What would you choose for a compact P&S

[Birdman]

Have a Rebel XT, but don't want to carry around it all the time, looking for a nice compact camera that I can carry around anywhere. The smaller the better. Given the choice I would like it to have a view finder as I just don't think I'm ever going to get used to looking at the lcd screen to frame pictures. A nice zoom would be nice as well as IS and of course a rechargable battery. What would you choose???????

[diver88]

:):)

well Mr Birdman,

I just bought a small point-n-shoot a few months ago and for me I chose the Canon A570 IS 7.1mp. it's small, takes great pics and can be had for under $140 I think now. I bought the optional underwater housing and have taken it under the sea. sample pic at about 60 feet down in the Caribbean,






it takes AA batteries, so I bought the rechargeables and they last forever it seems like. great little inexpensive camera..

above water, with housing still on..






a picture of my other camera, inside.... no housing







they are many to choose from but this one works really well


diver88:):)

[Tom Barry]

Many of the Canon compacts still provide an optical viewfinder, however small and squinty and lacking in full coverage. The Canon G9 comes highly recommended, but is pretty large for a pocket camera. Like you, I can't stand holding a camera out unsteadily with extended arms - I want to put my eye to a viewfinder, period. My wife has a Fujifilm compact about the size of a credit card and she likes it. I don't, because of the lack of a viewfinder. I still use film compacts that have the features I want, and just have a CD made when I have the film developed. For convenient digital use, I have the Canon S3 IS, which is not pocket size but small for what it has - 36-432 mm superzoom, ultra closeups, electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage, and good quality pictures at low ISOs (annoyingly noisy at anything over 200 ISO, though). The image stabilizer prevents me having to use anything higher than ISO 80 most of the time, thankfully.

[Birdman]

Thats 2 votes for Canon. Thanks these models should be easy to look up. Anyone know anything about Panasonic?

[rm663]

Lately I've been using the Canon PowerShot SD1000 Digital Elph. Pretty awesome little camera.

Dave

[Birdman]

Dave, I see they have the SD1100 out now with IS. Its about 60-70 bucks more. I am not sure what other improvements they have made on it. I sure do like the size on the ELF but how does it compare to the larger cameras listed above. I somehow can't imagine the quality being the same but size does matter in my world where I would like to just slip a small camera in my pocket and go.

[rm663]

I love the SD1000. Takes great general shots and has excellent macro capability as well.

Dave

[Houston]

Have a Rebel XT, but don't want to carry around it all the time, looking for a nice compact camera that I can carry around anywhere. The smaller the better. Given the choice I would like it to have a view finder as I just don't think I'm ever going to get used to looking at the lcd screen to frame pictures. A nice zoom would be nice as well as IS and of course a rechargable battery. What would you choose???????

Choice also depends on what you want to shoot with it. I'm guessing Mr Birdman that this is for general use. If size is the determining factor then an ultracompact like the SD1100 IS would be just the ticket. I'm sure you realize that the more compact a camera is, the less it will allow for creativity. As P&S though, I think Canons are in a league of their own.

If the issue of size can be relaxed so to speak, then the G9 is a great camera affording you creative control

As an alternative you could consider the A650IS. It is larger than either a compact or ultracompact but just a shade smaller than the G9. I use its' older brother, the A640. It is a lovely camera to use with the pull-out LCD a bonus. I know you say you're not used to using a LCD screen but it does allow you ease of composition.

Why not have a look at dpreview.com for a comprehensive assessment of cameras?

My 2c


WISh you well with the hunt



ZIN

[Birdman]

Thanks Houston saw the A850IS today and it really looks nice. I think I am actually looking more at the elf series as portability is really the feature I'm looking for in this one. I do understand that the picture quality will not be as good. I will I hope get more opportunities with a camera that is always on me. The plus is I understand they are pretty darn good at macro!

[diver88]

Mr Birdman,

I started to get the SD1000 because some of the shots I saw were amazing but I backed away when I held one. it was so small it was difficult for me with rather large hands to hold onto..so I moved to the slightly larger 570IS that has a bit of a handle.

either camera model you choose I will echo Mr Houston's sentiment and others, the Canon point-N-shoot cameras take wonderful pictures and equally good close-up and macro shots.. can't go wrong with Canon point-N-shoots.

diver88:):)