Recommend a good P&S that has decent wide angle

[gregcoad]

<p>I am looking for a decent P&S camera for interior still shots of renovation work that I do. The final images will just be going on my webpage. IQ is not the highest priority here. The two big things that I am looking for is ability to cover wider (sub 20mm) angles, even if it means adding an adapter lens, and baked in HDR mode. Since I am often setting up in the corner of a room, an articulating screen would also be good.</p>

<p>Up until now I have been hauling out my 1Ds with 17-40 f/4L on a large tripod and bracketing exposures to blend them in PS later. Its a lot of effort for what I am trying to accomplish here. I have a Canon S95, which I have used from time to time, but it just lacks the wide angle, and I am just hitting dead ends when it comes to finding a wide angle adapter lens to go with it. I have looked at Lensmate and others but it seems all of the Canon wide angle adapter lenses that used to work with that sort of set up have been discontinued.</p>

<p>Ultimately, I would like to be able to set up a small, compact and easy to transport tripod and camera, put it in HDR mode, set the jpeg to smaller/medium quality setting and get an image that is ready to go onto the website with no further post-processing required.</p>

<p>I have considered the G12, for the simple fact that it has the articulating screen, which my S95 does not, but I can't seem to find any currently available wide angle adapters for it either. The 28mm (equivalent) coverage of these cameras is just not wide enough for getting decent shots inside a bathroom.</p>

<p>I have also looked at some of the mirrorless systems out there, but most of them do not offer much for wide angle either and if they do, I am looking at north of $1000 for the camera and lens. Even an entry level SLR would still require a super wide angle lens given the smaller sensor typical in those cameras and super wide angle lenses (Canon EF-s 10-22mm) are not cheap.</p>

<p>Any ideas?</p>

[johnw63]

<p>The widest I've seen in a P&S camera, so far, is the 24mm ( 35mm equivalent ) on the Panasonic Lumix LX5 and LX7. ( I know the LX5 has it, and I think the LX7 still does, but they improved the lens max aperture, so the angle may not still be as wide. )</p>

<p> </p>

[dave_redmann]

<p><em>I have also looked at some of the mirrorless systems out there, but most of them do not offer much for wide angle either ....</em></p>

<p>The Sony E 10-18mm f/4 OSS for the NEX system gets pretty good reviews, and would give you the equivalent of about a 15 or 16mm lens on "full frame", i.e., a little wider than your 1Ds + 17-40mm.</p>

<p><em>[A]nd if they do, I am looking at north of $1000 for the camera and lens.</em></p>

<p>Don't see much of a way around that, other than something like one of those super-cheap, low-quality, screw-on, wide-angle adapters (which may really be your option, except for the <em>huge</em> quality loss compared to your present gear). The aforementioned Sony lens is $850 alone, and any NEX body will run you $300+ new.</p>

<p>As for P&S, I think John is right--AFAIK, none goes wider than 24mm semi-equivalent.</p>

 

[gregcoad]

<p>I think I am looking for one of those cheap, crappy, screw on lens adapters to go on a P&S. Image quality is not on the radar here. I guess I am wondering if anyone has experience with a particular lens adapter/camera setup that is still available. Most of the ones I have looked into so far are discontinued.</p>

[pbizarro]

<p>Just get one of the following: Nikon P330 or Canon S110, they both start at 24mm focal length.</p>

[ted_raper1]

<p>My Samsung TL500 (or EX1) also goes to 24mm, and it's F 1.8 at that setting; it has an articulated LCD and a "backlight" scene mode that - sort of - works as HDR. The IQ from it is damn decent as well, and they can be picked up cheap used, probably less than $250. I've owned mine for a couple years, and don't use it that much, and I have thought more than once about selling it but it's just too nice of a camera for me to let go for cheap. The Schneider-Kreuznach (spelling?) lens is just icing on the cake.</p>

[gregcoad]

<p>I think I asked the wrong question... I asked for recommendations for a decent P&S, but I should have asked for recommendations for a decent wide angle conversion lens kit. If I could find that, I should be able to find the camera to go with it.</p>

[j_sevigny]

<p>You know, the Sony NEX-3 remains a very capable, affordable camera, and despite initial bad press, the 16mm 2.8 isn't the worst lens in the world, particularly stopped down to 5.6 or 8. Size-wise it woudn't be much bigger than a point and shoot. <img src="https://lh3.ggpht.com/-GRLWw6ZVyWU/UealLV-hpwI/AAAAAAAAEss/trqXeGmw44I/s1600/kid-sevigny.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="432" /></p>

[Greg M]

<p>Have you seen this, just introduced..</p>

<p><a href="http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/07/18/Panasonic-announces-lumix-dmc-fz70-60x-optical-zoom">http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/07/18/Panasonic-announces-lumix-dmc-fz70-60x-optical-zoom</a></p>

 

[gregcoad]

<p>Hey! That's good news and good timing too! I think that could be my answer. A swivel screen would be nice but I guess I can't have it all. But the ability to cut the jpeg size down, turn on HDR, stick it on a tripod and get an image that is ready to upload with no post processing will be a major step forward and worth the $400. I'll be counting the days until these things hit the stores. </p>

[jamie_robertson2]

<p>Why not just use an iPhone, iPod Touch (or similar) with one of those cheap magnetic conversion lenses seeing as image quality is not paramount? They even have built in HDR, can upload straight to the web and are about as portable as it gets.</p>

<p>The other alternative is to keep using your 1Ds and 17-40 but just take one exposure. Use the HDR function in Photoshop to save you messing around blending exposures. It's surprisingly quick and easy.</p>

[andrewg_ny]

<p>Pentax Q (or Q10, soon Q7) + 03 Fisheye (3.2mm/5.6). No articulating screen, no AF (not really that necessary with the gobs of DoF), and kind of slow. I realize this may not be the best solution for the OP but it is super wide at P&S-type cost, and the camera does have baked in HDR, image stabilization, focus-peaking on the LCD, raw support, etc.</p>

[gregcoad]

<p>iPhone... don't think so. Those are the ones with the apple on them right?... Not gonna happen.</p>

<p>Pentax Q is an interesting idea but I took a look at some sample images from the 3.2mm fisheye and don't think that is what I am going for.</p>

<p>That Lumix looks like the one to wait for. Thanks for all of the suggestions.</p>

[Larry_G1664882113]

<p>I have a Lumix LX5 and have never been disappointed with the quality of my images. The LX7 is the newest in the line. This P&S has all the flexibility of a DSLR in terms of setting aperture and shutter speed and shooting in any mode you like. Unfortunately its widest angle is 24mm. Larry</p>