Looking for compact camera recommendations

[matas]

Few thing to consider:
-price around $200
-quick start-ups(I hate my old camera, it takes like 10 seconds to power up)
-decent video?
-good for indoor and outdoor
-faster ISO for moving shots and indoor shots

 

[blackhawk]

let me be the first of many to recommend something in the canon lineup

you'll find the newest generation of point and shoots to be very fast on start and for picture taking and image quality is excellent as the lens' improve and image stabilization gets more common

depending on how small you want there's tradeoffs and price penalties

the smaller the more expensive due to manufacturing costs and usually proprietary batteries

I have a dslr but also got the canon SD800 and love it, quite an upgrade from my last 5mp p&s camera, its fast, has image stabilization and the lcd is incredible.

Check out Steve's or DP review for some spec s and prices on various models as they change every couple months.

There happens to be an SD900(a model up from mine) for sale on these boards for just over 200.

The A model canon lineup is slightly larger, uses AA batteries and generally has a longer zoom but comes with and without image stabilization and has excellent speed and quality.

 

[matas]

From your experience, how are indoor pictures of SD800?

 

[blackhawk]

I haven't taken a lot or experimented with it much indoors as the flash is quite small for lighting up much area, mostly used it for outdoors. I like being able to hold it at ground level and using the big lcd to frame with the grid on.

My last indoor p&s wasn't nearly as sophisticated as this camera so the pictures are quite a bit higher in quality to my eyes plus the IS must help.

You could try a few forums like the ones dedicated to nikons etc. for more hands on reviews and google some reviews too.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: blackhawk
I like being able to hold it at ground level and using the big lcd to frame with the grid on.

I must be the only person in the world who finds this to be a completely incomprehensible desire

I have never ever felt the need to do this. What are you photographing like that?

If it's something small at ground level, I can't see the appeal, or imagine a particularly high 'good shot' outcome, of bending over and peering at a small screen that you're holding at arms length. You're always going to get a better shot getting down on your front, being able to hold the camera rock steady, and being able to see the LCD from a very short distance.

I have to assume it's something small at ground level, because I can't imagine anyone wanting shots from ground level 'on the level', you'd end up with 10,000 feet of bitumen/dirt/concrete in your picture...

I need to see these pictures

 

[blackhawk]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: blackhawk
I like being able to hold it at ground level and using the big lcd to frame with the grid on.

I must be the only person in the world who finds this to be a completely incomprehensible desire

I have never ever felt the need to do this. What are you photographing like that?

If it's something small at ground level, I can't see the appeal, or imagine a particularly high 'good shot' outcome, of bending over and peering at a small screen that you're holding at arms length. You're always going to get a better shot getting down on your front, being able to hold the camera rock steady, and being able to see the LCD from a very short distance.

I have to assume it's something small at ground level, because I can't imagine anyone wanting shots from ground level 'on the level', you'd end up with 10,000 feet of bitumen/dirt/concrete in your picture...

I need to see these pictures

:laugh:

I've been using it for some different POV shots of the pond I built this summer, frogs, fish, plants etc and other nature shots. I'm pretty tall so if I dont think ahead most of my shots of people are looking 'down' on them especially if I'm using my dslr with the eye level finder.

The large bright lcd on the sd800 lets me frame the shot while kneeling with the camera maybe a couple inches above the ground. I also use it for closeups due to this lcd being the best I've ever used so far & the grids let me level it.

My close up vision isn't what it used to be either so the lcd is once again a nice tool.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: blackhawk

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: blackhawk
I like being able to hold it at ground level and using the big lcd to frame with the grid on.

I must be the only person in the world who finds this to be a completely incomprehensible desire

I have never ever felt the need to do this. What are you photographing like that?

If it's something small at ground level, I can't see the appeal, or imagine a particularly high 'good shot' outcome, of bending over and peering at a small screen that you're holding at arms length. You're always going to get a better shot getting down on your front, being able to hold the camera rock steady, and being able to see the LCD from a very short distance.

I have to assume it's something small at ground level, because I can't imagine anyone wanting shots from ground level 'on the level', you'd end up with 10,000 feet of bitumen/dirt/concrete in your picture...

I need to see these pictures

:laugh:

I've been using it for some different POV shots of the pond I built this summer, frogs, fish, plants etc and other nature shots. I'm pretty tall so if I dont think ahead most of my shots of people are looking 'down' on them especially if I'm using my dslr with the eye level finder.

The large bright lcd on the sd800 lets me frame the shot while kneeling with the camera maybe a couple inches above the ground. I also use it for closeups due to this lcd being the best I've ever used so far & the grids let me level it.

My close up vision isn't what it used to be either so the lcd is once again a nice tool.

I think I understand, but I'm not totally convinced I'm an idiot

 

[Jawo]

I got a SD 800IS for my sister last year and she could not be happier with it. IIRC, it was about $250 in August. The SD85o IS has come out since, but it does not have wide angle equivalent. Canon's SD line is very popular for compact P&S cameras that just work.

 

[matas]

Okey, basically I came down to SD750/800/850. SD750 Lacks image stabilization, but I don't think my hand are shaky for taking pictures anyway. Also SD750 has slightly larger screen. Help me decide.

 

[blackhawk]

Here. read this

He's big on canon for smaller and nikon for dslr.

 

[MrToilet]

I would vote for the Canon SD1000. I bought one about a month ago and I love it- it's smaller than the other SD models, fits really well in pockets, sturdy, takes great pictures, and you can find it for ~$150-170. Definitely worth it.

Startup time is under 1 second, it takes really great outdoor pictures, accurate color, etc, etc.... indoor it's not perfect, but it's pretty damn good.

I've taken some videos with it, and the sound is better than you would expect from a camera, and the video is smooth.

It has an auto-increase ISO setting if you want- I usually just leave the ISO on auto and do just fine.

Seems to me it fits your criteria nicely... did I mention how frickin' small and compact it is? It literally fits in the palm of my hand.

 

[Jawo]

Originally posted by: matas
Okey, basically I came down to SD750/800/850. SD750 Lacks image stabilization, but I don't think my hand are shaky for taking pictures anyway. Also SD750 has slightly larger screen. Help me decide.

Well IIRC the 800 has an 28mm eq at the wide end, while the 850 only goes to 32mm eq. I would get the 800 for the wider angle perspective.