Compact Digital Camera... all around and concert photos

M

Matt Vivlamore

Senior
Jan 11, 2011
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Southern MD, USA
www.meerkatsound.com
I am looking to replace my ’07-era Sony CyberShot DSC-W80 with something newer; back then I paid a nice $250 for this camera. It has served me well and taken many great pictures, but the age is starting show.

I do know that a compact/pocket camera does have limitations when compared to a DSLR, but I don’t have a need for something like that. I want it to fit in my pocket and be able to pull it out and Point, Adjust with the help of Autofocus, & Shoot.

For my pictures that I take:
- My shows (I do have a Hazer running); so excellent low light photos are often taken.
- My dog playing; so a quick capture is needed so it doesn’t blur
- And general photography of nature and vacations; a “Stabilization assistance” is helpful. I do want to take some Panoramic shots and the HDR photos look neat.

I was using trying to use a Nikon Coolpix L120, this past weekend and it is a terrible camera. I was trying to capture some entire room pics; the room looks fine, but all the subjects are blurry.

Budget: $200-250.
 
Re: Compact Digital Camera... all around and concert photos

I bought a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 in January for less than $225 from B&H. It shoots well, takes great video, and I've been very happy with the image quality for a basic P&S. It far exceeds the quality from my last Nikon and Canon P&S cameras. It also has Leica optics, and was the closest I could get to a Leica without paying for a Leica.
 
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Re: Compact Digital Camera... all around and concert photos

Although more than you want to spend, I've been quite happy with the Canon S95. Pocket-sized camera with a reasonably fast lens, RAW, and manual mode.

For the use you are looking at, you want a compact camera with good low-light performance. This means wide aperture and acceptable high-ISO performance. In a compact camera, high-ISO performance typically means lower pixel count.

Not sure what's in your price range, but Canon has been a pretty safe choice in the small camera market. I'd go to a store and see what ones I liked.
 
Re: Compact Digital Camera... all around and concert photos

Brian Bolly said:
I bought a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 in January for less than $225 from B&H. It shoots well, takes great video, and I've been very happy with the image quality for a basic P&S. It was the closest I could far exceeds the quality from my last Nikon and Canon P&S cameras. It also has Leica optics, and was the closest I could get to a Leica without paying for a Leica.
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+1, had one of these for a while. I bought it after comparing cameras in person across a few big box stores. The price is right, the battery life is great, it still fits in a pocket, and it has the best low light performance of anything within a mile of it. I sold it recently since I don't do much picture taking any more, and if I really need to I am in a relationship with a Nikon D5000 and some nice lenses.
 
Re: Compact Digital Camera... all around and concert photos

I have one of the Panasonic DMC model cameras as well. Not sure of exact model. I am happy with the durability and battery life. Basic features such as flash mode, Timer and exposure are all a click away without having to go into any menus. Very user friendly for the point and shoot.
 
Re: Compact Digital Camera... all around and concert photos

I've never been happy with point and shoot cameras. If I need something mediocre, I have my cell phone. For anything legit, I'm shooting with a basic Canon 20D and a Frank Kayser-recommended Canon 50mm f/1.8 prime lens.

My choice if I had unlimited money would be Canon 5DmkII plus the 24-70mm L lens. So nice.
 
Re: Compact Digital Camera... all around and concert photos

Silas Pradetto said:
I've never been happy with point and shoot cameras. If I need something mediocre, I have my cell phone. For anything legit, I'm shooting with a basic Canon 20D and a Frank Kayser-recommended Canon 50mm f/1.8 prime lens.
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same here: we have a standart CANON EOS-500 with an additional telephoto lense, but don't ask me on the size :blush:
My choice if I had unlimited money would be Canon 5DmkIII plus the 24-70mm lens.
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+1
 
Re: Compact Digital Camera... all around and concert photos

The Canon PowerShot series is pretty good. The G12 is supposed to be pretty good and I have seen some of the photos and they are excellent. The lower MP sensor seems to have lower noise issues in low light which seems to be a real problem with Canon bodies. The G12 has the last generation Canon DSP and noise reduction/unsharp masking software also. I am pretty happy with the results it produces. Personally for live shows, I use a Canon 50D body with 70-200mm 2.8L w/or without 1.4x mkII multiplier or the older XTi Canon body with EF-S 55-250mm IS lens. I'll use the cheap side 17-40mm f4.0L lens too. Point and shoot is great but it never gives me the zoom when I need it or the control I want over the light. For my bigger hands I like the XTi body as a point and shoot. I'm sure one with a lens kit (18-55 or the 55-250) could be had for your price range.
 
Re: Compact Digital Camera... all around and concert photos

Silas Pradetto said:
I've never been happy with point and shoot cameras. If I need something mediocre, I have my cell phone. For anything legit, I'm shooting with a basic Canon 20D and a Frank Kayser-recommended Canon 50mm f/1.8 prime lens.

My choice if I had unlimited money would be Canon 5DmkII plus the 24-70mm L lens. So nice.
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+1. I use my iPhone 4s for all my point and shoot needs. It works well, fits in my pocket and does everything else too(like being a phone!). I used to carry a Canon powershot around with me, but as the iPhone has improved, my need for another camera has gone down.

Oh, and I'm quite partial to the 5Dii and 16-35mm. :)



Evan
 
Re: Compact Digital Camera... all around and concert photos

I think I have narrowed it down to 2 cameras; once I started researching there are some features that I just had to have. I also bumped by budget up to $300 MAX. In no order I wanted to ba able to: use GPS tagging for location and take HDR & Panoramic photos. Video mode wasn't too important, but is nice to have for a short video.

My top 2 camera choices are:
Nikon Coolpix S9300 (~$280)
Panasonic Lumix ZS20 (~$300)
 
Re: Compact Digital Camera... all around and concert photos

I have a friend with a Sony NEX3 that I played with a little. It surprised me with how little noise there was at high ISO and how decent the stock lens was. With the 16mm pancake lens it can fit in a large pocket. With any other lens it will take a large cargo pocket to carry it. There is also an adapter to use Sony A series and Minolta Maxxum glass on it. If I was buying a camera now and didn't already have a big glass anchor, I would give them a serious look.
 
Re: Compact Digital Camera... all around and concert photos

Matt Vivlamore said:
My top 2 camera choices are:
Nikon Coolpix S9300 (~$280)
Panasonic Lumix ZS20 (~$300)
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I'm a couple generation back on the Nikon (I have the S-8100)
It only has presets, no manual settings.
It takes great low light pics -IF- no one is moving.

I've heard good things about the Panasonic Lumix line and will look at them next time I change.
 
Re: Compact Digital Camera... all around and concert photos

Matt Vivlamore said:
I think I have narrowed it down to 2 cameras; once I started researching there are some features that I just had to have. I also bumped by budget up to $300 MAX. In no order I wanted to ba able to: use GPS tagging for location and take HDR & Panoramic photos. Video mode wasn't too important, but is nice to have for a short video.

My top 2 camera choices are:
Nikon Coolpix S9300 (~$280)
Panasonic Lumix ZS20 (~$300)
Click to expand...

Since you've raised your price a little, I would highly suggest you look for a Canon S95. It has a bigger sensor that both of those cameras, but is about the same size. IMO, that camera can't be beaten in that size range. I've owned an S90 and an S95 and both are great. Typically I'm a Nikon guy (I own several Nikon film SLRs and DSLRs) but Canon makes the best small Point and Shoot cameras. The benefit of the S95 is completely manual control in addition to fully automatic picture taking AND it has two control dials for changing shutter, aperture, ISO or whatever you want it to do.

Note, The S95 was recently replaced by the S100 and I haven't used that model. I would recommend a used S90 or S95 however.

Here are some sample shots from my S95
Untitled | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Untitled | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Untitled | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Untitled | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Untitled | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
 
Re: Compact Digital Camera... all around and concert photos

Steve Hurt said:
Those pics were VERY nice, but how about some pics of bands in dimly lit clubs, prefarably w/o flash.
That's the hard part with a point and shoot
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I agree Steve, but given the OP's budget and listed options, I think this would be a better camera. It does have an f/2 lens which helps for low light - though I haven't used it for that purpose. I pull out the Nikon DSLR and f/1.4 lenses for that work.

Rock and Roll - a set on Flickr
 
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