Back from Cuba! Got pics!

[scootermaster]

I have an Eos ElanII, and an old S500 that doesn't really work anymore (drunk chick on a bachelorette party hit it out of my hand and it's been wonky ever since). But the Elan is probably just too big, and obviously I would prefer to shoot digital (although I think I probably have some T-max I could stand to burn).

At any rate, I've read some reviews sites (I'm just starting my search, been out of the digital world since the S500 was new) but I thought I'd pop in here and see what people thought.

I just want something small that'll let me take full advantage of the once in a lifetime opportunity that is going to Cuba.

Any ideas?

 

[kyzen]

What sort of price range are you looking at? How big or small do you want? Do you want a normal point and shoot (3-5x zoom typically), or a superzoom (10x or higher)?

You'll get tons of useful suggestions from the folks on this board if you supply just a tiny bit more info

 

[scootermaster]

Originally posted by: kyzen
What sort of price range are you looking at? How big or small do you want? Do you want a normal point and shoot (3-5x zoom typically), or a superzoom (10x or higher)?

You'll get tons of useful suggestions from the folks on this board if you supply just a tiny bit more info

Ah, sorry. I didn't want to be too wordy.

Price isn't really an object -- I remember paying almost $500 for the S500 -- but I doubt you can find an ultra-compact for anywhere near that price these days, right?

Smaller is better. I actually used my S500, because it'd fit in my jeans pocket. The ElanII is collecting dust (in fact, I even think I gave one of the lenses to my step dad to get re-chipped for his digital rebel). Anyway, I don't want one of those "compact" ones like the old S40 or anything. Those are nice, but pants-pocket is better.

Although I'll obviously be doing mostly in-lens cropping, I can't say the zoom is really a critical issue. Light-sensitivity, CCD quality, image quality and overall "forgiving-ness" (and build quality of the camera itself) are more important, I'd say.

In other words, I'd like something that lets me take the best pictures possible -- if I want/need to expend that much effort worrying about it -- but that'll pick up the slack if I don't or can't.

Thanks for the tip.

 

[996GT2]

Panasonic DMC LX3 is a good bet at <$400. Awesome 24-60mm f/2.0-2.8 stabilized Leica lens, great sensor, and solid build.
The only downside is that the zoom range is relatively limited.

 

[jpeyton]

DPReview did a roundup on Premium Compacts and the two that came out on top were:

Canon SD880 IS
Fuji F100fd

I have the SD880; fantastic camera. Canon's best Digital ELPH (yes, better than the SD990 IMO).

 

[scootermaster]

Originally posted by: 996GT2
Panasonic DMC LX3 is a good bet at <$400. Awesome 24-60mm f/2.0-2.8 stabilized Leica lens, great sensor, and solid build.
The only downside is that the zoom range is relatively limited.

All I have to say is, "Wow".

That camera looks incredible. Thanks for the suggestion. Not looking forward to spending $400+, but I just might have to, pending how big that thing is. Baaaaaad idea to look at this one first, cuz now nothing else will compare!

Thanks for the suggestion! Any others?

 

[jpeyton]

The LX3 isn't really a "jeans pocket" camera, unless you wear really baggy jeans. More of a coat pocket camera.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
DPReview did a roundup on Premium Compacts and the two that came out on top were:

Canon SD880 IS
Fuji F100fd

I have the SD880; fantastic camera. Canon's best Digital ELPH (yes, better than the SD990 IMO).

this. can't really go wrong IMO.

Personally, I'd just get the LX3 =)

 

[ElFenix]

lx3 fits well with cargo pants

my suggestion is get an M6 TTL off ebay and resell it when you get back

 

[extra]

LX3 if you are going to need higher isos. Canon G10 if your pics are almost all going to be in bright light.

 

[scootermaster]

Originally posted by: randomlinh

Originally posted by: jpeyton
DPReview did a roundup on Premium Compacts and the two that came out on top were:

Canon SD880 IS
Fuji F100fd

I have the SD880; fantastic camera. Canon's best Digital ELPH (yes, better than the SD990 IMO).

this. can't really go wrong IMO.

Personally, I'd just get the LX3 =)

What about the Panasonic TZ5? Newer models? Anything else?

I'm leaving in 2 weeks, so I need to get one of these soon!

 

[jpeyton]

http://www.jr.com/canon/pe/CAN_SD960ISSLVR/

 

[scootermaster]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
http://www.jr.com/canon/pe/CAN_SD960ISSLVR/

Not sure how that's the winner for picture quality, but I guess it's certainly newer.

 

[abaez]

lx3 for video recording too

 

[scootermaster]

Originally posted by: abaez
lx3 for video recording too

Unfortunately, I think I'm going to nix that one. I'd love to try it out in Cuba, but it's not really going to work as a "going out" camera I can bring around with me. As best as I can tell, it's just too big. :-(

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: scootermaster

Originally posted by: jpeyton
http://www.jr.com/canon/pe/CAN_SD960ISSLVR/

Not sure how that's the winner for picture quality, but I guess it's certainly newer.

The winners for picture quality (LX3/G10) are too big for you.

 

[scootermaster]

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Originally posted by: scootermaster

Originally posted by: jpeyton
http://www.jr.com/canon/pe/CAN_SD960ISSLVR/

Not sure how that's the winner for picture quality, but I guess it's certainly newer.

The winners for picture quality (LX3/G10) are too big for you.

Well, I meant versus anything else in a compact form factor. I'm not sure if that's got better picture than a TZ5 or even the older IS canon models.


But I'm going to buy something in the next day or two so I'd love any last minute advice.

 

[scootermaster]

Huh. Seems like Costco has both the 880 IS and the 960 IS. The 880 actually has a bigger screen. Not sure what the advantage of the 960 is other than being more expensive and having a different control layout (supposedly like an iPod).

 

[996GT2]

Originally posted by: scootermaster

Originally posted by: abaez
lx3 for video recording too

Unfortunately, I think I'm going to nix that one. I'd love to try it out in Cuba, but it's not really going to work as a "going out" camera I can bring around with me. As best as I can tell, it's just too big. :-(

Then you should nix the TZ5 as well, because it's just as big as the LX3 and quite a bit thicker.

Have you actually tried an LX3 in person? I recommend that you reserve judgment on its size until you have actually gotten a chance to use it. The Panasonic LZ8 I use as a backup to my DSLR is both taller and thicker than the LX3, but 10mm less wide. I find it very pocketable nonetheless and take it to many places where I find my DSLR too bulky, so I don't think an extra 10mm of width would greatly impact that.

Even if you compare the LX3 to a compact like the SD880 IS, the LX3 is only about 13mm wider. In terms of height and thickness, the two are virtually the same. Is 13mm of width really of monumental importance to you?

Besides, think of it this way. If you get a camera that's slightly smaller and more pockcetable than the LX3, then what do you do when you have to take that wide-angle landscape shot in dim light? With a small, compact camera, you're basically screwed at high ISOs...and good luck finding another P&S with a 24mm equiv lens that goes to f/2.0. This is when you realize that while you might have bought the more compact camera, you can't take usable pictures in some situations because you're limited by a smaller camera's poor high ISO performance and lack of manual controls.

But...if you have tried the LX3 and still think it's too big, then you're going to have to accept the fact that a smaller camera than the LX3 means compromising some picture quality and features.

 

[ElFenix]

if you want something very pocketable you'll need something the size of a deck of cards or pack of cigarettes. the image quality of those cameras is all about the same, and i don't think a single one of them is worth spending more than about $150 on. if anyone can tell the difference between a sony W120, panasonic FS3, sd1100, and any similarly sized tiny camera, i'll eat my hat. the SD990 might be the wild card with it's larger sensor, but i really think i'd go for something more versatile if i'm spending over $300 (it also has manual controls).


if you demand image quality and demand pocketability, you're really asking for two different cameras.

 

[scootermaster]

So I think I'm going to go with the 960 (thanks Jpeyton ). I figured it was like this:

880:
+Image quality
+Wide angle
+Price
+Big screen

-No HD video
-No view finder
-A little bigger

990
+View finder
+More megapixels
+features (like "quick mode", etc)
+Size

-No wide angle
-No HD

960
+HD video
+Wide angle
+Size

-No viewfinder

Seems to me that since [hopefully!?] the PQ issue isn't really going to be that great (especially for online or non blown up images) the 960 makes the most sense. I'm a little nervous because there are people online talking about IQ issues with the 960. But I'm hoping that's only in extreme cases (like edge blurriness when blowing up a 14 MP image to full size and other things I can't imagine I'll need to worry about). If those issues are real-world applicable, I'd love to know now!

I looked at an LX3. The thing is beautiful. It's really a wonderful machine...it's just too big for what I want (not too big for Cuba, but for out and about, it's probably not going to work. And for another $200 I just couldn't justify it).

So now my next question is...does memory card brands matter? I think I get a free 4gig from Amazon, but with the HD video, I think I want to buy an 8 or a 16. Other than speed, can I just go on price?

 

[jpeyton]

The cheapest Class 6 SDHC cards work fine; A-DATA or Transcend. Class 6 is plenty fast for a pocket digital camera. It shouldn't be more than $30 for a 16GB card.

 

[DaFinn]

Class 6 SDHC card at minimum if you plant to capture HD video on that thing. For pictures almost any modern Micro SD w. adapter/SD/SDHC will do. For travels I allways carry at least 2 cards just incase. Usually 1 fast 8Gb (Sandisk Extreme III, highly recommend), and a cheapo 2Gb as backup. 16Gb is good idea for that HD video again.

Canon SX200is is my travel camera of choice. At least here in Europe its about same price as 960. Slightly larger, but offering 12x zoom and more manual controls in addition.

 

[scootermaster]

I'm baaaaaaack!

I want to thank you all SO MUCH for the help. I got the 960, it came with a free 4gig Transcend card, and I bought another 16 gig for $35. Couldn't be happier.

Now, I just need to crop and perhaps color-correct the photos before I release them to the wild. The problem is, I'm not sure how to do this. I mean, I know how to do this, technically, but I have no formal photography training and I'm not sure what sort of aesthetic is considered "good". I know what I like (and if you see the raw photos, it will become abundantly clear what my "style" is in terms of framing and what not) but I guess I'm not a true artiste in that I don't have the confidence to just be like "here's what I like, take it or leave it". I'm afraid that I'm going to crop the photos "wrongly" or something.

It might be interesting to post one or two someplace and see what some of you come up with, and if it ends up like what I did. For the record, not all of them even need work, but for the first time I have a camera that has enough MP to support crop and zooming (I hope!) so I spent more energy trying to find good pictures and less making sure things were framed perfectly in the lens.

 

[Munky]

Basically, you want to make sure your subject is not dead center of the frame (try to make it fall along the lines 1/3 and 2/3 of the frame across), the horizon is not dead center of the frame, and crop out anything that might distract the viewer away from the main subject.