Urgent help needed choosing new camera!!!!

[SparkieBlues]

I just broke my old camera on my trip to phuket and I need a replacement fast!!! I got two options here. The first is Canon Powershot G11 (brand new) that I manage to find at a really good price in the area. The other is a second hand EOS 400D + kit lens and battery grip.

I have a limited budget (or I would have bought myself the 7D!!! lol) and the second hand 400D is priced a lot lower than the new G11.

I'm weighting in the pros and cons here and would like to hear from you.

Or you can just send me a new camera...I'm paying for the shipping!!

[RichardTaylor]

If you don't mind the size .... The 400D.
Mainly because if the better noise performance & the responsivness.

[inkista]

The 400D is the better buy if you're serious about photography. However, you will need to learn how to use it before your trip. Even setting the camera with its kit lens on full automatic, you've still got a bit of a learning curve ahead of you, and you will be losing some function you may be used to with a P&S (telephoto reach, macro capability) and learning to deal with some newer issues that are less critical on P&S cameras (DoF, focusing issues, camera shake). In addition, you may want to add at least one more lens (like the EF 50mm f/1.8 II) for low-light capability/portraits.

The G11 is an amazing P&S camera, and if you want to travel small and light, it's going to be far more convenient than a dSLR. However, the image quality and high iso performance are nothing like a dSLR's, and the responsiveness of the shutter (i.e., the ability to time the moment you capture the shot) is much worse.

[heatherwb]

While I have the G11 and it is a great camera, I would suggest going with the 400D + kit lens if this is going to be your only camera. With the DSLR, you'll get better IQ and flexibility in the types of images you can get.

If you've got the budget for it, I would also suggest adding the EF-S 55-250 IS or the Tamron 70-300, so you'll have the extra reach.

HTH,
Heather