Night time camera?

[Meowsilbub]

I've wanted a digital camera for quite a while, and I finally have the resources to buy one. Unfortunitally, I can't seem to find one to fit a few specifications.
I'm looking for a camera that can take good night-time shots (I'm thinking the moon here). I also want to be able to take landscape photos, as I travel a lot.
While I've found some nice cameras, my price range can only go up to $250. I know I won't be able to get an awesome camera for that price, but I do want something that is still pretty decent.
Is there anything out on the market that can fulfill those two wishes? :confused:
Thanks!
Zella

[Meowsilbub]

I missed this...

Budget

* Up to $250

Size

* The size isn't too important, but I would like a compact if possible

Features

How many megapixels will suffice for you?
Not too sure...but enough for a decent sized- non blurry photo

* What optical zoom will you need?
Standard

* How important is “image quality” to you? (Rate using a scale of 1-10)
8-9

Do you care for manual controls?
No preference either way

General Usage

* What will you generally use the camera for?
various landscapes, night time, and people photos

* Will you be making big prints of your photos or not?
I probably wont be making an big prints

Will you be shooting a lot of indoor photos or low light photos?
More then likely

Will you be shooting sports and/or action photos?
Not many...so anything for that isn't necessary.

Miscellaneous

Are there particular brands you like or hate?
I've used canon and nikon...and enjoyed the nikon I used.

Are there particular models you already have in mind?
Sony cyber-shot dsc-w80 (but I read a fairly professional review, and I'm not sure how well it would take night shots)

(If applicable) Do you need any of the following special features? (Wide Angle, Image Stabilization, Weatherproof, Hotshoe, Rotating LCD)
Image stabilization would be very nice to have.

[David Metsky]

If you want to take pictures of the moon you'll need an ultrazoom camera, with 10x or greater zoom. Otherwise, all you'll get is a bright circle. in the middle of a black sky. How important is this type of photography to you? You might want to rethink your criteria.

[Meowsilbub]

10 zoom or higher? Well...here's to me not knowing a lot about specifics about cameras. I can find my way around them, but the numbers sometimes confuse me. Is it possible to find a 10x zoom in a compact camera? Or in my price range? If not...I can say I'd be disappointed, but understand.

[Rex914]

If you are going to be working a lot at night, consider getting a tripod, even if the camera has image stabilization. IS helps, but only to a point. I learned that the hard way when I had to handhold for 2 seconds. It took quite a few tries to get that right. :(

When it's dark, you need to do something to prolong the exposure so that you can gather more light (or you can ISO boost, but this tends to lead to very noisy pictures).

You could also open up the aperture (meaning lower f-number), but if you are taking pictures of neon signs and lights, this blows those out, so if you ever want those to be visible, you need to close it up, but of course, that means you need to compensate yet more with high ISO / longer exposure time.

In the end, you are left with the option of increasing the exposure time (often to 1-2+ seconds), making it difficult but not impossible to handhold without introducing camera shake. Thus why a tripod is useful in these situations because you can keep the ISO low and take those night landscape shots.

Of course, you can underexpose by a stop and see if that's acceptable, but for me, it wasn't acceptable at all.

To answer your other question, look at the Panasonic TZ cameras. Compact ultrazooms are what they are. Canon and Sony also just introduced similar cameras last week.

- Jon

[toriaj]

The Canon S3 is capable of great moon shots, but it's not compact and it's on sale at B&H Photo for $280 right now. One to consider, anyway :)

[Meowsilbub]

Yes, I'm definitally planning on getting a tripod. Was in the plans all along ^_^.
I looked at the panasonic tz line. I must admit, they look very nice. One thing...I was able to find a lot of information on the tz1 and tz3 and many places to buy them. The tz2 seems to be very elusive. Any ideas on where to find a good review? And where to buy?
Thanks!

[Paradox]

Panasonics aren't reputed for their low-light performance. And I'll support that, as despite me FZ50 being a great all rounder for the price, low-light shots leave much to be desired. If you're willing to go for a large compact (Not a DSLR, but similar size), maybe check out the Fuji ultrazoom models. Fuji are the market leaders in low light compacts really.

[David Metsky]

I don't think the TZ2 was ever released in the US.

[BiPolarBear]

You can get a gray market Fuji s 6000fd in the states for about 265. It's not a compact at all, but it does all the other things you asked for.