what's the best happy snaps camera?

[garymck]

Hi looking for some advice on a couple of possible camera purchases:

camera one: a compact for around $300.00 mark that is capable of some decent indoor flash shots (I've tried some that produce really poor indoor night shots) and reasonable all round happy snap performance.


Camera two:

EITHER a compact alrounder for up to $1000

or

a DSLR/lens for no more than $1500.00

None of these are for astronomical use since I already have a ccd, but for general family pics and a dabble in the arty farty in camera 2's case

Help in the decision making process would be really appreciated.

cheers
Gary

[Wavytone]

I'll suggest these:
Panasonic's LX3, due here later this month.
Ricoh Caplio GX200
Canon Powershot G9

There is one other which has a jekyll-and-hyde character - the Sigma DP1.

[jjjnettie]

I can highly recommend the Canon S3IS or S5IS.
It has 12x zoom, an incredible macro capability and it also doubles as a video camera which records up to 30fps at 640 x 480. You can choose lower quality to save on space.
Of course you have full creative control as well in Manual mode.
I've just bought a Canon 20d, but there is no way I'm going to get rid of this little camera. It's the perfect grab and go compact.

[AlexN]

I'll back up JJJ's vote for the S3IS/S5IS. The zoom is an optical zoom which is rare for compact digicams, also, being able to control shutter/ISO speed/aperture in creative modes is very useful when trying to capture certain moments.

On the other end of the scale, If you were leaning towards a DSLR, a 450D with 2 lenses shouldnt be more than $1500.. Would give better images than any compact and be much more versatile, having the twin lens kit gives you focal length coverage from 18mm-55mm then from (iirc) 90mm-300mm

It all depends on what you really want out of it. If it were my decision, I'd go with the DSLR, but the simplicity of point and shoot cameras can be very useful after a few beers when aperture and iso all become just that little bit too hard. :D

[acropolite]

HRH has a Canon A710 which has a 6x zoom range and Image stabilisation and 7.1 Mp. It's a great little happy snap camera, not as much Zoom as the abovementioned types, but sufficient for most use and more compact.

[Starkler]

I bought a Canon A720IS (6x zoom, 8mp) when i was in Europe and am very happy with it. With its manual control ability its as much camera as I need.
My travel companion bought an IXUS90 which was considerably more expensive but the A720 kills it for image quality and low light usability.

You can get an A720IS for under $300 now.

[RB]

Camera One:

Either a Canon IXUS 80 IS or IXUS 90 IS, both just over $300.

Camera Two:

Either the Canon G9 or soon to be realeased G10 (both under $1000), great allrounder, also does RAW

or

A Canon 40D Kit with 17-85mm IS USM lens kit (Just over $1500)

[Starkler]

Choosing an IXUS over a powershot gives you slimline pocket-ability at the expense of picture quality and flexibility, and the differences are considerable.

[RB]

Geoff there's two requests by the op, as I read it.

Camera one option is for around the $300 bracket. Hence The Ixus 90

Camera two option is in the $1000 bracket. Hence the G9

[snowyskiesau]

I have an Olympus C740 as a pick up and shoot camera. Apart from flat batteries, it's never given any trouble.
I just leave it set to fully automatic (auto focus/exposure) and the shots come out great.
Currently it's sitting in the workshop so I can take progress pictures of something I'm building (non astronomy).

[ving]

id go a nikon d40 or d60.

the problem with any of the flash systems you are likely to get is they show up as being too harsh. if you get a dslr with a popup flash you could make a diffuser for the flash which will improve you lighting heaps! the diffuser doesnt have to be anything great, infact you can make it your self. i made mine out of a plastic milk bottle but you can use butchers paper or anything like that as long as its not too thick. you dont want to stop light getting thru you just want to diffuse it :)

[janoskiss]

SuperCCD's in some fujifilm finepix compacts are pretty amazing for a compact i.t.o. sensitivity and low light signal-to-noise. I have the F30 which is probably one of the best low light compact digital cameras around. It has ISO setting up to 3200, with ISO 1600 still quite usable for web-sized pics.

It's a tiny camera so it is impressive that it can even do the odd astrophoto if pushed hard enough.. Here is a shot of comet mcnaught I took last year: http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showpost.php?p=185675&postcount=414

Unfortunately the lens has fair amount of chromatic aberration on high contrast subjects. The better Canon compacts have better lenses. So I'd go either for the Canon for optics (the model Starkler recommended) or a Fujifilm with a SuperCCD like the F30 for good low light performance (best for indoor pictures without flash). Unfortunately there is still no compact digital camera on the market to my knowledge that has both but maybe things have changed since I last looked...

Good wikipedia entry on finepix f-series: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujifilm_FinePix_F-series - the F100fd sounds pretty amazing...

[Starkler]

Andrew the powershot I mentioned fits into the $300 bracket, is considerably cheaper than the Ixus90 and performs much better, however its not a slimline pocket type.

[RB]

Ah gotcha, I was thinking you were referring to Powershot G9.

[dannat]

For an ultra compact I'd recommend a ricoh caplio r7, very small but has 7x 28-200mm zoom in a very samll package, has manual focus & good macro mode.

For the d-slr I'd look to pick up one the the olympus models with twin lens kit - like the 520, i think teds had it on special for 999, the kit lens are very good (some of the canon examples are below the quality of their cameras) and the usable lens range of the two is excellent. Olympus d-slrs also hace dust removal off the sensor

[garymck]

Hi Guys,

just like to thank you all for taking the time to reply with your suggestions for cameras.

I now have a short list to search through. You have narrowed down things for me considerably!! I'd much rather select cameras based on the experience of others, rather than the hype of ads, or spec lists that don't tell you how a camera performs in real life...

cheers
Gary