DLSR user considering a smaller PnS for carry around purposes...

[Ducky4Disney]

Ok, my DH spoiled me when he suggested we get a DSLR and we got a Nikon D200 I've learned to love it and I understand more about light, shutter speed, aperature, ISO, and all that since getting it.

But it's a heavy camera - and delicate(ish) - and we have quite a few accessories (also heavy and delicate). I want a more simple PnS for walk around purposes when I just want to snap a few pics here and there and I'm at a total loss of what to get.

I'm not sure I'll be happy with anything after owning my D200 but I want to try. The more I look the more complicated a camera I look at and the bigger and more expensive it gets!

Not too concerned about MP's, would like 5x optical zoom at least, and good low light ability preferred.

I've looked at some of the Kodak Z series cameras - easy to use, nice features, but I want a hi-res LCD view screen (more than 115k pixels) and they cost more. Anyone have experience with a Z1085 or Z1285?

I've also looked at some of the Canon cameras. Before the D200 we had a Powershot G2 - which I loved, worked great for 7 years (not bad) but now it just won't focus properly and doesn't work well overall. I've seen the S3IS and S5IS - any thoughts? I know some people love them - does the flash auto pop-up on that? Also looked into the SX100 - any thoughts?

Am I crazy for looking for a PnS now? Should I just suck it up and lug the D200 everywhere when I want to take pics? Is there anything I might be happy with?

TIA,
D4D

 

[mhutchinson]

Good luck on this quest, it can be as difficult as the which DSLR do I buy. After 2 months of going through similar hoops and doing side by side comparisons, I just recently settled on the Canon G9 and bought a pair (his and hers). The LCD is incredible compared with my 20D...plus I can plop my gianormous 580EX II flash on it if I want to look bizarre. My main need was just for those times I did not want to carry tons of equipment and the smaller pocket models did not quite cut what I wanted.

Best advice would be try some side to sides and see if the store will let you plug a memory card in to each one to compare when you get home...