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....

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

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/spec...ic_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/PageQueri...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.





Full Version

[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

Travis your post cracked me up

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

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

Travis your post cracked me up


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 ????