Time for a slight camera upgrade

So this is what I have right now. A Canon Powershot SD1000. I got in 2008 IIRC and for an easy point and shoot it's pretty darn good I'd say. I'd like to get something just a wee more controllable. I'm trying my hand at nicer pictures of items (most firearms) and my Powershot is just limited in some ways.

So I'd like to get a slightly nicer camera. Nothing out of control, but something that I get a little deeper into photography. Kinda been looking at the Nikon 1 J1. I'd like to keep it under $400ish.

Canon S100 at B&H Photo

Similar size to what you have. Modes from Auto Point & Shoot to full manual just like a DLSR. Priced at $365. Might also be able to find an S95 or S90 which are previous versions.

ZR1000 !!!!!!!!!!!!

Cameras are like cars. Faster is beter!

http://di.casio.com/digital_cameras/High-Speed/EX-ZR100/specifications

I have one and I love it! Like you I retired my Power Shot. I use my cam to show and help explain auto repairs. Now with the ZR1000 I can slow things down so I can now see WTF just hapen.

How do you feel limited by your current rig? There are lots of ways that a new camera won't be an upgrade from what you've got now.

peter wrote: How do you feel limited by your current rig? There are lots of ways that a new camera won't be an upgrade from what you've got now.

Hey, I like this answer. I was gonna say that your budget was too low, and you should up it to around $1000. so you can get the added flexibility of a nice DSLR outfit.

However, I really like a camera that fits in my shirt pocket, since I'm more likely to have it with me when it's time to take pictures. There are times I just don't want to lug a camera bag around with a camera, a few lenses and a dedicated flash in it. I currently own a Canon EOS Rebel T2i, but I'm thinking of picking up a little camera like your Elph to take the place of my vintage Yashica T4, because who shoots real film these days?

peter wrote: How do you feel limited by your current rig? There are lots of ways that a new camera won't be an upgrade from what you've got now.

Not being able to adjust shutter speed, F-stop, or manually set the focus. It gets annoying trying to trick my camera to focus somewhere else before pointing it at what I actually want to take a picture.

1988RedT2 said: I was gonna say that your budget was too low, and you should up it to around $1000. so you can get the added flexibility of a nice DSLR outfit.

This is like saying "Hey, I know you said you want to spend $25k on a new car, but double your budget and get something else". I don't want to drop that kind of cash on camera. I just want something a little bit nicer.

I know it's not exactly what you're looking for, but I'm tired of my Nikon D40. Feel free to make me an offer if you'd like.

Drewsifer wrote:

1988RedT2 said: I was gonna say that your budget was too low, and you should up it to around $1000. so you can get the added flexibility of a nice DSLR outfit.

This is like saying "Hey, I know you said you want to spend $25k on a new car, but double your budget and get something else". I don't want to drop that kind of cash on camera. I just want something a little bit nicer.

I agree. That's why I said "I was gonna say...." It's not like I actually said it!

The point being that one pocket-sized point-and-shoot is going to handle a lot like other pocket-sized point-and-shoots.

Drewsifer wrote: Not being able to adjust shutter speed, F-stop, or manually set the focus. It gets annoying trying to trick my camera to focus somewhere else before pointing it at what I actually want to take a picture.

I was fighting with my sister's big DSLR about focus last week, so I hear you on that one.

The issue at your price is that most of the lenses on these small cameras are compact zooms that cover a wide range at the expense of aperture. So at the focal length you choose, you may not actually have that much choice in exposure options. That's why my sister's DSLR was giving me fits - the super zoom she had on there was forced to a smaller (size) aperture and there wasn't enough light, so it refused to focus. Amazingly just bumping up the ISO helped...

But I digress.

Reading between the lines - if you want studio-looking shots of your collections, you'll be amazed at how much a tripod will help. And off-camera lighting.

Other than that - I don't know the current crop of small cameras personally, but unless you're willing to shell out $1200 for a Fuji X100 (in which case we should probably stop and talk more), I'd go with the Canon S100 based on semi-trusted (and only ever semi) reviews here and here

I don't have a Canon S90/95/100, but I do have the slightly bigger brother, the G12. From what I understand they have similar capabilities; if that is in fact true, I don't think you can go wrong. I opted for the G12 simply because I wanted the additional capabilities of adding a filter adapter and having two rotary controls so that I can adjust aperture and speed one-handed, without ever having to go into the menus.

I wonder if there's a good Micro 4/3rds camera with an optical viewfinder in your price range. That's the kind of camera I'd be looking for, searching for a few minutes doesn't bring anything up besides add-on viewfinders, which I don't think would be worth bothering with.

It just hit me, my post makes it sound like I'm looking for a pocket camera. And I guess that's the size I've been looking at. But that's not really what I'm looking for.

So let me try this again (once more with feeling!). It does't have to be a pocket camera. In fact I intend to keep using my Canon for a lot of things. So for this next camera it doesn't have to be a pocket point-and-shoot. Size really isn't an issue.

You're in luck, they have a CHDK version for your camera! Worth looking into.

I just replaced a Sony Cybershot with a Nikon Coolpix P500 and love it.

I shot these today on day two of vacation.

Coffee this morning.

Where we are staying from the beach

Small visitor.

Drewsifer wrote: It just hit me, my post makes it sound like I'm looking for a pocket camera. And I guess that's the size I've been looking at. But that's not really what I'm looking for. So let me try this again (once more with feeling!). It does't have to be a pocket camera. In fact I intend to keep using my Canon for a lot of things. So for this next camera it doesn't have to be a pocket point-and-shoot. Size really isn't an issue.

If that's the case, my recommendation is for the G12. Full manual capability, optical viewfinder, excellent control layout, filter adapter available (which also gives it a bit more of a traditional camera look and feel).

Toyman01 wrote: I just replaced a Sony Cybershot with a Nikon Coolpix P500 and love it.

my father-in-law just got one and loves it... LOTS of zoom and manual adjustments if/when he needs them... it's a bit more bulky then the g18 or something similar (cost of all that zoom)... his only complaint is that it still has lag... but for what he's shooting it works for him

In reply to donalson:

You are correct about the lag. It's not the fastest digital I've ever used. The Sony was quicker. It's not that it doesn't take the picture fairly fast, the lag happens between shots. I may get it out to an autocross and hate it.

I was indifferent about the zoom until I started playing with it.

Even the lizard, above, was shot with the zoom. I was probably 20 feet away from him when that was shot. This one is the 36x optical, I think my Sony was a 16.

In reply to Toyman01:

Love the lounging lizard!

Toyman01:

I think I'm sold on the P500. While I am primarily interested in better photos, gaining a 1080p video recorder is a big plus for me. The zoom is nice and could be useful.

http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon_PowerShot_G12-vs-Nikon-P500

According to these guys, it takes more pictures in continous mode. Does it lag between photos if you're trying to take a bunch of single pictures back to back?

" /> Look into the Nikon D5100 should fit in well under $1000 and shoot 1080 plus it has a really good sensor for the price range. I shoot one and love it. The camera seems to get really good reviews for a stepping up from the point and shoot world to dslr. Heres a few samples " />

f86sabjf wrote: Look into the Nikon D5100 should fit in well under $1000 and shoot 1080 plus it has a really good sensor for the price range. I shoot one and love it. The camera seems to get really good reviews for a stepping up from the point and shoot world to dslr.

Without knowing anything more about it, I'm rather impressed that you can get a DSLR, with lens, for $650 (Amazon). Either that's a great deal, or I'm behind the times on DSLR pricing...

OK, so it's 162.5% of the stated budget, and I'm sure the lens isn't all that, but it's a great starting point if you think you might have been bitten by the camera bug...

you can find even cheaper then that... all depends on what features you want... but ya DSLR prices have come A LONG way... you'll be getting a low end 18-55 kit lens at that price but it's a pretty good/usable range although a longer (more zoomed in) lens is always nice

the size/bulk is the biggest issue with an SLR...

I just bought a Canon Powershot SX40 before we went to Hawaii and LOVE IT! It has tons of great reviews and lives up to all of them. While in Hawaii I took about 800 pictures and most of the time left it in auto mode, still need to learn the rest of it. Takes great videos too. And the zoom is awesome, the first day I had it I took it to the airport I work at, took a close up picture of the houses that are over a mile away at the other end of the airport. List price is $429 but I see them around $389. (I lucked out, bought it at Best Buy on Monday, on Tuesday I get an email coupon from Staples for 20% off Canon cameras. Took the coupon to BB and they matched it plus 10% of the diff!)