I need a great 'non' DSLR

[Booter]

I'd like to upgrade from my Nikon Point and Shoot but I don't have the budget for a DSLR. I'm not loyal to any brand right now.

I'd like to know what the best choice for a non DSLR would be. I'd like to improve on the zoom while keeping reasonable clarity in low light if possible. If I can keep it as small as possible, that would be good too. Any ideas?

[inkista]

What model do you have now? And what budget range are you looking at?

Sight-unseen, on the Canon P&S bargain side, I'd recommend looking at the SX110IS (a bit big and clunky, but a 10x zoom, and a relatively low price ($250), or the A590IS ($150) or A720IS ($200). All three of these cameras offer stabilization and full manual, aperture-priority, and shutter-priority shooting modes.

[JoesPhotos]

My wife has a Canon Powershot SD800 IS. It's a super P&S. Easy to use, great quality & 7.1 mp and a price tag of around $350. Sometimes you can catch them on eBay for $150-250

[velvet4269]

Kinda happy with the Panasonic Lumix TZ5A I picked up, for around $250. 9MP camera, offeres a shutter & manual priority mode, as well as image stabilization, and does movies. It also gives you the option of shooting 4:3, 3:2, or 16:9 (but you lose MP for each format)

The only downside to it that I've found: anything over ISO 200 is pretty much useless. For some examples of photos I've taken with it, visit here. I picked up the p&s because I couldn't take my DSLR with me to Austin City Limits (and given most of my shift there was volunteer work, and how dirty & dusty it was, I wouldn't have wanted to take the big camera), and managed to get some pretty decent shots.

[Booter]

thanks folks!

I'm going to check into these.

Inkista, I've got the Nikon Coolpix 5600. I'ts about 3 years old. It's been good so far. (sample shots here): http://picasaweb.google.com/emailit12

velvet4269, I like the shots you posted with the Lumix. Love the cat in drawer.

[OsmosisStudios]

How about a G9/G10? Alot of the features with none of the hassles. And its built to be dropped from a plane.

[inkista]

Only problem with a new G10 is that at $430, it costs as much as a low-end dSLR.

[velvet4269]

Originally Posted by Booter

velvet4269, I like the shots you posted with the Lumix. Love the cat in drawer.

Lol ... thanks! She loves to climb in my dresser drawers!

I will say that I played around with various Nikons, Canons, Fuji (notorious for their gorgeous colors), Olympus, and other Panasonic cameras before deciding on the one I got - I spent probably a good 2-3 weeks trying to decide (just like I did when I bought my DSLR). Booter, if you have some stores near you (doesn't even have to be a camera/electronics store - I had an idea of what I wanted, so I played with the cameras in different stores), you may want to pick up and play with a few models. I even played with the same camera in different stores, just to make sure.

Good luck, what ever you decide!

[Samanax]

Originally Posted by Booter

I'd like to upgrade from my Nikon Point and Shoot but I don't have the budget for a DSLR. I'm not loyal to any brand right now.

I'd like to know what the best choice for a non DSLR would be. I'd like to improve on the zoom while keeping reasonable clarity in low light if possible. If I can keep it as small as possible, that would be good too. Any ideas?

What's your budget?

[Booter]

Velvet, I fiddled around with the Canon SX110 today. Not bad. I 've read good things about it. The pop-up flash I"m not crazy about but I rarely use flash anyway. I'll handle several more before I decide.

Samanax, my budget is $350. but I'm not very disciplined about purchases sometimes I still dream about an dSLR. Thing is, I prefer small as possible. I get a little intimidated with too many bells and whistles. I also think an SLR is a bit bulky for me. I'm clumsy, I've bounced my little Coolpix off the pavement a couple of times. I had a Nikon 995 years ago and accidently dipped it in a lake. I pooched the focusing mechanizm.