Will a better camera take noticeably better pictures on automatic?

[erub]

I have a Canon SD550. It takes pretty satisfying pictures, although one thing I don't like very much is the short range on the flash and zoom. I'm going to China and Eastern Europe this summer, and I was thinking that I would really like to have some good pictures. Should I upgrade to a better camera? Budget would be around $500, because I'm going to sacrifice size, I'd like a much better than 3x zoom, some image stabilization, and a nice long flash..any recommendations?

 

[edro]

I hear the newer SD700IS (and better) cameras give great results due to the IS.

 

[ElFenix]

an A710 is going to be longer and has IS, as for the flash i dunno, they're all pretty weak on compact cameras. imho a wider angle is better than longer telephoto, however. you can't back up indoors.

 

[CptObvious]

On some shots I think my SD600 actually takes better pictures than my D50, in regard to white balance. This is comparing both in full auto mode indoors or daytime.

 

[tfinch2]

Look for a P&S with a hot-shoe flash. I know there is an Olympus one, but I don't remember any others off hand.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Sony R1. If you can find one still in stock somewhere. The zoom is a little more limited (5x), but it has a much larger (APS-C) size sensor and will have better high ISO performance than pretty much any other point and shoot. Also has a shoe mount for an external flash if you need more power from the flash unit.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscr1/

No image stabilization, but the availability of higher ISO than your average P&S (the R1 is pretty clean up to 800 while most P&S are crap by about ISO 200) will give you more hand-holding latitude.

Not too many cameras that will give you a powerful flash though. Even a DSLR's built-in flash is pretty weak. If you need more flash, you'll need something that has a flash hot shoe.

ZV

 

[funboy6942]

Hot deal section has this going on, real nice, huge zoom, compact, and no where near the price you want to even be at leaving you more fun time money.

Read my comments made there and you see why I like it.

Also thats last years model. You can get this years Panasonic TZ3 7.1 MP, few upgrades, for around $350 ish.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
Look for a P&S with a hot-shoe flash. I know there is an Olympus one, but I don't remember any others off hand.

good idea. nikon just came out with one (P5000), and canon has the G series. the nikon also has IS. not a particularly long lens, but with 10 MP you can crop pretty well.


you could also try canon's HF-DC1 accessory flash for the powershot series.

 

[LS20]

Originally posted by: erub
I have a Canon SD550. It takes pretty satisfying pictures, although one thing I don't like very much is the short range on the flash and zoom. I'm going to China and Eastern Europe this summer, and I was thinking that I would really like to have some good pictures. Should I upgrade to a better camera? Budget would be around $500, because I'm going to sacrifice size, I'd like a much better than 3x zoom, some image stabilization, and a nice long flash..any recommendations?

in a practical sense, a better camera with better auto white balance can improve the overall tone of some photos.. and yield cleaner photos at higher sensitivity (iso)

overall, it can make photos a Tad better

flash range? theres a practical limit due to power
zoom? better framing > more zooming flexibility

photographs are still 95% photographer 5% equipment. id say for 80% of people out there buying a "nice camera" makes no difference