Best carry around camera?
I have a DSLR that is my main camera but for times when I just want to take a compact camera for snapshots of my kids what is a good choice? My DSLR is a Nikon. I want something that is small but has as many manual features possible on a point and shoot! What are some good options?
That's a hard question to answer because there's no such thing as a fits all compact camera anymore. However, not to panic. I was in the same boat asking the same questions not too long ago and found an excellent resource for us!
According to Ken Rockwell, reknowned professional photographer and camer reviewer par excellance, the "best" fall into several "compact camera" categories:
- World's Best Digital Compact/Pocket Camera (Bar NONE!): Canon S95 IS - Used by many pros when their DSLR is too bulky or just not available - now under $390
- Best Ultra-Telephoto-Zoom Compact/Pocket Camera: Canon SX210 IS - under $280
- Best Abusable Underwater Compact/Pocket Camera: Canon D10 IS - under $250
- Best Ultra-Wide-Angle Zoom Compact/Pocket Camera: Canon SD980 IS - about $200
- Best Teeny-Tiny Compact/Pocket Camera: Canon SD1400 IS - under $180
- "Excellent" All-Around Compact/Pocket Camera: Canon SD1300 IS - under $130
- Best Inexpensive Compact/Pocket Camera: Canon A3100 IS - under $120.
Very few camera pros bother to step out on a limb to answer your question, mostly because they are somewhat beholding to a given sponsor. Thus, Ken is a bit of fresh air out there. If you'd like to know more about the "whys" to his recommendations, check out: http://www.kenrockwell.com/...ameras.htm
Note: While Canon happens to be his recommendations for all these cameras, the maker recommendations vary as the categories change. I've used his choices before and have been quite satisfied and presently own and use the Canon S95 IS during all my motorcycle journeys around America.
It really comes down to personal choice and how much money you have to spend! Nikons DSLR range is of course excellent, but it's compact range is… Hmm.questionable… Hmm…
(This is my long answer) There's no such thing as the 'best' compact camera, they are all pretty much capable of excellent images, it is after all the person behind the camera who makes the image. On the other hand it is nice to have a wider aperture, manual settings, a hot shoe etc.
Whilst I have never been a huge fan of digital compacts, I prefer and generally always carry a 35mm compact such as a Leica Mini II or Olympus MJU II, I do own a Canon G9. I figure that if I'm going to have a compact, it had may as well be a GOOD compact with full manual controls.
(This is my short answer) Let me put it this way, when I'm buying a digital compact I will only buy Canon or Panasonic Lumix, you can't go wrong. The Canon G series is a little bulky, maybe not for jeans pockets but fits nicely in a jacket pocket. The Lumix LX3 is the only other camera I would trade for my G9, a superb bit of kit. The TZ series is also nice and more compact.
I was in the same situation as you. It came down to a choice between the Canon S95 and the Olympus XZ1. Both are highly regarded among photographers. I chose the Olympus because it has a slightly faster lens and it had a slight edge over the S95 in the review in http://dpreview.com/...review.com. By the way, I'm a Canon shooter.
@Cage SC: Ken Rockwell might be renowned among newbies and rank amateurs, but experienced photographers generally perceive him as something of a carnival barker who sometimes gives out suspect information.