Help me choose a great P&S. (thinking of not using my 40d so much on Disney trip)

[TheDisneyBunch]

Ok, I admit, I am a photo snob at times. I love my 40d and I have not owned a p&s in many years now. Somebody help me pick one please!!

For this years Disney trip I want to just take a smaller camera to make the trip easier. I don't like taking the big bag around with me all day and having that big strap around my neck in the heat is just not fun.

Now granted I may get out there and change my mind..haha I am used to having a dslr on my Disney trips but I figure I have been several times now and have lots of good pics (and I plan to use photopass as much as possible this year as well) so I would like to just go a little more simple.

I think I will take my 40 and just take it out some but not every single day..lol

So, help a p&s newbie pick a good one without spending way too much money..lol I want something very small and sleek, inexpensive but something with great quality photos so I won't be bummed when I get home and see them. I would like for it to be fast, focus well and do well with fireworks and indoor shots seeing as how we will have a lot of those with characters and FOOD..haha Gotta take pics of all that food so I would love for it to work well for that.

So, let me have it. What is good? What should I stay away from? Can you share some shots from your Disney trip with yours??

Thanks a million for any opinions! I just have no idea what to look into.

 

[The Grays]

If you dont mind spending the money I would say the Canon G9. I think this would give you the closest results to your DSLR. I have seen some excellent images from this camera.
If I were taking just one camera, a p&s that would be the one I would take.

 

[webshark3]

I bought a Sigma DP1 for this purpose... but for the price and functionality, I think you'll be happy with the $499 Canon G9 also.

 

[TheDisneyBunch]

Thanks so much guys. I would definitely like to stay less than that on price seeing as how I could buy an xti as a backup for that amount of money. I would relaly like to stay in the $200 range for a p&s.

 

[The Grays]

You will not get t he same quality images in that price point. I have seen some great shots from the Nikon S210 that is around $179 I think, and have heard that the S600 or S660 ( cant remember the exact model) does a great job and may be better for the rides. I think that is around $250.

 

[TheDisneyBunch]

Yeah, that is what I was afraid of. I know I won't get shots AS good as what I would with my dslr but I am hoping for something that is close.

Here are the 3 I was looking at...


http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-SD1100IS-Digital-Stabilized/dp/B0011ZK6PC/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1211903629&sr=1-10


http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-TZ4K-Digital-Optical-Stabilized/dp/B0011Z6D86/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1211903629&sr=1-18

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Coolpix-Digital-Camera-Optical/dp/B0012OELQW/ref=sr_1_45?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1211903772&sr=1-45


Any ideas on any of them?

 

[dr_zero]

You might want to look at the Nikon l-12
http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Digital-Camera/25562/COOLPIX-L12.html

Very small but has some nice features and can be had for around $120 from Wal Mart.

The flash takes little long to recharge but for me I have found the pics without the flash look better.

I got one of these for Christmas from my wife and it has done well and it light enough to fit in a shirt pocket.

 

[mabas9395]

Which is more likely to happen when your trip is over, you wishing you wouldn't have carried around a slightly larger but much better camera and now your shoulder hurts for a day, or you wishing that you wouldn't have only brought your inferior P&S and now priceless photos are gone forever? One day of discomfort or a lifetime of regret?

Just bring the 40d and limit yourself to only one lens and no accessories.

 

[miami]

I'm very happy with my Canon 850SD Elph. Very small, fits in my pocket, takes great pictures. 8MP with 4X optical zoom.

My sister has the Panazonic with a 10X optical zoom. It is larger than my Elph but still a compact camera. Larger LCD screen. She likes it a lot.

Both use the sd cards. Probably in the $250 price range.

 

[MICKEY88]

Which is more likely to happen when your trip is over, you wishing you wouldn't have carried around a slightly larger but much better camera and now your shoulder hurts for a day, or you wishing that you wouldn't have only brought your inferior P&S and now priceless photos are gone forever? One day of discomfort or a lifetime of regret?

Just bring the 40d and limit yourself to only one lens and no accessories.

I agree with this ,

to eliminate the bag, use a vest, to eliminate the discomfort of the strap around your neck, get an optech strap and when it starts to bother you, cradle the camera in your arm to lighten the weight on the strap

 

[Master Mason]

personal preference, but the way I work it is I don't have to carry my camera every day, if I feel I have been there often enough that I am not worried about getting pictures.

I used to have a p&s and moved to the dSLR because I wasn't happy with the shots I was getting, so I would rather just skip it and enjoy the day than be frustrated later that the shots were not what I wanted.

 

[emmabelle]

I have the Canon sx100 and I think it takes great pictures. It's not super slim, but I got a small camera pouch thing and it doesn't weigh much at all once the camera is in it. What I like about the camera is that it's pretty good in low light and it has a 10x optical zoom.

 

[elizke]

I think they all look like good little cams. I'm sure you understand the limitations, but outdoor photos can be quite good, and experiencing AND capturing your memories can at times be much more important than photo perfection.

I got my DH the Canon SD 1000 for Christmas last year, and I have to say the photo quality is often much better than I ever expected. It (and the SD 1100) has a viewfinder too, which is a big factor for me.)

The others look good, but for me the viewfinder is a requirement so I'd go for the Canon. I wish it had more zoom though!

 

[DueyDooDah]

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0509/05090801sonydscr1.asp

 

[ukcatfan]

You will not get t he same quality images in that price point. I have seen some great shots from the Nikon S210 that is around $179 I think, and have heard that the S600 or S660 ( cant remember the exact model) does a great job and may be better for the rides. I think that is around $250.

We bought a S210 a couple weeks ago. It had an instant $30 rebate then and we had a $15 off coupon from CC, so we paid $135. So far, we are very happy with it. I have only taken a few shots with it, but it is not bad for a p&s. My DD really likes using it. There is not much in the way of manual controls, but what would you expect from a camera at this size and price?

Kevin

 

[vanillarum]

I felt the same way with my Canon SLR. I got tired of taking it with me at WDW. So I asked for a p and s camera for Xmas. I researched them and decided on the Canon SD700IS. Took it to WDW in Aug. and loved it. Great pictures of everything, including fireworks at the P and P party ! Carried it around in my pocket for 10 days and never knew it was there. The only thing I don't like about the camera, is that it isn't great for macro (I've gotten into collecting and raising tropical fish, and can't get real good close-ups). So I'm headed for a Canon 40D with the 2.8 100mm lens. But it will never see WDW. I'll never go anything but p and s again in the World. Good luck !!

 

[justcantwait]

I have the Canon SD100 IS, got it about a month ago and LOVE it so far. For a point and shoot, it takes great pics. Can't compare it to a dSLR, since I don't have one, but also think you're comparing apples to oranges there. I like that it's so easy to use, image stabilization is amazing, face detection, in-camera red-eye reduction, battery life is good to great, takes SD cards, shutter lag isn't bad. The only place I've found it a little lacking (and only a LITTLE) has been indoor, darker shots. I took pics at my daughter's dance recital, and since I was too far from the stage for the flash to be effective, the shots were kind of dark and the color a bit off. Of course, that could be my lack of experience as well! But all in all, nice crisp pictures, no blur, easy to use, quick to take multiple pics, quick to start up. MUCH better than my old (like 5 years old!) Sony. HTH

Kathy

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Which is more likely to happen when your trip is over, you wishing you wouldn't have carried around a slightly larger but much better camera and now your shoulder hurts for a day, or you wishing that you wouldn't have only brought your inferior P&S and now priceless photos are gone forever? One day of discomfort or a lifetime of regret?

Sorry, I just have to ask ... what would a priceless DisneyWorld photo that you'd miss with your inferior P&S and regret for the rest of you life look like?

I understand that DSLRs take better pictures ... but, really, regret for a lifetime?

Also, since you're suggesting that she only take one lens ... what if it's the wrong lens for that once-in-a-lifetime photo? What if she's only got a prime and she needs zoom or she needs low-light and doesn't have a prime or a f2.8 zoom?!? Then, she'll be thinking I brought this great heavy camera and I'm STILL going to regret missing this photo this for the rest of my life!

 

[TheDisneyBunch]

Ok, took me forever to make my choice but I have decided to just suck it up and take the camera...lol

I know I would feel lost without it and hate the pics I would come home with if I did not take it with me.

So I have many cf cards ready to go so i can come home with my 3-4000 pics to go through.

Now, my goal is to find a smaller bag that will hold the 40d and lens without having to carry my huge bag or bulky backpack. Hmm.....

Thank you so much for all the thoughts and help in making my choice!

 

[DVC Jen]

I don't think you will regret your decision.

Just start "training" about 4-6 weeks before you go. Start working out every day or every other day with some weights - especially for the shoulder area. LOLOLOL Don't roll your eyes! I am serious! LOLOLOL

OK OK - so am *I* the ONLY one who has done this??

There have been times I have walked around with 2 dslr cameras around my neck - so I didn't have to switch lenses. Those canon 30D's are major dust addicts - regardless of how careful you are.

OK I think I am just gonna go sit in the corner now.