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What P&S Canon is best for me? (based on a few points like...)

Started Apr 23, 2012 | Discussions
sofia5 New Member • Posts: 13
What P&S Canon is best for me? (based on a few points like...)

Hi!

I'm partial to a Canon since it's the most user friendly from all the cameras I've tried. I'm getting a new camera to replace my old sx130 IS. I've done some research and I'm still not sure on what to get.

I like traveling so a dslr isn't an option for a small person like me. The new mirrorless cameras I'm also not considering since I would like some zoom power because I also like taking close up shots of people during concerts and parties from afar. I also like shooting birds and animals, and also landscapes.

So I'm looking for an upgrade in image quality. I see that the G1 X has the best sensor among point and shoots. I would really buy this but it's zoom is just 4x which isn't enough for birds and concerts.

I'm also considering the SX40 since it's a superzoom. But I don't really need that much zoom and maybe I could sacrifice that amount of zoom for a camera with a bigger and better sensor. I would like at least an 8x zoom. A wide angle lens would be a bonus.

So in short, I'm looking for a Canon that has the best sensor with at least an 8x zoom. Hope someone could help me. Thanks!

Canon PowerShot G1 X Canon PowerShot SX130 IS
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OP sofia5 New Member • Posts: 13
Re: What P&S Canon is best for me? (based on a few points like...)

I think I'm going with the SX40 HS since I couldn't find anything better that will suit my needs. I'm actually ok with my photos with my old SX130, since I just share with family, friends and upload them on flickr and facebook.

Do you think I would notice a significant improvement in my photos using the SX40? I would just like to capture scenes that I see while traveling better. Like lit-up skyscrapers and also the performers in concerts.

Thanks!

rickreyn Senior Member • Posts: 1,599
Re: What P&S Canon is best for me? (based on a few points like...)

I have seen many wonderful shots with the SX40 in this forum. Great choice. If you wanted to get a pocket-size camera of the highest IQ quality and RAW capability, I'd go with the S100. Depends if you are a wide angle or a zoom kind of person. If WA, then the S100. Unfortunately I had to move over to the Nikon P7100 to boost my zooming power and stay with a "DSLR-like" camera like the G12. I think it's 7x. But I still use my 60d and S100 a lot more.
--
http://www.gloriography.com

PaulRivers Veteran Member • Posts: 7,420
Re: What P&S Canon is best for me? (based on a few points like...)

The sx40 is a good choice. The s100 is somewhat better for low light, but it's zoom range is much more limited (zoom is always kind of the opposite of low light - you can't get the best of both at the same time, either your zoom range is limited but you get the best low light lens, or you get a ton of zoom range but not the best at low light).

Among superzooms , the sx40 would be the best for low light that I know of.

Coyote_Cody Senior Member • Posts: 1,166
Re: What P&S Canon is best for me? (based on a few points like...)

If you desire the same sensor & digital processing of the sx40 but want a true pocket size camera, the sx260 is the one.

Sx260 has a 20x lens (sx40 35x) and is equiv to 25-500mm, the sx40 is 24mm-840mm, the sx40 is 4-6x larger (heavier too) than sx260, but the sx40 has a significantly faster & larger diameter lens.

I have used both cameras, and ultimately the sx40 has a better lens BUT it only marginally better and most times no better, but small DSLR sized too!!

Diffraction limit: This limit makes sensors this size hard on lens, meaning the lens needs to be fast, because that 'physics' thing will make the picture fuzzy beyond f4 or so, for either camera.

Sony, Nikon,etc have brainlessly (marketing) gone to 16,18 mpixel 1/2.3" sensors, these cameras are ALWAYS in 'diffraction limit', no matter the fstop - ie fuzzy low detail pics ALWAYS !! Incredibly silly but sell them #'s!!

That said, higher fstops are useful for greater deep 'sharp' parts of picture while the lower fstops will give you nicer fuzzy backgrounds (bokah).

The sx260 lens seems reasonably good, and the 'real' diff of 20x vs 35x is only a small crop away, meaning you can get the same pic by cropping the sx260, helps with birds, critters but for many pic types completely irrelevant!

Good Luck!!
--
The Light is Right - Take that Shot!!

Check out my photo galleries @
http://picasaweb.google.com/TauPhoto

OP sofia5 New Member • Posts: 13
Re: What P&S Canon is best for me? (based on a few points like...)

Thanks for all your input rickreyn, PaulRivers and Coyote_Cody!

And I looked up the SX260 and I'm quite impressed. It's almost similar to the sx40 but much lighter. Though I'm not sure but is it only capable of 2 fps for "burst" photos? Hope you can confirm this.

And I'll just go to the store and try to hold the sx40 and determine if it's too big/heavy for me. If it is, then maybe I'll just get the sx260? But I'm really worried about how slow it will be. Though it is much cheaper than the sx40. Hmmm...I have to think about this. haha.

Thanks!

OP sofia5 New Member • Posts: 13
Re: What P&S Canon is best for me? (based on a few points like...)

I'm now having second thoughts about the sx40 I haven't noticed how big it was before. I've just compared it's dimensions with my sx130 and wow, it really is so much bigger and heavier.

Do you have any suggestions for a camera that has the same picture quality as the s100 but has at least 8x zoom? Thanks!

Karl R. Josker
Karl R. Josker Contributing Member • Posts: 944
Re: What P&S Canon is best for me? (based on a few points like...)

If you go to Canon's website, their complete lineup is presented, and it has a "compare" function. All specifications are listed, including weight, zoom ratio, among many others.

 Karl R. Josker's gear list:Karl R. Josker's gear list
Canon EOS 6D Canon EF 35mm F1.4L USM Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Canon EF 16-35mm F2.8L USM Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM +3 more
OP sofia5 New Member • Posts: 13
Re: What P&S Canon is best for me? (based on a few points like...)

Thanks!

I went to the canon website and I think the sx40 is still the best fit. I might just have to adjust to its size and weight.

Will there be a huge difference in image quality with my sx130 and the sx40? I'm just thinking if I should wait out in buying a new camera so that I could buy something that has the iq of the s100 but with more zoom. Thanks!

PaulRivers Veteran Member • Posts: 7,420
Re: What P&S Canon is best for me? (based on a few points like...)

sofia5 wrote:

I'm now having second thoughts about the sx40 I haven't noticed how big it was before. I've just compared it's dimensions with my sx130 and wow, it really is so much bigger and heavier.

Do you have any suggestions for a camera that has the same picture quality as the s100 but has at least 8x zoom? Thanks!

Not in a smaller size.

The Nikon p7100 has the same sensor as the s95 (only 720p video though), and it zooms to 200mm-equivalent - but it's about the same size if not bigger than the sx40.

RDCollins
RDCollins Senior Member • Posts: 1,194
Re: What P&S Canon is best for me? (based on a few points like...)

For many of the same reasons you've articulated, I would up with both an SX40 and an S100. Very happy with both.
--
Doug Collins
Hermosa Beach, California

 RDCollins's gear list:RDCollins's gear list
Sony a6400 Sony E 50mm F1.8 OSS Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS Sony E 10-18mm F4 OSS Sony E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS +2 more
OP sofia5 New Member • Posts: 13
Re: What P&S Canon is best for me? (based on a few points like...)

Hi! Thanks for all the replies! dpreview has been such a big help for my camera search.

I went to the store today to try and hold the sx40. I was expecting it to be much heavier actually. But the lens does protrude from the body by a lot. But I was surprised that it fit inside my small crossbody bag/purse. So that was the deciding factor for me - so I bought it. So happy with my new camera!

I'm so excited to feel the 35x zoom when shooting birds. I thought the 12x zoom I had before was already helpful. And I might also try astrophotography after installing CHDK.

Thanks everyone!

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