Canon A620 for portraits

[ameuse]

Hi I am new to this site as well as to photography -
I would like to not have to use a DSLR as I really like the compact cameras and even a few point and shoot models - they remind me of rangefinders (only by looks that is) I have never even used one. I would like to do mostly street photography as well as artistic stuff but the area that I am most excited about is portraits. I am really interested in doing quality portraits with probably the biggest sizes being 8x10 to 11x14 or so.

I would like to be able to pull this off without the bulky DSLR stuff - although I have come close to getting the Nikon D70s and continue to think about Canons 30D.

I always come back to wanting a compact type of set up - The Canon G-series maybe a G3 or G6 (they are getting a bit long in the tooth now though)
- the S3 IS as well? - I have been thinking that I would even like to go with a few Canon A620s and different filters and conversion lenses.

SO does anyone have good news for me about a compact set up or am I going to be stuck with a DSLR?

I look forward to anyones reply and I hope this question was not too long or stupid sounding - Take care!

[mcenut]

While I think the A620 is a fine camera, it would not be on my list of choices for a portrait camera. It's a good quality point and shoot and nothing else. Here are some pictures people are taking with the A620 (mostly snapshots.)

http://www.pbase.com/cameras/canon/powershot_a620

Curious, is your objection to the S3 and G series thier size? They would be my choices for a smaller than a DSLR potrait camera.

[ameuse]

Hi

W O W sombody wrote in

The G-series (G3) or (G6) would be my first choice plus they also have RAW as well as hot-shoe mounts

However I think the G-series may be done-

http://www.photographyblog.com/index.php/weblog/comments/canon_powershot_g_series_cameras_rip/

ALSO - I can't even find the G6 new anywhere- I was holding out for the G7

SO with my G-series dreams dashed I turned my interest to the S3 IS,
no hot-shoe or RAW but maybe the S4 will have one of those two

While looking into the reviews of the S3 I came across a really nice gallery of photos taken by the a620 - I was not aware of the camera but the gallery shots looked really amazing to me. I then started to see others popping up in forums trying to decide what camera to get the S3 or a620 - I think in the end the S3 has image stability and a massive zoom and both cameras share a lot of the good points of the G6 - I don't think that I really need such a big zoom camera so although the S3 looks more respectable - the a620 is the current winner although they both seem quite similar to me.

pbase is a neat site and I also see people using the Canon 30D as a snapshot camera on there most of the time.

I think the a620 is probably capable of what I want it to do but of course it is a point and shoot and I may have to work a bit harder to get the results that I want from it - for now anyway until the G7 comes around or something better, I think I have made up my mind.

Thanks for your response and maybe soon I will be in a place to put up some photos of my own for more advice.

Thank you