P&S Travel Camera

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Archive 2009 · P&S Travel Camera

tarheel
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p.1 #1 · P&S Travel Camera

I shoot Nikon (D2Xs & D300) but I am looking for a small light camera for travel and the Canon G11 seems to be a good choice. I know it's blasphemy to inquire about a "Canon" camera in the Nikon forum but this is the "place" I visit every day and so I am asking here. Has anyone shot with this camera? Opinions please. Or - can you recommend a Nikon P&S Camera? I am interested in a camera without interchangeable lens, decent built in flash, and excellent image quality. It will be used for family photos and I do not need long telephoto capabilities. Bill

Nov 17, 2009 at 10:19 PM

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p.1 #2 · P&S Travel Camera

Canon S90 is the same sensor as the G11, in a more compact body with a much more graceful interface.
The Nikon PnS offerings are horrible.

Nov 17, 2009 at 10:24 PM

Mister Bean
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p.1 #3 · P&S Travel Camera

Canon S90, Panasonic LX3 and Fuji F200EXR are what I'd be looking at.

Nov 17, 2009 at 10:41 PM

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p.1 #4 · P&S Travel Camera

Blasphemy? Hardly. Canon P&S cameras are much better than Nikon offerings. Good for them, let Nikon concentrate on the heavy side.

I have the S90 and it's very good.

Have you considered a micro-4/3? Like the Panasonic GF-1, or Olympus E-P1?

Nov 17, 2009 at 10:55 PM

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p.1 #5 · P&S Travel Camera

I had an LX3 and sold it (for more than I paid!). It's an awesome little camera, but zoom just wasn't quite long enough (one can rave about how wide it is, but that's just not my shooting style, 60mm equiv at the long end just isn't quite enough for me). Plus Aperture (still) doesn't support Panny's RAW for their cameras that need distortion correction in RAW. The Canon S90 looks like it will be my next P&S.

I'm a D300.

Nov 17, 2009 at 11:03 PM

Shutterslam
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p.1 #6 · P&S Travel Camera

Not blasphemy...practical

D700 + D300 + SD880 (chosen for size and wide angle range). The G11, G10 and the SD880 are among a very short list of point and shoots that go as wide as 28mm which I find is one of my favorite features.

There's the added benefit of being able to hack a Canon with the CHDK Utility...I don't recall seeing if they released a working version for the G11 yet but it's something to keep an eye out for if and when they do.

http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK

You can add features like intervalometers, super high speed sync (few have managed 1/8000th sync to do water drop shots)...and the list goes on. It would be less useful on the Gseries since they're manual already, but it's an interesting hack nevertheless

Nov 18, 2009 at 12:29 AM

nikt
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p.1 #7 · P&S Travel Camera

As a compact camera, easy to use, point&shoot, have a look at the Ricoh CX2.

The P6000 is very understated in the higher models. The G11 and LX3 are pick of the high end enthusiasts.

Pocket cameras, Canon Ixus 95 is ok, and Pentax WP80 is quite good.

Nov 18, 2009 at 12:31 AM

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p.1 #8 · P&S Travel Camera

Shutterslam, you haven't looked at the PnS market lately, have you?

There are a lot of cameras going to 28mm now, some even wider.

Nov 18, 2009 at 01:51 AM

James R
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p.1 #9 · P&S Travel Camera

Nikon sells a ton of P&Sd camera, just none as good as Canon's G11.

Nov 18, 2009 at 02:35 AM

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p.1 #10 · P&S Travel Camera

The G11 is nearly the size of a D40

Nov 18, 2009 at 03:56 AM

bdickers
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p.1 #11 · P&S Travel Camera

Leica C Lux 3.

Nov 18, 2009 at 04:05 AM

tarheel
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p.1 #12 · P&S Travel Camera

Thanks for all the replies and information! I'll sort it out for a few days and try to handle the two or three cameras that fit my needs best.
Poisonpill - I had a Nikon D40 (stolen w/a Nikon 70-300 AFS G lens on it!). It was one of the most fun to use cameras I have ever had. It sells at B&H for about $470., which is a little less than the Canon G11 - going for $500., also at B&H.
On size - D40: 3.7" X 5" X 2.5", weight without battery or lens - 17 oz.
Canon G11: 4.41" X 3" X 1.9", weight - body only - 12.5 oz.
Both the Nikon D40 and the Canon G11 are pushing the upper limits of size for my use - the Canon S90 looks good.
Honestly, for me, buying a high end DSLR is an easier choice to make than getting the right P&S

Thanks again - I have been a member here since 2004 and visit FM almost every day. I still learn and get a lot of good advice here and I find the Nikon forum section a really good group of photographers!

Nov 18, 2009 at 04:28 AM

clickmepp
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p.1 #13 · P&S Travel Camera

1. LX3
2. S90

Nov 18, 2009 at 04:29 AM

barisaxer
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p.1 #14 · P&S Travel Camera

S90 S90 or the s90 it is very nice from my standpoint. Fit in pocket good macro. Fast f2 at 28mm 28-105 lens great at 400 iso passable sometimes at 800. Nothing real close til next week

Nov 18, 2009 at 04:32 AM

galenapass
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p.1 #15 · P&S Travel Camera

I use a G11 and posted some shots recently in the Canon forum.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/828046/0#7689273

Nov 18, 2009 at 04:41 AM

Chris S.
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p.1 #16 · P&S Travel Camera

I'll echo the point that this question is not off topic. I myself consider the Panasonic Lumix LX3 to be the perfect Nikon D700 accessory. It's with me on tough mountain climbs when my D700 would be too heavy by far, and its 24-60 mm equivalent lens is similiar to my favorite 24-70mm lens on the Nikon.

The Canon D11 is also worth considering--it's just optimized for a different set of parameters. The wide angle capability of the Lumix, along with the fast, superb Leica lens, sold me.

--Chris

Nov 18, 2009 at 11:09 AM

tarheel
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p.1 #17 · P&S Travel Camera

My on-line research on the Canon G11 indicates that shutter lag, or - the delay between depressing the shutter to take a photo and the actual recording of the image, is somewhat of a problem. Family photos for me includes people and dogs/puppies and I need a very quick shutter response in a P&S camera. Can any G11 owners comment on this aspect of the camera?
Thanks,
Bill

Nov 18, 2009 at 01:03 PM

elmoreman
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p.1 #18 · P&S Travel Camera

I had a g9, so I cant comment about the features, but if you're looking for a pocket camera, the Canon G series will not fit the bill. The reason I sold the G9 was because I figured if I was carrying that thing around, I might as well carry a DSLR and get all its benefits over teh G series. For a true pocket camera, I think its hard to beat the Lumix series, personally. I have an older one DMC-01, or something like that, and in the right light it takes amazing pictures, and have had many pictures published in the local newspaper and magazine taken with that camera.

Nov 18, 2009 at 01:14 PM

galenapass
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p.1 #19 · P&S Travel Camera

elmoreman wrote:
I had a g9, so I cant comment about the features, but if you're looking for a pocket camera, the Canon G series will not fit the bill. The reason I sold the G9 was because I figured if I was carrying that thing around, I might as well carry a DSLR and get all its benefits over teh G series. For a true pocket camera, I think its hard to beat the Lumix series, personally. I have an older one DMC-01, or something like that, and in the right light it takes amazing pictures, and have had many pictures published in the local newspaper and magazine taken with that camera.

Funny that we all have different ideas. I like the G11 because it does not feel too small and if fits well in my jacket pocket or "cargo shorts" pocket(s).

Nov 18, 2009 at 03:02 PM

Travelinbri
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p.1 #20 · P&S Travel Camera

I love my LX-3. Great camera capable of taking fantastic pics. Have heard great things about the S90. If you are willing to spend the money, I would definitely consider the M4/3s system, which seems like the serious photographers dream second collection.

Nov 18, 2009 at 03:39 PM

Dan Bellyk
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p.1 #21 · P&S Travel Camera

Whats this one like? Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3

Nov 18, 2009 at 08:39 PM

AdrianGB
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p.1 #22 · P&S Travel Camera

I use a Ricoh GR2. Clearly not the choice of the masses, but it is incredibly well put together. Very compact bod, magnesium body, good fixed lens. The IQ is good for what it is. But for me the sheer joy comes from the handling. It is designed for manual and semi-automatic exposure control.

I bought it 18months ago, and recently shopped the p&s market. There is still nothing out there I would replace it with.

Nov 18, 2009 at 10:23 PM

DavidWEGS
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p.1 #23 · P&S Travel Camera

LX3 in the current market, IMO.

The S90 looks good on paper though.

Nov 19, 2009 at 12:52 AM

jasoncallen
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p.1 #24 · P&S Travel Camera

Have you considered a Nikon P6000 + SB-400 flash? That little guy does wonderful work with a small speedlight on it if you're shooting indoors!

Nov 19, 2009 at 08:41 PM

rubberband
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p.1 #25 · P&S Travel Camera

Slightly older (and therefore cheaper) but still all kinds of awesome: Panasonic DMC-TZ5

Nov 19, 2009 at 08:54 PM


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