christin_buehrer Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 <p>I currently have a Canon 40D and I love it! But, it would be really nice just to have a point and shoot to carry with me in my purse, for those unexpected pictures. Last winter I helped my brother pick out point and shoots and fell in love with the Nikon Coolpix. I’m not sure what model it was or if they have come out with a new model since (although I’m sure the most likely have)<br>I mostly want something that can be versatile, like going from taking a picture of my best friend to a landscape to a macro shot. Which I know is asking a lot, but most of the point and shoots come with the different settings now. Brands aren’t really important, I just want something good.<br>Trying to keep it under $300<br>Thanks everyone </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luis_g Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 <p>Both somewhat over the budget...but here's my picks. I own the Fuji.</p> <p>Fuji 200 EXR (very small, good ISO 800, 28-140 lens, good dynamic range)</p> <p>http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilmf200exr/</p> <p>Panasonic LX-3 (bigger, f/2.0 24-60mm lens, RAW, manual controls)</p> <p>http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmclx3/</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henryp Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 <p>At www.nytimes.com look for an article titled, "Little Cameras With Big Eyes." Published June 25, 2009. </p> <p>Henry Posner<br /> <strong>B&H Photo-Video</strong></p> Henry Posner B&H Photo-Video Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_donnelly Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 <p>Sounds like you need a Canon SD780 IS. Small, versatile, wide zoom range, superb image quality at lower ISOs, available under $300. Plus there is some advantage to choosing a Canon as the images will have a similar Canon "look" and color rendition as your D40. Lots of reviewers give it high marks.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_tuthill Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 <p>If you have criteria like "under $300" and "fit in purse" you are really not asking for best, so I suggest you start here: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q408slimgroup/</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elliott_doland Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 <p>Panasonic DMC-TZ7. Love those leica lenses!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jorge Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 <p>Christian,<br> I've owned a number of pocketable P&S's of different brands and prices. So far, the best for me is the Panasonic Lumix DHC-LX3. You can read a very good in-depth review in dpreview.com or browse photonet for messages.<br> Unfortunately, while last year when I got mine it was around $450, it's gone up to $500 (B&H price) and it's backordered with them (Since I don't live in the US, I don't consider any other source).<br> Surely demand is exceeding supply, and with very good reason, since it's an impressive little gem. I've traveled extensively with *only* this camera and never missed my DSLR's for a second. Adding a cheap teleconverter will overcome the 60mm equiv. limitation if you're inclined to shoot tele.<br> Browse my gallery for a lot of examples of its capabilities.<br> Cheers!<br> Jorge.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobcossar Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 <p>I'm with Elliot......any of the Pansonic TZ line.....</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oofoto Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 <p>Henry, not very good advice or article as it misses out the Panasonic which is probably the class leader...</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanford Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 <p>When it comes to best P&S I think it is safe to say the most expensive is the best, in my opinion. Has to be the Sigma with the big SLR sized sensor.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbcooper Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 <p>For a small p&s, I like the Canon SD880IS.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_tuthill Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 The SD880 has been discontinued and is currently overpriced as the supply channel dries up. Hopefully Canon re-issues a similar camera soon with HD video, the major shortcoming of the SD880. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmanthree Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 <p>I've tried many, including the Fuji 200EXR. the Canon G10, and others. I prefer the Panasonic TZ series, and currently use a TZ5 for portable snapshot use. I was very disappointed with the G10 since I expected better IQ than it delivered.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roypanos Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 <p>I've been dithering around this subject for the best part of a year and probably read all the stuff that everyone else has read on the topic. I'm a Nikon shooter and an NX2 user. The P6000, which seldom seems to figure in these numerous discussions, is attractive to me because of NX2 support and because I have Nikon flash etc (although how often I'd want to carry an SB 600 when I'd be likely to use a P&S I'm not sure.) I know that one of the limitations of the P6000 is the battery drain and slow start up of the (in my case unimportant) GPS function, but at least one contributor on DPR has posted quite a lot of praise for the camera, and if my recollection is correct he seemed to be quite well informed and had used the competitors.<br> Anyone with personal experience of the P6000 on here who would like to comment?<br> Roy</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanford Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 <p>I'm a Nikon user also and have the small Nikon flash that would be great on the P6000. The problem is that the camera is always tested against the Canon G10 and the Panasonic LX4 and invariably finishes third. Kind of like how Audi is a great automobile but it always comes off as only the thirds best German made car. It seems that as soon as any of the small sensor compacts are taken off their base ISO they do poorly. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven_p Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 <p>I am lurking here, because I temporarily defected from the Nikon forum.<br /> At the moment, I am playing with a panny' dmc-zs3 (TZ7.) I expected compromises, however I am very pleasantly surprised.</p> <p>I thought a point and shoot with a 25-300mm (equivalent) that also does HD movies is crazy, but it does some of these things very well.</p> <p>Noise, which is the biggest nit pick, is well controlled up to ISO 400. I seriously considered the LX3, (which is impossible to obtain,) but I also didn't want the fuss of raw, manual controls and the limitations of it's longest focal length.</p> <p>I own a couple DSLRs and felt I was missing a lot of shots because I am not always in the mood or able to carry 10+ lbs. of equipment.</p> <p>So far, it exceeds my expectations.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_tuthill Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 The Fuji F200EXR is quite good at high ISO, especially in low-noise mode. I just posted a sample in <a href="http://www.photo.net/digital-camera-forum/00TjSi">this thread</a>. Why did you abandon it, David? Biggest downsides for me are lack of histogram and no grid (and nothing else) view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven_p Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 <p>Bill:<br /> Here is the funny part...<br /> I just read your discussion on the G10 thread and your opinion of the ZS3. I don't ever want to start a camera "Holy War" and find it amusing that people are so touchy about stuff like that.</p> <p>I ended up getting the ZS3 basically, by chance and a bit of research outside of this site AND dpreview. I also find That "LL" site to be a bit less biased and informative.</p> <p>(I got the thing without your help.)</p> <p>Another gig's worth of clicks and I'm still a happy camper.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanford Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 <p>Here's something to consider, I have a Nikon D50 and with a 50mm AF Nikkor or a small zoom it isn't much bigger or heavier than a Canon G10 but it's miles ahead in image quality. Unless you need a tiny compact to fit into a pocket you have to consider the entry level SLR's, like the Olympus E510 and Nikon D40 kits, starting below the price of a G10.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_tuthill Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Sanford, to be fair the G10 is just as good as a DSLR at base ISO, in my opinion. And even though you think the D40 is small, it still won't fit in the Pelican box that I used for my film SLR. Steven, is the ZS3/TZ7 really usable at the long end, 300mm crop equivalent? Without a tripod I mean. Back in the bad old days of film, I was much happier with a Minolta 28-75 than with an Olympus Stylus 38-200 because the shorter zoom gave almost 100% good results, whereas the Olympus hardly ever did at the long end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven_p Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 <p>My first answer is "yes." Keep in mind that I used a short distance and could not use my forehead and nose to keep the camera steady.</p> <p>Default settings, straight out of the camera. No post processing whatsoever except to crop.<br> 1st image is just down sampled to fit on the page:</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven_p Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 <p>I know.... poor comp, no sharpening, over saturated colors<br> 100% crop:.</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_graham5 Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 <p>I know this is a little off topic but do you consider the Olympus PEN E-P1 as a point and shoot camera?<br> Today I went to an electronics warehouse to look, feel and test the Oly PEN because I have been very interested since I read about it. They keep it in a display cabinet together with all the DSLR's and not with the "normal" P&S cameras on the open shelve where anybody walking past can play with it.<br> I must admit that I was quite tempted to take out my credit card and to bring it home but I decided to hold off. Maybe the price will come down in a few months time.<br> Cheers<br> John</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_tuthill Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 If it has interchangeable lenses, I would not classify it as a P&S. But I see where you are going, John. The Olympus EP1 is smaller than a Canon G10. <a href="http://www.blogcdn.com/chinese.engadget.com/media/2009/06/olympus_ep1_test_2_dsc_0085.jpg">Comparison image here</a>, unfortunately off photo.net. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
summitar Posted July 10, 2009 Share Posted July 10, 2009 <p>The Konica auto S2.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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