New Camera Help Needed

[bartjwb]

I'm looking at buying a new point-and-shoot camera, and thought it would be best if I would reach out for a bit of help from the disboards community...

I've basically narrowed it down to two cameras...the Canon Powershot ELPH 330 HS and the Canon Powershot SX 510.

A little background on us and what we'd like to have in a new camera.

Our current camera is a Nikon Coolpix E4600, which we purchased in 2005. I know, I know. All 4 mega pixels and 3X zoom and all.

We are not in any way, or have dreams, of being a professional photographer. We are just your common everyday take a picture on auto setting people. We use the camera for holidays, special events, and of course vacations, which is what brings me to my new purchase.

We have booked a Disney cruise for September. We have been on a couple previously, but not since 2006. Our Nikon served us well over the years, but we had issues taking low light pictures and indoor pictures that were clear.

I know that any new camera purchased would be a huge upgrade over our current camera. I'm leaning toward the 330 because it's more of what I'm used to in size, but was wondering if I would kick myself by not going to the 510 and the 30X zoom.

Anyone with any experience with either one of these cameras? Any input would be helpful.

Thank you!

 

[havoc315]

Unfortunately, both those cameras will continue to struggle indoors/low light. But they will probably offer some improvement over your old camera. With the Elph 330 performing slightly better than the Sx510.

But... Lets say a good low light camera is like a car going 65 miles per hour. Your current camera goes 10 mph. The SX510 goes 20mph. And the Elph goes 22 mph.

 

[bartjwb]

Thank you for the quick response, and the analogy! Putting it in those terms helps someone like me understand, but leads me to a couple more questions....

Using the analogy...is 20-22 mph where I'm going to be in all the point-and-shoot cameras in that price range? With your knowledge on how these cameras work and may be utilized by an auto-setting using family like us, would you forgo the extra 2 mph for the better zoom?

 

[havoc315]

Sticking to the analogy... The top tier full frame cameras, at $1500+, whiz by at 90mph. Plenty of consumer level APS-C cameras ( the stereotypical) dSLR can manage 65.
Modern compacts will get by at 20-50mph. (In fact, some have larger sensors to hit that 60-90 range).

I'm not the best person to give you feedback. Truthfully, I'd rather have a good smart phone camera than either of those choices. Image quality would be very similar but with more technological conveniences. (But less optical zoom).
I don't put a premium on big zoom. I dont find it useful in a p&s. (You end up with a mediocre image of a subject far away... I'd much rather have a good shot of something close).

There may be slightly better low light cameras in your budget. Certainly, as prices have fallen, you can now get some very good options for under $300. (Including used dslrs and some enthusiast level point and shoots).

For example, the Nikon P330, the Panasonic LX7, the Canon S110. Solid cameras (35mph?) under $300.
Even the original version of the Rx 100 (50-55mph) can be found for under $400 now.

So if it was me, I'd spend the extra $50-$100 to get a camera that really is quite a leap better.

 

[bartjwb]

Wow, I guess I was way off in my search, and had zero clue of what I was looking for. I read so many reviews showing positives for both of those cameras that I thought I was on the right path.

Thanks for the info....I guess I'll start looking at some of the options you listed.

 

[havoc315]

Wow, I guess I was way off in my search, and had zero clue of what I was looking for. I read so many reviews showing positives for both of those cameras that I thought I was on the right path.

Thanks for the info....I guess I'll start looking at some of the options you listed.

Technology has progressed to the point, where essentially all current cameras are pretty darn good. At least if you give them some good day light, plenty of time to focus, etc. But if you want good low light performance, fast focusing, etc... Quality does cost more. There is a reason some cameras cost thousands of dollars-- and it's not frills like wifi and GPS.

Reviews can be tough because the professionally written ones usually are just comparing cameras within the same class. Plus, they rely on the brands they are reviewing for sponsorship. Thus, you don't see many truly bad reviews.
And there may be a glowing review of a $100 camera, and a lukewarm review of a $3,000 camera. The $100 camera isn't better than the $3,000 camera... It might simply be better than the other $100 cameras.

I think one of the biggest errors people make when looking at cameras, is they set their budget first. Of course budget is critical... But once you lock yourself in that box, you look at a narrow array of products. Sometimes what you truly need may be just a few dollars more. Or even, sometimes you can find the ability to get exactly what you need for less than you budgeted. But when you look in a narrow budget, you lose sight of what else is out there.

 

[nvtsallo]

I was down that road about a year ago for my wife. Wanting an affordable 30-45 mph camera and ended up looking at the sony nex 3n. It is $399. It is still small but has a much larger sensor than either of the Canon's you mentioned. Also you can buy a separate zoom lens for that extra reach that the 510 offers and maintain that image quality. It still is a small camera and has a decent auto mode.

 

[My2Girls66]

I have a previous version of the Nikon p330, the P310. I bought a refurbished one on a whim after seeing some really good low light photos taken with one on a message board. I took it to France when we went to visit our DD, she liked it so much I left it for her and bought myself another refurbished one when we got home. It's a nice little camera for all but action shots. The Nikon 4600 was our first digital p&s. We got a lot of good years out of it. My DH was so bummed when it finally died.

 

[My2Girls66]

Double post!

 

[havoc315]

I was down that road about a year ago for my wife. Wanting an affordable 30-45 mph camera and ended up looking at the sony nex 3n. It is $399. It is still small but has a much larger sensor than either of the Canon's you mentioned. Also you can buy a separate zoom lens for that extra reach that the 510 offers and maintain that image quality. It still is a small camera and has a decent auto mode.

Actually, it's $339 on Amazon now. Far greater low light potential than any of the point and shoots mentioned. ( sticking with the analogy, 50mph out of the box... 65 if you ever upgrade lenses, but lenses aren't cheap)

 

[bartjwb]

Thank you all for your input! I knew it would be much better to reach out to the disboards community than to navigate all this by myself. I will save up some more money and step up to a big-boy camera.