Best Point and Shoot Camera (again..and hey Jack?)

[nunzia]

OK..my Lumix which I used to love seems to not be producing such great shots anymore..there was a big thread here awhile back..and I also remember Jack and someone having a conversation about cameras. I think the top of the heap was a Nikon? Anyway..Jack, if you are there, what camera were you getting and was it a point and shoot (since I don't have patience with lenses and such and really want a small camera)..and everyone else, what is your favorite point and shoot and the good and bad points and how big is your favorite?

 

[specialks]

We really love Canon and have the SX230HS. 14x optical zoom and great pictures. My only complaint is the time it takes to reset between photos (can't remember the photo term for this). I think there's a photo burst mode though if you wanted continuous shots. And, I think this is a con of any point and shoot, not just the sx230 based on my research they're all similar in delay time and none come close to the speedy response of an SLR.

 

[brenda1966]

I'm a big fan of Canon. Just bought a new one: Canon Powershot ELPH 310 HS

The main thing I love about it and has vastly improved over my last Canon is its ability to take photos in low light. This is a pocket sized camera and as a rule of thumb -- they have weak flashes. So they have improved he sensitivity of the camera to low light.

I also like the size and weight of the camera. It has to be small, pocket sized for me now. No more lugging around cameras. I always carry an extra battery though.

I've been very happy with it. Lots of fancy features. Have also bought a new Canon for grandma for mother's day. Same line, lower number as she doesn't need as many features.

 

[blackjackdelta]

I am here somewhere..I use a Nikon D5000 and yes it does have a couple lenses but I mainly use it as point and shoot. It is hard to recommend a camera without know a bit more information>

1. Price point, how much do want to spend?

2. Do you want pocket sized or a bit larger?

3. Do you print your photo's 5x7, 8x10, larger? Or just like viewing on a monitor.

4. Will you use the more manual features or would like the camera to do most of the work...more features more money, but why if you do not use them.

There are many fan boys/girls when it comes to brands so I look for what works for me. Would be very glad to help recommend a fine camera that you may like, but it has to fit you. Thanks for asking my opinion.

Jack

 

[nunzia]

I am here somewhere..I use a Nikon D5000 and yes it does have a couple lenses but I mainly use it as point and shoot. It is hard to recommend a camera without know a bit more information>

1. Price point, how much do want to spend?

2. Do you want pocket sized or a bit larger?

3. Do you print your photo's 5x7, 8x10, larger? Or just like viewing on a monitor.

4. Will you use the more manual features or would like the camera to do most of the work...more features more money, but why if you do not use them.

There are many fan boys/girls when it comes to brands so I look for what works for me. Would be very glad to help recommend a fine camera that you may like, but it has to fit you. Thanks for asking my opinion.

Jack

Hi Jack:
1. Price point is really not a concern
2. Pretty much pocket size..about the size of my Lumix is perfect...about 4" x 2"
3. I print my photos small for the most part..4x6, occasionally 5x7
4. I like the camera to think for me, but if one had cool choices I could figure out, I'd be willing to try

5. Not asked, but in reference to another poster...that refresh time or whatever they call it is pretty important to me..I have many fleet footed grandkids and need to be able to snap quickly at times. I also love the low light option mentioned above as it seems like alot of pictures are coming out too dark
Thanks all

 

[blackjackdelta]

Hi Jack:
1. Price point is really not a concern
2. Pretty much pocket size..about the size of my Lumix is perfect...about 4" x 2"
3. I print my photos small for the most part..4x6, occasionally 5x7
4. I like the camera to think for me, but if one had cool choices I could figure out, I'd be willing to try

5. Not asked, but in reference to another poster...that refresh time or whatever they call it is pretty important to me..I have many fleet footed grandkids and need to be able to snap quickly at times. I also love the low light option mentioned above as it seems like alot of pictures are coming out too dark
Thanks all

Refresh time has to do with the processor and the the class of card that is in the camera. Many people just by the cheaper cards and then wonder why the refresh is slow. I will give you a couple of my favorite recommendations later in the day. Have a good one.

Jack

 

[Sjwillia]

Refresh time has to do with the processor and the the class of card that is in the camera. Many people just by the cheaper cards and then wonder why the refresh is slow. I will give you a couple of my favorite recommendations later in the day. Have a good one.

Jack

There is so much to learn from this site - I love it! Being a complete photography amateur, this information about the card is news to me. Can anyone provide information about what to look for when I buy a new card for my May trip? Is there one brand better than another? Thanks.

 

[KCmike]

There is so much to learn from this site - I love it! Being a complete photography amateur, this information about the card is news to me. Can anyone provide information about what to look for when I buy a new card for my May trip? Is there one brand better than another? Thanks.

Most card brands are the same. The tops are SanDisk, Lexar, Kingston to name a few. What kind of camera are you shooting with? Most SLR owners like to use faster cards. Typically in the case of a SanDisk card it would be called an extreme card. They are usually double the price of a regular SDHC card. I am a Canon SLR owner but have had many point and shoot cameras. My favorites included Sony's Cybershot series (get one with a Carl's Zeiss lens), Panasonic's lumix series, followed by Canon and Nikon. Lens is just as important or more important than megapixels. I have had a 2mp Nikon camera produce images just as good as a 10+ one. Megapixels are important if you want to enlarge the image for printing for example. A faster card is also important for shooting video.

Best thing to do is go out and play with the cameras in your local Best Buy, Office Depot, or Target. The cameras are getting ready to change models again. You are picking a good time if you don't mind getting a camera that has been out on the shelf as last years model. Or you can look at it that the new models are there for your viewing.

 

[blackjackdelta]

I like the Kingston SDHC cards, class 10 or 6. Like KCMike stated, go play.

Jack

 

[nunzia]

Most card brands are the same. The tops are SanDisk, Lexar, Kingston to name a few. What kind of camera are you shooting with? Most SLR owners like to use faster cards. Typically in the case of a SanDisk card it would be called an extreme card. They are usually double the price of a regular SDHC card. I am a Canon SLR owner but have had many point and shoot cameras. My favorites included Sony's Cybershot series (get one with a Carl's Zeiss lens), Panasonic's lumix series, followed by Canon and Nikon. Lens is just as important or more important than megapixels. I have had a 2mp Nikon camera produce images just as good as a 10+ one. Megapixels are important if you want to enlarge the image for printing for example. A faster card is also important for shooting video.

Best thing to do is go out and play with the cameras in your local Best Buy, Office Depot, or Target. The cameras are getting ready to change models again. You are picking a good time if you don't mind getting a camera that has been out on the shelf as last years model. Or you can look at it that the new models are there for your viewing.

ahh..to have stores to go play in I have Walmart and KMart and Staples.. All help coming is appreciated

 

[specialks]

I like the Kingston SDHC cards, class 10 or 6. Like KCMike stated, go play.

Jack

We have the class 10 card (a must for good HD video rec). That's not what I was talking about. I'll try to find the technical term for what I'm referencing.

 

[specialks]

Okay, it's called shot lag time or shot to shot lag time or shot to shot delay. Not to be confused with shutter lag time.

 

[blackjackdelta]

I have a photographer friend who writes for review sites and he uses a
FinePix F550EXR as P and S. Need a larger zoom than I have another a personal recommendation. To me it is important to have the sharpest picture possible and with these small sensors the bigger the zoom the more information has to be sqeezed into a small spot.

You also may want to look at the Canon Elph series, small, good pics and movies.


Jack

 

[specialks]

Okay adding again, another name for it is cycle time. I'm referencing it because it sounds like its important to you, like it was for me!

This is what I found written on a review site about my sx230.

Cycle Time: Cycle time isn't outstanding, capturing a frame every 2.03 seconds in single-shot mode. Canon rates the SX230's full-resolution burst mode at 3.2 frames per second, which is not as fast as some competing CMOS sensor models. There's also a High-speed Burst mode rated at 8.1 frames-per-second that captures 3-megapixel images.

Info taken from (and good reviews found here): http://www.imaging-resource.com/

 

[blackjackdelta]

Cycle time is made of a number of parts:

1. The amount of information sent to the lense, the darker the picture the longer the cycle time will.

2. The processor has to write the data to the card as fast or faster than the card can receive.

3. The card has to be able to accept the data as fast or faster than the processor can send.

Every company seems to use different processors and software, the only way to know is tolook, research and test.

Jack

 

[jakoky]

I actually just bought myself a small compact superzoom. I have been using larger bridge cameras for years, and decided I wanted something smaller, especially with our Disneyland trip coming up... I bought, and love, a canon sx260...I find shot to shot faster than my Sony hx100v that I sold. I am very happy with the pic quality and the low light pics I have taken have turned out great. I am not an auto shooter though, I tend to use P,A,,or S...but the auto does seem to work Great and does do a good job figuring out the scene! What I do also love is that is has 20 times zoom and that they kept the megapixels at 12 instead of upping them! Good luck in your decision, I cant wait, 20 days and I will get to try it out in disnyeland( and Definately get a fast card, I use a class 10)

Sharon

 

[blackjackdelta]

I actually just bought myself a small compact superzoom. I have been using larger bridge cameras for years, and decided I wanted something smaller, especially with our Disneyland trip coming up... I bought, and love, a canon sx260...I find shot to shot faster than my Sony hx100v that I sold. I am very happy with the pic quality and the low light pics I have taken have turned out great. I am not an auto shooter though, I tend to use P,A,,or S...but the auto does seem to work Great and does do a good job figuring out the scene! What I do also love is that is has 20 times zoom and that they kept the megapixels at 12 instead of upping them! Good luck in your decision, I cant wait, 20 days and I will get to try it out in disnyeland( and Definately get a fast card, I use a class 10)

Sharon

I love the SX series of cameras but pocket size they are not. Used a bridge for awhile, but wound up going back to the DSLR because of increased clarity of the lens. These are great cameras!!

Jack

 

[LAWalz23]

Don't know too much about the technical stuff but will say I love my Canon power shot the pictures are really nice. I love that the camera is pocket size.

 

[rsleleux]

I love the SX series of cameras but pocket size they are not. Used a bridge for awhile, but wound up going back to the DSLR because of increased clarity of the lens. These are great cameras!!

Jack

Jack,
What lens do you bring as a good all around lens for a day at Disney? I have a DSLR and a few lens and an external speedlite, but I dont want to tote my big bag around!

 

[blackjackdelta]

Jack,
What lens do you bring as a good all around lens for a day at Disney? I have a DSLR and a few lens and an external speedlite, but I dont want to tote my big bag around!

Darn near every photo I take around the park I use 18-55mm VR lens. It is a kit lens but very sharp, I need a couple more f stops for the dark rides. I shoot high iso in the evening with nothing less than a 60th of a second. Again I do not post process since the camera does a real good job and I really do not have the time.

Jack