Best Ultra-Compact Camera?

[newt_101]

I'm planning on backpacking for a couple years and need a camera to bring along with me that is very small and very durable/reliable.

From my online research, I have narrowed my choices down to these:

Canon Powershot SD30
Casio Exilim EX-S500
Nikon Coolpix S3
Konica Minolta DiMAGE X1
Canon Powershot SD400

Can anyone tell me which ones I should consider from these, as in the best bang for the buck?

I will be using the camera for all types of photos (Night, Close-Up, Scenic, etc..) and I want something with a decent movie mode.

I will be travelling all over and size is an issue, so I don't want any camera with a docking station, or short battery life, etc...

Thanks,
Marco

[bsds]

I have the Canon Powershot SD400. It's great little camera. It has everything, photo stitch, colour enhance, color swap, decent video capability (I’d say it drains the battery faster when you do video) I was able to go few days without re-charging the battery and that was with taking 50+ pics per day

[TenzoR]

I like my SD300, compact easy to use, though flash is a tad too strong, focusing is a problem at max range, but great little camera

[Mr Nobody]

Ditto on the SD300. Video mode is great. I don't need my Handycam. Get a 2G SD card though for more video time. :)

[hagbard]

Anything but Canon,

[Mr Nobody]

Anything but Canon,

I'm hurt..........:(..........:)

Please post reason.

[ShadowVlican]

the sony DSC-T# series got good reviews as well

those are more compact than canons i believe

[chicken_little]

Canon Powershot SD30
Casio Exilim EX-S500
Nikon Coolpix S3
Konica Minolta DiMAGE X1
Canon Powershot SD400

If you're going to get the SD400, you may want to consider the SD450 as it has a bigger 2.5" lcd screen.

[jamied]

Anything but Canon,

I think a lot of people would take issue with this statement. Canon is known to be one of the better brands for digital cameras.

Check out http://www.dpreview.com/ - it reviews almost every camera from every manufacturer.

Personally, I've had 4 Canon digital cameras and have loved three of them. (10D, 20D, A-95). I didn't like my S-40 because it seemed to have a short-focus problem.

I used a Canon - PowerShot A620 a few weeks ago and loved it. It was easy to use and the resulting images were sharp with very little visible chromatic abberation.

Someting you might want to consider is power source. Many of the Canon cameras (A series) use regular AA's. This makes it very convenient when you're travelling and don't always have access to AC for charging batteries.

BTW, right now on Dell.ca, they have many digital cameras on sale for 20% off. (including the A620, SD-450 + SD-400)

J.

[TenzoR]

I'm hurt..........:(..........:)

Please post reason.

he is sad/mad cuz canon lost or did something bad to his L lens so he now tells ppl to stay away from canon

[Ferrari]

Canon uber alles.

My sister has a Canon Elph SD200 and it's very durable, reliable, and takes amazing photos.

[rfdrfd]

A side by side review of the specs:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_sd30%2Ccanon_sd400%2Ccasio_exs500%2C minolta_dimagexi%2Cnikon_cps3%2Csony_dsct7%2Csony_ dsct9&show=all


Movie mode: pick the one that has higher fps (frames/sec). eg. 30 fps
Also, Canon's save movies in AVI format, Sony's save in MPEG format. Pick the one you want.

Battery: all small cameras like these are about the same, since its so small. So just buy a 2nd and 3rd.

Casio: best specs for the buck, BUT, its photos are more flat and quality I found was lower. I've compared between my friend's Casio's with my Sony's. (same shot, etc). Macro and night shots are excellent.

Konica: I'd avoid them, because they are soon going to be bankrupt or bought out. So customer service or repairs will be a problem in the future

Sony: the newest T series are great. Avoid the Old T series, T1, T3, T5, etc. 2.5" LCD screens, 30fps movies

Canon: very popular, lots of ppl use them. I just don't like their AVI movie mode and some models lack the 3:2 ratio shooting mode (4x6 print size)


Most of all, go and try them out. Turn OFF the flash, and try taking a photo. See if they are blurry.


Oh yes, the newer compact cameras have ANTI-SHAKE. Sony T9, etc. Went to Hong Kong in January, and ALL of their compact cameras have anti-shake. So we should see them here soon i hope.

[teknoluv]

Canon: ... I just don't like their AVI movie mode
Care elaborate a bit more? Thanks.

[Anessa]

Panasonic FX-9 Lumix ...Big LCD, good battery life and very compact and it has anti shake. AND it comes in 4 different colours =)

[ShadowVlican]

Most of all, go and try them out. Turn OFF the flash, and try taking a photo. See if they are blurry.


Oh yes, the newer compact cameras have ANTI-SHAKE. Sony T9, etc. Went to Hong Kong in January, and ALL of their compact cameras have anti-shake. So we should see them here soon i hope.
good summary

however it's not fair to take pics without flash... sony (as you stated) does have working anti-shake (to a degree) and so it gives them a great advantage

sony T9 is available here in markham... i can walk over the pacific mall and grab one right NOW.

MJPEG or MPEG..... i'd like mpeg4 if they do that....

[Mr Nobody]

Care elaborate a bit more? Thanks.

For sure the motion jpeg format sucks. Wastes too much space. Too bad they couldn't do mpeg/mpeg2/mpeg4. Other than that, the picture quality is great. Gotta love 640x480x30fps video out of a digicam.

[newt_101]

Thanks for the help people.
It's greatly appreciated.

I have decided to go with a Canon SD550 camera.
It's a little more than what I need but I'm getting a fair price.

Thanks,
Marco

[sshe11]

Thanks for the help people.
It's greatly appreciated.

I have decided to go with a Canon SD550 camera.
It's a little more than what I need but I'm getting a fair price.

Thanks,
Marco

great choice :arrowu:

[fl4wless]

do most of you have problems with red eye when using your ultra compact cameras... i have a sd300, and the pics are great for the most part, but any with people almost always have alot of redeye, even when the reduction is on. Most people have told me its because the lens is so close to the flash for compact cameras, but im starting to think my camera is facked.

Might get an sd450 soon, and see if it has the same problem.

[ShadowVlican]

Thanks for the help people.
It's greatly appreciated.

I have decided to go with a Canon SD550 camera.
It's a little more than what I need but I'm getting a fair price.

Thanks,
Marco
where are you buying one?

[newt_101]

Brand new in box.

COMES WITH
- video out cable
- USB cable
- 1gb Kingston Hi-speed SD card
- 1gb Sandisk MINI-SD card with SD adapter (works on camera)
- wall charger
- extra battery (sealed)
- OEM canon leather case

$450 total, what do u think?

where are you buying one?

[hagbard]

he is sad/mad cuz canon lost or did something bad to his L lens so he now tells ppl to stay away from canon

They lost it, then lied about it for a month. If you don't expect any issues are likely to arise requiring repairs, then go ahead. If you then do need repair, good luck. I'm certainly not alone.

[newt_101]

Bump for more discussion :)

[Mr Nobody]

do most of you have problems with red eye when using your ultra compact cameras... i have a sd300, and the pics are great for the most part, but any with people almost always have alot of redeye, even when the reduction is on. Most people have told me its because the lens is so close to the flash for compact cameras, but im starting to think my camera is facked.

Might get an sd450 soon, and see if it has the same problem.

Just photochop it. :)

[techwiz]

My brother has an Ixus 55, aka SD450. A great lil camera. :)