A good point and shoot camera?

[vickystylton]

Well, I'm new to photography and I'm looking for a point-and-shoot right now. My budget is around $300. I really liked the SX series (120 IS,130 IS, 20 IS) but I'm not sure which one I should be buying. Manual control is one of my priorities.

Are there any good cameras manufactured by other brands like Nikon which fits my budget?

I'd also like to know how these models rate against the old Sony DSC H 50.

Hope I posted in the right thread.

[vickystylton]

I'm just bumping the thread. Any suggestions, guys?

[Rentham]

I really can't help you on the point and shoot front. But if you have plans to get into DSLRs in the future, I'd suggest thinking about getting a used Canon 450D/XSi on ebay. You can probably get one with a kit lens for $300-$350.

[ArmySoldier777]

vickystylton,

I don't know a whole lot about P&S cameras, but I do know that the SX 130IS is a really good option. I've seen one user in the Critique section that posted an image with his 130 and for a P&S it was a pretty amazing image. Here's a link to one of his threads with pictures taken by that camera.
Extraordinary Sunset from ordinary Place

This is just kind of reiterating what Rentham said, but you can find used cameras in the Gear For Sale section of this forum too. I've seen DSLRs going for around $300-400. I'd probably only buy from somebody reputable around here, and after seeing proof that the product you're getting is in good-working order. But that's just another option to consider. Sometimes people are upgrading cameras and they just want to get rid of what they already have. I'll actually be posting one for sale on there pretty soon because I'm looking to upgrade. But like I said, that's just another option. I'm sure they have P&S cameras on there as well.

I hope I was able to help you out a little bit. Good luck!
David

[inkista]

While you might want to get an SLR, and you can snag a body for $300, getting lenses for it will be another matter and a whole other budget. I think you're smart to stick with P&S options for now.

The SX series is a good one, very versatile for nearly everything except low light photography. If you want to shoot indoors without a flash a lot, you may want to go up one more step and look at the S or G series. While they're outside your budget, going back a generation and looking used can probably net you something inside your price range. Canon is currently selling refurbed S90s for $290, and S95s for $320.

If you want to do Strobist work, then you really want a flash hotshoe. I do Strobist stuff with my S90, but it's a pain to Rube Goldberg an optical slave to a radio trigger, and I prefer using my old G9 because it has the flash hotshoe.

You might also want to look at the Panasonic ZS/TZ series (like the Canon SXs), and the LX series (similar to the Gs and Ss).

[vickystylton]

Thanks for the input.

Rentham: 450D is really tempting. I'd love to own a DSLR someday. I thought I'd start out with a P&S though.

David: The images are pretty amazing indeed. One of my buddies has 120 IS and he's taken some magnificent images with it. That's what steered me into the SX series. I'll check out the Gears for Sale section too.

Inkista: G series also looks like a pretty good deal. But as you said, a bit outside my price range. One more model I'd like to add to the SX series is SX30 IS. The specs look better than SX120 or 130.

The specifications of these P&S seem to be a bit similar to Sony DSC H 50. I feel the main downside to the H 50 is its weight. The reason I'm interested in H50 is because my bro currently owns it and is thinking of upgrading to a DSLR. I might be able to snatch it from him.

[irelanct]

It may seem pricey but look at the S95. When I don't feel like lugging around the camera bag on family outtings the S95 comes along. It's full featured and gives you a good learning point of how to control a camera.

[arlon]

I had a Canon A530 that had pretty decent manual control I gave it away and upgraded to a much more costly 790IS. Wish I'd have kept the A530. Over the last year I've yet to get the quality of images from the 790 that I got from the 530. The manual controls on the 790 are only "semi manual" and greatly limit ones creativity. The cheaper A530 had much better manual control..

Finding a P&S with any real manual control might be hard to do these days.

My perfect P&S would have auto bracketing for HDR work, RAW files and full manual control.

[vickystylton]

Originally Posted by irelanct

It may seem pricey but look at the S95. When I don't feel like lugging around the camera bag on family outtings the S95 comes along. It's full featured and gives you a good learning point of how to control a camera.

The specs look good on paper, except for the lens maybe. The optical zoom could have been more than just 4x. I love that it can shoot RAW too.

Originally Posted by arlon

Wish I'd have kept the A530.
My perfect P&S would have auto bracketing for HDR work, RAW files and full manual control.

Agreed. Love my A550, even though it doesn't have an option for manually controlling the aperture. And yeah, S95 seems to be such a model.

[cyber3d]

I suggest you hit the web for reputable reviews.

Try this one: Canon Digital Camera Reviews - Canon Cameras

They also give you current online prices.

I have the G12 and I like it as a point and shoot. It also is one of the few that have a larger sensor (which make a whole lot of difference in image quality. More so than megapixels)