I read through the first few pages of thread titles but didn't find anything, and I wouldn't know how to put all this into a search...

My last camera got ran-over in the pits a couple weeks ago so I am in the market for a point and shoot camera. My last camera was crap, (Kodak) so I thought I would try and make a better-informed purchase this time...

Priority;

Good picture quality. (My Kodak was hit and miss with this -more miss) I don't think I need crazy megapixels. I'm not trying to make life-size posters of anything, but my Kodak seemed to have a crapy way of dealing with "noise". It made most of the pictures look kind of like paintings?

Lots of optical zoom(10X-20X) and, of course, good image stabilization to go with the zoom.

Burst mode(s) that will allow me to hold the button down for a few seconds and wait for the picture to "happen". Then go back and pick the good from the bad in an action sequence.

Clear low-light pictures. I'm not expecting any zoom for the low light pictures. My friend has a Sony that has "night vision" and takes great low-light pictures. My old Kodak tried to use the first flash from the "red-eye" double flash to focus before the second flash.... It almost never worked.

Decent video mode. My Kodak filmed at 30fps, but recorded in Quicktime format that my PC doesn't like too much. I am willing to live with any format for good video though...

Would like to have...

Flip screen. So that I can check the screen from the driver's seat when the cam is pointed down the track. (At the start line, before I start a run.)

Lithium-ion battery pack. The only thing about the Kodak that impressed me. The Li battery pack lasted forever. Much better than the NImH batteries I used in the cam before.

Compact. I'm not holding my breath for this one (because I want zoom), but I saw a Panasonic DMC-TZ50 with 10X zoom that was compact when it was off.

Picture from video. Not a biggie but cool.



If there is a camera that does all of this well, I would pay $400-$500 for it. If I can't "have it all", I am hoping for a compromise-I-can-live-with in the $300 range.

Any suggestions?

 

Canon PowerShot SX10 IS

Has everything you are asking for & then some:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2009_...anon_sx10.html

 

you described your friends camera... probably a Sony H50. night mode.. 15x 9MP... flippy screen... about.. $350


if youre going to pay 400-500 though.. just pay $600 and get a Sony A300. DSLR with a flippy screen lol

 

Thanks for the replies.

I am leaning toward the Canon. I wish it had a Li battery pack but, other than that, it seems great.

I don't think the Sony's screen flips out sideways, (so I could see it from the drivers seat.) And I don't know that my PC will take Sony's memory card without some sort of adapter. I think it's still a great camera, but the Canon looks like it will be better for me, and I already have two SD cards.

 

Canon Powershot G10

 

why are you looking at a camera while driving???!

also... cameras come with USB cords... you really dont need to worry about your PC taking the card. Memory cards are not horribly expensive either.

biggest waste of money EVER. $500... LOL just get a DSLR if youre gonna fork over that amount of cash.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16830120281

414

dslr need lenses.....

 

I'm way to busy for that. But I like to make sure the camera is focused, pointing where I want it to, and recording.... before I start driving...

 

I hear that thing takes great (14 MP) pictures, but 5X zoom won't do it for me.

 

for $400-500 You can get entry level DSLR cameras, their images are definitely better than most PS cameras.

 

Maybe for just the body.

 

this guy's asking for suggestions on best poin-n-shoot out there, and people are responding with dSLR's. the Canon G9/10 is the best out there for that. of course you can get an entry level dSLR for less than $500 (Nikon D40 kit). for $500 you can get a decent body XS or D40 and save up for a good lens. kit lenses aren't that great compared to after market.

 

Not with the Circuit City discount.
If You must have a point and shoot, then get Canon G9/ G10.

 

I paid 450 for my Nikon D40 with 18-55mm kit lens / charger / usb chord / batteries ect ect. Amazon has them for around 400 with lens as well.. if you are going to spend 500, please choose an entry level DSLR. For 5xx dollars, get the canon rebel XS.. for under 5xx, D40

 

G9 is a great point and shoot. I shot this with a g9

 

panasonic fz28

 

Any Canon SX IS series or the G9 would do.

this was with a S3 IS





No editing except the cropping, shadowing and frame on the last one. You can choose one specific color and let the rest be in B&W.

 

i would say to give the nikon coolpix p90 a look at. it runs for $400. i have the p80 and am very satisfied with it.

 

SONY DSC-H5 .. that's what i had (still have) and i'm satisfied with it.

there is a new version that has the moveable screen (i think it's DSC-H6)


those are taken with my cam, and i've done some post-processing in PS.

 

nah. Not all people are into DSLR. They just need some P&S with all the extra option DSLR offer. Even i have DSLR, i still have G10 when i hiking.