Recommendations for a new camera

[mrsz06]

Hello all,

I am in the market for a new camera, my current camera is on the fritz and is starting to take fuzzy, out of focus pictures. After having this camera I have discoved some things I don't like about it. I want to be able to find a camera with the following qualities. A fast shutter speed (no delay when you press the button), be able to take pictures of moving objects without the picture tuning out blurry and being able to take good clear pictures at night. I am looking for a point and shoot pocket camera that's not too terribly expensive.

Thanks in advance for all your help!

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

You appear to be looking for the Holy Grail of cameras, compact camera with all the options and inexpensive! IMHO you are going to have to compromise something. The more options/bells and whistles, the more expensive the camera. It sounds like you are looking at something like the Canon PowerShot S100 which goes for around $400. I always equate options/bells and whistles to problem solvers as I do with lenses for my DSLR's. When there is a shot I am having difficulty with, the last thing I look to is new equipment. I try everything else first. If all else fails, then I look to what lens do I need to get the shot. Its the same with the options on compact cameras. I always look to the options in the menus to try to figure out how to get the shot. The more available options the better the chance I have of getting the shot. And as I said earlier the more available options a camera has, usually the more it costs. If I was looking for a compact camera and wanting the things you have listed, I would look at the Canon. I'm sure there are others out there that could recommend a few other cameras.

 

[photo_chick]

No shutter lag.. shutter lag on point and shoots has come a long way in the last few years and it's not nearly the issue it used to be. As far as taking pictures of moving objects and them not being blurry, that's more the photographers know how than it is the camera. It's something you can do with any camera that will let you control at least one variable (ISO, shutter speed or aperture). Night shots... again, know how goes a lot further than the camera features here though a broad ISO range helps a lot.

I tend to lean toward Fuji, Canon and Panasonic when I'm looking at point and shoots.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

One of the problems with recommending a compact (point and shoot) camera is the sheer volume of cameras introduced each year. Canon, alone, introduced 14 new ones in 2011 and another 14 so far in 2012. Its a near impossiblity to keep up. Photo_chick is exactly right when she recommends being able to control one aspect of the photographic triangle of aperture, shutter speed and ISO. When I talk about options/bells and whistles, that is what I'm talking about. To do what you desire, you will need a camera that allows you to manually adjust at least one of those three. When you are dealing with the small sensors of the compact cameras and then are allowed no adjustments or options, you are left with a camera that will primarily work only in good light. That is why many of us here have DSLR's because we like to control as many aspects of the photographic process as possible. The tradeoff is a larger camera with lots of lenses and equipment. Again, that equates to $$$. My DW and I have a photo shoot in the morning and I'm looking at nearly $15,000 in camera equipment waiting to be loaded into our car! The cheapest thing that can be done in photography is knowledge. I don't know your level of knowledge, but if the photographic triangle is Greek to you then, I would recommend picking up a book like Bryan Peterson's,Understanding Exposure ($16?) a quick read (about 170 pages with large print and lots of pictures/explanations). Another resource is a website like dpreview.com. They have good comparison tools (side x side). Good luck with your research.

 

[traylorc]

One of the problems with recommending a compact (point and shoot) camera is the sheer volume of cameras introduced each year. Canon, alone, introduced 14 new ones in 2011 and another 14 so far in 2012. Its a near impossiblity to keep up. Photo_chick is exactly right when she recommends being able to control one aspect of the photographic triangle of aperture, shutter speed and ISO. When I talk about options/bells and whistles, that is what I'm talking about. To do what you desire, you will need a camera that allows you to manually adjust at least one of those three. When you are dealing with the small sensors of the compact cameras and then are allowed no adjustments or options, you are left with a camera that will primarily work only in good light. That is why many of us here have DSLR's because we like to control as many aspects of the photographic process as possible. The tradeoff is a larger camera with lots of lenses and equipment. Again, that equates to $$$. My DW and I have a photo shoot in the morning and I'm looking at nearly $15,000 in camera equipment waiting to be loaded into our car! The cheapest thing that can be done in photography is knowledge. I don't know your level of knowledge, but if the photographic triangle is Greek to you then, I would recommend picking up a book like Bryan Peterson's,Understanding Exposure ($16?) a quick read (about 170 pages with large print and lots of pictures/explanations). Another resource is a website like dpreview.com. They have good comparison tools (side x side). Good luck with your research.

 

[mrsz06]

Thanks everyone for you thoughts and suggestions. Sorry I didn't say something sooner. My internet has been out!