Help! Need point and shoot camera recommendation

[cseca]

Hi,
I have a pretty bulky kodak digital camera with a large zoom.
Unfortunately I wasn't smart enough to realize that I need image stabilization with it or a tripod. And also the camera is awful for low light shots.

Sooooo... now I'm looking for a compact point and shoot camera which will take decent low light shots (night and fireworks) and zoom capability.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

I see that Canon A710, Nikon Coolpix L5, or maybe Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5 has the Image Stabilization capability and decent zoom, but anyone has any experience with taking low light shots with any of these cameras?

Thank you so much!

 

[photo_chick]

I have a Fuji A340 p&s that I used before I got my DSLR. It is an old model and is 4 mp (it's images make great prints up to 11x14) It does a pretty good job (really good IMO for a p&s) in low light and night shots. Here are some from July 4th a few years ago. I had the camera on a tripod. Most of the shots I got came out well that night, but a lot of using a p&s that way I found is patience. You are at the mercy of the auto settings! Basically I just turned the flash off, pushed the button and hoped for the best.

 

[cseca]

ooh... thank you photo chick!
I will check that out

 

[ukcatfan]

I will add that for fireworks, you need a tripod for every camera on earth IMO. I personally never want less than a 2 sec. shutter which IS would not help with if handheld. Manual settings help more than anything for this. The IS will help for low light shots, but only if the subject is stationary. It also helps for telephoto images when it is not in bright sunlight. For action low light shots, you really need to make the upgrade to DSLR and a nice fast lens, but I do not think that is where the OP wants to go with this.

Kevin

 

[I'mNoPrince]

I have the Pano Lumix DMC-FX3 and love it it works great for low light and has plenty of modes to get just the right shot. I sold a Sony camera that was 2X's the money but couldn't get an action shot out of it to save my life.

i did some research and found the Pano's to work good and found this one on a BlackFriday sale.

Here's a parade shot with no tripod

Fireworks with a small ripod on a table set on delay shot.

castle sitting on a trashcan

 

[Groucho]

Every PnS has disappointing low-light ability. This is unavoidable due to the tiny imaging sensors required to make the cameras so tiny.

Fireworks are fairly easy, it's more up to a tripod than the camera, as the longer shutter speed doesn't require a lot of light-gathering ability.

Note that the SpectroMagic shot below has the flash going off. This is what you'll probably need for most any night shot of a moving subject - especially SpectroMagic, which can be exceedingly difficult even for the best camera setup.

Some have larger sensors, like most Fujis and occasional other ones, like the Canon A6xx series, and some from other manufacturers. Those should help. Not going overboard with the megapixels should help, too.

The moral is, don't switch point-n-shoots for low-light ability. Switch for another feature that you need/want, like less shutter lag.

 

[photo_chick]

So my old p&s being only 4mp and a Fuji works to it's advantage in low light shots, which is why I get some ok low light shots. Still soooo glad I go tmy DSLR now for those types of things! I could capture the image with that p&s but it seemed to lose color detail that i am able to keep with my DSLR. BUt as I said, it is good IMO for a p&s.

Here are some non-fireworks, hand held shots with it.....

With a flash, loosing the background lights (the flash is usless beyound a few feet)

With no flash, trying to keep the background lights All that blur you's figure my DH would look like he had more hair!

 

[cseca]

Thanks everyone!
Sigh... I understand that PnS isn't the best way to go for low light or fireworks but I'm looking for the best shortcut
I've gotten a nice small tripod for sitting the camera on a ledge somewheres but being the impatient person that I am, it was impossible to find a ledge only 15mins before firework starts...

I'll check out both the fuji and lumix suggested... Thank you!