New camera suggestions (I know there are probably tons of these)

[AndrewZorn]

I am soon being deployed overseas. I want to buy a camera now (I go to training very soon) so that I can get used to using a camera, in hopes of being able to take half-decent pictures once actually in-country.

The camera MUST be reasonably small. I hate to do this, because I usually want something that's awesome yet uncomfortable/impractical/etc, but if this camera cannot fit in my pocket, I won't really be able to take it with me daily, meaning I'll miss all the good opportunities for photos.

I've found this one, the Canon SX110IS:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16830120285

and cannot really find much I don't like about it. It boasts really high image quality while only being a 'chunky' pocket camera. I played with one in Best Buy briefly, but I don't know enough ABOUT cameras to know what's good and what is not. This was also the guy that worked there's recommendation. 10x optical zoom, ISO 80, he said there was a lot that even the $500 compact Canon didn't have.

Which, here it is on Newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16830120281

It's much more expensive, and ignoring the megapixels (which yes, I do understand the consumer trickery there with megapixels) it doesn't even seem as good as the other Canon half its price.

I really do need something medium-sized though. There are some cameras that look approximately the same size, but have a 'deep' grip to them.

Also, I like how the SX110IS uses AA batteries. I never thought of this before, but being able to use AA batteries is a huge plus when I'm not next to a camera store.

EDIT started reading some more, found that there's a lot of competition between:
Panasonic TZ5 (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonictz5/page11.asp)
Canon A720 (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canona720is/page12.asp) a lot of people are saying to get this when people ask if the SX110 is good
Panasonic LX3 (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pana...lx3/page17.asp) $$$
Canon A2000is (supposedly replaces A720)

[twilyth]

I would look at the Nikon Coolpix S710. It's 14.5 megapixels and has some very nice features. There should be some reviews on it by now.

I've compared it to my 8 mp Sony F828 with Zeiss optics and when you zoom in to 500%, the 2 are roughly comparable - in terms of sharpness. The Zeiss optics are much sharper and if I could have it all, I would have gotten a new DSLR with good optics, but to get 8mp DSLR performance from a pocket camera (and it really does fit comfortably in your pocket), its a pretty good trade off.

If you get something in between, you'll have the disadvantages of both formats - although a very good mid-range camera can provide a lot more value. Just be realistic and honest about how much inconvenience you're really willing to put up with.

[AndrewZorn]

It seems like more of a point-and-shoot, but I'll look into it.

[itznfb]

Canon SD870/880

[AndrewZorn]

Again, isn't this more like a "point-and-shoot" camera, not equaling the quality and features of a "compact real camera" like the Canons above?

[itznfb]

Again, isn't this more like a "point-and-shoot" camera, not equaling the quality and features of a "compact real camera" like the Canons above?

a point and shoot is a point and shoot. there are dlsr "like" cameras like the ones i believe you are referring to. but they are no better than any other point and shoot. but then those won't fit in your pocket any way so i don't know why you are looking at them.

look at the cameras you listed in a store. they won't even come close to fitting in your pocket. the sd870/880 will take faaaaaaaaaaar better pictures than any one of the cameras any way.

i have a sd880, and i got my mom a sd870 for xmas last year. she took it to hawaii and all the pictures she took looked professional. and she rarely uses a camera.

[AndrewZorn]

I've only ever seen the SX110IS in person, and it's definitely pocketable. What I'm looking for, I guess, is for it to be FAIRLY slim.

I went to dpreview.com and looked up the SD870 (no 880 review yet) and it did well, but I still feel like it's being compared to the other smaller cameras, which are classed differently than the kinds I'm looking at.

DSLR-like IS in fact still pretty large. I don't know what to call the ones I'm looking at. I guess <2" thin is what I'm after. To really be exact, I'm going to Iraq, and need something that will fit in a largeish pocket or a smallish case that can clip on me.

EDIT and look, don't get me wrong, I want the suggestions. It's just hard for me to believe (in total inexperience) that a small, slim, stylish type camera would be better all-around than a chunkier one from the same manufacturer and time period. The SX110IS is said to let you go "full manual", if I'd ever use such a thing.

And maybe I can/will talk myself into going for something "small, slim, and stylish"... because I've never even owned a camera before, I don't know how good at it I'll be.

[YugenM]

My friend loves how he can carry his G9 with him everywhere, but his camera is a 1D Mark 3 with a 200mm f/1.8L so his idea of "small" is different from most of us.

[Riggs]

I've only ever seen the SX110IS in person, and it's definitely pocketable. What I'm looking for, I guess, is for it to be FAIRLY slim.

I went to dpreview.com and looked up the SD870 (no 880 review yet) and it did well, but I still feel like it's being compared to the other smaller cameras, which are classed differently than the kinds I'm looking at.

DSLR-like IS in fact still pretty large. I don't know what to call the ones I'm looking at. I guess <2" thin is what I'm after. To really be exact, I'm going to Iraq, and need something that will fit in a largeish pocket or a smallish case that can clip on me.

EDIT and look, don't get me wrong, I want the suggestions. It's just hard for me to believe (in total inexperience) that a small, slim, stylish type camera would be better all-around than a chunkier one from the same manufacturer and time period. The SX110IS is said to let you go "full manual", if I'd ever use such a thing.

And maybe I can/will talk myself into going for something "small, slim, and stylish"... because I've never even owned a camera before, I don't know how good at it I'll be.

Good camera i shot it in the store, but the only bad thing is not Optical Viewfinder.

[AndrewZorn]

I can live without the optical viewfinder. I'd go as far to say that I could care less. I guess part of me not being used to having a camera is not being stuck up on things that many take for granted.

Also, I've checked out the G10... that's the one that was said to not even really be as nice as the SX110IS (for nearly half the price).

EDIT I went by Best Buy to look at the SD880, and it looked pretty neat... but it was unpowered. Also, the rep couldn't answer me anything useful, simply talking about how popular each of the cameras are. Oh well.

EDIT and just read about the SD990.

[itznfb]

I can live without the optical viewfinder. I'd go as far to say that I could care less. I guess part of me not being used to having a camera is not being stuck up on things that many take for granted.

Also, I've checked out the G10... that's the one that was said to not even really be as nice as the SX110IS (for nearly half the price).

EDIT I went by Best Buy to look at the SD880, and it looked pretty neat... but it was unpowered. Also, the rep couldn't answer me anything useful, simply talking about how popular each of the cameras are. Oh well.

EDIT and just read about the SD990.

i've owned the G10. i got rid of it when i purchased the sd880 for my girlfriend. when i saw how much better the pictures were from the sd880, the G10 went on ebay and i purchased another sd880 for myself.

i'm not a fan of the SD900 series. has a few more features. higher mp rating, but they've always been too slow to focus. same with the G series. i hate missing shots due to waiting for the camera to focus. the sd800's always have focused immediately for me. the 900's seem to focus in, focus out, then focus back in slowly quite often. same issue with the G10 i had.

[Macadamia]

The G10 is surprisingly good. It's worth $479 for great low ISO performance (<200), I'd say. Anyone not satisfied would have been shooting at 400+ or auto mode all the time.
Pana LX3 is also quite good (G10-ish, only cheaper and less clunky).

Ignore zoom ratings and all that crap. I have an Olympus C770-UZ, 10X. Never used anything at tele. EVER.
If you only shoot in auto and stuff, the SD880 is probably enough for ya.


I can't recommend the Sigma DP1 for you since you consider the LX3 pricey already but it does deliver real DSLR quality images. And I don't mean the cheap kind of DSLRs with awful lenses.

[xguntherc]

My brother has the Canon a630 and it takes pretty good pictures. it's only 8MP though. I enjoy using it.

[AndrewZorn]

I saw that the 890 is out. I also just read that the 8 series (maybe just old review?) doesn't have full manual control. I don't know that I'll ever use it, but it doesn't sound good...

I can't see the advantage of the G10 when there's the SX110is. I'm not saying there isn't one, I'm saying I wish I could see.

I also keep coming back to the Panasonic TZ5s. It's about the price of the SX110is but every review about it says it is superb. Also, it shoots video in 1280x720 which might be nice. I wish dpreview had one out for the SX110is...

[dinos22]

OCAU has a thread a discussion about G10 vs LX3
both great cameras

i am biased to Canon as i use a G9 myself and it's just awesome but seriously this panasonic looks really decent on paper as well

[AndrewZorn]

I was initially okay with spending $500, now I'm uneasy about it for some reason.

I just hope I can notice a difference even between a $100 camera and whatever I end up getting.

[MaxxxRacer]

I would just go with one of the smaller Aluminum Canons. They are durable as hell. We used a SD1000 (older model) and have dropped it hundreds of times onto concrete without issue. The case is dented but it still works great. For you I would assume this is a big factor. Also, having it smaller is a good thing because I imagine that you will be carrying alot of gear.

The G10 is a great camera, but its designed for a different market. You want something you can whip out and snap a pic real quick. The G10 is designed for someone who wants an SLR but doesnt want to deal with the lenses. The G10 is also alot bigger than the compact Canons like the SD890 you mentioned above. Furthermore, there is ABSOLUTELY NO picture quaity benefit from going with the G10 compared to the SD890, just more control.

Looking at all of Canons compacts (which are the only compacts I would consider) I would get the SD890 due to the longer Zoom range. It goes to 185mm equivalent which will probably be useful for your purposes. Most of Canons other compacts go to 110-135mm.

[itznfb]

the reasons i got the SD880 over the 890
880 has a 3" screen, manual control, wider focal length (28-112mm) as opposed to (37-185mm) with the 890
i've only used the 890 in several stores, but each i used it i noticed the 880 was quicker from power on to first shot, and quicker from trigger to shot.

[AndrewZorn]

I feel like I'd rather have 'wider' than more zoom anyway.

I'm going to start thinking about the 880.

[itznfb]

I feel like I'd rather have 'wider' than more zoom anyway.

I'm going to start thinking about the 880.

i'm not sure if you can rent point and shoots. but if you have a camera rental place near by, you may be able to. or they may know of someone willing to rent.

from everything discussed so far i'd guess your choice will be between the G10 and SD880. if you get a chance to use both i'm guessing you'll start falling in love with the SD880. even if you think the G10 is a little better, it's not $200 better by any means (imo).

don't be afraid to just spend an hour in the store testing them if you have to. i had to tell the guy at circuit city "i'm just looking" about 800 times before i made up my mind. you may just find that you like the feel of one more than the other and that alone could justify the extra $200. feel is important especially when they are so similar in quality.

[AndrewZorn]

What I'm still failing to grasp is what you and Maxxx keep saying... that the G10, SX110is, TZ5s (haven't heard much about this one yet) all take pictures no better better than an 880. What's the chunkiness for then? Why do they cost more? Why aren't they as pretty?

[itznfb]

What I'm still failing to grasp is what you and Maxxx keep saying... that the G10, SX110is, TZ5s (haven't heard much about this one yet) all take pictures no better better than an 880. What's the chunkiness for then? Why do they cost more? Why aren't they as pretty?

the G10 for instance has smaller censor and more zoom. some extra features. more freedom with manual functionality. i'd say the bulkiness probably has more to do with the zoom and feel than anything else. it also has an optical view finder, which in my experience was very difficult to use/see through so it proved useless to me anyway.

when comparing images side by side you won't be able to tell any difference in picture quality. much like the nikon D90 vs the D3. when used with the same lens and settings, you can't tell the difference in side be side comparrison.

[twilyth]

Why do they cost more? Why aren't they as pretty?

The pretty ones always cost more - at least that's what they always tell me. If not, it's probably a guy.

[itznfb]

The pretty ones always cost more - at least that's what they always tell me. If not, it's probably a guy.

[AndrewZorn]

So I guess now it's something like: SD880/890 (depends) or LX3 if I want to spend the money.

I didn't know the 8 series had a larger sensor. Again, totally counter-intuitive.

EDIT and other communities keep talking about the TZ5. Any opinions? It's a 10x zoom as well.