P&S Camera picks in the $200-300 range

[jdoggg12]

I'm looking for a replacement to my SD800 camera. I loved it, but since its dead, I need a replacement and hopefully a nicer one. I'd like something with great picture quality, good fps shooting speed, and as many manual options as possible.

I was looking at the SD850 IS, but am open to suggestions

 

[ElFenix]

lumix fx500 or maybe the nikon s710. camera makers have largely taken the manual settings out of ultra compact cameras, though, so those appear to be it.

 

[jpeyton]

SD880 IS

 

[Cable God]

Just got my SD990 IS and love it. The Egg has a great deal on it right now with a free case & 8GB SD Card.

 

[jdoggg12]

How do the 990 and 880 compare?

 

[jpeyton]

SD880 IS
28mm wide angle
4x zoom (28mm-112mm)
3" LCD
10MP

SD990 IS
14.7MP
3.7x zoom (36mm-133mm)
2.5" LCD
Optical viewfinder

Both have Digic 4, H.264 VGA movie mode. I picked up an SD880 IS because I wanted the 28mm wide angle and the larger LCD (optical viewfinders on pocket cameras are generally garbage). It was about $203 shipped from Dell.

 

[LS21]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
SD880 IS
28mm wide angle
4x zoom (28mm-112mm)
3" LCD
10MP

SD990 IS
14.7MP
3.7x zoom (36mm-133mm)
2.5" LCD
Optical viewfinder

Both have Digic 4, H.264 VGA movie mode. I picked up an SD880 IS because I wanted the 28mm wide angle and the larger LCD (optical viewfinders on pocket cameras are generally garbage). It was about $203 shipped from Dell.

howd you get that deal? still going?

 

[jpeyton]

It was a deal they had back on November 20th; although you can still get it for around $200 or less using eBay + Live Cashback.

 

[bludragon]

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 has some good reviews - a bit larger than the canon's but has a 28 mm - 280 mm (10x) zoom lens
For IQ, SD950/990 have the slightly larger sensor from the G9/G10 respectively. I think 990 has full manual too, but not sure how useful that is in a compact. But, they are the more expensive one's and don't go as wide.

 

[corkyg]

While you are loomking, check out the Nikon P80. It is a P&S camera very close to being a DSLR, and is now available for less than $300.

I took one to Europe last summer and it performed exceedingly well.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
It was a deal they had back on November 20th; although you can still get it for around $200 or less using eBay + Live Cashback.

This. I just got the SD880 IS for $167 (10% off coupon + $60 cashback).

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: corkyg
While you are loomking, check out the Nikon P80. It is a P&S camera very close to being a DSLR, and is now available for less than $300.

I took one to Europe last summer and it performed exceedingly well.

Hmm, in another post you said that the P80 did the job, but you didn't seem too thrilled with it.

jdoggg12, are you looking for an ultracompact?

 

[jdoggg12]

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

jdoggg12, are you looking for an ultracompact?

Yea, something that can slip easily into a pocket

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: bludragon
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 has some good reviews - a bit larger than the canon's but has a 28 mm - 280 mm (10x) zoom lens
For IQ, SD950/990 have the slightly larger sensor from the G9/G10 respectively. I think 990 has full manual too, but not sure how useful that is in a compact. But, they are the more expensive one's and don't go as wide.

I got a Panasonic TZ5 today and really like it. It may not have all of the manual features that the OP is looking for but it does offer 720p HD movie recording.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: jdoggg12

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

jdoggg12, are you looking for an ultracompact?

Yea, something that can slip easily into a pocket

tz5 isn't going to fit into a jeans pocket or a slim jacket pocket, unfortunately.

 

[996GT2]

What about the Panasonic FX37? That packs a 5x ultra-wide zoom into a very compact body.

 

[LS21]

i decided to give my sd850is to my mother. was gonna pick up sd880is at costco but they had none, so i grabbed panasonic tz5 instead. i think its too big to be pocketable, plus the extreme zoom (10x) perhaps will compromise image quality.

trying to get fx37 right now but its difficult to find in store, and for a good price...
the form factor and 25mm looks very very yummy however

 

[LS21]

just bought panasonix fx35 in black for 100$ cheaper than fx37

1) both have newer series-4 processing
2) fx37 has extra 25mm in telephoto (125mm vs 100mm) but i dont care about zoom, and perhaps longer zoom = more lens elements = (slightly) worse image quality
3) fx35 is slightly brither (f2.8 vs f3.3)

no other practical differences im aware of...

 

[996GT2]

Good deal. 4x zoom in the FX35 is still very nice, and that 25mm wide angle is just...wow