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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Best small camera
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10/05/2005 04:19:43 PM · #1
I am looking to buy a small camera to carry with me always in my handbag.I take my 20D for serious pics but dont want to miss the casual shot when out walking.
It must have an optical viewfinder. Above 3mp. Preferably take SD Flash cards. Any suggestions?
Many thanks

Rob
10/05/2005 04:28:07 PM · #2
I recently got a Canon A510 for my parents - and played with it for a bit before they took it. Was fairly impressed given it's low cost and nice zoom (and the AA batteries rather than special ones was a BIG plus for them). There is an A520 model that have more pixels if you need them. You will notice a number of annoying things from the 20D but then it's not an SLR :-)

Message edited by author 2005-10-05 16:29:25.
10/05/2005 04:38:45 PM · #3
Canon PowerShot S2 IS. Killer camera. Great pixel count, super zoom, image stabilization, lots of manual control. Uses CF though (like your 20D) and is not cheap. Still this is what I will get for a walk around and some travel if I can sell my complete Minolta DiMAGE A1 kit.
10/05/2005 04:48:15 PM · #4
canon S80. canon recently released a new wave of point and shoots. if you haven't checked them out, here's a link //consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=113
10/05/2005 04:51:17 PM · #5
Originally posted by tcmartin:

Canon PowerShot S2 IS. Killer camera. Great pixel count, super zoom, image stabilization, lots of manual control. Uses CF though (like your 20D) and is not cheap. Still this is what I will get for a walk around and some travel if I can sell my complete Minolta DiMAGE A1 kit.


S2 actually uses SD

The S1 used CF
10/05/2005 04:53:17 PM · #6
I'd swear by my Sony DSC W12. It's a really cool pocket-size compact and my only digital at the moment until I can afford a DSLR. Now the same model comes in 7 megapixels. (Mine bought a year ago is at 5).

Only thing is it uses MemoryPro rather than SD which was a criterion for you.
10/05/2005 04:54:15 PM · #7
I think my little "zeus" is a killer small cam... only a cheap little Olympus. But hey, I stand up with the best of them. :)
10/05/2005 04:58:05 PM · #8
I suggest the Fuji Finepix F10... a tiny camera with amazing capabilities for under $300. It offers 6.3 megapixels, 3X zoom, instant-on, near zero shutter lag, extremely low noise (actually usable to ISO 800!), plus the additional benefits of a 2.5" screen, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and VGA movie mode.
10/07/2005 06:42:19 PM · #9
Originally posted by art-inept:

canon S80. canon recently released a new wave of point and shoots. if you haven't checked them out, here's a link //consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=113

Looks very nice. 8 megapixels, 28mm-100mm lens (nice wide angle) starting at F2.8. With aperture priority, and full manual settings. And all packed into a size of 4.1x2.2 inches! ($550)

It's amazing really, the way the technology is going.
10/07/2005 06:48:37 PM · #10
I researched this to death a few months ago and ended up getting an Olympus C-7000. It's a fine camera but I still need to learn how to use it effectively.

One of the reasons I went with it is that it shoots RAW as well as JPEGs but I now find out that Olympus RAW is a right pain to deal with so I've reverted to JPEG. I still have to find out whether the new Camera Raw in CS2 deals with Olympus RAW. Other reason was that it had the biggest optical zoom range of what's out there at the moment in a camera this size.

I think they've discontinued them but you can still get some from stock. I got mine from Adorama.

The biggest issue is getting into the habot of taking decent pics with something like this when you're used to a DSLR all the time. It's proven difficult for me.
10/09/2005 12:31:59 PM · #11
GET A NIKON 7600 COOLPIX 7.1 megapixel camera. It is the greatest small camera I purchased.
10/09/2005 03:53:34 PM · #12
Originally posted by Robro:


It must have an optical viewfinder. Above 3mp. Preferably take SD Flash cards. Any suggestions?
Many thanks

Rob


*ist DS or *ist DL with Pentax SMC P-DA 40mm f/2.8 Pancake lens :P

EDIT: and it uses AA batteries too :)

Message edited by author 2005-10-09 15:56:34.
10/09/2005 04:03:53 PM · #13
Does anyone know of a compact camera with a lot of zoom. I know there was a discountinued Nikon that had 8x optical zoom, but I don't know the name of the model, and I don't think you can get it anymore. But I want to get a smaller camera that has about that zoom, or a little less would be okay too, but I want more than 3x or 4x. I was hoping that canon had something, but I don't think they do. Anyone know of something from another brand?
10/09/2005 04:07:39 PM · #14
Originally posted by movieman:

Does anyone know of a compact camera with a lot of zoom. I know there was a discountinued Nikon that had 8x optical zoom, but I don't know the name of the model, and I don't think you can get it anymore. But I want to get a smaller camera that has about that zoom, or a little less would be okay too, but I want more than 3x or 4x. I was hoping that canon had something, but I don't think they do. Anyone know of something from another brand?


The Panasonic DMC-FZ3 is pocketable with the lens hood left at home. Not James Bond small, but will fit in a jacket pocket. 12X zoom. I believe the FZ4 and FZ5 is the same size.
10/09/2005 04:13:52 PM · #15
Canon Powershot S2 IS: 12x image-stabilized zoom, 5 megapixels and a great movie mode. The older S1 IS is also available for$204, but it's only 3.2 megapixels, the zoom is 10x, it lacks a focus assist lamp for low light, and it suffers from a bit more grain. It also uses CompactFlash (vs. SD cards in the newer model).
10/09/2005 05:00:28 PM · #16
I own a PowerShot S1, and am very pleased with it. The IS system in particular gives you that extra margin when shooting handheld. It could be faster though, and shutter lag is a pain. But you DO learn to live with it.
So, if I were in the market for a P&S camera, I would get the Powershot S2. However you might consider the size of these cameras, they are not you traditional "compact" camera, altough they are easier to carry than a dSLR.
10/09/2005 06:17:24 PM · #17
How small do you want? The S2, G6, and other high end prosumer cams are really pretty big, certainly not pocket cameras. Something like the SD500 is smaller than a deck of cards and will fit easily in a short pocket. There are cameras like the A500 or the S80 that are smaller than the S2, but somewhat bigger than the SD500.
10/09/2005 06:22:25 PM · #18
Id pick the A520 (or A510) great camera and cheap. You can also buy three additional lenses if you want (tele, macro, wide).
10/09/2005 06:30:58 PM · #19
Originally posted by jhonan:

Originally posted by art-inept:

canon S80. canon recently released a new wave of point and shoots. if you haven't checked them out, here's a link //consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=113

Looks very nice. 8 megapixels, 28mm-100mm lens (nice wide angle) starting at F2.8. With aperture priority, and full manual settings. And all packed into a size of 4.1x2.2 inches! ($550)

It's amazing really, the way the technology is going.


I have it's older brother, the S60. It goes everywhere with me. I love it. IMHO it's got a lot of bang for you buck.
10/09/2005 06:40:44 PM · #20
What's the main differences (or target market) between the Canon S, SD, and A series?

I've read the specs, and the S and SD sound very similar.
10/11/2005 05:17:30 AM · #21
The Nikon 4800 is the camera I was originally writing about. It's not really compact, but it's fairly small, and carries a lot of zoom on it.

That's sort of what I'm looking for. The Canon S2 IS is a good bit larger, so I'm not really sure. I really wanted something that would fit in my pocket, but by the looks of things, I don't think I can find anything.

This is what I need it for if it helps. I attended the Sundance Film Festival last year, and I plan on going back this year. They allow photography in all the venues, and it was a pain in the butt carrying around the digital rebel the whole time. But in order to get decent photogaphs, I need something that has a lot of zoom, but I'd like a compact size. It also needs to do decently in low light.

Am I better off just keeping the Rebel with me? The photos didn't turn out the greatest, but they weren't horrendous. I had to shoot at 1600 most of the time, so they're really grainy. And I was using the Sigma 70-300 lens. Here's a link to the gallery. Do you think the S2 IS will be able to get at least the same results. Better? And the Nikon 4800? I have a while, as the fest. isn't until January.

Thanks a lot.

Message edited by author 2005-10-11 05:18:21.
10/11/2005 05:44:25 AM · #22
Over in this thread, she already bought a camera:)

small camera
10/11/2005 07:34:43 AM · #23
I'm leaning towards the Fuji E900. 9MP, shoots in raw, has full manual control, low shutter lag (1/100th of a second), 4X optical zoom and most importantly, it's black =]. (Their Real Photo Technology looks pretty cool too; good for when you need to hand the camera to somebody else or for when the wife takes pictures...)
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