Thread: P&S Recommendations?

After sitting and watching my 5D collect dust for the past year, I decided I need to spend part of my tax return on a P&S so I'll actually shoot digital. I know nothing about these cameras, aside from the fact that I would use a little camera 100x more than my DSLR. I'm looking for something that will fit in a pocket (or at least be somewhat easy to carry), has manual adjustments, RAW files, and image quality that would look good on 11x14 or so.

Right now the Fujifilm X10 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 are jumping out at me as good options, and maybe the Canon G12. What are you guys using, or what would someone more informed recommend? I'd like to keep it under $600, but I also have sort of high standards...

Sounds like you are on the right path. I just picked up a Nikon P7000 at Bozeman Camera for $225 with a thousand clicks on it. Similar controls to the ones you mentioned except the write speed is a bit slower but it has a little more zoom. The IQ is pretty damned good as is the case for the Canon and Panasonic. Keep us posted if you find something different.

I just checked out the G12 and the Lumix, but they didn't have the X10. The G12 is too big, but the Lumix seemed pretty cool. From looking at reviews online I'm leaning more toward the X10, though.

Might take a look at the Canon S95 or S100 for a decent pocket size camera if the Lumix doesn' t get the pick.

The X10 is quite a bit larger than the Lumix LX5

I have the LX5. It is a terrific camera, with really great image quality. I would say that it is about as big as I'd want to go in a "pocket camera" however.

Also the LX10 has some sensor issues (google LX10 white globe) that they may or may not be able to fix with firmware.

I can strongly recommend the LX5. Another good option is the Canon S95 or S100. Much smaller than the LX5, and also quite good image quality.

this one looks cool.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/benoitp...in/photostream

x100?

s100!!!!! mostly because I want to see what you would shoot with it, but also because I really really want one myself. It seems to fit all of your criteria.

The x100 looks awesome, but it's out of my price range and I'd like a zoom.

I looked at the LX5 today and it looked pretty cool, but it might actually be smaller than what I want. I've read about the white globe issues with the x10, but from what I gathered it isn't that serious of an issue.

i got a nikon p300 last year. i've been really happy with it. a lot cheaper than a s95 or s100, if you don't need raw. 1080p video looks really good too. very pocketable unlike the canon Gx series (my old camera was a G7).

I'm in a similar market... although size is not as much of an issue, I'm mainly looking at the G12 and X10. Does anyone have experience with those?
I will also be taking a fair amount of video, so right now I'm leaning towards the X10 because of it's 1080p shooting...

I have the g11 and drag it everywhere. The best shots I've taken with it are actually underwater shots using a housing and strobe. The 1 shot per second frame rate could be its biggest drawback. My friend has been loving his s95 and it takes impressive low light photos and high quality video with sound, with f 2.0 lens. Which is much better than the f 2.8 of the g11. The video on g11 sucks too. Not sure what the g12 offers, but I heard the s100 is completely different and some don't like the quality as much as the s95.

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^ weird about the s100 vs s95 ... the s100 has a CMOS as opposed to CCD sensor, right? I figured that alone would be worth the jump.

I have a g12 which works fine for ski carrying and takes great pics. That Fuji x10 looks very cool. Does it have a settings display inside the viewfinder? That's the only thing the G12 doesn't have that I wish it did.

I use a G11 for skiing/ biking/ travel pics, and like it a lot.

Canon's owner loyalty program is a great way to get a deal on a refurb'd G11/G12 or S95/S100. The two cameras I have seen from the refurb program are just like new -- my G11 came from there, and my coworker's G12 too.

I ended up going with the x10, it actually just got here from B&H yesterday. I haven't had a chance to go shoot with it yet, but just from checking out settings and messing around at home I am really impressed. I had no idea P&S cameras could be this nice! I am definitely 100% happy with the decision I made right now...but I also haven't gotten out and actually used it yet.

^ yeah it's amazing how far P&S cameras have come the last few years once they added faster processors and RAW file output. Enjoy, can't wait to see what you capture with it!

The Fuji x10 looks interesting. Scrap, A friend showed me a review that stated problems with the s100 white balance and low light compared to the s95, their statement was don't fix something that's not broken relating to the switch of CCD and cmos sensors. Not based on personal experience myself.

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ah okay ... doesn't sound like anything that can't be fixed in firmware or by shooting RAW.

Originally Posted by oftpiste

Does it have a settings display inside the viewfinder? That's the only thing the G12 doesn't have that I wish it did.

apparently it doesn't have a display in the viewfinder. I would really like a compact, without a fixed lens (x100) that has an info display in the viewfinder.

Originally Posted by El Chupacabra

I use a G11 for skiing/ biking/ travel pics, and like it a lot.

Canon's owner loyalty program is a great way to get a deal on a refurb'd G11/G12 or S95/S100. The two cameras I have seen from the refurb program are just like new -- my G11 came from there, and my coworker's G12 too.

Do they carry the S100? I've only heard of the program having DSLRs and occasionally the G series. I'm lusting after an S95/100 though, the DSLR is complete overkill for day-to-day use and ski touring.

Originally Posted by bfree

Do they carry the S100? I've only heard of the program having DSLRs and occasionally the G series. I'm lusting after an S95/100 though, the DSLR is complete overkill for day-to-day use and ski touring.

Currently only the s95 is offered.

I'd never heard of the problems with the s100 that Gerome is mentioning before. I'd be interested to hear what anyone else's experience with this is, as it's one of the ones i'm considering as an upgrade for my underwater setup.

Anyone used the olympus xz 1 ? Should mop the floor with s100 & pana lx 5 pic quality wise..

Looking for a raw shooting, slightly teleish cam with good handling even with gloves on.

lx 5 has only a 24-90mm...olympus has had shitty UI/handling,starts at 28mm but has the best pic quality, canon is good all around, but lacks the flash shoe, so cant use external flashes with radioslave?

anyone?

update. well, fiddled the olympus and in the end got the canon s100..

feels solid, good button layout, the 24-125 zoom has a good range, one hand operationable and smallest of the bunch.
now it is just point and shoot...

Had a G12 for the last year. Great for stills. Battery life is tremendous. The optical viewfinder is nice as is the swivel LCD.
Highly recommended.

I actually got tired of lugging around my SLR and lenses so for an upcoming Europe trip I bought a Canon G1X. Not taking the SLR at all....I'm hoping that's a good choice. So far just shooting around the house it's an amazing little chunker of a camera.

I'll report back on whether or not it's worth the expense.