Looking for a digital P&S

[MarkoKovacevic]

Hey RFF,

I'm looking for a small digital P&S for parties, clubbing, and messing about. Mostly for pictures to email/Facebook, not for 'art' shooting.
I've never bought a digital P&S, the only digital I have is a Canon DSLR.
Whats the difference between Canon/Sony/Nikon P&S? I have used my friends tiny Canon and I quite like it, small and relatively accurate in terms of exp/focus. I would like 6-8MP, higher only if the camera has size/features that would make up for the higher MP.

Recommendations/Advice/Random comments?

 

[newspaperguy]

Let me suggest a Canon A590 IS - they're now selling in the $90 range and the photo quality and the response is surprisingly good.
I've been carrying one as a backup to the dslr since last fall and it produces consistent images good enough for publication.

If you look at my avatar, you can see the handle I added to the tripod socket. A big help with a little camera. (mirror image)

Plus - it has an optical viewfinder!

 

[Avotius]

I would not go for a a590 they are too big for just sticking in your pocket and whatever. I like the canon ixus 100 is, very very small and quite nice looking in black but the lens is only a 33mm wide. Panasonic's got a lot of great little point and shoots like the TZ7 which has a really awesome 25-300mm zoom in a pocket able camera and if you want smaller then that a lot of their small small cameras have 25mm wide's in them as well.

 

[mfunnell]

There are so many digi P&S cameras out there, at so many different price-points, with so many different features and "features" (scare-quotes quite deliberate) that there is no definitive answer nor can there be.

Instead, I'll offer you some prejudices. Straight-up and deliberate prejudice. For a pocket digi-cam I like the Canon "digital IXUS" range: Canon SDwhatever model numbers in US terms. I have a Canon Digital IXUS 40 that (until I dragged it out of my pocket to make sure the model number was right) spends most of its time in my pocket: it has had knocks, gouges, hits, a short (but total) sinking in a swimming pool, has a large dent on what would be the bottom plate if it had one but still takes a decent enough photo for a small-sensor digicam.

You can't even buy such a thing at 4 megapixels any more, but the Canon Digital IXUS 80IS looks like the closest thing. I'm only waiting for the model-runout sale to pick one up at a price I like. Even then, only because the switches on my existing and badly-used camera are starting to wear after 5 years of very, very hard life. It's not my favourite style of camera, but I find the little Canon pocket-cams are very tough and useful examples of that disfavoured style: even if most of the photos they take are of whiteboards, business cards and the occasional rack-mount mash-up of equipment intended to do something-or-other.

...Mike

 

[MarkoKovacevic]

I'm thinking of something the size of: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=145&modelid=18183

 

[Avotius]

I'm thinking of something the size of: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=145&modelid=18183

Yeah thats the Ixus 100 IS, great little camera, very fun, but try one out first, some people dont like the flush to body controls, I have big sausage fingers and found it perfectly easy to use. I was surprised how responsive the little camera was, those small digitals have come a long way.

 

[sepiareverb]

Ricoh GRD2 gets my vote- incredible lens and great RAW files. These are jpegs pretty much straight from the card- resized only.

My wife uses one of the SD Canon P&S cameras, and besides some minor annoyances (auto flash on as default, missed focus on close-ups) it makes fine large jpegs.

 

[MarkoKovacevic]

Those photos look pretty mint! The only thing is, it's probably larger and more expensive than I would like. I'm using film for quality stuff and digital for 'throw-away' pics. (not to say that digital is bad, but just not using it for like large prints or portfolio)

Ricoh GRD2 gets my vote- incredible lens and great RAW files. These are jpegs pretty much straight from the card- resized only.

My wife uses one of the SD Canon P&S cameras, and besides some minor annoyances (auto flash on as default, missed focus on close-ups) it makes fine large jpegs.

 

[peterm1]

I use a relatively cheap but effective Sony Cybershot W55. This was a relatively early one. The series has moved on in numbering. The W series I believe is their cheaper (i.e. less fully featured cameras) But they should not be viewed as being poor performers because of their price - they just offer fewer bells and whistles. Two things I really like. First they have a real viewfinder so you can use it in the manner of a normal camera instead of holding it away from the face. I value this as I like to shoot traditionally and believe that shooting in this manner helps steadiness. Second they are capable of producing pretty good images - when you get it right. Of course like all such cameras it cannot do it as relentlessly as an SLR with its big sensor and pro lenses. If of course the shot comes out poorly exposed for some reason it will suffer predictably from noise but in general the results are pretty good and clean up well. In fact there are a few shots I find hard to differentiate on quick examination from those of my SLR - although it becomes obvious when viewed more closely. Oh there is one other advantage of the w55. Sony did not try to squeeze a gazillion megapixels onto the tiny sensor and I suppose this is why the image quality can be quite good. I feel uncomfortable if I go out without a camera so I mainly use it in situations where it is not reasonable to carry a big SLR.

 

[mangamonster]

Those photos look pretty mint! The only thing is, it's probably larger and more expensive than I would like. I'm using film for quality stuff and digital for 'throw-away' pics. (not to say that digital is bad, but just not using it for like large prints or portfolio)

You can probably find a used GRD II on the cheap from fleabay. Honestly, it's the best small carry around P&S I've ever used. Although it's not ultra tiny, I've packed this in my front jean pocket plenty of times without it feeling bulky or heavy and it feels perfect in the hand...nice and grippy. If you can get your hands on one, just to handle and feel, I highly recommend it. 🙂

 

[gavinlg]

I'd get one of the canon IXUS range, i have an 850 IS (different name in US) with the wider lens and it's surprisingly quick, gives pretty decent pictures consistently and is built really well - metal!

 

[vha]

Either a Ixus something, depending on how much cash you want to burn, or as also said before a GRD II, have one my self and like it, a lot, not bad for being digital 🙂
The good about the Ricoh is the raw option and the lens/handling, and the good about a Ixus is the price, ease of use and no worries if someone spill a soft drink on it.
You choose, luck with the quest.

vha