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Help narrowing down P&S compact choices

Started Aug 20, 2012 | Discussions
openroad New Member • Posts: 6
Help narrowing down P&S compact choices

Hi everyone, sorry this is so long.

I've had a Canon A630 for 6 years and it finally crapped out on me. I don't want to spend A LOT of money on a new camera (I'm 99% a film SLR user) but don't want to go TOO cheap either. Temporarily I'm borrowing a Samsung ST70, and don't like it (other than the small size).

Would prefer to pay around $150-$270 for an older model. I'm living in Thailand (not Bangkok, but will be there next weekend), visiting home (NYC) in a few weeks, but could also order from Amazon. Obviously there are new cameras in that price range, but I'm assuming they won't be as good.

What I like:

  • f/2.8 or bigger

  • 28mm or wider would be great, but I can live with the same 35mm as A630

  • Must have manual settings

  • Better quality at ISO 400 at the VERY least (A630 was already sucky at 400), but preferably decent up to ISO 1600

  • Sensor size shouldn't be smaller than the A630's (1/1.7 according to this site) unless some other factor is outweighing this.

  • Loved the flip-out screen for the A630, but it seems like current cameras with it are mostly bigger--are there suggestions?

  • Reasonably sharp lens. I feel like the ST70 takes fuzzier pictures than the A630 did (I know this isn't user error).

  • No bigger (or not much) than the A630. Would be nice to have a smaller camera for a change.

Other features don't matter, including HD video & long zoom.

At first the Samsung TL500 was standing out, but it seems pretty large and expensive. I won't be able to try it in person. Some of these I can buy in New York, which is expensive due to tax, but then I can try them.

There are so many similarly-named models out there, it's a bit confusing for someone who hardly uses digital. Can people help me understand the value of these cameras, including if features make a larger one worth the size, extra cost, or if a cheaper one is fine as is? LX5 seems to be the obvious choice for price/condition, but I wonder if the TL500 had more of the extras I like (f/1.8, flip-out screen).

General prices (including Amazon shipping, not including NYC tax)
Canon G9: $144 (V) or $164 (E-) at Adorama
Canon G10: $199 (V) or $249 (E- or E+) at Adorama
Canon G11: $249 at Adorama (E) ^ these prices confuse me…is G11 worse than G10?
Canon G12: $299 at Adorama (E+)
Canon S95: $265 used or $288 refurb on Amazon
Olympus XZ-1: $290 on Amazon
Panasonic Lumix FX78: $199 at B&H, cannot find any reviews.
Panasonic Lumix LX3: $250 (8+) or $270 (9) at B&H. $224 (E) at Adorama.
Panasonic Lumix LX5: $250 (E+) at Adorama.
Samsung TL500: $306 on Amazon

MrFresno Veteran Member • Posts: 3,197
Re: Help narrowing down P&S compact choices

You will get a variety of opinions, but I think the LX5 is the best deal on your list.

 MrFresno's gear list:MrFresno's gear list
Fujifilm X100V Nikon Z6 II Nikon Z 24-70mm F4 Nikon Z 40mm F2 Canon Pixma Pro-100 +4 more
OP openroad New Member • Posts: 6
Re: Help narrowing down P&S compact choices

Thanks...I find this all really overwhelming, not the least because it turns out that some M43 cameras are in the same price range. But since I'm not planning on replacing my film SLR--need a camera I can almost-forget I'm carrying-- and the 14-42mm lenses just seem HUGE compared to the little bodies, I'm not leaning too strongly that way.

Shorthand Senior Member • Posts: 2,976
Re: Help narrowing down P&S compact choices

The G11, G12, S90, and S95 all share the same sensor, which was the industry-leading sensor until the S100 improved on it slightly. The lens in the G-series is a little sharper by most reports but the S95 isn't bad by any means. The LX5 is another great option, but I would favor the Canon solutions first.

Even though the G11/G12/S90/S95 have fewer pixels than the G10, they're much higher quality pixels than Canon used previously (much much higher dynamic range), and as a result the output is much better as well.

While you also have to factor in the lens when thinking about lower-light performance, here is a good head-to-head sensor measurement from DxOmark.com: http://bit.ly/Q4FCuA

While its out of your budget, none of these hold a candle to the new Sony RX100 in terms of low-light capability ... it really competes with entry-level DSLRs in this area despite its size.

 Shorthand's gear list:Shorthand's gear list
Sony RX100 Canon G7 X II Canon EOS 300D Canon EOS 450D Canon EOS 500D +13 more
DS21 Senior Member • Posts: 2,447
Re: Help narrowing down P&S compact choices

openroad wrote:

Thanks...I find this all really overwhelming, not the least because it turns out that some M43 cameras are in the same price range. But since I'm not planning on replacing my film SLR--need a camera I can almost-forget I'm carrying-- and the 14-42mm lenses just seem HUGE compared to the little bodies, I'm not leaning too strongly that way.

Here is the breakdown:

Canon G9 - attractive zoom range if you like longer zoom (because it starts at 35mm), usable up to ISO 400

G10 - wide angle, unmatched resolution in any G series, usable up to ISO 800 (when downsized a little) No flip screen
G11, G12 less detail then G9 and G10, but good up to ISO 1600, G12 has HD video
S95 - great small camera if small size is important, same sensor as G12

Panasonics and Olympus use lens caps, Panasonic will have weird colors after coming from Canon, Olympus has excellent lens, but harder to reach manual controls.

I would choose between G12 (larger) and S95 (smaller).

 DS21's gear list:DS21's gear list
Pentax MX-1 Pentax K-01 Pentax K-5 IIs Pentax Q7 Pentax K-3 +4 more
1dash1 Forum Member • Posts: 54
Re: Help narrowing down P&S compact choices

Randy Benter wrote:

You will get a variety of opinions, but I think the LX5 is the best deal on your list.

+1

toomanycanons Forum Pro • Posts: 14,167
Re: Help narrowing down P&S compact choices

Put your list up on a dart board, throw one dart and one dart only: there's your choice! And don't overthink it next time.

openroad wrote:

Hi everyone, sorry this is so long.

I've had a Canon A630 for 6 years and it finally crapped out on me. I don't want to spend A LOT of money on a new camera (I'm 99% a film SLR user) but don't want to go TOO cheap either. Temporarily I'm borrowing a Samsung ST70, and don't like it (other than the small size).

Would prefer to pay around $150-$270 for an older model. I'm living in Thailand (not Bangkok, but will be there next weekend), visiting home (NYC) in a few weeks, but could also order from Amazon. Obviously there are new cameras in that price range, but I'm assuming they won't be as good.

What I like:

  • f/2.8 or bigger

  • 28mm or wider would be great, but I can live with the same 35mm as A630

  • Must have manual settings

  • Better quality at ISO 400 at the VERY least (A630 was already sucky at 400), but preferably decent up to ISO 1600

  • Sensor size shouldn't be smaller than the A630's (1/1.7 according to this site) unless some other factor is outweighing this.

  • Loved the flip-out screen for the A630, but it seems like current cameras with it are mostly bigger--are there suggestions?

  • Reasonably sharp lens. I feel like the ST70 takes fuzzier pictures than the A630 did (I know this isn't user error).

  • No bigger (or not much) than the A630. Would be nice to have a smaller camera for a change.

Other features don't matter, including HD video & long zoom.

At first the Samsung TL500 was standing out, but it seems pretty large and expensive. I won't be able to try it in person. Some of these I can buy in New York, which is expensive due to tax, but then I can try them.

There are so many similarly-named models out there, it's a bit confusing for someone who hardly uses digital. Can people help me understand the value of these cameras, including if features make a larger one worth the size, extra cost, or if a cheaper one is fine as is? LX5 seems to be the obvious choice for price/condition, but I wonder if the TL500 had more of the extras I like (f/1.8, flip-out screen).

General prices (including Amazon shipping, not including NYC tax)
Canon G9: $144 (V) or $164 (E-) at Adorama
Canon G10: $199 (V) or $249 (E- or E+) at Adorama
Canon G11: $249 at Adorama (E) ^ these prices confuse me…is G11 worse than G10?
Canon G12: $299 at Adorama (E+)
Canon S95: $265 used or $288 refurb on Amazon
Olympus XZ-1: $290 on Amazon
Panasonic Lumix FX78: $199 at B&H, cannot find any reviews.
Panasonic Lumix LX3: $250 (8+) or $270 (9) at B&H. $224 (E) at Adorama.
Panasonic Lumix LX5: $250 (E+) at Adorama.
Samsung TL500: $306 on Amazon

tkpatric Senior Member • Posts: 1,899
Re: Help narrowing down P&S compact choices

toomanycanons wrote:

Put your list up on a dart board, throw one dart and one dart only: there's your choice! And don't overthink it next time.

And don't miss the board!
--
http://users.telenet.be/patric/
http://sissers.be/

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Panasonic ZS100 Olympus TG-6 Sony a6000
Steve40
Steve40 Regular Member • Posts: 452
Re: Help narrowing down P&S compact choices

No noise generating LX-? Panasonics allowed in this house. UGH, PEUW.
--
Steve40.
http://steveslandscapes.50webs.com

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