Men are from mars, women are from... pluto?

[sao123]

Time to replace an 8yr old 3MP Olympus C740...
We need help finding a camera to fit both of our polar opposite needs...

I want:
A Mans camera... Powerful, Versatile, lots of shooting Modes...
i like to take pictures while we travel...
Telescopic Shots, Panoramic Shots, Fast Action Shots with no blur, Night Sky Photography, in a few weeks we are going o na cruise, and I want to take photgraphs of sparkling beaches, lighthouses, hopefully some unpolluted sky, maybe a few beach bodies...

i have been spoiled by a camera i had borrowed, which is a Olympus SP590UZ. It gave me some spectacular shots of a space shuttle launch a few years ago...

My original considerations were the Canon SX30IS ($350) & Nikon CoolPix P500 ($370) ... Ok so I really wanted a rebel T3 ($565 with 2 extra lenses)... which she called:
"A Brick with Lenses"


She wants:
An inexpensive credit card camera to carry in her purse and take pictures of our only child.


Is there a compromise?
I looked at the Nikon S9100 ($275) and the Canon SX230HS ($299)... just not sure if they are up to my expectations...

If I dont get the ultra compact, she wont complain as long as it isnt too bulky. Budget Around $350.

 

[magomago]

get her the cheap camera she wants now. get the smallest size for the price

and


you save up for a mirrorless APS; Sony NEX is pretty damned cheap. if not mirrorless APS, any dslr will work fine

 

[sao123]

get her the cheap camera she wants now. get the smallest size for the price

and


you save up for a mirrorless APS; Sony NEX is pretty damned cheap. if not mirrorless APS, any dslr will work fine

I may eventually get the DSLR for my next camera... BUT... i need something to take pictures with in 2 weeks.

 

[magomago]

I may eventually get the DSLR for my next camera... BUT... i need something to take pictures with in 2 weeks.

I said get the camera that satisfies her now, and start a fund to save up (be it a year, be it 6 months, be it two years) for a DSLR for later.

 

[iGas]

PowerShot D10 if the wife is into water sport, or like the beach.

Canon S95 is a great little camera for still image as well as decent videos, with sharp fast f/2.0 lens. ELPH 100 HS or 500 HS (500 HS also sport f/2.0 aperture) will also are strong contender that is a bit cheaper than the S95.

And get yourself a man DSLR.

 

[iGas]

Time to replace an 8yr old 3MP Olympus C740...
We need help finding a camera to fit both of our polar opposite needs...

I want:
A Mans camera... Powerful, Versatile, lots of shooting Modes...
i like to take pictures while we travel...
Telescopic Shots, Panoramic Shots, Fast Action Shots with no blur, Night Sky Photography, in a few weeks we are going o na cruise, and I want to take photgraphs of sparkling beaches, lighthouses, hopefully some unpolluted sky, maybe a few beach bodies...

i have been spoiled by a camera i had borrowed, which is a Olympus SP590UZ. It gave me some spectacular shots of a space shuttle launch a few years ago...

My original considerations were the Canon SX30IS ($350) & Nikon CoolPix P500 ($370) ... Ok so I really wanted a rebel T3 ($565 with 2 extra lenses)... which she called:
"A Brick with Lenses"


She wants:
An inexpensive credit card camera to carry in her purse and take pictures of our only child.


Is there a compromise?
I looked at the Nikon S9100 ($275) and the Canon SX230HS ($299)... just not sure if they are up to my expectations...

If I dont get the ultra compact, she wont complain as long as it isnt too bulky. Budget Around $350.

I got my gf the Nikon S9100 and the image is no where as nice as my Canon S95 that cost a little more. The reason I went with Nikon is because she has a Nikon before so the learning curve is not as steep as going with a Canon.

 

[corkyg]

Get her the "credit card" camera. When I travel abroad, cruises, etc., I no longer haul my EOS 5D + lenses. I use the SX30IS - meets all my needs and has a great little lens. It fits right in my laptop bag.

IOW, get TWO cameras - end the domestic conflict.

 

[sao123]

I said get the camera that satisfies her now, and start a fund to save up (be it a year, be it 6 months, be it two years) for a DSLR for later.

and if I did that... I still need a recommendation on a good compact pocket camera. she's not going to just walk into best buy and buy one...

Get her the "credit card" camera. When I travel abroad, cruises, etc., I no longer haul my EOS 5D + lenses. I use the SX30IS - meets all my needs and has a great little lens. It fits right in my laptop bag.

IOW, get TWO cameras - end the domestic conflict.

It is a good possibility I will get 2 cameras.
The SX30IS is last years top-end Non SLR camera, have they released this years yet?

I got my gf the Nikon S9100 and the image is no where as nice as my Canon S95 that cost a little more. The reason I went with Nikon is because she has a Nikon before so the learning curve is not as steep as going with a Canon.

Aside from RAW picture ability, dpreview side by side comparison the SX230HS beats the S95 in most every category.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/q311travelzoomgrouptest/page3.asp

 

[sixone]

and if I did that... I still need a recommendation on a good compact pocket camera. she's not going to just walk into best buy and buy one...

It is a good possibility I will get 2 cameras.
The SX30IS is last years top-end Non SLR camera, have they released this years yet?

Aside from RAW picture ability, dpreview side by side comparison the SX230HS beats the S95 in most every category.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/q311travelzoomgrouptest/page3.asp

Get her the SX230.

The SX40 is rumored to be announced on September 13-15. Probably too late for your trip, tho.

 

[corkyg]

Another way for wifey to get a pocket camera is at a duty free shop on the cruise - even on the cruise ship.

 

[iGas]

Aside from RAW picture ability, dpreview side by side comparison the SX230HS beats the S95 in most every category.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/q311travelzoomgrouptest/page3.asp

SX230 HS vs. S95

If insanely long zoom and are important to you, then the sx230 fit the bill. But, IMHO 50% larger sensor for IQ, and fast f/2.0 aperture are better features to have even if the S95 didn't have RAW mode.