P&S: What do the pro's carry?

[gregorywallace]

Hi. I need to replace my old P&S camera. There are so many choices out there, and I'm sure they've improved since I last bought one 4 years ago. This will be something that I use off the clock, just for going out with friends & family, or to have with me on those occasions when I don't feeling like dragging along my D200 and lenses.

I thought I'd ask any professional photographers on this forum which brands and models of shirt-pocket sized P&S cameras you've tried and are happy with.

Features that interest me the most are: quality optics, good image quality (at least 8MP), good optical zoom (don't care about digital zoom), wide ISO range, and a shutter that fires right when you hit the button (if such a camera exists....the ones I've used all have an annoying delay before firing).

Thanks for your time.

GW

[mjs1973]

Welcome to the Forums.

I have been wanting a good P&S for a long time, and I recently purchased the Canon G9 from another member on this forum. I have only had it for 3 days now, but I have to say, I really like it so far. The G9 has been replaced with the G10 but everything that I have heard and read says that the G9 is a better camera. Canon took away some of the video features that the G9 has. The G9 will do time lapse videos, the G10 will not. The zoom range is also shorter on the G10. It goes from 28-140mm where the G9 goes from 35-210mm. I do like the wider end of the G10, but for my style of shooting, the 210mm is a better fit than the 140mm. They also increased the resolution from 12.1 on the G9 to 14.7 on the G10. That many pixels on a small sensor means increased noise. I would be happy with 6-8 megapixels if it improved image quality at higher ISO's. The G9 has an ISO range of 80 - 1600 with an optional 3200 setting. From my tests so far, anything above ISO 200 is too noisy for me. The G series also have optical view finders. Not a common feature on most P&S's.

One of the biggest reasons I wanted the G9 is that it gives you the option to shoot in RAW. Not a very common feature on a P&S. It also has the option to shoot in manual mode. Shooting in manual isn't very intuitive on most P&S & the G9 is no exception. The G series also have a hot shoe so you can add a flash if you want. It does have a built in flash as well.

I don't know that I would call the G9 a "pocket" camera. It's a little bigger than most P&S's, but I can fit it in my back pocket. My wife has a Canon A550 that I also like. The A series cameras us AA batteries so you can find them anywhere if you need them.

I have also heard a lot of good things about the Panasonic LX3. The image quality is supposed to be very good. It also has the ability to shoot in RAW. (Aperture does not support this cameras RAW images.)

I have also heard good things about the Nikon P6000 as well as the Sigma DP-1.

Good luck with your search.

[gregorywallace]

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll check these out. I'd also be happy with 6-8MP....don't see the point of all that overkill, but then I'm not in the business of marketing or selling cameras.

[mjs1973]

I'd also be happy with 6-8MP....don't see the point of all that overkill, but then I'm not in the business of marketing or selling cameras.

I think this is where the LX-3 really shines form what I have heard and read. They didn't up the MP count when they came out with this camera. I'm sure that's why the image quality is better than the rest in this category of camera. Good luck with your search.

[Photo-John]

First off, I don't consider cameras like the Canon G10 "point-and-shoots." They have too many manual controls and more importantly, they don't fit in your pocket.

A lot of cameras go through my hands and I'm just going to tell you a few of my favorites. I don't necessarily own all of these but I have or have had them at my disposal.

A few years ago I did a review of the Canon PowerShot SD850 IS. I really liked it. The combination of size, image quality and exposure accuracy made it great for easy access trail photos. The next year Canon announced the 12-megapixel, titanium-wrapped PowerShot SD950 IS and I bit. It was the first point-and-shoot digital that I coughed up cash for. The image quality is excellent, it fits in a pocket or a small pouch on a backpack shoulder strap, and I get publichable quality photos from it if I can keep the ISO low. I swear the SD950 IS at ISO 100 is as good as my Canon EOS 10D DSLR was. And I still don't think Canon has made a point-and-shoot better than this one. The only thing that would be better is if it had a real wide-angle lens.

Even though I've got the Canon and it has killer image quality for a pocket camera, I keep using the Olympus Stylus 1030 SW. It's waterproof, shockproof and it has a 28mm equivalent lens. I used it all winter for ski photos without having to worry about getting it wet. Reviews from users about the Olympus Stylus SW / Tough cameras are mixed. But I am happy with trading some image quality for durability. And I haven't had one of these cameras fail on me yet. So I'm gonna keep using this one. Actually, I need to send it back to Olympus and get one of the newer ones...

I also like the Panasonic Lumix pocket cameras. Two winters ago I reviewed the Panasonic Lumix FX35. While I was a little disappointed in the image quality, the compact size and overally performance of the camera impressed me a lot. I'm sure this one is impossible to get now, but Panasonic has continued the line and the newer Lumix FX models should be even better.

In January I went to a Panasonic Lumix camera intro and spent a day with the Panasonic Lumix ZS3. It's a little bigger than the other cameras I mentioned, but it has a 12x zoom lens and it captures really nice 720p video. The image quality isn't as good as my favorite Canon, but the overall versatility and performance of the ZS3 make it the next camera I would shell out my own money for, if I decided to buy another point-and-shoot.

Those are my current faves. Hope that helps. Let us know if you've got more questions. And remember that one of my key criteria is that a camera fits in my pocket. If it doesn't fit in my pocket I'd rather just man up and pack my DSLR.

[SmartWombat]

I have big pockets.
I carried the G9 for over a year, until it filled up with dust and is now almost unusable.

I still carry the Panasonic LZ5 it's a good P&S.
Again I doubt you can get it any more, but it's done me very well.

I hope my pocket is big enough to fit the EP-1, I hope to be test-fitting the camera to my trousers this weekend.

[gregorywallace]

And remember that one of my key criteria is that a camera fits in my pocket. If it doesn't fit in my pocket I'd rather just man up and pack my DSLR.

Exactly. I definitely want something small. Otherwise, I'd just carry the D200.

Thanks!:thumbsup:

[Liz]

I have big pockets.
I carried the G9 for over a year, until it filled up with dust and is now almost unusable.

I still carry the Panasonic LZ5 it's a good P&S.
Again I doubt you can get it any more, but it's done me very well.

I hope my pocket is big enough to fit the EP-1, I hope to be test-fitting the camera to my trousers this weekend.

Wow! Paul! That's exciting! Another member getting this great camera! I'll look forward to your thoughts - and pics.

Liz

[Liz]

Hi. I need to replace my old P&S camera. There are so many choices out there, and I'm sure they've improved since I last bought one 4 years ago. This will be something that I use off the clock, just for going out with friends & family, or to have with me on those occasions when I don't feeling like dragging along my D200 and lenses.

I thought I'd ask any professional photographers on this forum which brands and models of shirt-pocket sized P&S cameras you've tried and are happy with.

Features that interest me the most are: quality optics, good image quality (at least 8MP), good optical zoom (don't care about digital zoom), wide ISO range, and a shutter that fires right when you hit the button (if such a camera exists....the ones I've used all have an annoying delay before firing).

Thanks for your time.

GW

My only experience with a p&s is with the Canon G cameras. Excellent cameras as others have stated; however - they are a bit big for pockets. I have the E-P1 now - larger than the Canons. I still have the LX3 which is another wonderful p&s. The lens protrudes somewhat which makes it a bit larger than the compacts. The p&s cameras that Photo John mentioned are fine cameras that would probably be closer to what you're looking for in a compact.

Good luck - and keep us updated.

Liz

[Liz]

I thought you might be interested - just got an email from Amazon for a special sale on the Canon SD 890 IS........I never tried it, but it looks like it has good reviews. Amazon has over 100 user reviews on the camera.

fyi

http://www.amazon.com/gp/goldbox/ref...290_pe_gb_skin

Liz

[gregorywallace]

Thanks, everyone. So far, seems to be a toss up between the Canon SX200 IS and the Panasonic Lumix ZS3. I like the zoom range on these two. Reviews differ as to which has the better image quality. The Canon is $70 cheaper. Hmmmmm......

[California L33]

Don't forget about the A650. It has the same lens and sensor as the G9, but runs on AA batteries. And one of the reasons you'd carry a 'back up' for your DSLR is to have a 'run anywhere' camera that doesn't require a proprietary battery. It's also got an optical viewfinder so you can use it on sunny day, and full manual controls. It's a bit smaller than a G9, but still won't fit in a pocket easily, though Canon makes a small case for the 'A' series so that it can easily clip on a belt. You can even add a Canon filter tube and use filters, though this does make the camera much more bulky. It does NOT have RAW capability stock, though the aftermarket CHDK software adds this.
The bad news- discontinued with no replacement. With all the desirable features and nothing currently made that has them all, the few new examples left are selling for $500+ on eBay- more than list (Canon are you listening?) and used examples are selling for around $350 (bought mine new for $297).