Compact to Ultra Compact

[Pam_Bevan]

Hi. I already have Sony W1 but I am thinking of upgrading. Seems two ways to go... ultra compact or a compact with manual controls. Eyeing the Sony T9 and the Canon S80 now. If anyone could recommend something better, I would really be greatful.

Budget
Hopefully under $ 500 (camera + case + at least 256 memory)

Size
Small enough to carry around a lot in a purse.

Features
5 Mp up
Standard zoom
* How important is “image quality” to you? (8)
* Do you care for manual controls? (some would be good)

General Usage
* What will you generally use the camera for? (taking pics on trips. Some vdo. Subjects both still and moving. Indoors and Outdoors)

* Will you be making big prints of your photos or not? (no more than 8x10 but mainly 4x6 standard)
* Will you be shooting a lot of indoor photos or low light photos? (not likely a lot but some)
* Will you be shooting sports and/or action photos? (not too likely)

Miscellaneous

Are there particular brands you like or hate? (been a fan of Sony for a while so I guess I dont want a Samsung - just want something that is widely used so it is serviceable)

Are there particular models you already have in mind?(Sony T9, Canon S80)

(If applicable) Do you need any of the following special features? (Wide Angle, Image Stabilization, Weatherproof, Hotshoe, Rotating LCD)
Image Stabilization. Also looking for something a bit sturdy because I am clumsy.

Additional
I have favored cameras using AA type batteries but am finding it hard to find a compact sized one that uses those.
Optical viewfinders would be a plus if the lcd doesnt gain up.
For ultra compacts, i dont like the kind that have to have a station.


THANK YOU! :) :) :)

Pam

[coldrain]

The T9 is not very wide angle... and I think it has a docking thing? The image quality will be a step back from your W1 (the W series has a better lens).

The S80 seems like an upgrade in wide angle ability and resolution... what makes you want to upgrade?

[Pam_Bevan]

Not really an upgrade. my parents liked my W1 so they sort of kept it. Basically I would like to have a camera of my own again.

I know the W1 is a really good camera and fits the "AA battery with optical viewfinder" criteria. But it is rather bulky to carry in a purse. I have considered a W7 to replace W1 but I figured if i am going to have to get a new one, might as well get it smaller. So far it is S80 vs T9. And unfortunately , i dont have the option of testing the actual product for a while as they are not widely available where I am.

If there are any other models worth looking at, i would appreciate the advice.

Pam

[coldrain]

Not really an upgrade. my parents liked my W1 so they sort of kept it. Basically I would like to have a camera of my own again.

I know the W1 is a really good camera and fits the "AA battery with optical viewfinder" criteria. But it is rather bulky to carry in a purse. I have considered a W7 to replace W1 but I figured if i am going to have to get a new one, might as well get it smaller. So far it is S80 vs T9. And unfortunately , i dont have the option of testing the actual product for a while as they are not widely available where I am.

If there are any other models worth looking at, i would appreciate the advice.

Pam
Sorry Pam, I thought you meant the Canon S80 which has a wider wide angle lens....

Sony W7 = 91.4 x 61.0 x 35.6 mm
Sony S80 = 121.9 x 63.5 x 40.6 mm 104.1 x 55.9 x 38.1 mm
Sony T9 = 91.4 x 58.4 x 20.3 mm

As you can see, the S80 is not at all smaller than the W7 or W5. The W5/7 is all in all a better camera I think... better build quality, very good image quality. And smaller. The T9 is a bit less (lesser lens resulting in lesser image quality) but it is much thinner.
The W5/W7 (as you may know from your W1) have full manual options when needed, the T9 does not.

The P200 will give yo a bit better image results than tha T9 too, and it is also quite thin : 109.2 x 53.3 x 25.4 mm

Why did you come up with these two Sony's?

[Pam_Bevan]

Sorry about that, I did mean the Canon S80. I am trying to weigh the trade off between an ultra compact like the Sony T9 and normal compact with manual control like the Canon S80. I am no expert on the use of manual control but I am learning. It is interesting to see how useful it will be to me. But for most, I do use the auto mode. So I am very undecided on what to get.

Sony W5/7 is still sort of an option but honestly i would like something smaller to fit into my purse.

Thanks

Pam

[coldrain]

Hmmm, I do not know WHY I thought I had understood wrong, you stated clearly the Canon S80! Again, sorry!

Canon S80: 104.1 x 55.9 x 38.1 mm / 4.1 x 2.2 x 1.5 in, 225grams
Sony W7: 91.4 x 61.0 x 35.6 mm / 3.6 x 2.4 x 1.4 in, 197grams

As you can see, although the Canon S80 is a really nice camera with a wider angle lens, it is not really smaller than a W7(/5/1).... So maybe not the best choice for you?

Unless you really want its wide angle lens, maybe the Sony P200 or P150 may be a better choice:
with 109.2 x 53.3 x 25.4 mm / 4.3 x 2.1 x 1.0 in and 147 grams it is more purse friendly (wider, but less heavy and less thick).

All three are very good cameras.

The Casio Exilim EX-Z750 with its 88.9 x 58.4 x 22.9 mm / 3.5 x 2.3 x 0.9 and 127 grams is also a good purseable candidate with full manual options and very good image quality.

[Pam_Bevan]

I actually found a show model of the T9 this past week. I dont know if it is just me but I could not get a decent pic out of it. I loved the size but am seriously questioning picture quality. Anything i took was all fuzzy..... And the Canon S80 isnt available here. I guess i do want a camera that is smaller than the W1 but comparable functions.

Stumbled onto the Canon Ixus50. Nice size.... nice looking pics to me. but I cant find it on the reviews. Would like some info on that one if possible.

I tried out so many cameras for the feel .... i didnt like the exilim too much.. fingers tend to slip in the front. How is it for durability? I'll be taking it somewhere cold......

Pam

[coldrain]

Are you european? The Ixus 50 is the Digital Elph SD400 over there in the US, and the Ixus55 (bigger screen) is the SD450 there. You can find a review of it on this site, but it lacks manual options. Maybe you should look at the Sony DSC P200 (or 150), small with manual.

[waynehayes]

In the UK, the Ixus 50 is called the Ixus 750.

Wayne

[coldrain]

In the UK, the Ixus 50 is called the Ixus 750.

Wayne
It is not.

http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Cameras/Digital/Digital_IXUS_50/

[far2000]

you get the ixus 30, 40 , 50 , 55 , 700 and 750 ..They all individual cameras..

[Pam_Bevan]

I am still very undecided about which to get. The Canon Ixus50 is great size and photos I tested at the store came out great. But has there been any remedy for the poor battery life? Or would i be doomed to carry a spare battery at all time :P

Sony P200 is alright. small LCD though...... I'll take a deeper look into it though.

Pam
ps. In Asia here. We get things a bit slower ... Canon S80 isnt here yet!

[coldrain]

The IXUS 50 has the same size display as the P200, the Ixus 55 has a bigger display. The reason I recommended the P200 is because you wanted manual controls that the IXUS lacks. If manual controls are not necessary, the IXUS 55 is a great camera.

[Pam_Bevan]

I'm still a bit confused with all the model names and the sales people here dont really know how to help ... hehe... here goes.

I went to see the ixus 50 (SD400?) - quit good price but a bit bulky compared to the T9. The sales person told me the picture quality cant be compared with the Sony T series. Suposedly a totally different class.
The Ixus 55(SD450) wasnt available so I cant really guage on the size and feel. Will try to find a bigger store to shop at. :P

I found a Ixus i-zoom. I think it is the SD30 but not quite sure. Looked alright but I would like to see picture tests and reviews.

So I think i am still considering Sony T9 (for size and battery life) S400-450 (picture quality) maybe the i-zoom if i can find the reviews . Have a nice concert coming up and i would like to test my new camera (and it's zoom function!) on it. Just have to decide which one!

edit to add : I dont think manual controls are that key anymore. I hardly used any of the W1 manual controls ... other than white balance and exposure adjustments. Dont think i would suddenly start using them in the near future.

Pam

[coldrain]

I'm still a bit confused with all the model names and the sales people here dont really know how to help ... hehe... here goes.

I went to see the ixus 50 (SD400?) - quit good price but a bit bulky compared to the T9. The sales person told me the picture quality cant be compared with the Sony T series. Suposedly a totally different class.
The Ixus 55(SD450) wasnt available so I cant really guage on the size and feel. Will try to find a bigger store to shop at. :P

I found a Ixus i-zoom. I think it is the SD30 but not quite sure. Looked alright but I would like to see picture tests and reviews.

So I think i am still considering Sony T9 (for size and battery life) S400-450 (picture quality) maybe the i-zoom if i can find the reviews . Have a nice concert coming up and i would like to test my new camera (and it's zoom function!) on it. Just have to decide which one!

edit to add : I dont think manual controls are that key anymore. I hardly used any of the W1 manual controls ... other than white balance and exposure adjustments. Dont think i would suddenly start using them in the near future.

Pam
SD400/ixus 50: 86.4 x 53.3 x 20.3 mm / 3.4 x 2.1 x 0.8 in
T9: 91.4 x 58.4 x 20.3 mm / 3.6 x 2.3 x 0.8 in

I totally puzzeles me how you can find the ixus 50 bulky... it is the same thickness, less wide, less high.

The Ixus i zoom you saw is indeed the SD30 as it is called in the USA. You can find a review on this site too. It is a good camera for its size, but its lens has a bit less zoom reach than the Ixus 50/55 and the Sony T9.

In my opinion the ixus i zoom, Sont T9 and Fuji Z1 are about the same in image quality, the Canon ixus 50/55 are a bit above that (and the Ixus 700/750(SD500/550) and Sony P200 are above the rest of the compacts.

The T9 has IS and the Z1 has the most sensitive/dynamic sensor, making it less noisy, which gives you better performance at higher ISO settings (for lower light conditions).

[Pam_Bevan]

SD400/ixus 50: 86.4 x 53.3 x 20.3 mm / 3.4 x 2.1 x 0.8 in
T9: 91.4 x 58.4 x 20.3 mm / 3.6 x 2.3 x 0.8 in

I totally puzzeles me how you can find the ixus 50 bulky... it is the same thickness, less wide, less high.

The Ixus i zoom you saw is indeed the SD30 as it is called in the USA. You can find a review on this site too. It is a good camera for its size, but its lens has a bit less zoom reach than the Ixus 50/55 and the Sony T9.

In my opinion the ixus i zoom, Sont T9 and Fuji Z1 are about the same in image quality, the Canon ixus 50/55 are a bit above that (and the Ixus 700/750(SD500/550) and Sony P200 are above the rest of the compacts.

The T9 has IS and the Z1 has the most sensitive/dynamic sensor, making it less noisy, which gives you better performance at higher ISO settings (for lower light conditions).

I dont really think i should pay the extra amount on the P200 over the ixus as I wont really use the manual control, the memory is more expensive and it definately is bigger. I want a small camera to carry in my purse.

LOL, i guess it was my imagination. I felt that the T9 was flatter in my bag. My bad I guess. Well, since the ixus seems to out perform the T9 in most photo departments, I think i will be going with the ixus50 or 55, depending on what deal i can get at the dealers. Also going to get the spare battery. Thanks for all the advice. Cant wait to get it now! :)

Pam

[BIG JOHN 101]

I think that the best choice is to go with the Canon IXUS 55/ SD450 I just purchased one and it is not only cheaper than sony, the memory is cheaper (and more compatable with other brands) but the image quality is excellent, it is very small and easy to handle, the LCD is big, and it does have some manual controls for those who want them, along with many other modes, in general i also like the look of the canon above the sony, i believe that the canon is the camera to get