Have an dSLR, want a P+S that shoots RAW

[miles]

Hey all, I have a Canon Digital Rebel, but I am looking for a small P+S that I can carry everywhere, because it just is not practical for me to carry my SLR and gear everywhere and I am looking for a P+S that shoots RAW and is small and sleek.

I really am liking the looks of the Canon G9, but it looks a little bigger than what I want and what I want to spend.

I was looking at the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX30K but it does not have RAW.

I don't like the idea of NOT being able to play in RAW, now that I have used it for over a year, I don't see how I could go back.

Any input would be greatly appreciated thank you!

[Usuqa]

i think there are some canons that can be hacked or what ever to shoot raw.
The fz8 shoots raw but i guess thats a little bit bigger than what ur looking for since its a bridge and not a point n shoot.

[onesaint]

the leica D-LUX 3 is the best i can find but, the price is higher than the Canon G9. i dont think RAW has made it too far into the p&S world yet. and a good p&s is gonna run you about 400 anyway.

here is the leica D-LUX 3 (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Leica/leica_dlux3.asp)

[miles]

the leica D-LUX 3 is the best i can find but, the price is higher than the Canon G9. i dont think RAW has made it too far into the p&S world yet. and a good p&s is gonna run you about 400 anyway.

here is the leica D-LUX 3 (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Leica/leica_dlux3.asp)

I also looked at that one, I really was looking towards it. I just hate learning RAW and its capabilities and then lose it when I use the P+S (which I will take to parties, get togethers, etc).

[onesaint]

I also looked at that one, I really was looking towards it. I just hate learning RAW and its capabilities and then lose it when I use the P+S (which I will take to parties, get togethers, etc).

these cameras all shoot raw.

Canon PowerShot G9 -- RAW
Leica D-LUX 2 -- TIFF, RAW
Leica D-LUX 3 -- RAW

have a look towards the bottom here @ DP review (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_g9%2Cleica_dlux2%2Cleica_dlux3&show=all) You can find them all for around 400+

[miles]

these cameras all shoot raw.

Canon PowerShot G9 -- RAW
Leica D-LUX 2 -- TIFF, RAW
Leica D-LUX 3 -- RAW

have a look towards the bottom here @ DP review (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_g9%2Cleica_dlux2%2Cleica_dlux3&show=all) You can find them all for around 400+

Same camera as the Leica?

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-LX2K-Digital-Optical-Stabilized/dp/tech-data/B000GHULTM/ref=de_a_smtd

[onesaint]

it certainly does look like it.

have a look (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=leica_dlux3%2Cpanasonic_dmclx2&show=all)

check this out too. (http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-cameras/panasonic-lumix-dmc-lx2k/4505-6501_7-31977238.html)

[Doug Pardee]

What software do you use to convert Raw files? That will probably determine which cameras you can even consider.

For example, if you use Photoshop CS3, this page (http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/cameraraw.html) lists the supported cameras. There aren't a lot of current digicams on that list. Basically Panasonic (and its Leica siblings), Ricoh GR, and the Canon G9.

Another (gutsier) alternative is to buy a Canon digicam that the CHDK firmware might run on, and hope that you can get it to work. If it works, you've still got a bit of a hassle because you have to run a special program to convert your (nonstandard) Raw files to DNG, then you can process them in Photoshop or whatever you're using—unless you're using an editor that doesn't do DNG from unknown cameras in which case you're stuck.

[miles]

Thanks guys for the great help! I use Lightroom and CS3 so I should be good?

I seen the panasonic and the leica where the same, but I didn't have a way to confirm if they were skipped of features, etc, thanks onesaint you have been a great help!

[mattdm]

i dont think RAW has made it too far into the p&S world yet.

Actually, it's there and gone. A couple of years ago it was routine for high end P&S cameras to have RAW capability, but as camera makers try to push people to dSLRs, they're taking it out. For example, it was gone in the Canon G7, and kudos to Canon for listening to the outcry and putting it back in the G9.

I'm hoping that, against all odds, the Sigma DP1 turns out to be enough of a success that other companies follow the lead. Particularly Pentax, and it should take K-mount lenses. I'd love a super-compact body for my 40mm Limited.

[onesaint]

Actually, it's there and gone. A couple of years ago it was routine for high end P&S cameras to have RAW capability, but as camera makers try to push people to dSLRs, they're taking it out. For example, it was gone in the Canon G7, and kudos to Canon for listening to the outcry and putting it back in the G9.

I'm hoping that, against all odds, the Sigma DP1 turns out to be enough of a success that other companies follow the lead. Particularly Pentax, and it should take K-mount lenses. I'd love a super-compact body for my 40mm Limited.
isn't what you've posted just an example of RAW not making it too far into the P&S world? don't get me wrong, i would love to have a P&S that can handle RAW and give me manual control. heck for the cost i might get a DMC-LX2. but, its just not a wide spread phenomenon in the P&S market yet.

[mattdm]

isn't what you've posted just an example of RAW not making it too far into the P&S world? don't get me wrong, i would love to have a P&S that can handle RAW and give me manual control. heck for the cost i might get a DMC-LX2. but, its just not a wide spread phenomenon in the P&S market yet.

No, I mean that the trends are very clearly to not offer RAW, even on otherwise high-end P&S models.

[miles]

isn't what you've posted just an example of RAW not making it too far into the P&S world? don't get me wrong, i would love to have a P&S that can handle RAW and give me manual control. heck for the cost i might get a DMC-LX2. but, its just not a wide spread phenomenon in the P&S market yet.

That is the camera I may get, once I am back in the states, since I can't get it shipped to me here in Canada, so I have to wait a few months :(

[onesaint]

That is the camera I may get, once I am back in the states, since I can't get it shipped to me here in Canada, so I have to wait a few months :(

that was a great find! its an inexpensive P&S that shoots RAW, it meets all the requirements. also, it goes against the trend. sorry to hear youve got to wait for it. but, happy to have helped.

No, I mean that the trends are very clearly to not offer RAW, even on otherwise high-end P&S models.
thanks for the info! lets hope more camera manufactures go against the trend of not offering RAW and it makes a bigger showing in the P&S market!

[inkista]

Just as another example, the Canon S30/40/50/60/70 all had RAW capability, until they dumped it with the S80, and then dumped the Sx0 series altogether.

[onesaint]

miles: check out the reviews on the DMC-LX2. its seems it gets noisey when shooting RAW. look here (http://www.amazon.com/review/product/B000GHULTW/ref=cm_cr_pr_hist_3?%5Fencoding=UTF8&filterBy=addThreeStar)


Just as another example, the Canon S30/40/50/60/70 all had RAW capability, until they dumped it with the S80, and then dumped the Sx0 series altogether.

it seems from both your and matt's posts that it is only Canon that has introduced and then retracted their RAW support. maybe its just in Canon's business model to push DSLRs and not P&Ss. you got me...

[inkista]

Well, the Fujifilm E series also had RAW and has been discontinued.

[miles]

miles: check out the reviews on the DMC-LX2. its seems it gets noisey when shooting RAW. look here (http://www.amazon.com/review/product/B000GHULTW/ref=cm_cr_pr_hist_3?%5Fencoding=UTF8&filterBy=addThreeStar)


I seen that one saint, but I also seen a few stating that they were not getting noise, I will maybe buy it when I get home, take a few test shots and see how it is, if I do not like it I will send it back.

Thanks!

[mattdm]

Well, the Fujifilm E series also had RAW and has been discontinued.

Olympus too -- they canned the whole C series. I think some of their ultrazooms have it now though.

[onesaint]

Olympus too -- they canned the whole C series. I think some of their ultrazooms have it now though.

could it be due to customer demand? it seems the lion's share of the P&S market are consumers not wanting anything other than a super simple camera. i don't think the average P&S consumer is looking to get heavily into editing photos or conversions, or what have you. otherwise, consumer demand would have driven RAW support wide spread into the camera lines and it would have stayed. although, you have pointed out that RAW is back in the Canon G9 after consumer outcry.

I seen that one saint, but I also seen a few stating that they were not getting noise, I will maybe buy it when I get home, take a few test shots and see how it is, if I do not like it I will send it back.
good luck with your purchase. and nice photos on your site by the way.

[miles]

good luck with your purchase. and nice photos on your site by the way.

Thank you!

[onesaint]

Thank you!

glad i was able to! :^)