Best Bang for your Buck Compact Camera?
What's the best bang for your buck compact camera
i'm looking to get a new one
i want to spend under 300
i want to be able to shoot full hd videos, because i do alot of videos and vlogs, also want the image quality to be great! Doesn't have to be perfect i know it won't be a dlsr but i want most of the manual controls like a dslr has. I also need it to be able to fit in my pocket
features i'm looking for but doesn't HAVE to have
hdr, panorama, pop up flash(not a big deal), RAW, long exposure, FD filter would be nice but not a big deal either
couple i'm looking at nikon p330/340
pentax mx1(cheapest out of all)
lumix lf1 and lumix lx7 a little out of my price range but if they are worth it then maybe
and the cybershot hx50 looks like a good one
I use this tool to compare cameras. Maybe you will find it useful.
http://snapsort.com/...om/compare
My favorite pick for best bang for the buck is the Canon PowerShot SX160 IS - $139 or SX170 - $149
http://reviews.cnet.com/...562-4.html
http://www.cnet.com/...hot-sx170/
Last winter the Nikon P330 was marked down to $200. Now, unused samples are rare, and they are selling for more than the P340, which is about $350. If you are willing to spend that, the P340 could be a good choice.
If you want to stay under $300, there are still unused samples of Canon S110 available for $249.
The price of the Panasonic LX7 has jumped around. For a while it was down to $300, but at the moment almost $400. It could be a good choice if video is a priority, with more manual control over video than other premium compact cameras.
Lately some Pentax MX-1's have become available on Amazon for less than $250. It is a nice camera, if you get a good sample, although bulky for a compact. Indoors the auto white balance is its weakness. I once bought one when the price was down to $200. I returned it, because it was forgetting the date every time I turned it off.
Looks like you have a pretty good idea about what you need. Your list is accurate: Pentax MX1, Nikon P330, Lumix LX7/LF1.
Among these, Pentax MX1 would be the one with the outstanding features- mainly its LCD screen is superiors with tilt options.
LF1 has a viewfinder, but it does not have very good resolution, and the image updates slowly as you pan across your subject.
HX50 is a very different category. It has a smaller sensor (1/2.3 inch) compared to the others (1/1.7inch). But it has a big zoom (x30). So, its performance would stand behind the others, but the zoom may make up for it. Depends on whether you want a zoom.
Some references at the source below.
