which of these 3 cameras?

[rh71]

Brother's having a kid soon and needs something better than a pocket camera, but at the same time doesn't want it too bulky like a full-size DSLR. So I told him about the Canon SX510.

Reqs:
- good action shots, minimal blurring
- minimal noise indoors (good even in typical lighting)
- ~$300
- HD video capture

He also asked me about the nikon s9700 and panasonic DMC-FZ70 but I know nothing about them and have never even touched their brands for cameras. We have the old Canon Rebel XSI so that's what I know and am comfortable with, but it doesn't have video so this is all pretty new to me too.

 

[CuriousMike]

Minimal noise indoors = this is the holy grail of everyone wanting to buy a real camera, and you simply don't get it with most P&S (including the Canon and Panny you have listed.)
The Tier 1 and 2 cameras I listed below will get good images ( without flash ! ) indoors.

"Typical lighting" doesn't exist - most people think a bright living room is good enough for a P&S camera to get a good shot. It isn't. Cameras need more light than most people expect.

Tier 1 Quality - This would be my recommendation. I wish I had bought something like this when I had my kids.
- Sony NEX 3n ( ~$320 on Amazon )

Tier 2 quality - A moderate step down, still very good quality.
- Nikon V1 ( $250 refurb on Adorama)

Tier 3 Quality - A definitive step up above cellphones, smaller, don't worry about lenses
- Panasonic LX5(7)
- Canon S95(110)(120)

IMO, your suggestions are Tier 4 quality - the typical P&S 1/2.3" sensor. He wants good quality indoors, you will get "meh" quality with this unit.

 

[blastingcap]

Brother's having a kid soon and needs something better than a pocket camera, but at the same time doesn't want it too bulky like a full-size DSLR. So I told him about the Canon SX510.

Reqs:
- good action shots, minimal blurring
- minimal noise indoors (good even in typical lighting)
- ~$300
- HD video capture

He also asked me about the nikon s9700 and panasonic DMC-FZ70 but I know nothing about them and have never even touched their brands for cameras. We have the old Canon Rebel XSI so that's what I know and am comfortable with, but it doesn't have video so this is all pretty new to me too.

High ISO should be a last resort. If he wants better, non-blurry photos even in dark indoor situations, he needs a flash. A built-in flash bounced off the ceiling should be fine. I'd rather have a compact camera with bounceable flash than a DSLR with f/1.8 glass. I'm completely serious.

A "pocket" RX100's fast glass and 1" sensor rivals a crop-body DSLR with kit lens, and the built-in flash is bounceable off the ceiling. Plus it's small so he can take it with him anywhere, plus it produces pretty good video as well. You can find used/refurbs for under $400 and in some cases under $300. No hotshoe so can't upgrade the flash, though.

If he doesn't mind having a camera that no longer really fits in a jeans pocket, try the Sony NEX-3N. A used one should go for under $300, easily, with 16-50mm lens. The interface is a little lacking for experienced users, but if he doesn't mind menu diving once in a while or setting it on Auto-everything, this is perhaps the biggest bang for the buck in this price range, particularly when factoring in how good the 16-50mm range is vs. some of the crappy competition like Samsung's un-stabilized 20-50mm which is a LOT less wide on the wide end and crap for video. The NEX-3N has bounceable built-in flash. No hotshoe though.

There's also a Canon EOS M sale on ebay right now ($250), grey market so it has zero warranty support from Canon, but the 22mm f/2 lens is good, somewhat slow focusing but if he pre-focuses he'll be fine. $250, DSLR-caliber low light performance, comes with hotshoe for upgrading to a flash unit later. No image stabilization on the 22m lens, though, so videos will look a lot shakier than any of the previous options.

 

[rh71]

Thanks, I'll have him take a look at the NEX-3N. The only issue I can see is the max 50mm lens. I have a 200mm zoom lens which I find very useful and sometimes even necessary. A 55-200mm lens for the Sony runs another $230.

No refurbs, buying new only.

 

[sonitravel09]

i like an interesting camera Canon SX510. Nice but the upgrade from this one is the Canon SX510. It's a fine one, I'm happy with my SX510

 

[Berliner]

Tier 1 Quality - This would be my recommendation. I wish I had bought something like this when I had my kids.
- Sony NEX 3n ( ~$320 on Amazon )

Tier 2 quality - A moderate step down, still very good quality.
- Nikon V1 ( $250 refurb on Adorama)

Great suggestions.

I would also consider the D3100 with a 35mm f/1.8 or 50mm f/1.8G (all used), which is a tiny DSLR, but you might have to look a little longer to get them at the price point mentioned. Probably beats the rest for action shots, at a slight increase in size.

 

[iGas]

High ISO should be a last resort. If he wants better, non-blurry photos even in dark indoor situations, he needs a flash. A built-in flash bounced off the ceiling should be fine. I'd rather have a compact camera with bounceable flash than a DSLR with f/1.8 glass. I'm completely serious.

A "pocket" RX100's fast glass and 1" sensor rivals a crop-body DSLR with kit lens, and the built-in flash is bounceable off the ceiling. Plus it's small so he can take it with him anywhere, plus it produces pretty good video as well. You can find used/refurbs for under $400 and in some cases under $300. No hotshoe so can't upgrade the flash, though.

If he doesn't mind having a camera that no longer really fits in a jeans pocket, try the Sony NEX-3N. A used one should go for under $300, easily, with 16-50mm lens. The interface is a little lacking for experienced users, but if he doesn't mind menu diving once in a while or setting it on Auto-everything, this is perhaps the biggest bang for the buck in this price range, particularly when factoring in how good the 16-50mm range is vs. some of the crappy competition like Samsung's un-stabilized 20-50mm which is a LOT less wide on the wide end and crap for video. The NEX-3N has bounceable built-in flash. No hotshoe though.

There's also a Canon EOS M sale on ebay right now ($250), grey market so it has zero warranty support from Canon, but the 22mm f/2 lens is good, somewhat slow focusing but if he pre-focuses he'll be fine. $250, DSLR-caliber low light performance, comes with hotshoe for upgrading to a flash unit later. No image stabilization on the 22m lens, though, so videos will look a lot shakier than any of the previous options.

Flash is nice, but not good for new born as it will startle the child.

1/60~1/125s shutter should be sufficient for a new born, hence f2.8~4 & ISO-400 is fine for well lit indoor photos. Or increase to ISO-1600 for 1/500s stop motion or open to f2 for not so well lit room.

IMHO, there is pro & con with flashes and they have their places in photography. As for me I tend to use flash mostly for outdoor fill flash to lighten the shadow and that make the image a bit more lively.

 

[blastingcap]

Flash is nice, but not good for new born as it will startle the child.

1/60~1/125s shutter should be sufficient for a new born, hence f2.8~4 & ISO-400 is fine for well lit indoor photos. Or increase to ISO-1600 for 1/500s stop motion or open to f2 for not so well lit room.

IMHO, there is pro & con with flashes and they have their places in photography. As for me I tend to use flash mostly for outdoor fill flash to lighten the shadow and that make the image a bit more lively.

I have flashed newborns before (with my camera, not my trousers or lack thereof) with bounced flash off the ceiling, no problem. Only the fussiest would have a problem with it. However, I also use fast lenses so the flash doesn't have to flash as bright to hit 1/60.

 

[AkumaX]

find a clearanced RX100 (mark 1)