Recommend an ultracompact digital camera

[sygyzy]

I need to purchase an ultracompact ASAP. I am leaving on a 14 day cruise on November 3rd. I'd like the following:

Ultracompact
SD Memory
At least 3x zoom
Lightweight
4MP+
Good flash
QUALITY Pictures

I have the SD400 and it's image quality is unacceptable. The obvious choice is the SD5x0 one which is an improvement over the SD400, I hear, but I am not sure if the Image Quality is better. Any other choices I am missing? Perhaps Pentax or Nikon? I have not been keeping up with digital photography tech. Thanks a bunch.

 

[vi edit]

What's wrong with the SD400? Can you post examples of why you think it's bad?

 

[JinLien]

SD550













Just kidding, the SD400 should be good enought as a p&s. Other wise mortgage your home and purchase the big Canon 5D with enought L lenses that require a team of mules to haul it.

 

[bleeb]

Canon foo...

/thread

 

[sygyzy]

Originally posted by: JinLien
SD550













Just kidding, the SD400 should be good enought as a p&s. Other wise mortgage your home and purchase the big Canon 5D with enought L lenses that require a team of mules to haul it.

Please, it needs to be ultracompact.

 

[sygyzy]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
What's wrong with the SD400? Can you post examples of why you think it's bad?

Sure. Notice how unsharp they are, even when lighting is optimal. I don't have the full sizes uploaded, but they are even worse. That is, it looks ok when it's fit to screen. But when you view it 100%, even street signs are soft/blurry.

One
Look at how soft the foilage and shack are
Look at the bottom edge of the building. Look at the titles and the columns
Noise on the lady's face

 

[The Stigenator]

they are fine.. those pics are fine.

the noise is becuase of the low light..

the softness is expected, plus if its not on the focal zone it will be a bit soft cause its closer to teh camera and not the focus point.

but if you want a good digital camera the canon S2 IS.

 

[vi edit]

I'm having troubles seeing the problems you are describing. Is this in full auto, or do you have it in one of the "special" modes that does different types of focusing?

Some modes will not focus the entire image an soften other parts.

 

[PurdueRy]

All those pictures are fine, much of what your complaing about is because a camera doesn't have an infinite focal length...You are focusing on the texy on the building, not the bush....you are not focusing on the foliage...yadada


You are not going to find a better ultracompact PQ wise without going to the SD500/550, and those ARE ultracompacts, even if you don't think so.

Thought I might add, ultracompacts tend to have a softer image generally. If you want ultimate PQ then you have to get a larger camera...theres no way around it.

 

[PHiuR]

...you just need better lighting/skills at holding the camera.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

You're not going to get anything better out of an ultracompact, you have an SD400, and you're asking for another ultracompact that uses SD memory, all that leaves is an SD450 or SD550. If you want to go a little bigger, the Canon S80 is a nice camera, if you don't mind Memory Stick Pro/Duo Pros, grab a Sony DSC-W7/P200 (same exact cameras, different form factors, the W takes AA batteries, and has a bigger screen, the P uses a li-ion pack, at the expense of a slightly smaller LCD) or a Sony DSC-T7 for its size

 

[sygyzy]

Are you guys serious? I guess I am expecting too much out of an ultracompact. I am just used to my S45 (I know, it's no an ultracompact). But even 4MP, the PQ is excellent.

Question - How much of an improvement will the 500 series be? Since this is so late in the game (I thought I was going to be happy with the SD400), I probably won't be able to get a good deal on it. Furthermore, I probably won't be able to return my SD400 which means I'd have to sell it when I get back on my trip and be out that money during. Is it improved PQ worth the extra money/hassle?

 

[sygyzy]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
I'm having troubles seeing the problems you are describing. Is this in full auto, or do you have it in one of the "special" modes that does different types of focusing?

Some modes will not focus the entire image an soften other parts.

These are all full auto. I don't really mess with the different modes much.

If you look at the pictures, they don't strike you as being "subpar?" I look at some shots and think "boy, this is really sharp!" I look at my SD400 photos and they immediately strike me as being poor.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
Are you guys serious? I guess I am expecting too much out of an ultracompact. I am just used to my S45 (I know, it's no an ultracompact). But even 4MP, the PQ is excellent.

Question - How much of an improvement will the 500 series be? Since this is so late in the game (I thought I was going to be happy with the SD400), I probably won't be able to get a good deal on it. Furthermore, I probably won't be able to return my SD400 which means I'd have to sell it when I get back on my trip and be out that money during. Is it improved PQ worth the extra money/hassle?

In one word

NO


You will just have the advantage of being able to make larger prints...the sharpness you are looking for will still not necessarily be there.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: sygyzy

Originally posted by: vi_edit
I'm having troubles seeing the problems you are describing. Is this in full auto, or do you have it in one of the "special" modes that does different types of focusing?

Some modes will not focus the entire image an soften other parts.

These are all full auto. I don't really mess with the different modes much.

If you look at the pictures, they don't strike you as being "subpar?" I look at some shots and think "boy, this is really sharp!" I look at my SD400 photos and they immediately strike me as being poor.

Can you show us some ones that you specifically like? Secondly, can you show us any pics of the SD400 shooting in good light(i.e. outdoors on a sunny day)?

 

[dudeman007]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
Is it improved PQ worth the extra money/hassle?

Meh, I doubt it...unless you're a photo whore (which you seem to be).

 

[sygyzy]

Sure thing. And in case anyone is curious. I don't use any digital zoom.

Outside and sunny.

Kids, look at their skin. They are running around but even the ones standing still look like they have motion blur

Right quarter of the picture looks noisy

S45 Pic I like. I can add more later.

Good picture. Skin tone, colors. Very 'smooth'

 

[JinLien]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
Sure thing. And in case anyone is curious. I don't use any digital zoom.

Outside and sunny.

Kids, look at their skin. They are running around but even the ones standing still look like they have motion blur

Right quarter of the picture looks noisy

S45 Pic I like. I can add more later.

Good picture. Skin tone, colors. Very 'smooth'

They all look a bit soft that could be the result of hand held and/or lens quality. You have to move up to cameras that sport better and bigger glass for tack sharp pictures.

 

[alien42]

have you looked at the panasonic fx9?

it has a leica lens and a lot of nice features.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
Are you guys serious? I guess I am expecting too much out of an ultracompact. I am just used to my S45 (I know, it's no an ultracompact). But even 4MP, the PQ is excellent.

Question - How much of an improvement will the 500 series be? Since this is so late in the game (I thought I was going to be happy with the SD400), I probably won't be able to get a good deal on it. Furthermore, I probably won't be able to return my SD400 which means I'd have to sell it when I get back on my trip and be out that money during. Is it improved PQ worth the extra money/hassle?

No. As far as I understand, it's the exact same camera with more megapixels. That's not really going to help you out in the ways you want. It'll only allow you to print larger images and retain image quality. But how big do you want to print because at 4MP will produce beautiful 8x10s.

check this out.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
Sure thing. And in case anyone is curious. I don't use any digital zoom.

Outside and sunny.

Kids, look at their skin. They are running around but even the ones standing still look like they have motion blur

Right quarter of the picture looks noisy

S45 Pic I like. I can add more later.

Good picture. Skin tone, colors. Very 'smooth'

I really don't find that s45 pic to be any nicer than your other ones. In fact there's quite a bit of noise in the guy's black t-shirt. You might have better luck fiddleling with the settings on the camera in custom modes (like ISO and spot metering) if to try to get what you want. Honestly though, you're looking for the whole picture to be tack sharp and those little digicams don't really give you the ability to manually stop down to f22 (or maybe they do....I dunno). You gotta consider the depth of field, not the whole pic is going to be sharp.

Also, I have the feeling that those cams are geared towards the 1/60th second shutter speed when in full auto, which'll give you a bit of motion blur if you're casually taking pics (which you seem to do) and moving a bit. But notice in that "kids" pic...the one with the blonde hair on the dance floor: his head seems to be perfectly sharp to me, though his foot has motion blur 'cause he's clearly moving it.

 

[sygyzy]

I have been messing with the settings and changed it to focus on the center only. That way I know exactly where it'll be shooting. I wish the SD400 allowed you to choose which the focal point was, in case I wanted to change DOF. Anyway, hopefully I can learn how to use this camera better. It's not quite as perfect as a P&S as I was expecting and used to. I will say that I am still disappointed with overall quality, even in the "good" pictures. Thanks for everyone's help. Feel free to chime in with any other suggestions.

 

[0roo0roo]

you probably just expect too much from an ultra compact. stuff like lense size is severely restricted, theres no technology around that

 

[The Green Bean]

 

[CStan]

I personally want to get the Fuji Z2 (just announced), although it uses xD memory. BUt damn its sexy and has ISO up to 1600.