Pocket Camera

[RWebb]

I intend to celebrate our newly renewed economy by buying a bunch o' techno-crap - I already started by upgrading to an iPhone 4.

Before summer, I want to get a small, light weight camera. Now, let me lay out the boundary conditions...

it needs to have much better image quality than an iPhone 4 (already got that)

I also own a couple of Nikon DSLRs, so that sets the upper bound on image quality.

Maybe the upper bound is lower - e.g. I tried out a Canon S90 a few years ago, and it was too heavy in my pocket. (also was not enamored with the image quality). So, today's Canon S95 is probably too heavy too.

The primary axis along which to ordinate all this is: landscape photography - I'll use something else for other stuff.

Throw in some macro ability for flowers and ...

what is out there fer me?

[craigster59]

I have a Pentax W90 that works great for me. Waterproof for taking pics when fishing and has a macro mode with LED lighting around the lens. Great all around camera.

[mjohnson]

Whatever of the little Canon elphs/ISs meets your price point.

Small like a deck of cards small.

Most of the newer ones have image stabilization.

Teeny tiny sensor so don't go crazy with megapixels. 8-10 is more than enough.

We've had three, the next one will be another too.

[RWebb]

those Elphs always look nice...

I should add that the iphone 4 weighs 4.8 oz...

the Canon s95 weighs 6.8 oz., so 6.8 is too much...

[wdfifteen]

One of the parameters I look at anymore is the time it takes the camera to focus and trip the shutter after you press the button. Some of the pocket cameras are terribly slow.

[porsche4life]

have you looked at any of the Lumixes? Or are they all too big?

[ERH]

I got a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5 about a year ago and for a point and shoot I'm very happy with it. I bought it for size and the fact it is waterproof. It is an easy fit in a shirt pocket. Dimensions: 3.8 x 2.2 x 0.7 inches ; 4.8 ounces

Write up:

Amazon.com: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5 10.2MP CMOS Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Zoom with SteadyShot Image Stabilization and 3.0 Inch Touch Screen LCD (Black): Camera & Photo

Ed

[chocolatelab]

ive got an elph and a larger nikon dx9 (i think)

that said i swear my iphone 4 pics are as good as anything i take with those

[chocolatelab]

example of 3g iphone

kennedy meadows, ca single track



example of iphone 4 new years day view of churches from oldmans



id get a ipad if i was jones'ing for more technology

[chocolatelab]

well i read the rest of your post, common mistake, i dont know squat about proper landscape photography

[chocolatelab]

iphone landscape monterey, my best effort

[Z-man]

Nikon Coolpix pocket cameras are awesome. If you know what you're doing, you can almost go toe-to-toe with Digital SLR's.

Not sure if the pic will be compressed upon upload -- but I shot this with a Nikon Coolpix L4 (IIRC, it's a 4 megapix camera) - placed camera on a bridge (no tripod), and set the program to night shot without flash:


Golden Gate Bridge - same camera:


-Z-man.

[jyl]

iPhone 4 with canon and nikon slr system lenses. Would give shallower dof than any compact camera, and macro options.

[porsche4life]

2010 LUMIX® Digital Cameras from Panasonic

Seriously, there are several nice small cameras in this range....

[HardDrive]

We have had a Canon Elph for years. Great little camera.

[RWebb]

Lumix all seem to be 5 oz or more.

Canon PowerShot SD940 IS (Elph) weighs over 4 oz. & seems to be the smallest & lightest they have. Hard to tell as there is no way to filter or sort.

Anything smaller than that??

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Z-man

Nikon Coolpix pocket cameras are awesome. If you know what you're doing, you can almost go toe-to-toe with Digital SLR's.

Not sure if the pic will be compressed upon upload -- but I shot this with a Nikon Coolpix L4 (IIRC, it's a 4 megapix camera) - placed camera on a bridge (no tripod), and set the program to night shot without flash:


Golden Gate Bridge - same camera:


-Z-man.

You obviously know what you're doing. Nice shootin'!

[Steve Carlton]

What's your budget? It sounds like a M4/3rds camera is the way to go, but I'm really not up to speed on them. You could sniff around here:
The GetDPI Photography Forums - Powered by vBulletin

Personally, I'm a big fan of the Sigma DP1/DP2 family. The Foveon sensors are perhaps the most film-like of anything out there. They also have nearly the same size sensor as a crop Nikon. I took the first one, the second I found on a forum:

[slodave]

Are you looking to print pictures from this camera? If so, what would be the maximum size? Most of the Canon line won't look good larger than 8x10. It is really noticeable.

I have to check the model, but the Leica Dlux series is good.

[cameron.arnott]

Panasonic Lumix LX5 - Seriously good.......