DSC-T100 Questions

Hi, all.

I currently have a Cannon Powershot SD450 that's been serving me well. However, I will be going abroad to study in Copenhagen this coming Fall and I'd like to make sure the experience is memorable with the most and best pictures reasonably possible. So, I'd like to get a new camera.

The SD450 is not very good in low-light conditions—particularly outside at night—so I'm pretty set on a camera with image stablization. I know I could also get a bigger camera, but I need an ultra-compact for my pocket.

I was thinking of the Nikon Coolpix S50c, but I tried it out at a local store and was horrified by the clunky feel and the AWFUL controls.

The DSC-T100 has great 5x zoom, 8mp, a beautiful screen, IS and more. I do hate the proprietary memory chip, but that's a small issue. My main questions are:
Are there any other cameras I should be looking at?

How will the T1000 fare in low-light outdoor conditions? Low noise isn't really my concern… mainly blur.
Any other thoughts/suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

There are a few posters already with T100's that could answer better; ours arrives next Friday.

While it won't replace A V3 we use for quick family shots (love the infra red night framing so well we use that feature in daytime for perfect focus) it will compliment the take it now photos; sometimes it seems forever for the V3 lens to be ready to shoot.

We also are waiting for an H9 to update our camera corral.

We have a still boxed F828 that will find a home with an appreciative aficionado soon.

somebody had said it before in this forum: analysis paralysis
translation: get whatever camera, it does not matter THAT much...

I appreciate that, but it does matter whether or not night shots are useable or worthy of a trash can.

I have one for last one month or so. For low light the camera has a weak flash (most ultra compacts are like that) which is compensated by raising the ISO. Indoors in artificial light the camera operates at ISO 400 which is quite good. But if darkness is more (indoors or outdoors) the ISO is raised to 800 and in certain conditions to 1600 which is noisy but OK for 5X7 inch prints. At night you can ger good snaps if you are within 5-6 feet of the object.

The weak flash/ High ISO problem of T-100 has been discussed in detail in one of the thread that I initited some thing like 'T-100 High ISO problem with Flash on'

Otherwise the camera is good. You may also consider Canon SD 850 IS, Fuijifilm F40fd. These are also comat enough.

Hope it helps.

If low light is a must, then you may want to look at the Fuji's, either the F31fd or the F40fd. They are better in low light. However, I think the T100 has better color than the Fuji's, in better lighting and outdoors.

The other benefits of the T100 are the IS, 5x zoom and it's superb(IMO) movie mode. With the IS and the 5x zoom, it's like having a mini handicam with you. The movies look great.

--
Canon G3 camera
Epson R1800 printer

Don't know about the Fuji, but my T-100 takes good low-light outdoor photographs. Surprising something that looks SO good can work so well too.

1) Keep in mind that image quality is seperate from low-light shot capability. Anything on a tripod can take a great photo...

2) Image stabilization works for about 2 stops or so. Thus, instead of 1/8th sec exposure, it's like a 1/30th sec exposure - faster shutter speed = more stable shot.

But this won't do anything if you're at night and needing a 1second+ shutter speed! Nothing on the planet short of a gyroscope bag stand or a tripod will help you here!

3) High ISO speed performance is also important. If you can't take a great shot because the high ISO performance is so poor, you can't print anything good from that.

4) Manual shutter control at slower speeds is prefered. Automatic at night can produce poor shots.

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That said, if you're doing indoor shots lit by light bulb(s), image stabilization is great to have if you're not using flash.

If you're using flash on all the time, it won't matter -- the flash sync speed is fast enough to stop most people in their tracks.

Outside at night, when the sun has just set and past that, you'll need a tripod or a camera with very high ISO speed capability (eg. ISO 800-3200+). Stabilization by itself won't help, and only a fast ISO speed will let you grab a non-flash, non-tripod shot. (ie. stabilizing a camera at ISO 80 with 1 sec+ exposure isn't getting you anywhere)

Pretty much -- you'll need a tripod, monopod, or some object to rest the camera on that won't move during a long exposure.

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From experience, if you're taking indoor lightbulb shots, image stabilization. Outdoors, low light, you're asking for a tripod, put the camera on the ground, manual shutter speed control, and preferably manual ISO control as well.

T100 can do it in the latter -- set it to fixed focus, flash off, slower ISO, and let it go at that. It can usual get a nice low-light shot outdoors on such settings. Otherwise, Night scene mode with flash off and try again.

F31fd can do this pretty much until the ISO 3200 speed can't handle it anymore - so snap away w/o much worry until the light levels drop. At that point, the AF may be the primary point hindering a great shot.

Older Sony's like the DSC-P200 for

Otherwise, you'll have to look into the usual lot of

So that said, T100 can get great shots... under the right conditions. Image stabilizer ain't going to help you once the light gets too low w/o a tripod.

If you do use a tripod, even older, cheaper 7MP digicams like the DSC-P200 can make beautiful, awesome photos all day long in Manual mode for 1/2 the cost of a T100 (with better lens quality to boot).

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from another post

"Best photo doesn't make any sense - you can easily look at the manufacturer's websites for some 'great' examples, but it won't really allow you to compare two cameras. You can snap 'great' shots using either camera.
--

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/review/2007/04/09/5999.html
http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/review/2006/11/22/5103.html

Instead, look at standardized test shots, and compare the two instead.

For example, look at the two ISO 400 bunny shots linked from the reviews above. You'll see right away that the F31fd has a much sharper lens, crisper image, and lower noise at ISO 400. Notice the far better color chart rendition from the F31fd.

Next, look at the zoom out/wide shots and compare -- notice how the F31fd retains far better detail and sharpness in the leaves, train tracks, etc. than the T100 can.

Thus, lens, lens, lens, then imager size/quality, imager size/quality, ... are the two keys here.

The T100 trades off light gathering ability and a more sensitive imager in exchange for a smaller body and 5x zoom, while the F31fd retains a larger size in exchange for better image quality.
-- "

Thanks! Very helpful

Still about DSC-T100... I´m thinking to buy one but I´m in dubt if it has REALY manuals adjusts of aperture, exposition and speedy. It realy takes a good photos in low lights?

Best regards

Marcio Toledo