Point and Shoot digital cameras

**homerjay** · 11-15-2006, 10:03 AM

If you could buy one, what would it be and why? I've always been partial to Canon products, but it's really just baseless brand loyalty.

I know nothing about cameras, I just want some decent amount of megapixels (7-8), and will primary use it for taking pictures of people skiing, or drinking, or pictures of mountains and trees and shit. I like larger displays.

yes, I searched, but prior stuff was too specific. The Canon A610 seemed to be well received.

**Rontele** · 11-15-2006, 10:07 AM

homerjay,

I have that exact model and I love it.

**pechelman** · 11-15-2006, 10:18 AM

3rd the 610
lower megapixel = faster camera
for a PS I dont really see any reason to go higher than that in megapixs.

**homerjay** · 11-15-2006, 10:21 AM

Is the A610 small enough to discreetly fit in a pocket for incriminating photography at weddings, etc.? Oh, and how's the waterproofness and general durability during mtn biking/skiing/rafting/boozing?

**pechelman** · 11-15-2006, 10:22 AM

depends on how tight your pants are

but yea, especially in a jacket pocket

**hoarhey** · 11-15-2006, 10:25 AM

I've got the A610, and it's a great camera.
That said, it would not be easy to discreetly carry around in a suit.
It's just a little too big, mainly due to the battery capacity (4 AA's).

My wife had a Pentax Optio S4, I think, and that was a compact camera, which one could easily carry around discreetly.

**Storm11** · 11-15-2006, 10:26 AM

I like the Canon S70 (though it's out of production, but can still be found) and the Panasonic LX2. But both those choices are based on the best P&S's that can shoot RAW, so there may certainly be better models if you don't consider RAW a necessity.

**Rontele** · 11-15-2006, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by homerjay

Is the A610 small enough to discreetly fit in a pocket for incriminating photography at weddings, etc.? Oh, and how's the waterproofness and general durability during mtn biking/skiing/rafting/boozing?

Remember when you bashed me for riding the mud in CB this summer?

All of those pics were taken with that camera. It is very durable and handles the weather elements well.

**hemas** · 11-15-2006, 10:55 AM

Even though I'm using Pentax Optio S4, my pick would be most likely the Canon A610 right now... Yes, it's bigger but when on a long tour/trip you can use AA's on it. Also because of the petit size of the S4, there's some distortion near the edges...

Or mebbe I would shell out for Pentax Optio WPi, which is water proof and quite small... (the optics will be better on the Canon A610, though).

**hoarhey** · 11-15-2006, 11:08 AM

HJ, I didn't read through your post as carefully as I should have, and focused only on the size of the camera.

As Hemas said, A610 is heads and shoulders above the Optio S4 as a camera for skiing/action shots.

**Snow Dog** · 11-15-2006, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by homerjay

Is the A610 small enough to discreetly fit in a pocket for incriminating photography at weddings, etc.? Oh, and how's the waterproofness and general durability during mtn biking/skiing/rafting/boozing?

I bought an A610 this summer. It took a while to find since they're discontinued and superceded with the A630. If you want discrete, the A530 is smaller and sleeker.

**homerjay** · 11-15-2006, 12:09 PM

I'm liking the looks of the Powershot A710IS.

any thoughts on that specific camera?

**bio-smear** · 11-15-2006, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by homerjay

I'm liking the looks of the Powershot A710IS.

any thoughts on that specific camera?

It has Image Stabilization, which makes a huge difference in the crispness of low light / low shutter speed shots.

**smalls** · 11-15-2006, 03:05 PM

11th (or whatever) the a610. i love it.

temporary hijack: just recently the manual focus won't go any closer than about 2 feet. i can't get it to go any lower. thoughts, comments, verbal insults?

**iggyskier** · 11-15-2006, 03:09 PM

I have a Canon SD500. 7.1 MP, fits in my pocket, great camera. Love it.

**Sierra Cement** · 11-15-2006, 03:19 PM

Just got the SD900. I'm still learning the nuances. But the digital/optical zoom and stabilization features will be the Schnizzle once the operater gets his shit together. Slightly bigger (still fits in a pocket easily), but it's going to make up for it with the 10 megapixel quality. Every function runs quick too. Just need to get the fast 2 gig memory card to make it really bling.

**hoarhey** · 11-15-2006, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by smalls

11th (or whatever) the a610. i love it.

temporary hijack: just recently the manual focus won't go any closer than about 2 feet. i can't get it to go any lower. thoughts, comments, verbal insults?

Others here know far more than I, but off the top of my head... You may want to switch to the macro setting.

**dingbatoolpud** · 11-15-2006, 03:44 PM

I have an older Pentax Optio WR - it takes two AA batteries (available anywhere) and it's element proof.

The newest one http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/spec...x_optiow20.asp is much smaller than mine (compare a half-eaten ice cream sandwich to a new-in-wrapper klondike bar), and is still element proof. When mine dies, I'll replace it with it's current descendant.

FWIW, these pictures were taken with my Klondike Pentax http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5...%20Resized.jpg http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5...%20Resized.jpg and these are the type of photos most point and shoot cameras are used for (in my experience)...just something to capture the moment - nothing too artsy.

Not to take anything away from Canon or Nikon, but the Pentax is a great little camera that works very well - and the video feature is quite nice too...640x480 for as long as it takes to fill up your memory card. Worth a look in the point and shoot category.

For SLR's I've got a Nikon and I wouldn't trade it for the world...but I might trade it for a Canon (or another Nikon).

-DBTP

**StuntCok** · 11-15-2006, 05:10 PM

Olympus just launched a camera that is shock and waterproof. In Japan it is branded u725sw but I don't know if that will change for the US launch. Here is the Japanese web page so you can see what it looks like, at least.
http://olympus-imaging.jp/digitalcam...ure/index.html

**orange** · 11-15-2006, 05:22 PM

Canon SD 700 or 800. Maybe the 10mp Sony cybershot...Most likely snagging either canon...love that SD line.

**Arnold Pants** · 11-15-2006, 05:31 PM

Canon SD[howevermuchyouwantospend]

Used to have shutter lag issues, but they've got that pretty well fixed. Keep in mind the display will eat battery life fast in the cold weather, however. Best to turn it off for a day of shooting.

**roorfan** · 11-15-2006, 05:38 PM

leica digilx3 is the best. hands down best compact lens+10mp=best of both worlds of fast and quality.
the panasonic lumix models are also great. they use the leica lens but are not as compact as some other p+s.

i have a casio EX-Z1000 10mp and it is nice and compact but the black and white mode suffers (it's actually monochrome...very gray tone-wise).

canon makes some good cams with zeiss lenses.

kodak makes a sweet camera called the V610 or something similar. the smaller one with 3x zoom that is a style of TLR. two lenses so there are fewer moving parts/you can take pics of ppl without them knowing from waste level (good for portraits). i wish i got it.

**Buzzworthy** · 11-15-2006, 05:43 PM

Search for Spats comments on cameras like these, he goes into more specifics too. Good info.

**homerjay** · 11-15-2006, 06:00 PM

Originally Posted by Arnold Pants

Canon SD[howevermuchyouwantospend]

Used to have shutter lag issues, but they've got that pretty well fixed. Keep in mind the display will eat battery life fast in the cold weather, however. Best to turn it off for a day of shooting.

What's the difference between SD and Powershot A ###?

**Spats** · 11-15-2006, 09:28 PM

Originally Posted by homerjay

What's the difference between SD and Powershot A ###?

SD series is all pocket cameras.
-Much smaller (no battery hump), uses LiIon battery
-No Av, Tv, manual mode
-3x-4x zoom

A series is all compact cameras, basically the poor-mans S series.
-Larger (with battery hump): uses 2 or 4 AA batteries
-Av, Tv, manual modes
-4x-6x zoom

I think the SD700 IS or the A710 IS are the best deals right now...both are in the low $300s from buydig.com. Unless you're a photography guy and want the manual controls of the A series, the real decision is whether you want more zoom (6x vs. 4x) or a smaller camera. They both take excellent pictures, and image stabilization makes a huge difference (it's worth 2-3 stops).

I've tried both, and am still trying to decide between them myself.

People make a lot of noise about the larger sensors in the A630/A640, but upon looking very closely at the sample pictures on dcresource I don't see a meaningful difference. Plus they're a lot bigger than the A710 and don't have IS.