for point and shoot needs Maybe sub $300 range?

 

[Deleted member 4644]

www.steves-digicams.com

http://www.dpreview.com/

Pick your poison.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: Deleted member 4644
www.steves-digicams.com

http://www.dpreview.com/

Pick your poison.

Yup, also:

DCResource.com

Imaging-resource.com

I've read some very nice things about the Sony DSC-W300. Not much zoom, but impressive image quality.

Canon, Panasonic, Fuji also make some nice digicams.

 

[996GT2]

Canon A590 IS

Canon SD 1100 IS

Panasonic TZ5

Panasonic LZ10

Panasonic FS5

Fuji F30fd/F50fd

 

[Zenmervolt]

I still like my F100fd. It lacks manual control, but is a great companion camera to my DSLR for those days when I don't want to lug the big camera around. The Panasonics are nice cameras too, and it's hard to go wrong with a Canon.

ZV

 

[BadOmen]

I'm also considering a point and shoot (after my Samsung i5 demanded maintenance for the FOURTH time in its short 3 years of use).

The TZ5 looks great, especially because its video recording features (10x zoom on a video? Goood.....)

However, I noticed that many Nikon cameras also offer video with zoom plus a few funny features for far cheaper prices. Like the Nikon S552, S600, and even the L16 does the video trick, I think.

Do you guys think a TZ5 is far better than any Nikon? Worth the extra buck?

Thanks a million

 

[SAWYER]

I have a Canon S3 IS and while it's not the latest and greatest, it has a nice zoom and takes nice shots with plenty of features. I would even recommend buying a used S2 or S3 for the cheap and save some cash

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: BadOmen
I'm also considering a point and shoot (after my Samsung i5 demanded maintenance for the FOURTH time in its short 3 years of use).

The TZ5 looks great, especially because its video recording features (10x zoom on a video? Goood.....)

However, I noticed that many Nikon cameras also offer video with zoom plus a few funny features for far cheaper prices. Like the Nikon S552, S600, and even the L16 does the video trick, I think.

Do you guys think a TZ5 is far better than any Nikon? Worth the extra buck?

Thanks a million

Not a big fan of Nikon P&S. In the past I've found them slow, and nothing special in terms of image quality. I'd definitely go for the TZ5.

Originally posted by: Sawyer
I have a Canon S3 IS and while it's not the latest and greatest, it has a nice zoom and takes nice shots with plenty of features. I would even recommend buying a used S2 or S3 for the cheap and save some cash

It's far larger than any of the other cameras discussed here. Doesn't seem to fit what the OP - or BadOmen - is looking for.

 

[996GT2]

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

Originally posted by: BadOmen
I'm also considering a point and shoot (after my Samsung i5 demanded maintenance for the FOURTH time in its short 3 years of use).

The TZ5 looks great, especially because its video recording features (10x zoom on a video? Goood.....)

However, I noticed that many Nikon cameras also offer video with zoom plus a few funny features for far cheaper prices. Like the Nikon S552, S600, and even the L16 does the video trick, I think.

Do you guys think a TZ5 is far better than any Nikon? Worth the extra buck?

Thanks a million

Not a big fan of Nikon P&S. In the past I've found them slow, and nothing special in terms of image quality. I'd definitely go for the TZ5.

Originally posted by: Sawyer
I have a Canon S3 IS and while it's not the latest and greatest, it has a nice zoom and takes nice shots with plenty of features. I would even recommend buying a used S2 or S3 for the cheap and save some cash

It's far larger than any of the other cameras discussed here. Doesn't seem to fit what the OP - or BadOmen - is looking for.

Agreed. Nikon makes some great DSLRs, but their point and shoots are merely average at best. Nothing special in terms of feature list or image quality. For compact cameras, I'd look to Canon or Panasonic before any other brand.

The used S2 or S3 idea doesn't really make sense because 1) the S series is bulky and heavy compared to compact superzooms like the TZ5. Also, those cameras are old and are a generation behind in image quality. Besides, the TZ5 only costs about $200 anyway, so it's already an excellent deal for all of the features it's packing.

 

[soydios]

Originally posted by: 996GT2
Agreed. Nikon makes some great DSLRs, but their point and shoots are merely average at best. Nothing special in terms of feature list or image quality. For compact cameras, I'd look to Canon or Panasonic before any other brand.

My thoughts exactly. Although Fuji makes some good compacts, too. So make that Fuji, Panasonic, and Canon for compacts.

 

[idiotekniQues]

i went with the lx3 over the g10 because of 2 things - the f2.0 at the wide end, the 24mm wide end, and having less noise as evidenced by various reviews of the g10 vs the lx3 at iso 800.

also the lx3 is a bit lighter and i think more compact. the g10 does some other things better than the lx3, liek real telephoto, and more dials for controls.

commuting to the city i have been sad to never have a camera on me but haev been loathe to carry a full dslr daily, plus people tend to react less to a P&S shooter vs someone whipping out a dslr (and i want to practice street shots) - the lx3 was the first camera i saw that seemed to be geared to someone like myself.

isntead of going with the megapixel race panasonic stuck at 10mp to do the right thing.

i can only hope this is the first of many cameras taht are geared towards quality images vs marketing megapixel madness.

 

[BadOmen]

I've read a review of the TZ5 saying that it doesn't work well in low light environments.

My old Samsung had a function called SF, which would take pretty decent pictures without flash in dark environments. It would be nice to have such a feature.

Would that be a TZ5 flaw, or just a common problem among point-and-shoots?

And is there any point-and-shoot currently featuring a function like the aforementioned SF?

 

[ElFenix]

keep in mind most reviewers have experience with the D3, 5D, D700, 1Ds3, and other cameras that can take decent pictures in low light. and a lot of them won't be satisfied until you can take perfect pictures under low-pressure sodium vapor street lights.

point and shoots don't do well in low-light environs. then again, neither did film.

 

[996GT2]

Originally posted by: BadOmen
I've read a review of the TZ5 saying that it doesn't work well in low light environments.

My old Samsung had a function called SF, which would take pretty decent pictures without flash in dark environments. It would be nice to have such a feature.

Would that be a TZ5 flaw, or just a common problem among point-and-shoots?

And is there any point-and-shoot currently featuring a function like the aforementioned SF?

95% of all point and shoot cameras out there begin to show visible noise even at ISO 200 due to their small sensors. Your Samsung is the same way. The SF function probably just bumps up ISO and applies ridiculous noise reduction to smooth out the image while taking out all of the fine detail. If you looked at the night images from your Samsung at 100% on a computer monitor, you would notice the lack of fine detail lost to aggressive noise reduction.

The Canon A590/SD1100 and Panasonic TZ5/FS5/LZ10 cameras perform better than your Samsung in low light, partially because both companies are at the top end of the P&S image quality hierarchy, and partially because the cameras are newer than yoru Samsung. Of course, ANY point and shoot is going to produce noisy images when compared to a D3, 1Ds Mk. III, or even an entry level DSLR like a D40, so you should take reviews with a grain of salt and remember to only compare point and shoots to other point and shoots, not to DSLRs with sensors 10x larger.

There are only a few point and shoots that perform decently at higher ISOs...the LX3 is one of them. However, as good as it is for a point and shoot, its low light performance is still poor by DSLR standards.

 

[idiotekniQues]

Originally posted by: 996GT2


There are only a few point and shoots that perform decently at higher ISOs...the LX3 is one of them. However, as good as it is for a point and shoot, its low light performance is still poor by DSLR standards.

yep.

seeing how fast these guys are selling, we can only hope that the other camera makers see that they dont need to only worry about megapixel marketing and jamming all these megapixels on these tiny sensors. make the sensors a bit bigger and bigger and worry about lower light performance and other features like faster lenses.

the enthusiasts will buy them and help drive the market because we are the ones that talk cameras the most, and we will give that word of mouth marketing that is also valuable.

 

[BadOmen]

I thank you all for your answers. Panasonic looks more and more like the way to go.

Although the reviews say that the TZ5 doesn't have a manual mode. Does that really mean that I cannot, in any event, change the shutter speed and the aperture? But their automatic modes probably cover the most popular aperture/speed combinations, right?

 

[jpeyton]

Something with Digic 4, seriously. I just ordered an SD880 IS for $203 shipped from Dell. It looks to be a great, slim/pocketable camera.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: BadOmen
I thank you all for your answers. Panasonic looks more and more like the way to go.

Although the reviews say that the TZ5 doesn't have a manual mode. Does that really mean that I cannot, in any event, change the shutter speed and the aperture? But their automatic modes probably cover the most popular aperture/speed combinations, right?

program will figure out what exposure is needed for a particular situation. you can then change it using exposure compensation, but you won't have direct control over shutter and aperture. i don't think there is a program shift that allows you to move up and down in the shutter/aperture combinations that result in a particular exposure value.

you can help the camera figure out what exposure is best by using a scene mode to tell the camera what you're taking a picture of (though panasonic's iA mode is pretty good at guessing).