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04/06/2006 11:27:35 AM · #1 |
| I don't know the first thing about point and shoot cameras, but my wife wants one. How do I find a good one? What do I look for? I'm thinking about the $200-$300 range. Thanks. |
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04/06/2006 11:50:21 AM · #2 |
| There's a lot available in that range. Consider what she wants to use it for so that you can determine what a good size might be and what features she might use. |
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04/06/2006 01:42:06 PM · #3 |
I've had great luck with the Canon Powershot series. I have an A75 and a S1 IS. The A75 is a good choice if you want a smaller camera and take macro photos. The S1 IS is larger, but has 10x optical and takes incredible videos. There is also the S2 IS and S3 IS which I don't have any experience with.
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04/06/2006 02:38:03 PM · #4 |
Another vote for the canon Powershot A series.
I started with the A70, and loved it. Great for macros, and you can get a converter and then wide angle or telephoto lens to add onto it
Very user friendly and good quality pictures as well!
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04/07/2006 01:00:01 PM · #5 |
Recommendation for the A80 or the A95. There are equivalent cameras that are available now I believe the A610 and A620.
The great thing about them is that they have flip-out screens. This is one of the primary benefits to having a P&S camera as it is one thing that DSLR's generally can't do. (a couple of recent exceptions to that rule, but those aren't really important)
Other things to consider include their use of AA batteries which if you do happen to run out, can be picked up at any local convenience store. It's saved my butt a few times having AA usability.
They also tend to have slightly larger sensors than the big zoom range of cameras and I have found that they take slightly nicer pictures in range. The use of the glass viewfinder instead of an EVF is also very powerful when you want to take panning or action shots.
There are some other cameras from other companies that are pretty decent, but Canon seems to have gotten it together for usability and concvenience.
If you want it for video, the S2 IS has great video functions as well as the flip and twist screen. The S3 IS is just slightly bigger in the screen department.
Photographically, the FZ-20 is a far better camera. It features a constant aperture f/2.8 and excellent optics as well as a fantastically useful zoom ring on the barrel as well as a barrel filter thread.
Negatives for that camera include weak proprietary battery and NO flip and twist screen.
If you will only get the one camera, the FZ-20 is a better choice. If you will get a DSLR for serious photographic work later and just want to have a little handy camera with movie functions to take out for a quickie, the S2/S3 IS is a great choice. |
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04/07/2006 01:06:32 PM · #6 |
I thought the S3 IS wasn't going to be released until May.
I agree the Canon A-series are the most flexible for a 3x P&S compact, though I'm also intrigued by a waterproof Pentax I came across at B&H. |
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04/07/2006 09:50:08 PM · #7 |
I seem to recall that the new ones are up to 4x now... Regardless, I think the lenses tend to be a bit better in some cases thanks to their reduced range (easier to make cheaply, not physically limited).
I think that WP camera looked pretty good to me too. No flip and twist screen though. That's some serious utility. |
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04/08/2006 03:52:42 AM · #8 |
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04/08/2006 09:24:28 AM · #9 |
Whatever you get, she'll be happy with. They don't care about the details, just make sure it has a little bit of a zoom, is quite compact, and get her a spare memory card.
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