Best compact camera.....for a trip report

[TonyHancock]

I was going to use my iPhone, on my forthcoming trip, to take photographs, but I just don't think it is up to it. I want some decent photos for my trip report. So that leads me to ask what you think the best compact camera is. I do want to get a decent zoom, i.e. More than the the usual 3 or 4. Size is important, I want the smallest there is.Thanks in advance.

 

[BadgerBoi]

I love my Canon IXUS 130, has up to 16x zoom and it fits in the palm of my hand.

Attached pic was taken indoors with no flash, using zoom - sorry don't know what size zoom but I have a pretty shaky hand so it's a good example.

 

[drron]

until now all my pictures on TRs have been with sony cybershot-an older 8mp or a newer 12mp.Fit easily into the pocket but only 3x zoom.I looked at the H70-10x zoom,16mp but couldn't go past my new HX100V-30x zoom-however it is definetely not compact.Great for those of us that are not really photographers.
Our sony cameras have never given us any problems.

 

[moa999]

Presently carrying a baseline Nikon Coolpix S210 <1"

If wanting something with more control I would consider the Panasonic Lumic LX5, or the Sony NEX-5 (at least with the small lens is compact)

 

[drron]

The sony HX100V is roughly the same as the Nex5 with middle size lens.It does perform better.Mrs.dr.ron has the Nex5

 

[MatF]

The Canon s95 is a very nice little compact, but doesn't have a huge zoom range (28-105mm equivalent).
Same sensor and controls as the Canon G12, but very small and compact. It also has a larger aperture lens - f2.0 at the wide end.

For me, it was a choice between the s95 and Panasonic LX5, but the deciding factor was size - the s95 is more pocketable.

It may not fit your zoom requirements, but it may still be worth a look. It suited me perfectly for our trip last year.

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon_PowerShot_S95/

 

[medhead]

I love my Canon IXUS 130, has up to 16x zoom and it fits in the palm of my hand.

That would be digital zoom the camera only seems to have 4x optical zoom.

This raises a question for me, do others consider the difference between optical and digital zoom?

 

[Mrmaxwell]

I will second the great Canon IXUS series....very small for sliding into your pocket, takes great photos and HD video - perfect for travel.

Tiny:

 

[MatF]

This raises a question for me, do others consider the difference between optical and digital zoom?

I do - digital zoom is basically the same as cropping and then enlarging a photo after it's taken.

I don't take any notice of it (and have always disabled it on any camera I've owned that's had it).

 

[TonyHancock]

That would be digital zoom the camera only seems to have 4x optical zoom.

This raises a question for me, do others consider the difference between optical and digital zoom?

Yep I certainly do. I'm an absolute half wit when it comes to cameras, point and shoot for me, but I do like a decent optical zoom. I was looking for something in the x10 range but still compact.

To demonstrate my extreme failings in all things photography I hadn't even considered Nikon, Panasonic or Sony. I had it in my mind I'd be buying a Canon of some kind.

Anyway to cut a long story short I finished up going against my earlier wish for ultra small :shock: and went for the Nikon Coolpix S9100, mainly because of the 18 x optical zoom. The camera is slightly bigger than I would have preferred but price, that 18 x zoom and the promised ease of use for the novice swayed me. It has had some decent reviews too.

Thanks for the suggestions, without them I would not have looked a bit deeper. It's great to be able to ask questions on AFF, the feedback is always excellent.

Hopefully I can provide some decent photos in my trip report!!!

 

[markis10]

Panasonic have some nice zoom options in compacts!

 

[TonyHancock]

Panasonic have some nice zoom options in compacts!

I was looking at the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ20, and would have gone for that but it was just a bit over my budget. :-| I didn't realise Panasonic were so strong in the camera market.

 

[nlagalle]

I've got the TZ-10 with built in gps. The zoom and photo quality is fantastic..

 

[RB]

TZ-15 here. Easy to use & the hd movies are spot on

 

[rtyuiop]

If you're a photographer but don't want to carry lots of gear, the guys over at Luminous Landscape have a bunch of various recent reviews, everything from micro four-thirds kit to a few of the aforementioned options.

The whole site is aimed at people who are fairly keen amateur photographers at a minimum, so it might be different information to what a dedicated point and shooter is looking for:

Sony HX-100V
Olympus XZ-1 Review
Sony NEX-C3 Field Report
Canon PowerShot G11
Olympus E-P2 Field Review
Panasonic Lumix GF1

Danny

 

[drron]

Just to illustrate the zoom on the Sony.From this-

To this-

And the SQ A380 heading west from SYD from the 4 Points-

Still experimenting but first impressions are good.However the HX100V is still not available from Sony Australia-mine was from B&H in NYC and $200 cheaper than the aussie list price.

 

[Madam Mina]

Up until very recently I used an Olympus Tough camera but I just upgraded to a Sony Nex 3 and I love it. The photos are much better quality and I really like being able to use the manual settings as this camera is really a DSLR lite rather than a compact. I still have the tough camera and intend to keep it for use on active holidays as it is great for skiing, snorkelling and the like so I guess I will now travel with both quite often.

I would say that the Nex 3 would probably be overkill if you just want to use it for Internet work. At 14mp the pictures are going to be way to big to upload as is and so you are either going to need to shoot them on a low setting or modify them before you upload them. Also when it is attached to the lens that you are going to want to use most of the time it's not really pocket sized. I can fit it in to a medium sized handbag with a few other bits and pieces but I wouldn't try and get it in my pocket. So I would say that if you just want a neat camera to shoot photos for the net this is not the right camera. The Tough camera might be a good choice especially if you want something that can deal with more extreme conditions (eg up to 10m underwater).

 

[djfuzz]

FWIW, in the unlikely event the Nikon fails and you need to revisit this, I second the Canon S95 recommendation earlier - short of the X100 or any Leica, it's the best and most n00b-proof point and shoot I've used.

But as they say, the best camera is the one in your hands.

 

[Alanslegal]

I am using a Sony TX10 right now, super compact - shock proof 1.5m, water proof 5m, 1920 HD video.

I really *like* the panaromic feature of the camera where it takes up to 170degrees in around 6 shots, and joins them all up for you.


I also carry a Sony Nex5 for some better photos but its not as compact.

Yes I am a Sony fanboy :shock: though I do have a Nikon SLR which is in storage right now :shock:

 

[elbarto]

Been shooting with a Nikon S6000. I got it as a replacement for my Canon IXUS 70 but I'm not blown away by it. I was drawn to it by good reviews and a previous good experience with a Nikon S2 and because it could be charged by USB. I wouldn't say it's a bad camera however. If you look at my TR about my flight on BA1 in the TR section you can see what the pics are like. be warned some of the pics were taken on my BB.


Sent from my iPad using Aust Freq Fly app