Anyone gotten a good CAMERA lately?

[decodelighted]

I'd prefer small, portable point & shoot w/great zoom. Better than cell phone camera but small enough that I'd actually carry it.

IDEAS? Recommendations?

THANKS in advance!

 

[Amys Bling]

i need a new camera!

 

[MsP]

I'm looking for one too...

I really want the Canon G1X but at like $800, that's over what I want to spend. The G12 is appealing... but... when I read comparisons to the G1X I fall out of love.

I'm thinking maybe the Samsung TL500? or the Olympus XZ-1?

The Canon S100 gets excellent reviews for a pocketable camera. For some reason I like a camera with a bit of heft--hence two above.

What's your budget?

[edited to add Panasonic's GX1]

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I'd prefer small, portable point & shoot w/great zoom. Better than cell phone camera but small enough that I'd actually carry it.

IDEAS? Recommendations?

THANKS in advance!

Aren't some of the cell phone cameras good? Just curious as my camera is good, but we were looking and we could sell it and use the proceeds to upgrade my cell to an iphone 4... I thought that they take great shots?

 

[decodelighted]

Hey guys, thanks!

BUDGET: I'm thinking under $200 ... because the last two cameras we've had have pooped out after a couple of years. I'm super discouraged right now about these things lasting. Remember when stuff used to LAST! My first Canon Elph type thing lasted sooooo long. And we've gotten two more in a row that . So I'm bitter!

IPHONE: My husband has the iPhone 3 I think but his camera doesn't have zoom. It takes nice shots otherwise ... but I really like more movement/cropping ability etc in the moment. Neither of us can upgrade to an iphone4 for awhile -- does that have zoom?

 

[Haven]

I LOVE my camera! It's a Canon Powershot Elph 300 HS. It's very small, I carry it around with me in my purse every day.

I had another Canon before this one, and I thought that was a camera, but this one really blows me away. I have pretty lame photography skills, yet we end up with awesome photos because of this camera.

PS washes everything out once I upload pictures, but here are some recent ones that I've taken. Let's see if PS can handle 'em.


And since this is PS, here's a recent shot of my stone. I took it of my entire hand, and zoomed in super close-up on my computer. Still crisp:


ETA:
Fine. When I make the file sizes smaller to share on PS it just takes away so much from the photos. Trust me, the originals look awesome.

ETA2: I just had a bunch of pictures from this camera printed out at size 16 x 20, and they look awesome. I love this camera, and I'm pretty sure it cost less than $200. I want to say it was in the $150 range.

 

[kenny]

This is a nice camera.
It's so cheap because it doesn't come with a lens.

http://www.adorama.com/HSH4D200MS.html

Here's a nice zoom lens.

http://www.adorama.com/HSHC3590.html

 

[decodelighted]

Oh Kenny. Take pity on us po' folks w/out thimbles full of rare gems!

 

[kenny]

 

[MichelleCarmen]

IPHONE: My husband has the iPhone 3 I think but his camera doesn't have zoom. It takes nice shots otherwise ... but I really like more movement/cropping ability etc in the moment. Neither of us can upgrade to an iphone4 for awhile -- does that have zoom?

Yes, the iphone 4 has zoom but I don't know much about the quality of the photos. I think my husband's iphone has zoom...I'll check when he gets home to see the resolution on that one.

 

[decodelighted]

IPHONE: My husband has the iPhone 3 I think but his camera doesn't have zoom. It takes nice shots otherwise ... but I really like more movement/cropping ability etc in the moment. Neither of us can upgrade to an iphone4 for awhile -- does that have zoom?

Yes, the iphone 4 has zoom but I don't know much about the quality of the photos. I think my husband's iphone has zoom...I'll check when he gets home to see the resolution on that one.

I was asking my husband too ... he said it has digital zoom but not optical zoom? I guess like a little zoom thingie doesn't poke out. Oooooh I'm technical!

 

[decodelighted]

 

[decodelighted]

I LOVE my camera! It's a Canon Powershot Elph 300 HS. It's very small, I carry it around with me in my purse every day..

Thanks Haven! My DH says he hasn't given up on the Elph line & is, in fact, eyeing an Elph that comes out *next week*. Of course what I want to photograph is this weekend. Oy. I guess it'll be Instamatic cell phone for moi!

Our last camera cr*pped out on the 2nd day of our trip in January! No worries, because my back cr*pped out shortly thereafter & there weren't oh so many photo opportunities.

 

[soocool]

I LOVE my camera! It's a Canon Powershot Elph 300 HS. It's very small, I carry it around with me in my purse every day.

I had another Canon before this one, and I thought that was a camera, but this one really blows me away. I have pretty lame photography skills, yet we end up with awesome photos because of this camera.

PS washes everything out once I upload pictures, but here are some recent ones that I've taken. Let's see if PS can handle 'em.


And since this is PS, here's a recent shot of my stone. I took it of my entire hand, and zoomed in super close-up on my computer. Still crisp:


ETA:
Fine. When I make the file sizes smaller to share on PS it just takes away so much from the photos. Trust me, the originals look awesome.

ETA2: I just had a bunch of pictures from this camera printed out at size 16 x 20, and they look awesome. I love this camera, and I'm pretty sure it cost less than $200. I want to say it was in the $150 range.

I ditto Haven! She was the one who suggested this camera to me last year and I love it! I got is as apart of a bundle from Best Buy (camera, case, memory card, extra battery) for around $230.00.

 

[Haven]

I LOVE my camera! It's a Canon Powershot Elph 300 HS. It's very small, I carry it around with me in my purse every day..

Thanks Haven! My DH says he hasn't given up on the Elph line & is, in fact, eyeing an Elph that comes out *next week*. Of course what I want to photograph is this weekend. Oy. I guess it'll be Instamatic cell phone for moi!

Our last camera cr*pped out on the 2nd day of our trip in January! No worries, because my back cr*pped out shortly thereafter & there weren't oh so many photo opportunities.

Oh, no! I used my Canon PowerShot SD 630 from October 2005 to June 2011. (I only know these dates because I got it for my birthday, and then replaced it right before a big trip.) That camera was great, never had any problems, but man oh man are the pictures from my new Canon better.

(Adding I've been using this new Canon quite often since June, so nearly a year. I carry it in my purse every day, but it's also been to North Carolina, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, LA, Vegas, and Napa. Great photos from every trip.

We did have an issue with the lens cover right after I bought it--the two little panels weren't meeting up so there was a little gap that exposed the lens when the camera was off. By the time I noticed this I was already in North Carolina for a month, but when I got back we brought it to the store, they sent it to Canon, and Canon fixed it free of charge.

I injured my back on day 3 of my trip to Europe last year. I was bed-bound for a day, (in Belgium at a conference,) and then thankfully DH arrived two days later and treated me a couple times a day throughout the trip so I managed to move around every day. There was a lot of crying at night, though. I don't remember the back pain when I think back on it, but it was pretty awful. I *do* remember smelling like frozen peas in the Zurich airport, though. I tied them to my back for relief, but once those suckers melted, ugh.

soocool--I'm so happy you like the camera! (I'd feel horrible if you didn't!)

 

[amc80]

IPHONE: My husband has the iPhone 3 I think but his camera doesn't have zoom. It takes nice shots otherwise ... but I really like more movement/cropping ability etc in the moment. Neither of us can upgrade to an iphone4 for awhile -- does that have zoom?

Yes, the iphone 4 has zoom but I don't know much about the quality of the photos. I think my husband's iphone has zoom...I'll check when he gets home to see the resolution on that one.

I was asking my husband too ... he said it has digital zoom but not optical zoom? I guess like a little zoom thingie doesn't poke out. Oooooh I'm technical!

This is correct. iPhone 4 has a digital zoom...which sucks. But the non-zoomed pictures are awesome, especially on the 4s.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

IPHONE: My husband has the iPhone 3 I think but his camera doesn't have zoom. It takes nice shots otherwise ... but I really like more movement/cropping ability etc in the moment. Neither of us can upgrade to an iphone4 for awhile -- does that have zoom?

Yes, the iphone 4 has zoom but I don't know much about the quality of the photos. I think my husband's iphone has zoom...I'll check when he gets home to see the resolution on that one.

I was asking my husband too ... he said it has digital zoom but not optical zoom? I guess like a little zoom thingie doesn't poke out. Oooooh I'm technical!

It doesn't poke out? Then what good is it for? lol I have no idea what the difference between digital and optical zoom is.

Okay, anyway, my dh said if I get the iphone 4, it will zoom...he thinks that if I don't get the phone upgrade, that life will end as we know it. He says I have an "outdated phone," which to most is actually an awesome phone, but he doesn't think it is, so he thinks I should sell it to help pay for the iphone 4 (it appears I have to sell A LOT of my obsolite technology, like my ipod classic, which once selling, will pay for the phone upgrade)...

I'm REALLLY starting to realize my dh and I have different priorities. He's all into the stupid tech stuff, phones, computers, etc., but what really matters is diamonds and organic food, yet he doesn't get that.

Anyway, when I get the iphone 4, I'll post about the camera and let you know!

 

[VapidLapid]

I have an iphone 4 and yes it takes nice pictures, but the zoom is digital, not optical, which really means it is not a zoom, just a cropper and pixel magnifier. No macro though and dreadful for gems. It takes nice pictures of the dog and landscapes, not much better than my folding Brownie No. 2.

I was given a Panasonic Lumix for christmass, the big chinky one around $450. I used it for a week...hated it. Gave it away to the cook at my local coffeeshop who might actually use it. My six year old canon powershoot sd950 digital elf is wonderful, has real optical, macro, colorbalance settings and metering choices. It is a great point and shoot.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I have an iphone 4 and yes it takes nice pictures, but the zoom is digital, not optical, which really means it is not a zoom, just a cropper and pixel magnifier. No macro though and dreadful for gems. It takes nice pictures of the dog and landscapes, not much better than my folding Brownie No. 2.

I was given a Panasonic Lumix for christmass, the big chinky one around $450. I used it for a week...hated it. Gave it away to the cook at my local coffeeshop who might actually use it. My six year old canon powershoot sd950 digital elf is wonderful, has real optical, macro, colorbalance settings and metering choices. It is a great point and shoot.

sorry for highjacking your thread, Deco! Shoot: regarding the iphone4. I was being sarcastic about the dh/I priority comment above, but SERIOUSLY, though, I do need macro and there is NO way my DH would understand that. I may have to do something drastic like HIDE the camera we have so I can keep it for macro shots! lol

 

[TravelingGal]

Hey guys, thanks!

BUDGET: I'm thinking under $200 ... because the last two cameras we've had have pooped out after a couple of years. I'm super discouraged right now about these things lasting. Remember when stuff used to LAST! My first Canon Elph type thing lasted sooooo long. And we've gotten two more in a row that . So I'm bitter!

IPHONE: My husband has the iPhone 3 I think but his camera doesn't have zoom. It takes nice shots otherwise ... but I really like more movement/cropping ability etc in the moment. Neither of us can upgrade to an iphone4 for awhile -- does that have zoom?

Deco, my Canon Elph Powershot 850 IS is STILL going strong. Cameras have gotten so crappy when it comes to quality in the last few years. The 850 I believe I have had for at least 6 years now, possibly even longer. Amelia is 4, and all video we have was taken with this thing...not the best quality compared to what is out there these days, but this camera is still our workhorse.

I'll be sad when it dies because most smaller cameras these days feel so flimsy. The 850 is solid.

 

[Haven]

Hey guys, thanks!

BUDGET: I'm thinking under $200 ... because the last two cameras we've had have pooped out after a couple of years. I'm super discouraged right now about these things lasting. Remember when stuff used to LAST! My first Canon Elph type thing lasted sooooo long. And we've gotten two more in a row that . So I'm bitter!

IPHONE: My husband has the iPhone 3 I think but his camera doesn't have zoom. It takes nice shots otherwise ... but I really like more movement/cropping ability etc in the moment. Neither of us can upgrade to an iphone4 for awhile -- does that have zoom?

Deco, my Canon Elph Powershot 850 IS is STILL going strong. Cameras have gotten so crappy when it comes to quality in the last few years. The 850 I believe I have had for at least 6 years now, possibly even longer. Amelia is 4, and all video we have was taken with this thing...not the best quality compared to what is out there these days, but this camera is still our workhorse.

I'll be sad when it dies because most smaller cameras these days feel so flimsy. The 850 is solid.

I was really sad when my first Canon started to slow down, and the newer one is definitely smaller and lighter.
To my delight, the picture quality is so much better. I thought my first Canon took great pictures, but they don't hold a candle to my new one. So even if it craps out after a couple years, I'll be happy!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Funny, I have the same camera as Haven and HATE it. I should have returned it before the return period ended.

 

[Haven]

Funny, I have the same camera as Haven and HATE it. I should have returned it before the return period ended.

Really? Why?

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

I had the Canon G11 and loved it, but it's pretty big for a P&S. I actually just sold that and got the Canon S95. Haven't done any bling pics but I know friends who also have the S95 and love it for almost everything. The S100 looks REALLY sweet but out of my price range - it has a greater zoom and the ability to take RAW pics, among other fun features. I'd look into the S95 or S100!

 

[Kitten35]

Hi! I saw this thread and wanted to add my .02.

I do some semi-pro photo work from time to time. There are many good P&S cameras. Have you looked at KEH camera? THey are an online dealer who deals used equipment for GREAT prices, based out of Atlanta. They have a great return policy and tons of selection. I got a 95% new camera (their rating system) for over $200 less than the retail price of a new one. It was hardly used at all.

The camera I chose was a used CAnon S90. They have the S100 out now, and there is also an S95. Any of those should be great. You can shoot files in RAW which is a big plus, and the lens is very fast for a p&S, f 2.0. It doesn't have the greatest zoom but it works for most things, and it also has macro mode. It also has a control ring on the front of the camera much like a traditional "film" camera. It's TINY, fits in my purse. Love it.

I take it everywhere, it's awesome, and photo quality is very good. Keep in mind you dont need more than about 10 or 12 MP for most prints, so anything more than that is a marketing gimmic (and will actually add noise to your photos, depending on the size of the sensor i inside) so more pixels as advertised in some of the newer cameras is not always actually a good thing at all.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Funny, I have the same camera as Haven and HATE it. I should have returned it before the return period ended.

Really? Why?

I hate where the buttons are located. I have hit them before when trying to take a photo. They should be on the left side. I think the shutter speed is slower than my old camera. It is terrible in low light.

 

[VapidLapid]

If you hold the camera upside-down the buttons will be on the left!

Now lest you think am only being glib, I just tried it and it worked wonderfully. I found that balancing the button on top of my upturned thumb, slightly off center allowed me to actuate the shutter with less camera movement since the weight of the camera did most of the work. Of course the pics all come out upside down which is easily remedied. I also like having the sensor and the flash come from beneath the lens, however small a change that may be.

Here are two spinels I received yesterday from the gem trader photographed upsidedown with my canon sd950

 

[Tacori E-ring]

If you hold the camera upside-down the buttons will be on the left!

The problem is ALL of the buttons are on the same side so I am not sure this will help the problem.

 

[decodelighted]

Anyway, when I get the iphone 4, I'll post about the camera and let you know!

Exciting about your new phone! We ended up taking a few pix this weekend with DH's iphone 4 & I tried out the digital zoom for the first time (now that I know it exists on there! HA!)

 

[decodelighted]

I was given a Panasonic Lumix for christmass, the big chinky one around $450. I used it for a week...hated it. Gave it away to the cook at my local coffeeshop who might actually use it. My six year old canon powershoot sd950 digital elf is wonderful, has real optical, macro, colorbalance settings and metering choices. It is a great point and shoot.

Good to know! We did have one really good Powershoot Elph that i loved ... DH thinks it lasted several years. But I hated this last one with a passion from the get. Seemed so much SLOWER. Clunky response. Thanks for weighing in!