I'm looking for a small point and shoot, with some good optical zoom. I like the photos I get with my iPhone4 but when I use the camera it drains the battery pretty quickly over the course of the day, so I thought about getting a small point and shoot for times I can't lug my dslr. Budget of $300, less is better, any recommendations?
Of course! You know I'm a huge Panasonic Lumix fan! I have the DMC-TZ 18 with a 16x optical zoom. This one costs less than $300, so that's fine. There's also the DMC-TZ 20, which has GPS and a touch-screen. Both are really versatile with a full manual mode. I think this would be a great option, but I think the TZ20 will cost a hundred dollars more...
I just bought myself a Canon Powershot SX130 IS and I love it! It is essentially a bridge camera, with 12x optical zoom and 12.1 megapixels, as well as having a pop up flash, some manual modes and creative modes for color selection, colour swap, miniaturise and fish eye among others. You can use manual focus as well. It does eat batteries a little bit, but they are simple AAs, so you can buy them in any shop. I love it!
I''m also a massive Lumix fan - I have the TZ20 which has a whopping x21 zoom. Don't know the cost in US$ but I bought it when it was first out and was about £250. I often use it over my DSLR would say half my album is create with my P&S - the manual settings are great - the macro is first class - the only thing it struggles with is high DoF shots because fo the autozoom. But in balance a great unit - opt for the cheaper TZ18 if you are not interested in the touch screen or 3D and GPS functions!
am a big big fan of canons, and for what I´ve seen so far they make far better pics than most brands including the lumix (which showed a big disapointment), the panasonic, and other brands.
- Not even my canon EOS 550D has a better macro function
- You still have really good quality image when using the zoom
- Have never seen a camera that can do better night shots, even when you do not use the tripod.
- You can use the manual function which greatly increases your possibilities
- You get in focus even when you are just 5 cm from a object
- Battery last a long long time.
And even thought my small canon ixus 80is has fall into water for over 10 minutes it is still working great. I have it already for about 4 years and it has never let me down.
I'm a great believer in point n shoots - because I also believe it's not what you've got (equipment-wise) but what you get (picture-wise). I recently went to North Korea and was told that professional-looking cameras and long lenses could not be taken in, so I carried a Samsung WB650 with a 15X zoom and a 24mm wide angle. It served me well and left me wondering whether I'd ever use my DSLR and all its lenses again. I've also got a Lumix LX3, which is superb. Do you classify an iPhone as a point and shoot? I use it a lot and love the challenge it presents. Perhaps you'd call it a sub-point and shoot!
I use a Canon Powershot SD 1300 is. I love the compact size and it's simple to use. I keep telling myself to upgrade to something bigger and better, but I haven't done it yet! I like the photos I have taken so far. Please feel free to take a look at my photos. I bought my camera a while ago and it was less than $200.
Good luck and let us know what you decided to buy. Happy shopping and snapping!
I seem to remember seeing iPhone cases that had another battery in them so the battery would last longer? Maybe you could look into that.
I have a Canon SD1300 is but you probably wouldn't be interested in that... it's cheap but the zoom is small and you have to really learn the little quirks. I use focus lock pretty much every time I shoot.
I don't have a dslr. Never have and most likely never will. Sigh. Anyway. I have a panasonic lumix. It's a really high end point and shoot, and it's under $300.
I have a Canon Poweshot SD940 IS. There is a shot of a Bromeliad on my 365 that was taken with it using the macro setting. If you take a look at it, you will get an idea of what it can do. I love this little Canon point and shoot, it fits right in my purse and is handy if I come across something interesting and do not have my DSLR at hand.
another vote for the lumix,i've got the tz4 with the 10 x optical zoom, have a look through my project, some of my pics were taken on it as i switch cameras about
nikon coolpix 4000 - pocket size, great night shots, touch screen, lots of shots i have here were taken with it. the only issue i have had, which is same with all p/s cameras is reflective stripes on fire coats give it problems sometimes.
Canon IXUS (whatever the latest model is!) is just incredible. The latest model I have (my family owns 3 and my Mum bought one for her work!) is 12.1megapixels and has 16x digital zoom which is good quality too. I could rave about it all night if you wanted me to but I do really recommend this, it will never let you down. The macro setting is also incredible as can be seen by some of my shots.
@triciaanddazzle Don't give up hope. I feel the same way but I have seen some fairly cheap bridge cameras (just over £100) that are good so I may look into getting one :)
@lislee75 to date all of my shots have been done on a Nikon Coolpix s8000. I've been able to capture shots of kids diving at swim meets from over 50 m away, of kids diving (swimming) from over 90 m away and above at an indoor stadium. I've had great shots of my family and scenery from it. My only issue with it is that it wasn't fast enough for the swimming strokes....and discovered yesterday that was my fault for not reading the manual >.< it has a continuous sports shot mode hidden away in it's many capabilities.
I haven't been able to take the night shot I wanted to do.....but that's probably my fault again.
It's very slim, has a huge lens , decent macro, and fits in my pocket.
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If you wanna save money go with a cheaper version of one of ixus model:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_10?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=canon+ixus&sprefix=canon+ixus
If you wanna a bit fancier go with this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-SD780IS-Stabilized-Black/dp/B001SER47Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1306847084&sr=8-3
Why do I love it:
- Not even my canon EOS 550D has a better macro function
- You still have really good quality image when using the zoom
- Have never seen a camera that can do better night shots, even when you do not use the tripod.
- You can use the manual function which greatly increases your possibilities
- You get in focus even when you are just 5 cm from a object
- Battery last a long long time.
And even thought my small canon ixus 80is has fall into water for over 10 minutes it is still working great. I have it already for about 4 years and it has never let me down.
In 2 years I will probably get another one ;).
Good luck and let us know what you decided to buy. Happy shopping and snapping!
If you're happy with the shots your iPhone gives you, but it runs the battery down, just buy something to charge it up again! ;)
I have a Canon SD1300 is but you probably wouldn't be interested in that... it's cheap but the zoom is small and you have to really learn the little quirks. I use focus lock pretty much every time I shoot.
@triciaanddazzle Don't give up hope. I feel the same way but I have seen some fairly cheap bridge cameras (just over £100) that are good so I may look into getting one :)
I haven't been able to take the night shot I wanted to do.....but that's probably my fault again.
It's very slim, has a huge lens , decent macro, and fits in my pocket.