Help me buy a new P&S!! Please.

[pittsburghmom]

My 8 year old Canon Elph is on it's last leg. I would really like to *upgrade* anyway. I been reading some of the threads on here and have been writing down all the P&S recommendations and checking them out over on dpreview.com, but now I'm even more confused

Anyway, here are a few of my "wants":

No delay (or little delay)
$300 or under (but there is a bit of wiggle room)
Zoom--not super important...take mainly portraits/kids shots...
The option to go to manual mode if I desire
Video...not important

Not sure what else I should mention to help narrow it down!

Also, any good Black Friday/Cyber monday deals on a highly recommended camera??

Please help! I am overwhelmed

 

[havoc315]

The best camera deals aren't often Black Friday, the best deals are to buy "last year's model." Typically, the most up to date model isn't much different, so you save a bundle stepping back a year.

In real brief, your camera doesn't fully exist. Point & shoots require compromises. And a $300 budget requires compromises.

I'm going to recommend the Canon S100 for you. It is last year's model, the current model is the S110. The S110 is $450 on Amazon. The S100 is $310. The s100 may actually be the slightly better camera, but they added a touch screen fr the s110.

Shutter delay -- rated fair on the s100. Most compacts aren't good on shutter lag. Compacts tend to focus and shoot slow. The s100 is far better than other compacts in your price range.
Most compacts in your price range don't have full manual controls, the s100 does.
It has an above average lens, great for portraits. The downside, it doesn't have a whole lot if zoom compared to some. But that's a trade off -- the compacts with more zoom, lose image quality and lens quality.
If you do decide the zoom has a higher importance, I'd look at the Sony Hx20v and the Canon sx260.

 

[hakepb]

The s100 may best fit your criteria.
I would give all of the cameras in last year's (because now there are newer models, so most of these cameras have dropped into your price range) enthuiast lineup a look:
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/4333175133/buyers-guide-enthusiast-raw-shooting-compact-cameras

 

[pittsburghmom]

Thank you both for the suggestions! However, I am pretty much back at square one. The hubs just informed me that the budget for a new camera is $225 MAX. With that budget, it probably takes me out of the running for a decent camera....right? Is there anything that isn't "too horrible" at that price point?? I am definitely open to older models and can compromise the manual controls if that helps.....

 

[hakepb]

I am very comfortable saying the (DPreview "Gold metal " winning) Olympus ZX1 has, by far, the best image quality you can get for a $200 camera it is in the s100 league with a sensor the same size, and actually has a much brighter lens as its zoomed. The only compromise is its a bit thicker..
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/OlympusXZ1

FYI, since you also mentiond speed: "The XZ-1 is not an absolute speed-demon in terms of either focus and operation but it's rare for it to be so slow as to be noticeable, let alone problematic."

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004H...B004HO59LK&linkCode=xm2&tag=dpreviewbuybox-20

 

[havoc315]

I'm sure there are some ok cameras in that price range.. You may event want to see if maybe you can get something like a refurbished Canon S95.

You can also even get a used dSLR off eBay. Something 4-6 years old, but would still produce better results than a new $225 compact.

What makes that price range hard for me is simply that, optically, the cameras in that range aren't necessarily better than a good smart phone camera. My iPhone 5 is reasonably fast and sharp.

Some models you may wish to look at include the Canon sx260 which can be found for close to that range. It will give you lots of zoom. My wife has an older model, it's not bad at all in good lighting.

The other thing you can try -- look up the cameras you really like on Amazon, and click on "used and new."
Personally, when on a tight budget, I think it helps to shop creatively instead of settling for a lesser "new" product.

For example, I see a used Canon S95 on Amazon for $229.

 

[havoc315]

I'm less familiar with the Olympus zx1, but I looked it up. It does appear to possibly be a good option for you.

 

[photo_chick]

Thank you both for the suggestions! However, I am pretty much back at square one. The hubs just informed me that the budget for a new camera is $225 MAX. With that budget, it probably takes me out of the running for a decent camera....right? Is there anything that isn't "too horrible" at that price point?? I am definitely open to older models and can compromise the manual controls if that helps.....

There are some great point and shoots at that price point. Don't let a low budget make you think you can't get a decent camera.

Look at the Fuji S4250. It's a super zoom for under $200. It might fit your needs, it might not. But it's a solid point and shoot in your price range.

 

[pittsburghmom]

Thanks for the additional suggestions!! Here are the cameras I *think* I've narrowed down to:

Canon s100---I'm watching several used ones on Ebay right now to see what the average used cost is. (I checked Canon's website for refurbished, but didn't see any available and Amazon used is out of my $$)

Olympus xz1--Thanks for pointing this camera out to me! Read tons of reviews and sounds like a great camera. One potential drawback I'm seeing is the lens cover. I'm seeing many reviews about it not staying on well...this may or may not be a problem for me.....

Canon sx260 hs---I'm seeing this at a pretty good price point as well (Best Buy is having Black Friday sale for $199), but I'm not sure I want to compromise for the bigger zoom.

Keeping my eye out for the s95 used on Amazon. Still a bit above my price point, but still on the radar.

 

[bcinohio]

Anyone know anything on the Nikon 1? I have been looking at them. Are they any good. I'm looking for a faster picture taking and a decent zoom.

Thanks

 

[havoc315]

Anyone know anything on the Nikon 1? I have been looking at them. Are they any good. I'm looking for a faster picture taking and a decent zoom.

Thanks

The Nikon 1 series is not a point and shoot. It is a mirrorless system. It utilizes interchangeable lenses. So if you want a long zoom, you need to buy a second zoom lens.

It is one of the few non dSLRs to use phase detection auto focus. In good light, the focus is very fast.

 

[havoc315]

Canon s100 is $229 on Amazon today.

 

[pittsburghmom]

Canon s100 is $229 on Amazon today.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I have been watching these on ebay for the past week to see what the average used cost was, and they have been averaging between $250-$275 USED.

I bought the one on Amazon this morning after I saw your post. Here is my transaction:

$229---Camera
$10.99----Memory cards
$14.40----tax
=$254.39 total

Bought $250 worth Amazon gift cards at local grocery---earned $30 worth of free gas

So: $254.39- $30.00 (free fuel savings)= $224.39


I think this camera will be perfect for what I need! I am so excited to start using it!

 

[wiigirl]

Canon s100 is $229 on Amazon today.

Nice!