Great point and shoot cameras?

[Marko]

Hi Everyone,

Even though to me point and shoots have always been something I thought I'd never touch...I'm ready now if the right camera exists.

So I thought I'd start my research here :)

Here's what I'm after
-8 MP minimum
-EASY access to manual focus - NOT through a menu
- good reviews
- preferably a fast (F2.8) useful lens that covers a wide range.

any models come to mind?

many thanks

Marko

[Travis]

For heavens sake man.... your our forum leader.... you will demoralize the troops bringing up questions like these.... :D :D

We just bought my father the Panasonic Lumix Fz18 for his 65th....

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Panasonic/panasonic_dmcfz18.asp

The lens on these is Leica... it has most of what your looking for.... check it out..

[AcadieLibre]

I own a Kodak Z710 and I just love it for a P&S. It is handy for times I am not allowed to bring a DSLR to the event or venue. They have upgraded it since to the Z812. Mine s only 7.1mp but the new model is 8.2. mp's and f/2.8–4.8. Not the most expensive P&S but I know someone who bought an Olympus camera of the same type and the photos after ISO 100 are horrid and the cost was a lot more. Anyway if your looking for a decent inexpensive but good Camera I would suggest looking at the Kodak one. Does not shoot in RAW and use SD cards. There are Cameras that meet you specs, just depends on what your willing to spend, for the money and Quality I just think my Kodak is a great camera for its purpose. I also chose the Kodak partly because it is one of the the few Cameras of its type that takes only two batteries instead of 4.

http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=11592&pq-locale=en_US&_requestid=2076

This image was shot with the Camera last summer, just the only one I have online from this camera, ignore the date stamp lol. Link to full image below.


http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1392/620337027_95a40d6ea3.jpg


Full Version (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1392/620337027_802e8a5709_o.jpg)

[tegan]

The Leica DLUX-3 at 2.8 and 10 megapixels and the
Panasonic DMC-LX2 at 2.8 and 10.2 megapixels are both good cameras.
I would also check out a Sony with a Zeiss lens too.

Tegan

[Bahandi]

according to Bryan Peterson, the author of "Understanding Exposure", the f2.8 on a P&S is really more of an f11 on a dSLR.

if that's the case, i don't think any camera will fit your criteria

[tegan]

according to Bryan Peterson, the author of "Understanding Exposure", the f2.8 on a P&S is really more of an f11 on a dSLR.

if that's the case, i don't think any camera will fit your criteria

I have a pocket camera with f 2.8 and it is certaily NOT more of an f11 on my DSLR or the other DSLRs that I use.

Tegan

[Bahandi]

are the results the same when you set your P&S to f2.8 and compare to you slr? was curious to see if what Peterson said was true

[tegan]

OK, I see what he is saying. If you have one lamp on in a basement room and point a pocket camera towards the opposite end of the room, you will get exactly what you see...in shadows, colour, details, hue etc....at f. 2.8

Do the same thing with an DSLR at f.2.8 and you get more of a processed shot with the levels boosted. It is not exactly what you see, but rather the same area of the room with the equivalent of 2 or 3 more lights on.

If accuracy is important, then both shots would probably require postprocessing. The first to brighten some areas and the second to darken a little and correct a yellow hue.

Tegan

[Marko]

Thanks for that info everyone!
Much appreciated - it makes the hunt easier now :goodvibes

Travis your post cracked me up :D

"For heavens sake man.... your our forum leader.... you will demoralize the troops bringing up questions like these.... :D ..."

Although I know a lot about photography...I'll admit to not knowing which point and shoots are good because I've shunned them and haven't owned one in 25 years. I've always favoured SLRs or DSLRs and posting this opinion as well. My rationale has been that point and shoots aren't great for learning photography. BUT for someone that already knows photography, that can now get a point and shoot to do what they need it to do, (ie manually focus which is my #1 criteria for now since autofocus is often an issue on P&S) I'm feeling now is a good time to try one out.

Plus they are so small...that you can bring them to events or places that would be impossible to attend with a full load of gear as Acadielibre mentioned.

At the end of the day...it's just a tool so if we can modify it to fit our needs in certain situations, I'm all for it. But again for any newbie reading this...to LEARN photography, go with an SLR or DSLR :)

Thanks again everyone - for the record I'm looking for a smaller looking camera not something that already looks and feels like a DSLR.

more like this..


Thanks all!
Marko

[JoeMezz]

Thanks for that info everyone!
Much appreciated - it makes the hunt easier now :goodvibes

Travis your post cracked me up :D


Although I know a lot about photography...I'll admit to not knowing which point and shoots are good because I've shunned them and haven't owned one in 25 years. I've always favoured SLRs or DSLRs and posting this opinion as well. My rationale has been that point and shoots aren't great for learning photography. BUT for someone that already knows photography, that can now get a point and shoot to do what they need it to do, (ie manually focus which is my #1 criteria for now since autofocus is often an issue on P&S) I'm feeling now is a good time to try one out.

Plus they are so small...that you can bring them to events or places that would be impossible to attend with a full load of gear as Acadielibre mentioned.

At the end of the day...it's just a tool so if we can modify it to fit our needs in certain situations, I'm all for it. But again for any newbie reading this...to LEARN photography, go with an SLR or DSLR :)

Thanks again everyone - for the record I'm looking for a smaller looking camera not something that already looks and feels like a DSLR.

more like this..


Thanks all!
Marko



What do you use now for a P&S ??

I tried a Canon G9 but it not wide enough for me.
I have a Canon S80 .. nice but old and discontinued.
primary cam is a Nikon D80

What are YOU using now for a P&S ????

[Marko]

I'll fess up...I haven't purchased one yet...but I'll surely post when I do.

[kiley9806]

marko - i really really enjoyed my sony h5 - and i know they have more, new & improved versions, (i think h7 then h9, then i lost track of how outdated mine was quickly becoming) but i love love love it, and still do. i use it for quick shots & always like to have it handy for the video clip ability. you may want to take a peek at its bigger & better versions... just to compare. :)happy shopping! (you probably will be pleasantly pleased with the receipt total, since youve never bought p&s before - much different from dslrs!:eek:)

[Marko]

Thanks Kiley - I will indeed check out those models :)

best!
Marko

[scorpio_e]

What do you use now for a P&S ??

I tried a Canon G9 but it not wide enough for me.
I have a Canon S80 .. nice but old and discontinued.
primary cam is a Nikon D80

What are YOU using now for a P&S ????

I have a FUji E900.

[mindforge]

Get a G9. I had a Lumix on a road trip with a friend that had a G9 and his images were a lot cleaner in comparison. We had taken shots of the same things and my Lumix just wasn't up to par with the G9.

I swear when I look at the load out for pros... they always have a G9 in there for their point and shoots... or that is what they carry all the time when they don't have the heavier SLR/DSLR.

I am looking into a G9 after I get an a900. So that is going to be between Feb to April, if I get it. I keep shoving money into that envelope.

I don't have my Lumix... It got dropped about 40 feet off a mostly vertical rock face by a friend of mine. Needless to say, I don't think any camera would have survived the several rocks that obliterated the camera.

So, my non-DSLR camera is a Kodak easyshare CX7430, and I say that with embarrassment. Well.. as far as digital goes... I have several vintage and old SLR cameras.

You know... You might want to look at the Canon s5 IS Powershot. It is a lot lighter than a dslr... has 12x optical zoom... the best movie mode I have seen in a digital camera (at its cost). The downside is probably the fact that it is not small... my kodak easyshare fits in a pocket with my cellphone. It is only 4mp but then again,.... if I lose it, oh well.. I can get another pretty easily.

I did a lot of research though and the G9 and the newest Lumix are probably the best bets... I think the Lumix is a better bargain as far as the price goes though.

Here is a great link:

http://photo.net/leica-rangefinders-forum/00NC5e

oh.. btw... the G9 has a flash shoe.

If I had the money right now, after doing plenty of research on this topic, I would get the G9.