What Very Compact But Good camera to buy?

Hello, chaps.

I currently have a Fuji F11, which I know is an excellent camera with very good image quality. I couldn't be happier with it, very good battery life too.

But the thing is, it is a little chunky for going out with.

So I was wondering what cameras you would recommend, when I say small, I mean something that could fit into a jean pocket without any problems and you wouldn't be able to feel it too much.

I have seen the Fuji, Z1,Z2,Z3 and V10. All had ok reviews, would the V10 be small enough?

I have only looked at Fuji so far as I have always had Fuji cameras, but if anyone knows better that would be absolutely great.

So, if you have any views or recommendations please post here.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

--Canon S-series Powershot cameras are still sold I think. They are really fine performers, control-rich, very compact, and well-priced.

T.
Deecy//



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Hello, thanks for that. Please could you be a little more specific about the actual model you would recommend?

Thanks.

Well, the new Nikon S10 review puts to rest the "Panasonic=noisy" thing.

The Pannys have supurb optics: The TZ1 is the only camera I know of which can image Jupiter's moons without additinonal optics - just the built in lens. ( Flickr> "everyone's photos"> search "jupiter Moon"> select photos by "Djotai").

Canon G7 is very nice, too, although a tad heavy & less zoom, which is a consideration for me.

I am also awaiting a real review of Casio's new 7x zoom folded optics camera, the EX-V7: just might be the ultimate pocket camera!

I'm not "Djotai", but I am awaiting Jupiter's rising high enough to try to duplicate his photos with my TZ1

As to "very" compact, I still miss my Konica-Minolta Xt : tiny & GOOD, a real shame they gave up cameras.

You might want to try a waterproof: Pentax WPi, W10, W20, or the nice little Olympus 720

Let's face it - when you say "small" and MEAN small - there are a few that might well fit that category but NONE of them are other than a waste of pocket space if you get to shoot over about ISO 200. As you should well know, NOTHING beats Fuji for that , and on that account I'd heartily recommend the Fuji F20 - cheap ...dirt cheap .. but capable of an excellent pic up to ISO 1600 if need be.

Small .. although not as small as some of the other midgets .. but what good are they if you can't be sure of a decent pic inside ?????

I could post an endless amount of pics with the F20 and it STILL amazes me as to what I can get with it. I carry in a shirt top-pocket and on a neck-chain , and that's easy enough.

It's the camera setting that counts - then I shoot ALL in that setting and without the slightest bother. Works as a sort of 'intelligent' Program mode...WITHOUT Flash

--
ericN-UK

http://ericn2.diinoweb.com/files/Trentham/index.htm

http://ericn2.diinoweb.com/files/Spode/index.htm



Above one shot with camera as set - noflash - noextras - just off-the-cuff shot at ISO 1600 ..NO NR done ..

--
ericN-UK

.. and Argos , one of the few that sell the CHARCOAL version of the F20 , are now selling-off at £99.99 ..What a bargain !!!!

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=10651&langId=-1&searchTerms=fuji+f20&go.x=14&go.y=9

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ericN-UK

Hello, thanks for the replies.

Eric, the F20 does indeed look good, but is it not basically the same size as an F11? I was really after something that will fit into your tight jean pocket with ease.

Are the z fuji series the only ones which can do this?

Also, is the V10 that much bigger than the Z series?

Thanks once again.

CheapInformation said:

Hello, thanks for the replies.

Eric, the F20 does indeed look good, but is it not basically the
same size as an F11? I was really after something that will fit
into your tight jean pocket with ease.

Are the z fuji series the only ones which can do this?

Also, is the V10 that much bigger than the Z series?

Thanks once again.

Click to expand...

Yes - it does depend of course on what premium you put on sheer smallness of size. I'm afraid I've found that NONE .. indeed even bigger cams .. anywhere near approach the usability of the Fxx and I presume you will surely be using it in low light some of the time. What is the point of a teeny cam if it does not give the pics !!

I'd suggest maybe one of the quite small (smaller than the Fxx ) Panasonic might suit you - ?? Saw one in Jessops recently and thought how small it seemed.. but it IS well known that about ISO 200 is really the limit for decent pics.

--
ericN-UK

ericN2 said:

CheapInformation said:

Hello, thanks for the replies.

Eric, the F20 does indeed look good, but is it not basically the
same size as an F11? I was really after something that will fit
into your tight jean pocket with ease.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

The F20/30 is actually slightly smaller and lighter than the F10/F11. I had the F11 and now have the F30 and I have to say the F20/F30 has a stronger 'in- cam' NR than the F10/F11 IMO. So yes you will have less noise but less detail above ISO800 in low light. In fair light at ISO800-1600 it won't be as bad but as others have pointed out the newer Fuji's use heavier NR at higher ISO's. Don't get me wrong the F20/F30 is a great camera but to be honest my older F11 probably yielded a better result at ISO800-1600 than the F30 in some ways. Also the F11 is more sensitive at ISO1600 - in other words your shots are going to be slightly brighter at ISO800 or 1600 on the F11 than on the F20/30 at those same ISO's. I can give you this as accurate info because I've had 'hands on' experience comparing the F11 and F30 extensively. (F20 has the same sensor as the 30 just the max ISO and some controls are different - Shutt Prior. is also missing on F20) Your F11 if you can live with it is just as good IMO as the F20/30 but I'd go for the F30 if you do move up to a newer, smaller model - simply because of the Shutt. Prior. ISO3200 option and its only a little more than the F20.

ericN2 said:

ericN2 said:

Are the z fuji series the only ones which can do this?

Also, is the V10 that much bigger than the Z series?

Thanks once again.

Click to expand...

Yes - it does depend of course on what premium you put on sheer
smallness of size. I'm afraid I've found that NONE .. indeed even
bigger cams .. anywhere near approach the usability of the Fxx and
I presume you will surely be using it in low light some of the
time. What is the point of a teeny cam if it does not give the pics
!!
I'd suggest maybe one of the quite small (smaller than the Fxx )
Panasonic might suit you - ?? Saw one in Jessops recently and
thought how small it seemed.. but it IS well known that about ISO
200 is really the limit for decent pics.

--
ericN-UK

Click to expand...

I think for a pocket camera something rugged that would stand up to getting bumped and the pressure from the pocket when sitting down and not be damaged would be nice.

Olympus Stylus 770 SW

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0701/07012505olympusstylus770sw.asp

Also check out the size of these cameras compared to the F-11 and F20

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=oly_fe230%2Coly_fe240%2Coly_stylus770sw%2Csamsung_nv3%2Cfuji_finepixf11%2Cfuji_finepixf20&show=all
--
Norm

casio exilim series?? (I'v eplayed with a friend's, but don't have one myself, so don't take this recommendation too much to heart.) or the canon sd900 got a very good review here recently.

jack

Thickness in mm of some new and/or popular ultra-compacts. Other dimensions do not vary so much, mainly around 95 x 55mm. Feel free to edit or comment.

17 Olympus FE240
20 Nikon Coolpix S9
21 Olympus MJU770
21 Samsung L77
22 Olympus FE220
22 Olympus FE250
22 Panasonic DMC-FX30
24 Panasonic DMC-FX10/FX12
25 Casio EX-V7
26 Nikon Coolpix S6
26 Panasonic DMC-LX2
26 Ricoh Caplio R5
27 Fuji F20
28 Canon SD900
28 Fuji F30
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RobZZ

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