Best point and shoot digital camera for DL?

[robinjh7]

OK..those are too gorgeous..my question..did this take special set up and such? I just don't have time to fiddle with settings (plus I don't know anything about what settings to use) or was this just walk..stop...click...

Thank you! I used a gorilla pod. It's small and fits in my pocket. http://joby.com/store/gorillapod/original In fact, when I'm shooting at night, I usually just leave it attached to the D10 while it's around my neck. Easy to shoot quickly that way.

I stuck it on a fence for those photos. I also used the timer (to avoid the shake when you push the button) and a longer shutter speed. It's not hard to learn how to do that, it just takes a little practice.

The D10 does a good job with just the timer and the 3200 ISO setting, and you can support it on the fence or a post or something and not use the gorilla pod, but I like to fiddle.

 

[kiwitravel]

I am looking at the Canon elph 310 (currently $229) and like the idea of the 8X zoom. The Canon s100 is $429 - not sure about going up that high. Will I be ok with just the elph 310 as a back-up type camera?

Thanks for all the great feedback

As I have said in an earlier post I could not recommend the cheaper Canons as they are quite fragile and don't tend to have a long life span... There is nothing wrong with their image quality though...

 

[Disco]

Loving this thread and also looking for a small camera. I drank the Koolaid a while back (on advice from the Dis no less) and purchased the Canon S3 IS. Still love it, but I never take it with me to my sons' games, or to the parks.

I am looking at the Canon elph 310 (currently $229) and like the idea of the 8X zoom. The Canon s100 is $429 - not sure about going up that high. Will I be ok with just the elph 310 as a back-up type camera?

Thanks for all the great feedback

Usually not a big fan of the Elph's but the lens is F3.0-5.9 for a 28-224(8x) zoom. That's pretty darn good for such a small camera. Don't expect this thing to be a whiz when it's dark but for daytime and well lit shots, it should be fine. I just did a quick look around at other brands but I couldn't find anything to match it.
FYI, your S3 is F2.7-3.5 with a 36-432 (12x)zoom. It lets a lot more light in especially at full zoom.

 

[Rhonna]

I drank the Koolaid a while back (on advice from the Dis no less) and purchased the Canon S3 IS. Still love it, but I never take it with me to my sons' games, or to the parks.

Why don't you take it to games or the parks? Thanks.

 

[Rhonna]

They do have enough manual features to perplex most novice users but they do have full auto modes so you should be fine. The Canon, in this respect, is probably the least intimidating of the cameras I mentioned above.
Just best to read up on it enough to learn how to set things back to auto in case you turn a knob or something. However, when you do want to push your "comfort boundaries" it's nice to know that the features are there for you to play with.
BTW, improvements of the s100 over the s95 are vastly superior video capturing, a little longer zoom, built in GPS and they say it is faster (in burst picture modes at least) and captures more light (better in the dark).
However, with the longer zoom it significantly reduces the amount of light coming in to the sensor. Just keep in mind, if you want to take pictures when it is darker, to not zoom in on the subject.

Thank you!

 

[blackjackdelta]

Loving this thread and also looking for a small camera. I drank the Koolaid a while back (on advice from the Dis no less) and purchased the Canon S3 IS. Still love it, but I never take it with me to my sons' games, or to the parks.

I am looking at the Canon elph 310 (currently $229) and like the idea of the 8X zoom. The Canon s100 is $429 - not sure about going up that high. Will I be ok with just the elph 310 as a back-up type camera?

Thanks for all the great feedback

T I loved the S3 IS, great camera and sharp.

Jack

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

Why don't you take it to games or the parks? Thanks.

Rhonna - it is just toooooo big! I need something that stays in my purse for baseball games, and something smaller for the parks.

T I loved the S3 IS, great camera and sharp.

Jack

I do love it too! I got it just days before a trip to Telluride and one of the first pics I ever took with it is still one of the best and favorite pictures I have ever taken. I don't know the first thing about photography!

It is great for all the special occasions/family and when I get to take pics around Colorado - but back to Rhonna - I had a friend visit here, and she just kept her little point and shoot in her pocket and never missed a thing. Got me to thinking. I worry about my ruining "nice" camera, so there are times I tend to leave it at home.

 

[Astylla]

Ironically this thread came up in the right time for my husband and I , as our trip in December to DL is approaching fast and our old point and shoot had no zoom and was the very basic of models. After looking over Best Buy's website and on here as well we decided to take a trip and check out a few models we liked. We ended up with the Canon Powershot SX230 HS. We for a bundle deal from best Buy with 6 month financing and a bundle deal including another battery , case and 4GB memory card all for under $350. I'm a newbie when it comes to cameras and taking photos with any kind of zoom but found this camera to be perfect so far. It has alot of features without feeling like I can't make use of them. The weight of the camera is enough that I don't feel like it's going to fall apart and compact enough to fit in my jeans pocket.

Here are a few photos I took today on auto mode with some zoom capabilities.

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

WOW - great pics!! I'll have to check out your camera!

 

[Rhonna]

Rhonna - it is just toooooo big! I need something that stays in my purse for baseball games, and something smaller for the parks.



I do love it too! I got it just days before a trip to Telluride and one of the first pics I ever took with it is still one of the best and favorite pictures I have ever taken. I don't know the first thing about photography!

It is great for all the special occasions/family and when I get to take pics around Colorado - but back to Rhonna - I had a friend visit here, and she just kept her little point and shoot in her pocket and never missed a thing. Got me to thinking. I worry about my ruining "nice" camera, so there are times I tend to leave it at home.

Now I'm worried, how big/heavy is it? Or is it more that you are protecting your "nice" camera?

 

[blackjackdelta]

Ironically this thread came up in the right time for my husband and I , as our trip in December to DL is approaching fast and our old point and shoot had no zoom and was the very basic of models. After looking over Best Buy's website and on here as well we decided to take a trip and check out a few models we liked. We ended up with the Canon Powershot SX230 HS. We for a bundle deal from best Buy with 6 month financing and a bundle deal including another battery , case and 4GB memory card all for under $350. I'm a newbie when it comes to cameras and taking photos with any kind of zoom but found this camera to be perfect so far. It has alot of features without feeling like I can't make use of them. The weight of the camera is enough that I don't feel like it's going to fall apart and compact enough to fit in my jeans pocket.

Here are a few photos I took today on auto mode with some zoom capabilities.

Very nice, love the sx series

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

Now I'm worried, how big/heavy is it? Or is it more that you are protecting your "nice" camera?

My Canon S3 IS is shaped like a traditional camera with the lense protruding making the depth 3". It is also heavy. The smaller cameras I am looking at aren't even an inch in depth.

See this link for pictures of my Canon S3 IS:

http://www.google.com/search?q=cano...de&cd=2&ved=0CE0Q_AUoAQ&biw=1192&bih=491&sei= Rw26TrDENeafiQLj75DHBA

 

[Rhonna]

My Canon S3 IS is shaped like a traditional camera with the lense protruding making the depth 3". It is also heavy. The smaller cameras I am looking at aren't even an inch in depth.

See this link for pictures of my Canon S3 IS:

http://www.google.com/search?q=cano...de&cd=2&ved=0CE0Q_AUoAQ&biw=1192&bih=491&sei= Rw26TrDENeafiQLj75DHBA

Somehow I got confused. I thought your Canon was the same as the one I was looking at. I am talking about the Canon Powershot S95. Looks VERY different than your S3 you linked to. The S95 is much thinner and flat - except when the lens is telescoped out. It has a full (LED?) screen on the back. Much more like a small P&S but with "gadgets" so you can take it out of auto mode and play around if you want. I finally read reviews. Said it's the best meld between P&S and full on fancy cameras for experts.

 

[Disco]

Somehow I got confused. I thought your Canon was the same as the one I was looking at. I am talking about the Canon Powershot S95. Looks VERY different than your S3 you linked to. The S95 is much thinner and flat - except when the lens is telescoped out. It has a full (LED?) screen on the back. Much more like a small P&S but with "gadgets" so you can take it out of auto mode and play around if you want. I finally read reviews. Said it's the best meld between P&S and full on fancy cameras for experts.

The S3 is a big super zoom camera with a smaller sensor but bigger lens. Not pocketable but you can really zoom in on the subject.
It's a bit confusing as for what ever reason they decided to use the S model number with this big camera. They now call the newer models SX's I think.
The S95 and newer S100 are a little bigger than the Elph series and very pocketable if not even a little too small for my ginormous hands. Just keep in mind that prosumer cameras don't have a lot of zoom power. It takes a bigger lens to cover the bigger sensor in the S100/95.

 

[Disco]

Ironically this thread came up in the right time for my husband and I , as our trip in December to DL is approaching fast and our old point and shoot had no zoom and was the very basic of models. After looking over Best Buy's website and on here as well we decided to take a trip and check out a few models we liked. We ended up with the Canon Powershot SX230 HS. We for a bundle deal from best Buy with 6 month financing and a bundle deal including another battery , case and 4GB memory card all for under $350. I'm a newbie when it comes to cameras and taking photos with any kind of zoom but found this camera to be perfect so far. It has alot of features without feeling like I can't make use of them. The weight of the camera is enough that I don't feel like it's going to fall apart and compact enough to fit in my jeans pocket.

Here are a few photos I took today on auto mode with some zoom capabilities.

Wow, I didn't think any of the SX cameras were small enough to fit in a pocket. I'm really shocked at how small they are making cameras with such long zooms. Compared to the Elph 310 we were talking about earlier this thing has a very similar performing lens f3.1(W)-5.9(T). Considering it has a longer zoom and would fit in my hands better than a tiny Elph I think I would pick this (if speed and price are similar).

 

[Disco]

Sorry,
One more post (get me talking and I just won't shut up ). Did a little research for some of the other major brands.
Panasonic I couldn't find anything good in a P&S or super zoom cameras. All their lenses started at F3.3(w) which lets in like 20% less light than the Canons.
Same deal with Nikon.
Sony had a WX10 that seemed interesting. 2.4-5.9 lens but it was only a 7x zoom (24-168mm). Still that is a pretty bright lens (for non telephoto) for a P&S.
Olympus had a VR330. 12.5x zoom (24-300mm) with the same (as Canon's) 3(wide)-5.9(telephoto) aperture range.
I'm just looking at the quick specs on these things so check out reviews to see how people like them. Even with the best lens the camera itself can be slow or just suffer from bad picture quality. These are just quick picks of mine based on the stats I saw that might be worthy to check out.
Also, this is just for the P&S and super zoom cameras. I listed in an earlier post the suggested higher quality (and cost) prosumer cameras. Everything has also just been suggestions for (mostly) pocketable cameras.

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

No -actually thanks Disco! I am thrilled for someone else to do the research!

I have to admit you have me looking at the Canon Powershot sx230 hs. It does look pretty great and Astylla's pics look great.

Amazon has it for $279 and I kind-of like that blue color!

 

[ToodlesRN]

I'm looking for a PS with good zoom capability so if I'm a far I still can get a good picture.
The camera's that I have narrowed it down to is:
Canon S95 (6.0-22.5mm) says 3.8X zoom
Canon Sx230hs (5.0-70.mm) 14X zoom thanks to Asylla posts!
Nikon S9100 (4.5-81mm) 18X zoom
What exactly does the 3.8X mean? Would the Nikon be the best choice because of the 18X zoom?
I'm racking my brain on my final choice, I was able to play with all of them but still can't make decision.

 

[Nintfamily]

Just my 2 cents here. I have a simple PS a Nikon Coolpix L5. Simple to use and lightweight. Someday I will upgrade, but this has taken some great pictures. Here is a sample so you can see.

Gray day when we first got there.

Zoomed in, bright day.

Normal lighting

In the shade at California Adventure.

At night leaving and us not wanting to leave...

 

[Rhonna]

The S3 is a big super zoom camera with a smaller sensor but bigger lens. Not pocketable but you can really zoom in on the subject.
It's a bit confusing as for what ever reason they decided to use the S model number with this big camera. They now call the newer models SX's I think.
The S95 and newer S100 are a little bigger than the Elph series and very pocketable if not even a little too small for my ginormous hands. Just keep in mind that prosumer cameras don't have a lot of zoom power. It takes a bigger lens to cover the bigger sensor in the S100/95.

I'm limited in choices since (I wrote in PP) I am choosing to get a "free" one through our Visa rewards point program. We still need a little more points to get the S95 but our trip is 5+ months away. They, of course, don't have the S100 yet. But this thread has helped me narrow it down to get the best one out of my available choices.

I like a smaller camera. I do like some zoom but I'm not into macro shots so hopefully the S95 will be fine for my use.