Nikon Coolpix L11...opinions please!

[annakris1973]

I have been in the market for a compact digital camera for a year or so. We currently have a Nikon D50 SLR that rocks! , but the thought of taking it to WDW scares the pants off of me I must admit, I have become very spoiled to the speed and quality of an SLR, so it has made shopping for a compact very difficult.

Prior to the SLR I had a Fuji Finepix circa 2002 that took some really nice pictures, and still does. However, someone felt the need to knock a glass of sweet tea into my purse one day, and the Fuji hasn't been the same ever since. The buttons stick, and can randomly erase pictures. NOT cool.

So, today I tried a few cameras out at the store. The Coolpix seemed the best performance-wise in store, but I am not convinced. I need encouragement from any Coolpix owners, or advice on another brand to try.

 

[ukcatfan]

I have been in the market for a compact digital camera for a year or so. We currently have a Nikon D50 SLR that rocks! , but the thought of taking it to WDW scares the pants off of me I must admit, I have become very spoiled to the speed and quality of an SLR, so it has made shopping for a compact very difficult.

Everyone is different, but part of my motivation for buying a DSLR was to get better Disney pictures. Why are you scared to take yours there? As long as you do not leave it sitting somewhere, that is one of the safest places to take it. It is not like you are going to get mugged in the seedy back streets of Fantasyland. Also, as long as you have a good bag, there should be no worry of it being damaged.

Kevin

 

[annakris1973]

Everyone is different, but part of my motivation for buying a DSLR was to get better Disney pictures. Why are you scared to take yours there? As long as you do not leave it sitting somewhere, that is one of the safest places to take it. It is not like you are going to get mugged in the seedy back streets of Fantasyland. Also, as long as you have a good bag, there should be no worry of it being damaged.

Kevin

Because the DSLR is more my DH's than mine. Plus, the fact I am a total klutz. The one time I was in charge of it on a family outing, I tripped and fell and broke the lens....never again! I am not afraid of theft....I am afraid of my own clumsiness. I would rather ruin a $200 camera than a $1000+ camera. Plus, I don't want to lug a big camera bag around with me. My kids are too big for a stroller, so any added weight would hurt by the end of the day.

 

[fitzperry]

The one time I was in charge of it on a family outing, I tripped and fell and broke the lens....never again!

My dd opened a door into me on a crowded porch at a 4th of July party while I was trying to squeeze between a chair and the side of the house while holding my D70 above my head. I swear the whole thing happened in slow motion: "Don't squash the kid . . . . oh, my camera . . . . and my new flash . . . . but if I smash the camera I could upgrade . . . . hmmm. . . ." My conscience got the better of me and I saved the camera and smashed the heck out of my knees instead. They still hurt.

On the subject of your question, we bought dd (the one who caused my knee injuries) a Coolpix L4 for her birthday last year. Our only complaint about it is shutter lag, but IIRC the reviews I've seen on the Coolpix line list better performance on the newer models in this regard.

I also bought dh a Nikon s50 for his b-day a couple months ago, but it's a little more expensive than the L11. Very slim design, 3" lcd, vibration reduction, in camera red eye correction, etc. It's pretty cool, and we wouldn't be without a point and shoot in the family, but neither of them really compare to the slr in terms of image quality. And even with that one there is still a little shutter lag.