recommendations for a digital camera (not DSLR)

[batkinson001]

Hey all,

After last Wed's (10/07/2009) KISS concert and the fact that my cellphone is garbage for pics, I am looking seriously for a point and shoot digital camera that isn't too expensive and can give me better pics in low light or concert settings...

my previous digital camera experience stems from use of an old Canon Powershot S20, a Vivitar Vivicam 3826, and a couple of low $100 range Kodak 10MP digital camera that was around last Christmas (2008), I don't remember the model tho (black & silver versions with a small chrome/silver bar on the front, only takes normal SD cards)...

if I could get my hands on a Fuji F30/F31fd I would, I have read that those were the best for what I want, but they are nolonger available.

I have been reading good things about the FUJI FINEPIX F70EXR , but it is still quite expensive for me...

anyone have suggestions?

[hdom]

Finding a cheap compact camera good for low light is like searching for peace in the mid-east... likely not going happen in our life time.

But if you want something close enough, F200EXR and the Sony DSC-WX1 would be good choices but they are pricey. Try looking for used or previous model version of those camera, may be ??

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/20/technology/personaltech/20pogue.html

[batkinson001]

Finding a cheap compact camera good for low light is like searching for peace in the mid-east... likely not going happen in our life time.

But if you want something close enough, F200EXR and the Sony DSC-WX1 would be good choices but they are pricey. Try looking for used or previous model version of those camera, may be ??

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/20/technology/personaltech/20pogue.html

the now available F70EXR is cheaper than the F200EXR but according to dpreview.com's user reviews it has a few problems. the sony sounds good from that review (excellent link btw), problem is is that it is still well out of my price range...

[batkinson001]

found a good through review for the Canon Powershot A2000 IS (http://www.trustedreviews.com/digital-cameras/review/2008/09/19/Canon-PowerShot-A2000-IS/p1)

Plus I can get it from my work for around $220....

still looking for more cameras tho.

[Ryu69]

Panasonix LX3 is good in low light but the zoom isn't very far.

[gotak]

Panasonix LX3 is good in low light but the zoom isn't very far.

Up to a point. But for a concert at night or indoors I think it's a lost cause to try and find something that works well enough without it being noisy. That is unless you don't mind a bit of noise.

I'd suggest trying video. Often where photos are bad for noise video hides it better.

[NewsyL]

I'd suggest trying video. Often where photos are bad for noise video hides it better.

Exactly what I do!

.

[batkinson001]

Up to a point. But for a concert at night or indoors I think it's a lost cause to try and find something that works well enough without it being noisy. That is unless you don't mind a bit of noise.

I'd suggest trying video. Often where photos are bad for noise video hides it better.
it doesn't have to be perfect but some noise is allowable... just not too much.

i don't think there will ever be a camera that doesn't have noise at high ISO's while in low-light conditions.

and thanks for the suggestion of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0807/08072102panasoniclx3.asp), its nice just way too expensive for me...highest i can go before taxes is $300...

[NewsyL]

Look what was just posted today...

Sony WX1
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/DSCWX1/DSCWX1A.HTM

"Astonishing capability for handheld photography in low light"

.

[batkinson001]

Look what was just posted today...

Sony WX1
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/DSCWX1/DSCWX1A.HTM

"Astonishing capability for handheld photography in low light"

.

been reading about that, it sounds good but it has so-so image quality, I'll add it to my list of options... However it is a bit outside of my budget (depending on the site advertising it, quite a bit)... as a rule i try to avoid anything $ony unless its a gift or a hand-me down from someone.


I have been trying to figure out the differences between the Canon A2000 IS & the A2100 IS (besides the 2 megapixels and the prices)... same goes for the A1000 IS & A1100 IS...

anyone able to help me with that?

[batkinson001]

I have been playing with the old Canon powershot S20 (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0001/00010603canons20.asp) again, still finding things about it I didn't know like i hold down the set button (while in MANUAL (camera symbol with a M beside it on the top dial, also cuts the number of photos able to be taken by half for some reason) ) and it gives me a menu called Exp. Metering with options "Centre-Weighted" & "Spot" (a box shows up on the centre of the screen)...

not sure what it does, haven't been able to find the manual for years...


anyhow still looking for something with better than 4x optical zoom, image stabilization, takes good pics at ISO 400 or better, in low light conditions, and redeye removal...

[Jimbobs]

Steves Digicam website:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/best-cameras.html

[NuggyBuggy]

if I could get my hands on a Fuji F30/F31fd I would, I have read that those were the best for what I want, but they are nolonger available.
I've got an F30 (actually, two of them), that I'm thinking of selling. PM me if you're interested .

[batkinson001]

been reading about that, it sounds good but it has so-so image quality, I'll add it to my list of options... However it is a bit outside of my budget (depending on the site advertising it, quite a bit)... as a rule i try to avoid anything $ony unless its a gift or a hand-me down from someone.


I have been trying to figure out the differences between the Canon A2000 IS & the A2100 IS (besides the 2 megapixels and the prices)... same goes for the A1000 IS & A1100 IS...

anyone able to help me with that?

Thanks to a link posted in another thread on here, i found a way to more easily compare the A1000 IS with its successor the A1100 IS

http://www.digitalversus.com/duels.php?ty=1&ma1=1&mo1=590&p1=3791&ma2=1&mo2=674&p2=4889&ph=7

if a popup comes up just click continue...

[batkinson001]

currently working on a shortlist of currently available cameras from cheapest price to most expensive (inc. out of my price range):

Canon A2000 IS
Canon Sd1200 IS (3X Optical Zoom, but otherwise decent)
Fujifilm F70EXR
Sony Cybershot WX1
Canon powershot s90 (all the talk on the canon forums on dpreview is about this or a G11 for the first 5 or so pages!)

if anyone has any other suggestions (preferably cheaper priced ones, feel free to add to the list)

[hdom]

Btw, Dell is having a one day sale on the F70EXR.

http://accessories.dell.com/sna/products/Digital_Point_Shoot/productdetail.aspx?c=ca&l=en&s=dhs&cs=cadhs1&sku=A2977228

[batkinson001]

As I said earlier in the thread, my search for a currently available point and shoot digital camera for under $250 with decent low light & zoom capabilities seem to leads me to the Canon Powershot A2000 IS...

I am curious if anyone else has any suggestions for camera's with comparable features and price...

Also back at the beginning of the thread i mentioned that i had previously used 2 kodak's, i now know the models of them, the Kodak Easyshare M863 (silver) & the Kodak M1063 (black) both have 3x optical zoom and are no longer available (according to a google search with results from Canada)...

unfortunately 3x optical zoom isn't enough to zoom across a football field and get shots of the home team (my seats are 14 rows back from the edge of the field behind the visiting team benches) as shown by my old Canon Powershot S20 with the zoom (3x optical and 4x digital) as far as it can go below:

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs272.snc1/9931_192849265109_570185109_4297095_5744368_n.jpg