I'm a DSLR user who likes to have a compact camera handy for backup and those days when you don't want to lug the DSLR around, but don't want to be without a camera entirely.
I've had a series of Nikon Coolpixes over the past few years, briefly changing to a secondhand Fuji Finepix before that died. The Coolpixes used to be fine, but my current one struggles to focus, delays taking pictures, and the images aren't best quality on the whole. Turn the camera sideways and the picture is noticeably darker. And so on.
I was at an event today with it and discovered on getting home that most of the pictures were unusable, so I'm looking for a replacement. I'll be buying in the UK, and want one that's small, light, slips easily into a pocket, and takes good pictures quickly - and doesn't cost the earth. Any recommendations?
I have a Nikon Coolpix P300 which is very pocketable and has pretty good image quality. It has f/1.8 aperture and IS and is very good in low light.
It doesn't have manual focus or RAW capability & the focusing can hunt sometimes. As an 'always in my pocket' camera, I really like it. The only thing that tempts me to upgrade is to get something with an APS-C sensor for shallow DOF.
You'll want something that allows you to set your shooting modes (M, A or S) yourself. Coming from a DSLR there will be times you're going to get incredibly frustrated with a compact camera that insist on making all the decisions for you.
@carmel The deal of the year is on right now at Amazon - Olympus PEN E-PL1 with 14-42 lens for under $270, list is $500. Mirrorless, interchangeable lens 4/3 format with large sensor yet compact, it will take far better images than the best compacts. If I didn't have an LX-3 that I absolutely love (and paid $400 for!) I would buy this Olympus in a New York minute!
@carmel I shoot with a Samsung PL170 - the photos aren't amazing compared with a DSLR but it does the trick. Around £100 when I bought it around 9 months ago. You can check out my photos and see if it looks like the kind of camera you might be interested in.
Also @mah68 has a nice P&S - not sure of the make which is why I've tagged her in. I'm also not sure whether she bought it in the UK or Canada.
As @phoenixrising said, I quite like my P&S (even though I still take most of my pics for 365 on my iPhone!). It's a Canon Powershot SD1300 IS. I've found that Canon generally does your standard digital camera quite well.
Have a look at my results from my Lumix ZS10 which cost £180 and fits in a shirt breast pocket.
I ALWAYS have it with me and it has 16x zoom, good image stabilisation, good "Intelligent Auto" mode and also manual mode.
The only thing I find fault with is the GPS system which is slow in updating, runs the battery down faster and does not give the location on the EXIF data - only the coordinates.
However you can get a version without GPS which is cheaper!
Whatever you can afford from the Panasonic Lumix compact range, prices vary. I've had three over the years from Tescos £59 Curries £89 and ebay £120 and they've all been ace. The first 2 thirds of my project is taken with them.
I tried to use Fuji X100 and Olympus XZ-1 as compact/with-me all the time cameras, both are very good. But in the end nothing beats iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S2/3 phones!!
The Compact I Use when not shooting with the DSLR is My Sony SONY Cybershot Dsc-H55 the camera is on me all the time from the images you may be able to tell witch ones are done with the Nikon D50 ( 6MP) and the compact with more than double. Though i have good results with both.
Like Paul, I really like the Canon Powershots; I've an old 640, which I like. One of the things that's important to me, as well as the ability to have manual settings for things like shutter speed, is a 'proper' viewfinder (well, actually, I'd be happy with a digital viewfinder, that i know some have), rather than having to rely solely on the screen. I've got a samsung ES75, which doesn't take bad photos & is lots smaller than the Canon, but the lack of viewfinder probably annoys me more than the lack of manual control.
Thanks very much for all the replies so far! The Panasonic Lumix or the Canon Powershot both sound like good things, though as Helge Erik Storheim pointed out earlier, getting some element of manual control would be great: if you're used to a DSLR, a compact camera that does everything for you and doesn't give you the choice can be a bit frustrating.
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It doesn't have manual focus or RAW capability & the focusing can hunt sometimes. As an 'always in my pocket' camera, I really like it. The only thing that tempts me to upgrade is to get something with an APS-C sensor for shallow DOF.
I have some example pix in my project: http://365project.org/humphreyhippo/tags/coolpix%20p300
NB I do sometimes photoshop the pix to get a shallower DoF effect, but if I have it will say in the description.
Hope that helps.
Also @mah68 has a nice P&S - not sure of the make which is why I've tagged her in. I'm also not sure whether she bought it in the UK or Canada.
I ALWAYS have it with me and it has 16x zoom, good image stabilisation, good "Intelligent Auto" mode and also manual mode.
The only thing I find fault with is the GPS system which is slow in updating, runs the battery down faster and does not give the location on the EXIF data - only the coordinates.
However you can get a version without GPS which is cheaper!