Subcompact cameras, anyone?

[rolanni]

I've gotten a bug in my ear about getting a new camera. Mind you, I have a perfectly good (as soon I replace the duct tape holding the battery compartment shut, again) Minolta Dimage Z1, which takes a pretty good picture, though I could wish for image stabilization. Also, as it has been my goal over the years to lighten my load when I travel, I have deemed it "too big" to lug with me to, oh, WorldCon, and left it home, only to regret later that I had no pictures from the event.

This all being true, I've been looking at acquiring a subcompact camera; something I can slip into my pocket and take with. I'm not by any means a professional photographer, though I do have some proficiency, due to having had to be reporter-AND-photographer back when I was roving freelancer.

So! Bearing in mind that I cannot actually afford a new camera, but that Inquiring Minds always Want To Know, what are your recommendations?

Comments

Nikon & Panasonic

[redpimpernel.livejournal.com]

I have a big Lumix DMC FZ20, which I love for the zeiss lens, and 12x optical zoom. What I wish I also had, a better camera in my cell phone. I'm choosing my next cell phone by the best camera I can get in one, because that is the pocket camera I have with me all the time.

Last year we got my sister a cheap (<$100) Nikon Coolpix (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Nikon+-+Coolpix+10.0-Megapixel+Digital+Camera+-+Red/9220167.p?id=1218061794553&skuId=9220167), to take on geology field trips, because I was sure she would either lose it or break it. (Surprisingly she has only lost the transfer cord for it, but not the camera, and it didn't get wet when she fell in the river, either time.) She loves it, and even though it's a 10 megapixel camera she uses the 6 megapixel setting to save on file size. The photos in her presentations are always great. The only thing she doesn't like about it is that it uses regular AA batteries, instead of a rechargeable Li-ion type.

Good Places to research different camera models and see sample photos for comparisons:
Steve's Digicams (http://www.steves-digicams.com): http://www.steves-digicams.com
and
Digital Camera Resource Page (http://www.dcresource.com): http://www.dcresource.com

Re: Nikon

[trolleypup.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the L series uses AAs...apparently there is a population that prefers that to rechargeables and particularly non-standard rechargeables. My "disposable" coolpix (and old 3100 (circa 2003)) happily takes AA NiMH batteries...disposable in that I can replace it (and have) for about $50 including shipping after I destroy it...this is the take everywhere work and work trip camera that gets banged around and dirty.

And...errr...after participating in this thread, I went out and snaffled a Coolpix S9 (circa 2006) as a candidate for upgrading one of the little cameras with something smaller, lighter and more capable.

*drools a little bit, looking at the touchscreen S70*

Re: Nikon & Panasonic

[elgordo303.livejournal.com]

i think the Droid is about the most capable "phone camera" on the market ... it's certainly the most capable one i've seen ... 5mp + flash