What is your dream camera?

[@dam]

Hey guys. I've been waiting with great anticipation for the new Canon SD880, but I'm disappointed- primarily by it's lack of HD video. It got me thinking- if you can send a request form to Canon (or any other maker) for your dream point & shoot camera, what would you ask for? Here are some features I'd like....

*Between 6 and 10 MP. Instead of racing for more MP, I'd like to see an emphasis on low-light low-noise performance and, just as important, expanded dynamic range. This probably means a slightly bigger sensor, but it doesn't really matter what method they use- fast lens...big sensor...clever software...etc.
*no bigger than current SD series cameras
*1080p video with mpeg4 or h.264 codec
*wide angle of 28mm or wider, with 4x zoom or greater
*a nice lens with no corner softness and image stabilization. I'd like to see IS where the whole lens barrel and sensor move together in both rotation AND in linear translation
*ruggedized body with built in or at least affordable dive housing
*high-res screen- at least 500k pixels. I hate it when I take that perfect shot only to later find it is blurry.
*LED flashlight
*Full manual control with a real blade aperture, like the Fuji F30 had
*big screen with a POP UP optical viewfinder. It doesn't even need complex zooming optics- just concentric rectangles that light up for the appropriate zoom level.
*pop-up flash would be nice to put more distance between the flash and the lens (my old olympus stylus 35mm from '97 had this)

Also, flash data storage is becoming so cheap, and camera processors so powerful, that it probably wouldn't be terribly difficult to leverage these capabilities for an area of features that were formally too data intensive
*ability to play any media on memory card (MP3, video, etc.)
*If wi-fi is included, a web browser would be cool, but neither of these features are terribly important
*Built in GPS for tagging, preferably with navigation software that runs off of memory card. This'll become increasingly relevant. Have you seen the software that takes appropriately tagged pics from flickr and assembles 3-d models from them? With geo-tagging, we may get a 3-d model of the world after a few years!

The above features would be especially popular with travelers, who want to keep weight and clutter down

The strange thing is, all of these features (except navigator) are currently available! How hard would it be to put it all together?

[S_p_i_d_e_r]

Here are some features I'd like....

* between 6 and 10 MP CMOS sensor or Fuji SuperCCD HR with very good high ISO performance (like F31fd)
* wide angle of 24-28mm, with 5x zoom or greater
* manual zoom and focus rings (like Fuji S-series)
* a bright (possibly f:2.0-2.8) stabilised lens (like DMC-FX3)
* RAW capability and good RAW software bundled with the camera
* ruggedized body with moisture and dust seals
* high-res LCD screen - at least 460k pixels (like DMC-TZ5)
* full manual controls + command dial (or two) to control aperture and shutter
* optical viewfinder or hi-res EVF
* pop-up flash and flash hot-shoe
* separate dials for ISO and EV comp. (like Canon G10)
* 4xAA powered

(I almost hear you screaming - buy yourself a DSLR! :D )

[teko]

1080p on-the-fly recording using the H.264/AVC compression will require a lot of processing power. I'm not sure if the Digic 3 can handle that. Can anyone confirm?

I've heard the newer high end Sony P&S cameras can do it on 720p.

[KCook]

I'm way too lazy to build up a list, so will take a different approach:

1) Start with a Canon G10

2) Replace lens with f/2.0 lens from Panasonic LX3

3) Shrink package down to the size of a Sony W170

4) Shrink price down to $300

But I could be bribed with a $200 Sony W170 instead

wude Kelly

[S_p_i_d_e_r]

I'm way too lazy to build up a list, so will take a different approach:

1) Start with a Canon G10

2) Replace lens with f/2.0 lens from Panasonic LX3

3) Shrink package down to the size of a Sony W170

4) Shrink price down to $300

Or

1) Start with a Canon G10

2) Mix it with bits and pieces from LX3, SX1 IS and S100fs

3) Set price at $500 max

:D

[tim11]

I want a real Leica just for the heck of it. :D

[S_p_i_d_e_r]

Leica but with manual zoom ring :)

[pianoplayer88key]

Ok, so this may be a bit of a departure from some of my previous posts regarding a dream camera, but...

a body comparable in size to Canon G10, Pany G1, Canon SX110, maybe as large as A650. Canon S1 would be a bit too large, but if necessary I probably could accomodate. I want it pocketable, and the S1 IS was near the upper end of the pocketability limit for me.
a 36x24mm, 16mp sensor with a 45mm F/1.4 or faster prime lens, integrated
OR
a 22.5x15mm or 24x16mm, 10-12mp sensor with a 30mm F/1.4 or faster prime lens, integrated
2.8" or larger 500k or better flip out rotating LCD
4 AA batteries
SD slot
high ISO at least as good as Nikon D3, or better, with ability to pixel bine to get even higher sensitivity settings
separate dedicated dials for manual shutter, aperture and ISO control
good enough continuous shooting to have it only limited by the memory card (even if you use a 16GB 266x card)

Ok, so I know it wouldn't sell to the masses, but would such a pocket camera be good for low-light shooting?

[Spookonthe8ball]

With the advent of such "low light sensors" in the new dslr's, it's only a matter of time you'll see them in affordable compacts. Look at it like full frame computers as compared to laptops. Technology will blend the two till it's hard to tell them apart.
Spook

[Turn]

hmm

something the size of the SX100 or SD650

I'd call it

Canon R2

-CMOS sensor
-6-8mp
-4-6x zoom
-20mm F2.0
-usable ISO 1600 :D
-3inch screen 920,000, flip out
-5fps
-HD movie mode, 720 and 1080 (H.264)
-3 different resolutions of RAW


$700 Australian dollars

^_^

[KCook]

Err, should that have been Canon R2D2 ? :D

[cdifoto]

Take the 1D II/N, make all the points cross-type, and I'd be solid for a long time to come.

[Turn]

Err, should that have been Canon R2D2 ? :D

oh ha...ha

how about a hassleblad with a digital back but in a Canon S3 IS body :P

[James DeRuvo DHQ]

Point and shoots aren't what I call "dream cameras." The new Canon 5D Mk II comes pretty darn close in the DSLR world, however. Records HD in HD in 1,920 x 1,080 full frame. has a monster CMOS.