Point & Shoot Recs

[aliciadisfan]

Ok - I'm a little nervous to post on the photography board because I'm totally an amateur. I own a DSLR (lower end Canon Rebel), that I take a LOT of pictures on. About 50% of the time I shoot in automatic mode, the other half (generally when I have time) I try to play with the settings.
We are headed to Disney in September and I plan to take my DSLR, but would love for my 'primary' camera to be a point and shoot. 1/2 for ease to carry, 1/2 for peace of mind that if something happened to it - at least it's not my DSLR.
BUT I would love for the pictures to be as close to the quality of the DSLR as possible. I'm in need of some recommendations.
Alongside image quality, I'd like the ability to shoot quickly (I'm thinking character interactions and shooting several shots to try to get 'the' shot), and possibly the ability to shoot stills during the recording of a video.
All without spending a fortune (it would totally defeat the purpose to spend more on the point and shoot than the dslr I currently have). I'm thinking less than $300 (closer to 200 would be great), and I don't mind buying used.
Keep in mind - my DSLR is 'lower end' but is still a dslr, I have photos blown up 16x20 in my home from this camera, so not blurry/grainy images would be great.
Help!

 

[WilsonFlyer]

You're driving a hard bargain.

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/digital_cameras/powershot_elph_330_hs

Unfortunately, these are getting tougher and tougher to find because the 340 (which is inferior) has long-since replaced it. It's right up your alley though if you can find one. The 340's nothing to sneeze at, but most believe (me included and I own a 330) the 330 is a better camera and certainly a better value.

FWIW, the 330 is what I keep in my pocket at WDW and I carry a 6D or a 70D almost all the time as well.

 

[aliciadisfan]

Exactly what I needed! A friend recommended the Elph, too, but couldn't remember what model number she owned previously. (She dropped it on a trip.) Thanks so much!

 

[webshark3]

Exactly what I needed! A friend recommended the Elph, too, but couldn't remember what model number she owned previously. (She dropped it on a trip.) Thanks so much!

I'd look at the Canon S series. Look for a S100 or S110. You want the biggest sensor possible in your compact, and these don't disappoint. I've printed 11x17 without an issue with my old s95. It broke and now I use a Sony RX100.

But the Canon s95 was the first camera I used on a Disney trip where I left my DSLR at home. It also shoots great video.

Edit: I should add that with the S series, you have full control, just like a SLR, including the ability to shoot RAW. Once you know what that is, you'll really appreciate having it.

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerSh...TF8&qid=1405969737&sr=8-2&keywords=canon+s100

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Exactly what I needed! A friend recommended the Elph, too, but couldn't remember what model number she owned previously. (She dropped it on a trip.) Thanks so much!

Good! You should be able to find a 330 for around $110.

We're here now and a friend is carrying it for his family for the week and he's already tried to buy it out from under me.

 

[TeamMMom]

Of the models suggested (Canon Elph 330 and S100/110), which has the best battery life? Low light pictures? Pics of moving kids?

 

[havoc315]

Of the models suggested (Canon Elph 330 and S100/110), which has the best battery life? Low light pictures? Pics of moving kids?

They are entirely different classes of camera. The s100/s110 has a brighter lens and slightly larger sensor, giving it better performance in low light, including better ability to capture those moving kids with better shutter speed.
Still not that great, but far better than the Elph. ( which is basically the quality of a good smart phone camera).
Then the next level, where you actually get good low light performance, etc, would be the Canon G1x, and the Sony rx100.

 

[webshark3]

Of the models suggested (Canon Elph 330 and S100/110), which has the best battery life? Low light pictures? Pics of moving kids?

Agree with Havoc. In addition, battery life will be similar. If you're worried about it, just buy a few cheap batteries as spares. I know it's a debate about using OEM versus generic, but I've done Disney on the s95 and a bagfull of $3 generic batteries.

 

[zackiedawg]

You *might* also consider an eventual move over to mirrorless cameras, to replace your DSLR. Not that everyone should or needs to, but in your particular case, mirrorless cameras are specifically designed for just the type of market you seem to be in - you bought a DSLR for the image quality and large sensor, but aren't necessarily happy to always lug around a heavier camera - yet going to a P&S, you feel like you're missing out on too much image quality. Mirrorless cameras have the same large sensors as DSLRs, but in more compact bodies - and when paired with smaller prime and zoom lenses, can cut a DSLR's overall weight in half, and in 1/3 the size...yet still have the big sensor for maximum image quality. There are many different types of mirrorless camera - some have APS-C sensors just like DSLRs, others have M4:3 sensors which are a little smaller, but still many times larger than P&S cameras. They make them in tiny, slim bodies almost like P&S cameras or larger bodies shaped like small DSLRs. They can be kitted up with the same big, heavy lenses as DSLRs for versatility when weight and size are not as much of an issue, or can be paired with small light prime lenses when you want maximum portability. They'll generally be a little bigger and heavier than P&S cameras that fit in a pocket...but have the ability to be much smaller and lighter than DSLRs. And the latest versions can even focus as fast as DSLRs and keep up with kids, while the large sensors mean you can still shoot in low light and get maximum image quality. Just floating it out there for consideration...maybe not even now, but as a future move - there are lots of people who LOVE DSLRs and don't ever need to change- I love my DSLR and wouldn't give it up for anything...but there are lots of people who got into DSLRs because it was the only option for a big sensor that could deliver image quality across a wide variety of conditions where P&S cameras fell down...for those people, there ARE now other options to get that same sensor but cut down the weight and bulk. Check out Olympus Pen, Panasonic G, Sony e-mount, Samsung NX, Canon EOS-M models to name a few of the better known.