Compact Camera

[ylexot]

I've been thinking about getting a compact camera for those times that I don't want to lug around the 5D (or don't want to worry about it getting damaged/stolen). Unfortunately, I'm not really finding what I want. I'd like it to be compact (pocket-sized if possible), cheap (<$300), have some manual control capability (aperture priority preferably), image stabilization, and RAW capability (since most negative points on compacts seems to be bad in-camera processing). The closest that I've gotten is the $600 Leica D-LUX 3

They don't quite meet my wants, but I'm looking at either the Canon SX100 IS (doesn't have RAW, kinda big) or SD870 IS (no manual control, no RAW, but very small).

Anybody think of any other cameras I should consider?

 

[Lugnut]

I've been thinking about getting a compact camera for those times that I don't want to lug around the 5D (or don't want to worry about it getting damaged/stolen). Unfortunately, I'm not really finding what I want. I'd like it to be compact (pocket-sized if possible), cheap (<$300), have some manual control capability (aperture priority preferably), image stabilization, and RAW capability (since most negative points on compacts seems to be bad in-camera processing). The closest that I've gotten is the $600 Leica D-LUX 3

They don't quite meet my wants, but I'm looking at either the Canon SX100 IS (doesn't have RAW, kinda big) or SD870 IS (no manual control, no RAW, but very small).

Anybody think of any other cameras I should consider?

The requirement for RAW capability is the kicker.

Have you looked at the guide on dpreview.com? That'll give you a pretty good first cut.

 

[Inkpen]

I agree with lugnut...wanting RAW and SMALL, compact camera...I doubt you will find anything that is out thee now. Nor do I expect there is a demand for what you want.
BUT... IF you find one, let us know...
Good Luck!

 

[Lugnut]

These are all under $300, considered "compacts" (som are moe compact thanothers!) and have RAW capability...

Fujifilm FinePix F810 Zoom Fujifilm FinePix F810 Zoom Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review
Fujifilm FinePix F700 Fujifilm FinePix F700 Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review
Fujifilm FinePix E550 Zoom Fujifilm Finepix E550 Zoom Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review
Fujifilm FinePix E900 Zoom

Canon PowerShot S60 Canon PowerShot S60 Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review
Canon PowerShot S70 Canon PowerShot S70 Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

 

[ylexot]

Yeah, dpreview even has a function where you can search by capabilities, but I'm not sure how good it is. That's how I found the Leica, but if you look at the Leica, you'll see that it is capable of "RAW, TIFF". If you set the uncompressed file search to RAW, you find the Leica. If you set it to TIFF, it doesn't find the Leica...

Anyway, I'm leaning towards the SX100 IS. It's not really small, but it is small, has some manual control, and is ~$50 cheaper than the SD870.

 

[Lugnut]

:shrug: Maybe you can find out why that is in the review? I dunno. The other thing I do is hit the forums there and do a little digging.

 

[Patch Tuesday]

I've been thinking about getting a compact camera for those times that I don't want to lug around the 5D (or don't want to worry about it getting damaged/stolen). Unfortunately, I'm not really finding what I want. I'd like it to be compact (pocket-sized if possible), cheap (<$300), have some manual control capability (aperture priority preferably), image stabilization, and RAW capability (since most negative points on compacts seems to be bad in-camera processing). The closest that I've gotten is the $600 Leica D-LUX 3

They don't quite meet my wants, but I'm looking at either the Canon SX100 IS (doesn't have RAW, kinda big) or SD870 IS (no manual control, no RAW, but very small).

Anybody think of any other cameras I should consider?

I bought the Olympus 720SW for that purpose...

I think a newer model has been released...

7 megapixel, shockproof and waterproof, but doesn't do RAW. And none of these pocket jobs are going to compare to your big camera...

Movie mode was big on my criteria...

 

[ylexot]

Well, one of my big criteria is that it use a normal kind of memory...basically SD or CF. I'm not going to buy xD or MemoryStick. Movie mode...don't care. They all do it well enough for me.

 

[Inkpen]

For me it is shutter speed....in addition to the other qualities you listed.
I have a couple of "small" Nikons..and I hate the lag time between pressing the "button" and waiting for the capture to complete...

Now, find a pocket sized cam with 3+fps, RAW, decent zoom, at least 8 mpix...and I am interested...and some manual options too..
I dont care about movie mode either..that is why I have a digital video camera...

 

[migtig]

These are all under $300, considered "compacts" (som are moe compact thanothers!) and have RAW capability...

Fujifilm FinePix F810 Zoom Fujifilm FinePix F810 Zoom Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review
Fujifilm FinePix F700 Fujifilm FinePix F700 Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review
Fujifilm FinePix E550 Zoom Fujifilm Finepix E550 Zoom Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review
Fujifilm FinePix E900 Zoom

Canon PowerShot S60 Canon PowerShot S60 Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review
Canon PowerShot S70 Canon PowerShot S70 Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

I have one of the fuji fine pix. It was a great camera until it got dropped. Now it's an okay camera. Anyway, I got a memory card for it for around $10. I think it was an excellent camera for the money. Personally I'd rather have an itty bitty finger camera if I was going smaller. Would you like to borrow the camera for a few days to see how you like it?

 

[ylexot]

Well, it doesn't meet all my criteria, but I'm leaning towards the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

It's tough to beat for only $240.

 

[Tomcat]

I've liked and used Pentax and Nikon over the years. Other half has a Nikon Coolpix something which is fine for her. I've been using my Pentax digital SLR for 5 or 6 years now but it just bit the dust, replaced it last night with a Nikon D40. Most of the smaller point and shoot cameras have terrible shutter lag. Had a Kodak that I timed and lag was 2 seconds + 8-9 seconds to save, 10 seconds between shots