Great pictures with everyday camera

[obhwfgirl]

Let me start by saying that I'm gettting a camera because my friends all take pictures for me at events but I've been dissatisfied lately with their quality. The picture is out of focus, has horrible indoor lighting, isn't as sharp as I'd like it to be, or have a strange tint. My pictures are taken usually at a party or while I travel so portability is important to. I'll be posting the majority of these on the web, but I also have plenty of storage space for larger pictures.

Budget
max $400

Size
compact or ultracompact

How many megapixels will suffice for you?
7 to 10 (I would mostly likely stay at 8mp though I would like the option of 10mp, but only if the sensor & lens can create great pictures)

What optical zoom will you need?
at least 5x

How important is “image quality” to you? (Rate using a scale of 1-10)
9-10 (I don't need extremely good, DSLR quality pics, but I want amazing pictures for a ultra/compact)

Do you care for manual controls?
I wouldn't use them on a regular basis, but they would be nice to have

What will you generally use the camera for?
Family/friends, lots of indoors, travel some outdoors and some nighttime

Will you be making big prints of your photos or not?
Seldomly.

Will you be shooting a lot of indoor photos or low light photos?
Yes.

Will you be shooting sports and/or action photos?
Occasionally.

Are there particular brands you like or hate?
I've done the most research on Canon, Olympus, Nikon, and Sony, but I'm willing to step outside the box.

Are there particular models you already have in mind?
Canon Powershot 1100 IS
Olympus Stylus 1010 (or 1020 in March)
Sony Cybershot W150

**I'm hoping that this list gives a better idea of what I'm looking for. I'm willing to go with a little bigger compact like the powershot 1100 IS to get better image quality**

Do you need any special features?
Image stabilization, red-eye reduction (or in-camera red eye fix), face detection, vivid colors, optical stabilization

Preferable: smile shutter, natural lighting, wide-viewing angle, many scene options, optical viewfinder (as well as LCD), durability (It'll probably get dropped a few times)

Lastly, I would like an intuitive interface -- I really liked Olympus' and found Canon's to be difficult, but I'm willing to learn for amazing picture quality

[speaklightly]

You might have to re-adjust your size requirements a bit upward to get the real image quality that you are desiring.

sarah Joyce

[pas49ras]

Let me start by saying that I'm gettting a camera because my friends all take pictures for me at events but I've been dissatisfied lately with their quality. The picture is out of focus, has horrible indoor lighting, isn't as sharp as I'd like it to be, or have a strange tint. My pictures are taken usually at a party or while I travel so portability is important to. I'll be posting the majority of these on the web, but I also have plenty of storage space for larger pictures.

First off..there is no one camera out there in the P/S realm that is a clear cut winner or as you stated takes amazing pictures. In good light/bright sunlight they all produce a picture that you would have trouble picking one from the other. Now, the P/S's Major drawback is their low light/higher ISO performance which lend to focusing problems,high noise levels and strange tints(white balance issues) and poor flash coverage. All P/S cameras suffer from a small image sensor and a ever growing MP count on these small sensors. The problems that you describe with your fiends pictures have a good chance of happening on any P/S camera on the market. Its more about learning the cameras limit and having your expectation match it. Overall..I have been very pleased with my Panasonic TZ-3 and would add the new improved TZ-5 to you list.

[Ken.]

You're killing yourself on the size of the camera. Granted, you don't want to carry a brick For low light I'd lean towards the Fuji's. That seems to be "their thing" with their unique sensors. Low light is the rough one here. No pocket camera has enough flash reach at telephoto and falls back to jacking up the ISO and opening up the lens, all factors that lead to a less than perfect shot. If you can go a bit bigger, I'd say the Panasonic TZ or FZ so long as you cap the ISO at 400 (if possible). The FZ can shoot RAW so you have the option of cleaning up the shot in post.

[David Metsky]

For low light I'd lean towards the Fuji's. That seems to be "their thing" with their unique sensors. Low light is the rough one here.
Unfortunately they've given up that lead by adding more MP to their cameras and essentially losing their advantage in low light. They still have a slight edge, but it's pretty slight at this point.

[bascom]

Canon SX110 with 10x zoom unless you want a viewfinder. SD770 is a bit smaller and cheaper and has a VF but only 3x.

[Rhys]

That's a mutually exclusive list. You can't get everything on the list. I suggest prioritising those most important to you.

[speaklightly]

Rhys has given you some excellent advice. Small cameras do have some inherent problems, so you might want to set some revised priorities.

Sarah bJoyce

[KCook]

Here is a link to another thread that covers the Fuji models -

smooth and compact (http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40903)

Kelly Cook
(Fuji F45fd)

[bascom]

Also, Canon A1000 and A590 are good small ones for only about $150.

[swpars]

If you can deal with 60mm max zoom, the Panasonic Lumix LX3 would seem to fit most of your other needs.

[bascom]

Pan FX37 with 5x is another candidate.

[cdifoto]

Let me start by saying that I'm gettting a camera because my friends all take pictures for me at events but I've been dissatisfied lately with their quality. The picture is out of focus, has horrible indoor lighting, isn't as sharp as I'd like it to be, or have a strange tint. My pictures are taken usually at a party or while I travel so portability is important to. I'll be posting the majority of these on the web, but I also have plenty of storage space for larger pictures.

Budget
max $400

Size
compact or ultracompact

How many megapixels will suffice for you?
7 to 10 (I would mostly likely stay at 8mp though I would like the option of 10mp, but only if the sensor & lens can create great pictures)

What optical zoom will you need?
at least 5x

How important is “image quality” to you? (Rate using a scale of 1-10)
9-10 (I don't need extremely good, DSLR quality pics, but I want amazing pictures for a ultra/compact)

Do you care for manual controls?
I wouldn't use them on a regular basis, but they would be nice to have

What will you generally use the camera for?
Family/friends, lots of indoors, travel some outdoors and some nighttime

Will you be making big prints of your photos or not?
Seldomly.

Will you be shooting a lot of indoor photos or low light photos?
Yes.

Will you be shooting sports and/or action photos?
Occasionally.

Are there particular brands you like or hate?
I've done the most research on Canon, Olympus, Nikon, and Sony, but I'm willing to step outside the box.

Are there particular models you already have in mind?
Canon Powershot 1100 IS
Olympus Stylus 1010 (or 1020 in March)
Sony Cybershot W150

**I'm hoping that this list gives a better idea of what I'm looking for. I'm willing to go with a little bigger compact like the powershot 1100 IS to get better image quality**

Do you need any special features?
Image stabilization, red-eye reduction (or in-camera red eye fix), face detection, vivid colors, optical stabilization

Preferable: smile shutter, natural lighting, wide-viewing angle, many scene options, optical viewfinder (as well as LCD), durability (It'll probably get dropped a few times)

Lastly, I would like an intuitive interface -- I really liked Olympus' and found Canon's to be difficult, but I'm willing to learn for amazing picture quality
If there was a single P&S that could do all that, there would only be one P&S.