Best (very) compact digital camera? *update*

[slackerinabox]

By best I mean the following:

-I'd like to carry it around all the time so it should be fairly rugged
-Very small. I carry around an ipod, a cellphone and a wallet - my pocket doesn't have much more room!
-Quick picture to picture speed for party shots - my last camera, a minolta, took 3 seconds - by that time people would walk out of frame!
-3x optical zoom at least
-3 to 6 megapixel. I don't plan on printing wall sized murals so even 3 would be fine
-decent low light performance
-under $500

Any options?

Thanks!
P.S. Please don't reply by saying the canon a75 (or whatever) "isn't that big." I definately need something compact!

Update:

Got the Panasonic Lumix FX01 for the following reasons:
-Very fast shot to shot based on reviews
-small, metal (durabla)
-wider zoom range (3.6x), 28mm vs. 35mm
-6.1 megapixel
-optical image stabilization

I figured I could return it if I hate it but it seems to be a good camera so far. The optical image stabilization, something that costs a deal more on a canon, is amazing - the pictures taken from in my car were taken while I was driving 30 miles per hours on a bumpy road! Don't worry, my friend took the pictures

Also, the shots of people dancing in a bar were taken in very low light. Everything was shot on autofocus/exposure. Nothing was edited.

Snapfish album

 

[slackerinabox]

bump?

 

[FlashG]

I can't offer a suggestion but I want the same thing.

 

[bdude]

The canon sd series is very nice. I have the canon sd300. compact, focuses quickly

 

[kami333]

Take a look at the Canon SD series

 

[mitaiwan82]

SD550

 

[tfinch2]

sd700is

 

[pontifex]

i thought the sd series were pretty bad at quick focus? i know my sd200 can take a long time to focus.

 

[RagingBITCH]

SD600. Shutter lag on it is super super brief. 700is is another $150 but has image stabilization. I've yet to have really any blurry shots with my 600, but it's probably worth it.

 

[Fiat1]

Originally posted by: mitaiwan82
SD550

Winner*******

 

[thirdeye]

I like my canon sd400. It's a nice size and was pretty cheap.

 

[TheChort]

try my sig. Its the dpreview camera buying guide. Select all the qualities you are looking for and it gives you all possible cameras

btw, i have the sd400 and its great

 

[eminemrh25]

Believe me, I'm just like you... I carry an iPod, Cell Phone and Wallet and wanted a camera besides the ****** one on my Razr or Sidekick

I bought a Sony P100 Camera, it is small, 3x optical zoom, great battery life, I highly reccommed
http://www.dpnet.com.cn/News/images/xw040721-sony-p100.jpg

 

[fbrdphreak]

Sony has a new one advertised that is specifically designed to be small, take quick shots, and no motion blur. Dunno what its called but there's been TV commercials about it

 

[laketrout]

Good thread!

That's something I'm looking into as well. My camera got "left" at a bar a few months ago- so I've been looking around as well.

I'd have to put my vote on the Cannon SD series too. Just like the ELPHs where good, these are pretty darn good for the price.

TheChort- Definately gonna check out the camera review site. Hopefully I'll find something in the price range as well (looking for 300 or a little less, myself).

 

[eminemrh25]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Sony has a new one advertised that is specifically designed to be small, take quick shots, and no motion blur. Dunno what its called but there's been TV commercials about it

That would be a Sony T7, my friend has one.. No opical zoom tho

 

[slackerinabox]

Thanks for all the suggestions! Looks like I'll be buying the camera today - probably a canon SD series from all the buzz here, but how are these panasonic lumix i've been reading about?

thanks!

 

[Rubycon]

Canon SD20. It has no optical zoom but it is truly micro sized. Smaller than the smallest cell phone but with 5.0MP it packs a nice punch. It does video too. I was given one and refer to it as a spy camera.

The SD30 has an optical zoom but is not as compact for that reason.

I can post a pic taken from this camera if you like.

 

[slackerinabox]

Update:

Got the Panasonic Lumix FX01 for the following reasons:
-Very fast shot to shot based on reviews
-small, metal (durabla)
-wider zoom range (3.6x), 28mm vs. 35mm
-6.1 megapixel
-optical image stabilization

I figured I could return it if I hate it but it seems to be a good camera so far. The optical image stabilization, something that costs a deal more on a canon, is amazing - the pictures taken from in my car were taken while I was driving 30 miles per hours on a bumpy road! Don't worry, my friend took the pictures

Also, the shots of people dancing in a bar were taken in very low light. Everything was shot on autofocus/exposure. Nothing was edited.

Snapfish album

 

[InverseOfNeo]

Originally posted by: eminemrh25

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Sony has a new one advertised that is specifically designed to be small, take quick shots, and no motion blur. Dunno what its called but there's been TV commercials about it

That would be a Sony T7, my friend has one.. No opical zoom tho

I think the T7 has optical zoom....I have the T5 and it has optical zoom.

 

[deftron]

nm

 

[DaWhim]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn
Canon SD20. It has no optical zoom but it is truly micro sized. Smaller than the smallest cell phone but with 5.0MP it packs a nice punch. It does video too. I was given one and refer to it as a spy camera.

The SD30 has an optical zoom but is not as compact for that reason.

I can post a pic taken from this camera if you like.

I wish I didn't trade my sd20 for sd300. one big mistake