your favorite compact class digital camera ?

Question

your experiences with digital cameras in general and things you came to apreciate about them ...

Answer 1

You asked for my favorite, so here you go...

After answering questions here for about 8 months, I finally decided to get a Canon Powershot SD900. I was going to buy the SD700-IS as I think it is a great camera and a few respected members own it and recommend it highly, but they were out of stock everywhere and it gave me time to re-think my purchase. This is going to be a pocket camera to use when I don't want to carry one of my SLR's with me, but I still want really great image quality from the camera. Anyhow, after months and months of reading reviews, the SD900 was my top choice. I found a review in Popular Photography the day after I ordered my Canon that suggests that maybe the Pentax Optio A20 would have been a better choice, but, I'm happy with my purchase. The Pentax does have shake reduction, so that's a plus, but I doubt this will be necessary in a camera that only zooms to an equivalent of 114 mm.

Go here to see the comparison article on 5 compact cameras with 1/1.8" sensors and see what you think. If you really don't want to read reviews, I am still happy that I am got the Canon SD900 and this would be my recommendation for anyone at this point, since it is what I chose for myself. I ordered from B&H Photo where the price is $330 (today) for the SD900. (Please note that this chart incorrectly states that the Pentax Optio A20 has a 1/2.5" sensor. That is incorrect. It has a 1/1.8" sensor.)

http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/3471/high-5-10mp-compacts.html Click on the name of each camera to read a detailed review.

After about one month of using the SD900, I was so happy with it that I bought one to give to my niece as an engagement present. I am that confident in the camera.

I also bought a 5-year Mack warranty for $50. If you are even a little paranoid or clutzy, I feel that it is money well-spent. These are somewhat delicate compared to SLR's.

Here is a comparison page with all five 10 MP cameras mentioned in the PopPhoto article. Click on "In-depth review" and "Read Owner Opinions" for each camera. Be sure to note that the reviews are many pages long so you don't stop after page one. Check the sample images, also. You can enlarge these to full size images if you click on the link below the picture. You will have to then put your cursor in the white space to the right of the picture and click once. After that, you can pass your cursor over the image and it will turn into a magnifier. Click it as a magnifier once and the image will go to full size and you can really examine the detail or look for artifacts like fringing or noise.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_sd900%2Ccasio_exz1000%2Coly_stylus1000%2Cpentax_optioa20%2Csamsung_nv10&show=all

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/sd900.html
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canonsd900/
http://www.cameras.co.uk/camera-reviews/canon-ixus-900-ti.cfm

Here is one photo I put on-line that I took with the SD900. Click on "All Sizes" and view this as large as possible and check out the birds. This was taken right after sunset and there were no enhancements in afterprocessing.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7189769@N04/409551806/

Here's another photo with no post-processing at all. It was taken at the full 111 mm (equiv) zoom. It was taken in the fully automatic mode with no help from me at all. The horizon is crooked because the camera was resting on the top of my car. I did not want to alter anything, because this is part of a 3-image series comparing optical zoom with cropping to digital zoom. You can look at the other pictures while you are there and see why optical zoom is all that matters.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7189769@N04/459603923/

Here's an SD900 photo with a moderate amount of post-processing, but not so much as to make it appear artificial. This was taken in macro mode from about 6 or 8 inches away.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstein/516855394/

Here is a comparison between 10 MP image from the SD900 and a 6 MP image from an SD700-IS, but you can use it as a sample image from the SD900.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7189769@N04/485855174/

Here is another sample that is not intended to show off the SD900 so much, but to comapare it for the sake of a discussion on sensor size. However, you can get an idea of the general quality of the image.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7189769@N04/476181751/

Answer 2

I would like to highly recommend the purchase of a Nikon Coolpix L10 for the following reasons:

1. Besides taking well-exposed hi-quality 5 megapixel pictures, it uses a standard set of rechargeable double AA batteries which last a very long time;
2. Has a 3x optical zoom;
3. The flash setting for "red-eye" correction is on the navigator wheel and not within a submenu;
4. It's very small and light;
5. Uses inexpensive SD memory cards;
6. The digital video feature takes wonderful "sound" videos which are noise free. It records the piano very well with it's built-in microphone;
7. And the price is a mere $120 [sold at Samy's Camera, Staples.com.]

Good luck!

Answer 3

I currently have an HP 425, basic, decent zoom and MP. I have always been film all the way, but my husband and I decided it was time to pull our noses out of the air and try something new. I like that I can see my pictures as soon as I take them, and erase them if I don't like them. There is no guess-work as there is with film.
I don't like the fact that it is harder to control your shot with a digital, in a way it almost seems like cheating! I like to have to think before I shoot, not click after.
We have just recently upgraded to an HP837 which has a larger screen and more options. I know the only way I will ever be truly happy with digital is to buy a digital SLR, I have my eye on an Olympus, $949!! HP837......$240!!

Answer 4

I have a Canon A510 and the newer model is the A550.
I recommend these cameras because of the following features:

* 7.1 Megapixel
*4X Optical Zoom
* Very good photo quality, noise levels low through ISO 400 (in good light)
* Well built for the price
* Very good performance
* LCD visible in low light
* Some manual controls
* AF-assist lamp, good low light focusing
* Good movie and continuous shooting modes
* Impressive software bundle
* Uses AA batteries; great battery life
* USB 2.0 High Speed support

Answer 5

If you're using an AF film SLR, your first step should be the same company's DSLRs for lens/flash compatibility (Minolta AF lenses fit Sony). No DSLR is cheap, though, despite all of them being much the same.

Answer 6

I'd recommend the Fujifilm Finepix F30 because of its low light performance. I have the F10, which I've been very happy with.

Answer 7

canon sd600