I have a Nikon D70s with two lenses, a flash, a tripid a a few other smalle accessories. I always take it on trips with me, but find myself using it very little, and always dread carrying it around. I　think I would be much happier if I owned a point and shoot, and I would be more likley to take pictures. So, i am looking for a replacement.
There are two things that I need from it: good low light performance, and a very low shutter delay. The main reason I bought a DSLR in the first place is because I was looking to take snowboarding pictures, and at the time all the point and shoot had a very bad delay.
I second the Canon S90, though I admit I don't use mine very much. It shoots raw and is more responsive than any point-and-shoot I've owned in the past. I haven't used any of the more recent P&S from other manufacturers to compare it to.
Originally posted by The_Tourist:
I think you're still going to find the P&S's with shutter delay. But perhaps check out the Canon S90.
Have a look at some of the Oly 4:3 format cameras.... Much smaller then an SLR because of no mirror as I think it's more what your after... More like an SLR feature wise and more like a P&S size and what not size. Price wise they are in the middle as well.
I agree on the micro 4/3 models. Those will give you SLR like image quality in a compact package. The Canon G9/10/11 also has a good rep, but that is a small sensor compact that won't do as well in low light.
If you chronically half-press, the shutter delay on a P&S like the G11 or S90 shouldn't be a deal breaker.. Go use one at Best Buy or Sam's/Costco.. See how you feel about the responsiveness. Personally the ONLY thing I don't love, and I mean absolutely love about my G9 is the low light performance, but that's all better now with the S90/G11.. OH and the S90 has a cool new front ring control that looks freaking killer..
I always half-press, and recompose. So, I am glad you told me that.
What would be the difference between S90 and G11? I don't mean to sound rich, but money is not a concern to me. I could probably pay for the camera by selling my 70-300VR lens.
I always half-press, and recompose. So, I am glad you told me that.
What would be the difference between S90 and G11? I don't mean to sound rich, but money is not a concern to me. I could probably pay for the camera by selling my 70-300VR lens.
The biggest difference is size. G11 is still a bit bulky. S90 is fairly small (can fit in a shirt pocket).
From your original post, I would think you would shoot more pics if you carried the S90...
S90 and G11
I played with them at a camera shop near by and was really impressed with the prints they had done straight from the F70exr and the loads of options on both.
I have to agree with sabphoto. The point and shoot fuji is truly amazing. After spending thousands on a D3s my highest scoring photo on another competition website is this one taken with the point and shoot . It just goes to show when we spend more time looking at the subject and less at the knobs and dials on the camera we often get better results. I can't recommend this little camera enough
@sabphoto: I never even considered that brand, I will look into it
@kingskingdom: My highest rated photo on this site was the subject that I knew well and shot a few times before. Even before submitting the photo I knew it would place well. And I figure my D70s is pretty outdated anyway, a P&S should serve me just fine.
EDIT: Darn, why would G11 drop tethered shooting? I enjoy taking star streak photos, and without bulb mode it's not possible.
EDIT 2: Olympus E-P2 looks like a great camera, but damn $1,000 for a point and shoot.
Thank you everyone for your help. I decided on the Olympus e-p2. Seems like it will suit my needs the best. I am now drooling over that camera and tempted to buy it right now. Looking for a good price
Thank you everyone for your help. I decided on the Olympus e-p2. Seems like it will suit my needs the best. I am now drooling over that camera and tempted to buy it right now. Looking for a good price
The E-P2 seems too expensive. It's a rangefinder, though, so you still have the SLR feel of interchangeable lenses and amazing low-light performance.
I'm liking the Fuji F200EXR, but DPReview has said that the EXR sensor, which is suppposedly better for low-light shots, sometimes gives weird artifacts. It's really cheap for what it can do, though. Here's a link to its "Timings" page:
ETA: Best point and shoot I've used is a Sony DSC-P200. It's about 5 years old, but its 7.2 MP are way better than the 10-12 MP they're stuffing into little point and shoots these days. The only issues I had with it were the weak flash and the max ISO (only 400). I'm sure there's at least one point and shoot camera that still has high image quality, low noise, and decent shutter lag.
ETA2: Have you looked at the Sony HX5V? Images seem to be a little blotchy, but it's a point and shoot with 10 MP stuffed in there, and they don't look that bad, even at ISO 800...
ETA: Best point and shoot I've used is a Sony DSC-P200. It's about 5 years old, but its 7.2 MP are way better than the 10-12 MP they're stuffing into little point and shoots these days. The only issues I had with it were the weak flash and the max ISO (only 400). I'm sure there's at least one point and shoot camera that still has high image quality, low noise, and decent shutter lag.
I agree. That many pixels are too many for a pocket cam, though it is the spec that sells compacts. I did a comparison between my 5Mp Powershot A530 and 8Mp Powershot S5, a newer and higher end model. The older 5Mp camera exibited lower noise and better detail at a 1:1 view.
ETA: Best point and shoot I've used is a Sony DSC-P200. It's about 5 years old, but its 7.2 MP are way better than the 10-12 MP they're stuffing into little point and shoots these days. The only issues I had with it were the weak flash and the max ISO (only 400). I'm sure there's at least one point and shoot camera that still has high image quality, low noise, and decent shutter lag.
I agree. That many pixels are too many for a pocket cam, though it is the spec that sells compacts. I did a comparison between my 5Mp Powershot A530 and 8Mp Powershot S5, a newer and higher end model. The older 5Mp camera exibited lower noise and better detail at a 1:1 view.
