Best Digital Camera Meeting 10 Criteria

locusstandi

I am a rank amateur and a beginner, looking for the best digital camera in the market that meets the following ten criteria.

Hoping the pros here can help.

1. Light Weight [would prefer within 250 grams - which probably rules out all DSLRs and maybe even prosumers?]

2. Low Light Photography w/o flash [mainly outdoor usage - approximately 20-30%]

3. Pocket Size: The idea is to use it as a travel accessory; making it a travel impediment is not an option . Fitting into an average size pocket is important.

4. Battery Life: Very important. Hoping for 500+ pics per charge; 1000+ if possible - or do I just get to dream of that?!

5. Resolution: (unsure) 8+ MP, though we could splurge for 12+ (but should I? I NEVER print but I do crop)

6. Optical Zoom: (unsure) 4x+; but 10x+ would allow for some great detail - again can I hope?

7. Video recording: essential but quality negotiable.

8. Memory: external - 16GB+ compatibility essential (currently use 16GB); internal - does not matter (1GB might be useful though); USB Compatibility essential [proprietary transfer facilities are a headache] so perhaps SD/mini-SD

9. Budget: Am allowed to splurge!

10. Factor XXX: Is there some essential factor I am missing altogether??

[just to show where i am coming from: I presently use a Kodak m883. It's form factor is excellent but barely passes muster in other aspects and is terrible in low light]

Expecting some guidance from those of you who've been been, clicked that.

What kinda pics do I click? These..

Attached Thumbnails

     

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OceanTragic

10. a tiltable screen is brilliant , once you've used one you'll understand .

have a look at canons a650; it's well worth the money

locusstandi

Thanx OceanT.

The tilt helps with overhead shots? Any other uses?

Checked it out.

Seems good generally but form factor lags.

The weight is on the higher side ; but the bulk (nearly thrice as deep as my current camera) is a big putoff

I really really need the camera to be "pocketable".

Any thinner ideas?

PEEK

Fujifilm fx 30 - one of the landmark camera. Still no one is there to beat him for low light capability photograph. It fits most if not all requirements. Unfortunately, out of production and you can find in ebay(old one or new one).

Few tips.

1. Dont fall for Megapixel. It is nothing useful for pocket camera. Fujifilm (fx 100) has upgraded version of the above camera. But, not same low level lighting capability.

2. Wide angle lens - 28mm. It is more useful cover larger areas. Best for scenaries.

3. check dpreview.com for all reviews.

I would buy fujifilm fx 30 or fx 20 if not fx 40 especially for the quality of the picture and low light capability.

If you find anywhere in india, please let me know(price).

nycank

Enjoy

Canon powershot SD, or Nikon Coolpix series.

OceanTragic

Actually, I've never used mine (Canon A80 and Sony A350 DSLR) overhead, but I've used it to get some weird angles on buildings looking up. More often than not I've used it to get some low down shots, or macro shots at waist level, type of thing.

Check out Koizi's photos which were taken with a Canon S5. Check the images that were shot from low down (Nightly ceremony rat, camel on road, bicycle on road, pumpkin seller), have may not have used the tiltable screen but it gives you an idea of the sort of images that are made easier by using one.

Unfortunately having it on the Canon A80 made me want to never be without it, limiting my DSLR choices to Sony.

Sorry, I'm a DSLR man now, but I recommended the A650 to a friend and he's delighted with it. It's big but I'd say some of his pictures are well worth it, you'd think they'd been taken with an SLR.

Lord Average

I have just spent the last four weeks using a new Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ5.

Its a truly excellent camera of 10MP plus reasonable quality HD video

Look it up on amazon or similar for the full spec, But it gets my vote as the best travel compact on the market, not least because the focal range is perfect, and it is small, but sturdy.

There is also the cheaper TZ3 which it superceded, which does not have such good movie, but also gets excellent reviews.

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locusstandi

Fujifilm fx 30

Thanx for the suggestion PEEK but the entire FujiFilm FX range seems difficult to find. Or am I missing something? Different brand names?! In fact this camera review site did not list ANY FX range.

Canon powershot SD, or Nikon Coolpix series

Hmmm.. Thanx nycank ..any specific personal favorites in either of the ranges?

PEEK

Sorry. confused between panasonci fx30 and fujifilm f30. It is F series.

I have panasonic fx30. It has wide angle and good for day light. But for indoor,hotel shots flash is necessary. i dont like it overall.

theshutterbug

Hey Locus,
As a owner of 3 digicams incl SLR and currently looking for a pocktable fully featured camera i can provide some help.

looking at your first 2 requirements of pocketable, low light, plus looking at your thumbnail images (which suggest you like landscape style) i would highly recommend the panasonic LX3, which i plan to buy too.

it has f2.0 so more light and hence good comfort for low light
24mm lens hence thats super wide angle.

It has been hailed as pocketable yet complete camera to comeout in recent times and inspiring people to experiment more.

read the review and conclusion for the same at LX3 Review

The only con is it has 2.5x zoom and lacks optical viewfinder hence it might consume more power. Extra batts should help. Also im not sure if its available in india. if in US do sure buy this one. The silver color costs quite less than the vintage black !!

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karnail

I have only these things to tell:
1) Not a good idea to weigh your cam in gm. just weigh it in your hand.
2) Don't fall for the MPs but keep some scope for cropping as composing a shot is........
3) Don't take anything less than 4X.If you need 10X, at least don't take those matchbox models that will fix in your shirt pocket.
4) Go for the grip cameras , I know from now on you are going to keep it in a case on your belt.
5) Check that your camera has a function to adjust the aperture and speed.

Brands and models are not important opinions vary, I use Nikon and next will certainly be a Canon.

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locusstandi

Am back! Thanx for the suggestions, everybody.

OceanT, to click pics like David I might have to buy him along with the camera The specs and the reviews for Canon PowerShot A640 are enticing, but bulk remains unattractive. Thanx again.

Thanx Karnail. Hope I can use some of the tips. Since one of my key requirements is that the camera be pocketable, that canNOT be overlooked.

Lord Average, Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ5. Specs seem YUMMY How does it perform in low light - outdoors? It is the definite frontrunner for now - unless the Panasonic duo in the next paragraph are for real!

Hey theshutterbug, your info/tips on Panasonic LX3 were useful. Seems fine, decent specs too, but did you check out Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1. They seem out of this world.

In fact Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5, Lumix DMC-ZS3 and Lumix DMC-ZS1 seem far ahead of LX3 in their specs but with LOWER price tags. So what gives??

Olympus Stylus 9000 and Canon PowerShot SX200 IS also seem to have great specs while being pocketable. Any first-hand experiences?

tsk1979

Dpreview has been running some comparison tests.
Here is the super zoom comparison test
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q109superzoomgroup/
Enthusiast camera test, this will interest you the most as it has mostly light weight cams
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q408enthusiastgroup/
Premium compacts here
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q408premiumgroup/
For sub 100$ shopping
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q408budgetgroup/
I got all these links from
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/

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abracax

The Pentax Optio 20W does everything on your list, and is also waterproof/dustproof - useful for India. All of the photos I have posted here over the past two weeks were taken with one. Took some nice video, too. I always have it with me (loaded with an 8gb SD card).

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kidsan

The DMC TZ5 does indeed look sweet.

I am also a fan of the canon ixus range. I have been using an old ixus 40 for years now and still getting great results (well, i think so anyway ). Have a look here if you're interested.

I am now in the market for a new camera and though tempted by the lumix's (above and the more expensive but seemingly fantastic DMC LX3) am also very keen on the ixus 870.

The latest ixus, the 970, really doesnt grab me. Canon have fallen for the more pixels is better routine and have dropped the wide-angle lens!