Recommendations for a compact/semicompact prosumer camera

[morkus64]

I've been looking and reading reviews on a bunch, including the Nikon P90, Canon SX200 and some others, but I'd love some recommendations. Please list pros and cons if you can.

Things I'm specifically looking for:

- 10+ megapixels (Yes, pixel bashers, I do want the flexibility to make very, very large images)
- Auto, Aperture and Shutter Priority modes at the very least
- Video capture would be very nice (particularly if it is actually GOOD) but not necessary
- At least reasonably compact... I will be lugging this thing all over Europe
- Wide angle (at least 28mm, 26 or wider would be better)

Aaaaannnnd... GO!

TIA!

 

[jpeyton]

Panasonic LX3 or Canon G10

[/thread]

 

[morkus64]

A bit above the price range. And can you explain a bit more?

 

[ElFenix]

they're the two best (jacket) pocketable cameras. better lenses, better build quality, generally better sensors (they're larger than most other cameras), a huge range of control options, flash shoes, etc. the G10 is unrivaled by compacts at low-sensitivity image quality, while the LX3 pretty much beats all compacts above ISO 400 (and is pretty darn good, at least compared to compacts, below 400). nikon's p6000 seems to have decent specs but i don't think i've ever read a positive review of one. plus i think it uses some strange raw format.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q408enthusiastgroup/


with the speed and quality of the lx3 lens you may be able to use high quality teleconverters without losing too much.

 

[jpeyton]

Both are right around $420; I thought your budget was up to $400-ish?

 

[morkus64]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Both are right around $420; I thought your budget was up to $400-ish?

Hm. Maybe I'm not looking in the right place - Where are you finding one around 420?

 

[996GT2]

Originally posted by: morkus64

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Both are right around $420; I thought your budget was up to $400-ish?

Hm. Maybe I'm not looking in the right place - Where are you finding one around 420?

Right here

Out of stock at B&H and Adorama, but you can find it at Provantage (linked above) or on eBay.

 

[corkyg]

While you're browsing, look at the Canon SX10 IS. I got it last January for an extended trip to South Africa where carrying my EOS5D and lenses was a non-starter. The SX10 has a great 20X zoom lens that let me get visually close to animals from a safe distance. Sample:

Sample

It is also quite good in low light, and has a lot of flexibility in a full range of modes. It is small enough to fit in my vest pocket, and I carried it while travelling in my laptop case. It can be found for under $400. Adorama has it for about $359.

DPR

 

[morkus64]

Hmm... I a little concerned about the bulk of the G10 and the SX10... The LX3 seems like a great size, but I wish it had a little more on the tele end. Not going to be so great to get details on tall or more distant buildings.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: morkus64
Hmm... I a little concerned about the bulk of the G10 and the SX10... The LX3 seems like a great size, but I wish it had a little more on the tele end. Not going to be so great to get details on tall or more distant buildings.

you can put conversion lenses on it to get more range. lots of people on the dpreview panasonic talk forum have been doing that.

 

[randomlinh]

man, I thought panasonic worked out their stock problem? STILL out of stock at bhphoto!??

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: randomlinh
man, I thought panasonic worked out their stock problem? STILL out of stock at bhphoto!??

It's even OOS direct from Panasonic; they can't even keep their own shelves stocked. The G10 is occasionally OOS too, but nothing close to this degree.

 

[exnickoh]

i love my canon sd780 bought from new egg last week for 279. just saw an add in bestbuy today for 250.

12 megapixel
1080p video recording w/ hdmi (mini) out from camera
and a 16 gig memory to many pictures and up to 90 min of 1080p video.

 

[morkus64]

Originally posted by: exnickoh
i love my canon sd780 bought from new egg last week for 279. just saw an add in bestbuy today for 250.

12 megapixel
1080p video recording w/ hdmi (mini) out from camera
and a 16 gig memory to many pictures and up to 90 min of 1080p video.

I do love canon's ultracompacts, but I'm looking for something closer to a professional compact. Thanks though, and WELCOME TO ANANDTECH!

 

[jpeyton]

The SD780 IS can take 720P video, not 1080P. The video quality should still be very good, especially for a camera of that size.

Unfortunately from test shots I've seen, output from the SD780 is a little softer than the SD880, which along with the SD990 are my two gold-standard SD-series cameras.

 

[morkus64]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Panasonic LX3 or Canon G10

[/thread]

Well J, It's taken me a while, but I've finally seen the light. It's definitely going to be either the G10 or LX3. I think I prefer the G10 with the more SLR-like controls, but I've got till July so I'm going to wait and get whichever I find a decent deal on between now and then.

Perhaps you can address my concerns about the LX3 controls - On the G10 I love the ISO and exposure compensation dials right on top, and I like the "canon ring" style of navigation for aperture, shutter speed and focus (although I wish a compact would give us aperture and focus on the lens!) . What about the LX3 though - Is the joystick easy to use? Ho-w do you go about setting your shot?

 

[jpeyton]

I would read this if you want to learn about the LX3's control scheme: http://www.dpreview.com/review...asonicdmclx3/page3.asp

 

[ElFenix]

the joystick is pretty quick to learn. panasonic's auto iso is nice in that you can limit the upper range. usually i just leave it in p with auto iso set to 800 max.

the g10 does have really nice controls.

my OM with the shutter speed ring around the lens mount is pure genius, though.

 

[Jawo]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: morkus64
Hmm... I a little concerned about the bulk of the G10 and the SX10... The LX3 seems like a great size, but I wish it had a little more on the tele end. Not going to be so great to get details on tall or more distant buildings.

you can put conversion lenses on it to get more range. lots of people on the dpreview panasonic talk forum have been doing that.

I tried the add on lenses from ebay with my a610 several years ago in Italy. It enabled me to get the shots that I wanted, however, there was usually horrible CA, and some blurriness from sub-par optics. I don't know if they have improved over the past couple of years or not.

My friend got the G9 about a year ago and really loves it.

 

[Munky]

I'm puzzled why anyone would spend $400 on a compact and then slap on conversion lenses, when for the same money and not much more weight you can get a DSLR with immensely better image quality.

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: munky
I'm puzzled why anyone would spend $400 on a compact and then slap on conversion lenses, when for the same money and not much more weight you can get a DSLR with immensely better image quality.

size?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Jawo

I tried the add on lenses from ebay with my a610 several years ago in Italy. It enabled me to get the shots that I wanted, however, there was usually horrible CA, and some blurriness from sub-par optics. I don't know if they have improved over the past couple of years or not.

My friend got the G9 about a year ago and really loves it.

the people who have had the better success have used some really high quality stuff like the conversion lenses olympus put out for the E-10 and E-20 cameras.

then the biggest problem is that you take a picture of the inside of the conversion tube and have to crop. (lx3 lens is retracted at its longest focal length, which is backwards from probably 99% of compact cameras)

Originally posted by: munky
I'm puzzled why anyone would spend $400 on a compact and then slap on conversion lenses, when for the same money and not much more weight you can get a DSLR with immensely better image quality.

there's no way even a D40 is fitting in many jacket pockets

 

[Munky]

Originally posted by: Aharami

Originally posted by: munky
I'm puzzled why anyone would spend $400 on a compact and then slap on conversion lenses, when for the same money and not much more weight you can get a DSLR with immensely better image quality.

size?

G10 + conversion lenses isn't exactly pocket friendly either.