[macfantn]

I am looking for a small compact camera that I can put it my jeans pocket. I would like to be 5mp with image stabilization, not a big fan of Sony's due to the proprietary memory sticks. I would like to spend between 150 and 200. Can anyone recommend one?

[starman]

Canon. I have one that I put in my jeans when I don't want to lug my EOS20D around. I don't know the model #.

[Buckaroo]

The prices on Sony's Memory Sticks have come down a lot.

Look for a camera where the lens does not have to stick out of the camera body to do it's focusing and zooming.

All the focusing and zooming mechanisims are contained within the body of the camera and don't extend when you turn it on.

This speeds up when you want to turn on and take a picture, it also reduces the chance of damage to the lens if you but that thing sticking out into something.

If you bump the lens that moves oustide of the body of the camera, you may destroy your whole investment. It is very delicate.

I prefer Canon, except when it comes to pocket cameras. Stick with what ever brand that the lens does not pop out of the camera when you turn it on.

[mitchell_pgh]

I'm a Canon fan for point and shoot.

Even their cheap cameras are of good quality. Also, the Japanese built Canon cameras have a slightly lower failure rate as compared to the Chinese (Note: Just because the display is Japanese... doesn't mean the one in the box will be).

[starman]

Oh, don't get a Samsung. My sister-in-law got one and I think it's terrible.

[centerchannel68]

Canon SD10 or SD20 SD30.

[ort888]

I don't think you can get one under 200 with Image Stabalization.

There are quite a few good Canon's in that price range though.

[centerchannel68]

Yeah, why do you need image stabilization on a regular camera anyway? Or did you mean DV camera? Unless your shooting video, image stabilization is kinda pointless and wasted.

[JonoMarshall]

Best camera for value and image stabilisation = Panasonics Lumix FX9 (or equiv), you get better image quality at low light levels using a canon (or equiv) point & shoot, but I hear the FX9s image quality is pretty good too, so who knows?!?

[G4ME]

Originally Posted by centerchannel68 

Yeah, why do you need image stabilization on a regular camera anyway? Or did you mean DV camera? Unless your shooting video, image stabilization is kinda pointless and wasted.

well depends, if you are shooting low light you can get a clearer picture with out the flash. I shoot almost 100% with out the flash as i enjoy the pic so IS is very improtant to me.

But if you look at a decent ISO then you don't need the image stabilizer. There was some fuji film one with an ISO of 3200 or some sort that does amazing low light pics.

[Buckaroo]

If you bump the lens too hard, the camera is trash.

[Buckaroo]

The lense dosen't stick out on this one.

[centerchannel68]

Originally Posted by G4ME 

well depends, if you are shooting low light you can get a clearer picture with out the flash. I shoot almost 100% with out the flash as i enjoy the pic so IS is very improtant to me.

But if you look at a decent ISO then you don't need the image stabilizer. There was some fuji film one with an ISO of 3200 or some sort that does amazing low light pics.

I also shoot without flash, I just put part of the camera chassis on a desk, wall or some other solid object before I shoot. It works fine.

[centerchannel68]

Originally Posted by Buckaroo 

The lense dosen't stick out on this one.

But it sucks, because it's really tiny. I really wanted one of those cameras until I saw the pictures it took. Grainy, lacking colors, just looks like total crap.

[Buckaroo]

I have a T-1, an early version of this camera, and the pictures are great.

This one is a new version, and there is NO way, you can tell me that you know what the pictures look like.

[centerchannel68]

....eh.... my friend came back from Japan last Xmas, and he had the new version. He had the previous version before that. Both have pictures that looks like the color was sucked out of them and it makes any person in the pictures it takes look kinda half dead.

Edit: The pictures are very detailed. It's just the color that makes everything look so awful and dead. Kinda reminds me of Nikon Coolpix cameras actually. Here's a pic from one at a bar:



That pic is very 'sony like' in terms of color. Now here's a pic, in the same bar, with a canon camera:



Notice the huge difference in colors? This is why I'd take a canon EVERY time over the rest of the competition: COLOR.

[starman]

That's way oversaturated.

[centerchannel68]

Yeah, a little bit, but the other one is way UNDER saturated. A lot.

[RAILhead]

The top pic looks like it was taken with a flash and the subject was too close, the bottom looks too saturated.

[RAILhead]

Ugh, starman beat me to it.

[centerchannel68]

Okay. Here's another then:



vs:


(I forgot the red eye flash)

[Buckaroo]

Considering that the T-100 has NEVER been introduced until just recently, I don't think so.

Those are lousy pictures from whatever camera. Although the flash is not that great, I never get pictures that bad.

Actually, the flash is very weak. But that is all.

[Buckaroo]

Here are some sample pictures from an earlier DSC-T30

Steves Digicams - Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T30 - User Review

Here are some sample pictures from an earlier DSC-T50

Steves Digicams - Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T50 - User Review

[Buckaroo]

The portablity and not having to worry about damaging the deligate lens barrel extension make it the best option for a pocket camera.

I use to own an Olymus 3030, and the delicate lens barrel barely stuck out. I had to be very careful, and I read many horror stories of people that bumped their lens and ended up throwing away their expensive camera.

[starman]

What are you people doing to your cameras? I never had a problem with mine.

[centerchannel68]

Yeah me neither. Are you trying to put it in your pocket with the lense still out? Because that's just stupid.

[OAW]

I just copped the Sony Cybershot DSC-T50. The image stabilization is a godsend. Was always getting blurry pics in low light conditions with my old camera.

OAW

[earthlings]

Canon
SD600 is a pocket size camera
SD630 as the big screen on the back.
SD700 has IS, 4 optical zoon

[Buckaroo]

Originally Posted by centerchannel68 

Yeah me neither. Are you trying to put it in your pocket with the lense still out? Because that's just stupid.

Duh!!!

I don't turn off the camera between every single shot. I may have to set the camera down to reposition the subject or whatever. When you set it down, and it bumps the delicate barrel against the table, floor or something on the table, your hosed. It dosen't take much, and your camera is trash.

[centerchannel68]

Well I guess you don't take very good care of your stuff, I've never had that problem, and I'll never put it in my pocket with the lense still out becaues I don't want the lense to get dirty or scratched. Your problems stem from user error.

[RAILhead]

I saw some camera somewhere that was jut over credit card size and still like 5MP or so. I would like to have one that was that small, just for quick shots or goofing around. I can't think of who made it, though.

[centerchannel68]

Sony.

[Mrjinglesusa]

Originally Posted by centerchannel68 

Yeah, why do you need image stabilization on a regular camera anyway? Or did you mean DV camera? Unless your shooting video, image stabilization is kinda pointless and wasted.

Not true. It's great for low light photos and digital zoom pics.

I have an SD800IS - great little camera that takes fantastic pictures.

[Buckaroo]

Originally Posted by centerchannel68 

Well I guess you don't take very good care of your stuff, I've never had that problem, and I'll never put it in my pocket with the lense still out becaues I don't want the lense to get dirty or scratched. Your problems stem from user error.

What part of Duh!!!! didn't you understand?

I don't think anyone puts their camera in their pocket with the camera on.

Look, if you don't mind some working with an extremely delicate piece of your camera sticking out everytime you turn it on, then fine.

Personally, I prefer to keep those real delicate workings INSIDE the camera or lens.

The focus and zoom mechanisims are made real delecate and light duty in order to facilitate quick adjustment when you push the shutter button for focusing. I haven't taken one apart, but I believe they have little plastic gears that can wear and damage very easily.

[Mediaman_12]

Just don't buy a Canon. Every group test I have seen for digital cameras the Canon always comes dead last (in every market segment and every camera size).
For a 'point and shoot' always with you type use, have you considered getting a High quality Camera Phone. Quite a few manufactures are doing 5MP cameras in there phones now, and most of these have 'dedicated' camera controls and shutter buttons.

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally Posted by Mrjinglesusa 

digital zoom pics.

Digital zoom? Worst. Invention. Ever.

I mean, WTF? Just crop and scale in Photoshop if you want shitty digital zoom.

[GSixZero]

Originally Posted by centerchannel68 

Seems to me like the big difference is just the white balance setting. The top is shot with flash but is way too blue, and the bottom is too warm. I think if the white balance had been correct, both these pictures would have turned out fine.

[Edit]
I opened these both in photoshop and set the middle gray point. One click each, and this is what I got:

[- - e r i k - -]

And lo and behold, the bottom one is still oversaturated.


Let's just call it for what it is: Shitty photos in shitty lighting.

[centerchannel68]

Originally Posted by Mediaman_12 

Just don't buy a Canon. Every group test I have seen for digital cameras the Canon always comes dead last (in every market segment and every camera size).
For a 'point and shoot' always with you type use, have you considered getting a High quality Camera Phone. Quite a few manufactures are doing 5MP cameras in there phones now, and most of these have 'dedicated' camera controls and shutter buttons.

What are you reading? Canon's quality optical lenses, great UI, solid construction and price always put them in front of whatever tests or reviews I've ever read.

[Mastrap]

If you're shooting a lot in low light then the Fujifilm F30 cannot be beat. It's not as hot in bright light, but that's nothing that can't be fixed in Photoshop. It puts many low end DSLRs to shame. It's the best point and shoot I've ever owned and has replaced my DSLR as my camera of choice in most circumstances.

Stay away from Panasonic - lousy, and I mean lousy, low light performance.

Canon builds great point and shoots also, and are definitely worth looking at.

[Mrjinglesusa]

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - 

Digital zoom? Worst. Invention. Ever.

I mean, WTF? Just crop and scale in Photoshop if you want shitty digital zoom.

Yeah, OK.



Taken with a CANON SD800IS from about 4 feet away at 15x zoom (3.8x optical).

[Mrjinglesusa]

6 feet away. Again, 15x zoom (3.8x optical)



Yeah, digital zoom sucks.

EDIT: BTW, that's through a glass door.

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally Posted by Mrjinglesusa 

Yeah, OK.



Taken with a CANON SD800IS from about 4 feet away at 15x zoom (3.8x optical).

Uhm? So what? Give me a 300dpi res version of the same image and then we'll talk.

I can crop a 100% of any of my 12MP images for screen use too.

[- - e r i k - -]

Maybe you don't quite understand what digital zoom is:

Understanding Digital Image Interpolation

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

Digital zoom is a method of decreasing (narrowing) the apparent angle of view of a digital photographic or video image. Digital zoom is accomplished by cropping an image down to a centered area with the same aspect ratio as the original, and usually also interpolating the result back up to the pixel dimensions of the original. It is accomplished electronically, without any adjustment of the camera's optics, and no optical resolution is gained in the process.

Because interpolation disturbs the original pixel layout of the image, as captured by the camera's image sensor, it is usually considered detrimental to image quality. The results of digital zoom are, however, sometimes superior to the results of manual cropping and resizing (interpolation) in post-production. This is because the camera may apply its interpolation before performing lossy image compression, thereby preserving small details that would otherwise be lost. For cameras that save images in a raw format, however, resizing in post-production will yield results equal or superior to digital zoom.[citation needed]

Some digital cameras rely entirely on digital zoom, lacking a real zoom lens, as on most camera phones. Other cameras do have a real zoom lens, but apply digital zoom automatically once its longest focal length has been reached. Professional cameras generally do not feature digital zoom.

[Mrjinglesusa]

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - 

Maybe you don't quite understand what digital zoom is:

Understanding Digital Image Interpolation

I know perfectly well what it is and FOR MY USE, it does what I need it to do. If I want to print a 10.9 x 7.3 at 300 dpi, I would not use digital zoom to take the picture...

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally Posted by Mrjinglesusa 

I know perfectly well what it is and FOR MY USE, it does what I need it to do. If I want to print a 10.9 x 7.3 at 300 dpi, I would not use digital zoom to take the picture...

Well thank you for settling that.

Digital zoom is useless when you have a crop tool, and in using digital zoom all you are doing is simply limiting your framing options prematurely.

[Mastrap]

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - 

Digital zoom is useless when you have a crop tool, and in using digital zoom all you are doing is simply limiting your framing options prematurely.

100% agreed. Digital zoom is completely pointless.

[earthlings]

I wish Sony or some other camera besides Canon had color accent as a feature.

[earthlings]

I didn't know what digital zoom was until last year.

Its optical zoom you should look for.

[Railroader]

I am a Canon (not all of them over-saturatelike the examples in this thread) fan, but this Fuji is GREAT at low light situations: DCRP Review: Fuji FinePix F30