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View Full Version : Looking for compact or ultracompact with fair capabilities



Sheirja
04-20-2009, 05:55 PM
I'm looking for a camera that has fair to good low-light settings, sports shot capabilities, and zoom. I need it to be compact to ultra compact to easily slide into pockets or my purse. Two most important things are low shutter lag/picture to picture lag, and decent video/picture quality.

Budget
* What budget have you allocated for buying this camera? Please be as specific as possible.
Up to 300. I know its lower, but, I'm looking to get as much as I can within that price, even if I have to give some features up.

Size
* What size camera are you looking for? Or does size not matter at all to you?
Compact to ultracompact

Features
How many megapixels will suffice for you?
Between 8-12

* What optical zoom will you need? (None, Standard = 3x-4x, Ultrazoom = 10x-12x, Other - Specify)
It doesn't have to be ultrazoom, standard is fine, but I do prefer the zoom quality to be faster. Some of my previous cameras moved VERY slowly when zooming.

* How important is “image quality” to you? (Rate using a scale of 1-10)
I would say about 6 or 7. It's important, but it doesn't have to be incredible. As long as it's not too grainy.


General Usage* What will you generally use the camera for?
I take A LOT of pictures wherever I go. I need a camera that can take a fairly fast picture with little shutter lag. I always take one with me when I travel, and I want to be able to whip it out on a moments notice and take a picture. Probably a fair amount of "sports" pictures too since I like to photgraph moving objects. I also like stills and extreme close-ups such as flowers or such. Oh, and I almost forgot videos! I take an incredible amount of video footage. I have considered buying a recorder solely for that purpose but I just don't have the funds to do so, and I don't want to carry two separate devices. So, I do need decent video functions. And the video must be able to zoom.

* Will you be making big prints of your photos or not?
Probably no more than 8x10 and more than likely, not even that.

Will you be shooting a lot of indoor photos or low light photos?
A lot of indoor and low light photos, but also outdoor.

Will you be shooting sports and/or action photos?
Definitely

Miscellaneous

Are there particular brands you like or hate?
I have heard hardly anything good about Kodaks, and am not crazy about the reviews.

Are there particular models you already have in mind?
I've been reading a lot of reviews but the ones I'm looking at currently are the Sony Cybershot W230, and something from the Canon powershot series such as the SD780.

(If applicable) Do you need any of the following special features? (Wide Angle, Image Stabilization, Weatherproof, Hotshoe, Rotating LCD)
Image stabilization would be wonderful, and a serious consideration, but, not absolutely essential.


Overall, I need a camera that at least has most of these features and is somewhat inexpensive. I'm leaving on a trip to Spain, and I want a good, reliable camera.

jekostas
04-20-2009, 07:07 PM
Your requirements for a compact, budget camera are absolutely unreasonable.

You will not get a good low-light, compact camera for under $120 (even flash power at this price point is pretty bad), and it is highly, highly unlikely that you will get a camera with fast enough focusing and shutter delay to be of any use at shooting sporting events.

You really need to either drop these requirements or increase your budget substantially.

Sheirja
04-20-2009, 07:10 PM
Yes I'm aware that I cannot get all of these for the price I'm looking for. But as stated, I can give up some. The question is what camera has as many of those as possible? Not if it has all. And I'm not looking for superb quality, just fair for everyday use.

jekostas
04-20-2009, 07:21 PM
Yes I'm aware that I cannot get all of these for the price I'm looking for. But as stated, I can give up some. The question is what camera has as many of those as possible? Not if it has all. And I'm not looking for superb quality, just fair for everyday use.

For under $120? The answer is none.

The things you're looking for really are in the realm of dSLRs.
There are very, very few compacts that take good low-light pictures, and the one that exist (Panasonic LX3, Fuji 200EXR) have list prices of ~$350+.

For sports shooting, you need fast and accurate focusing, even at the long end of the zoom. This would probably mean Panasonic again, but they don't put their high-speed AF modes on their cheaper cameras.

Drop both of these requirements, and there are a few good cameras out there in your prices range.

Sheirja
04-20-2009, 07:28 PM
Well, bugger....

Ok how about just a good camera in general? For pictures and video. Maybe my definition of good is a little different. My camera phone takes acceptable moving pictures, and it's also a mere 1.3 megapixel camera. I guess I need not so much sport as just...moving, not necessarily fast fast. I think the most important thing for me is to be able to start up and take a picture quickly. I know it's not a DSLR, but, being a college student I simply cannot afford one.

AndyfromVA
04-20-2009, 07:58 PM
Even for $160, you're not going to get anything that's great in low light. However there are some pretty good small cameras within your price range, though they might not be the latest models. I'd look at the Canon SD1100is (the blue version is $149.99 at Amazon.com with free shipping). If you don't mind using AA batteries, the Canon A1000is, Panasonic LZ10 and Panasonic LZ8 are fine cameras that are within your price range. The Olympus FE370 isn't a bad camera.

jekostas
04-20-2009, 08:01 PM
The Canon SD1100is and Sony W120/150 are good cameras, quite close to your price range. The W120/150 I believe was just updated so you may be able to find one of these models on clearance, and for the price, any of these three will probably suffice.
The Panasonic LS85 is a decent camera as well, but camera performance lags behind the Sony and Canon cameras above.

Sheirja
04-20-2009, 08:10 PM
My roommate has a Sony Cybershot that I like. It seems to be alright for my use, but I would prefer higher zoom and I don't know about the low light. Anything similar/better that might be in my price range?

Sheirja
04-20-2009, 08:37 PM
Ok well, it's not quite everything, but, how about the Casio Exilim EX-Z9BK? Know anything about this one?

KCook
04-20-2009, 09:26 PM
If you are in the USA, online stores here have the Fuji F100fd at $145 (after rebate).

Kelly Cook

SpecialK
04-20-2009, 09:37 PM
When I was shopping for an inexpensive P&S around Xmas, I settled on the Samsung L210. I chose it over the Panasonic LZ8 and Canon SD1100 because it was smaller, had a larger max aperture, and had some (limited) manual controls. It has a few other useful features including optical image stabilization, and zooming while doing movies. I got it on sale for $134. It meets nearly all your requirements except operational speed - but no ultra-compact will.

Sheirja
04-21-2009, 11:49 PM
I've been looking lately at the Casio EX-Z80. Any thoughts on this camera?

KCook
04-22-2009, 12:11 AM
In general, the results with these Casio models will be inferior to the Canon SD1100, Samsung SL210, and Sony W120. As Casio goes their better choices would be the S10 or Z200.

Kelly

Sheirja
04-22-2009, 08:23 AM
Ok well, I think my top two choices are quick picture taking speed, and decent photo quality. I need to be able to snap a picture fast, especially since when travelling stuff happens quickly and I need to be able to take a picture fast. So, no slow start up speed and lag between shots.

KCook
04-22-2009, 09:04 AM
Quickest startup is the Canon SD1100.

Sheirja
04-23-2009, 02:06 PM
Anyone have any input on the Canon Powershot SD780 or Sony Cybershot W230? I'm seriously considering those. Possibly the Canon Powershot SD1100 or 1200.

Also, I upped my price range from $160 to $300.