Cheap Point & Shoot (again?)

[dieselcruiserhead]

My canon P+S is going in for repair or replacement and should be down a couple weeks. I love them (just the cheap A-series IS cameras) but they are a little bulky with their use of AA batteries -- which is great - but not great for just putting in your pocket or quick/easy photos while traveling. I'll still keep and use the Canon for shop or industrial/rugged type use...

So I think I'm looking for a good thin/light digital camera for day to day use. Unfortunately these are the 'spectacular' moments often so a good camera would be nice. More important to me, rather than mega pixels, is a good/quick quality processor (I hate pushing the button and waiting a few seconds) and hopefully using a SD card (or compact flash -- if they still make those) if possible as I already have quite a few of each.


The Canons (which have always been the best for me) are as low as $129 right now, which is unreal. I guess I would consider having two as the newer Canons are a little smaller. Trying to keep it on the cheap of course. Under $200 or $250 would be great. Do people have recommendations?

 

[haven]

Andre, I know you're looking for a smaller camera, but it's hard to resist the Canon PowerShot A590 IS 8 MP 4X Zoom Digital Camera. It's available from Dell for $110

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=a2211910

Canon offers a $10 mail-in rebate for this model if you already own an "A-Series" Canon

http://www.usa.canon.com/app/pdf/Promotions/aseries_stepup.pdf

Costco stores offered the A590 IS for $99 two weeks ago, but most stores are sold out. It's worth checking if there's a Costco near you.

I'm fond of my Fujifilm F30 as a walk-around camera. It's very good in low light/high ISO conditions, where most point and shoot cameras are hopeless. On a tripod, the F30 is great for macro shots, too. I use it for marketing photos of custom jewelry. The F30 is long discontinued, however.

The Finepix F100fd is the model Fujifilm sells in place of the F30 these days. The F100fd is the camera DPReview named as the top pick in the "premium compact class" recently. (The F100fd shared top spot with the Canon PowerShot SD 880 IS.) Here's the conclusion of the review:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q408premiumgroup/page12.asp

Fujifilm used to use XD memory cards exclusively, but the F100fd accepts SDHC as well as XD.

The price of the F100fd at many online retailers is $285, and Fujifilm is offering a $100 rebate. Here's one such deal
http://www.buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=FJFPF100

No doubt the substantial rebate from Fujifilm means a replacement model is on the way. Camera manufacturers seem to refresh their offerings every six months or so.

Chip Haven

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

thanks Chip!

You're reaffirming my harebrained idea to possibly have both of the same camera. My now-dying Canon is an A-560 (that is also awesome). I go through cameras so often that on this one I bought the super heavy duty 2 year warranty from Staples this time. It was funny day actually (Kurt you might remember if you're out there). So now it goes back again... (last time it was a slew of broken plastic parts). This time I might as well just drop it in the toilet to 'seal the deal' because I want it replaced not repaired, it's just been through too much to be salvageable as it finally has quite a bit of little things wrong with it. The question is whether they send my another A-560 or if they'll send me something like A-590 and I'll have two of the exact same camera (which truthfully is not that crazy an idea)...

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Hi Chip,
Reporting that I purchased the A1000is today. Very happy so far...

$129 at Staples with a price match to Best Buy. Also did the $65 replacement/accident coverage again as I go through them so often...


Review and photos:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/A1000IS/A1000ISA.HTM

 

[opie]

I just grabbed one of these...

http://www.adorama.com/IPCDMCFX150B.html?searchinfo=panasonic+lumix

Reviews seem to be good, so well see. Should have it today.

 

[Maximus Ram]

Andre, have you had time to use the A1000 IS yet ?
Opinion on it ?
I just saw it in a Walmart ad and was looking for reviews on it and bam, you have it.
Thanks
Matt

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Hi Matt,
Greetings from Valley of the Gods Utah --- yes used it extensively including a ton today, it's awesome.. 100% recommended! I'll post some photos shortly, it's surprizingly way better than my 500 series A's as well, as good as they were....

 

[Maximus Ram]

Cool. Thanks for the update.
I'll have to go and look at one today.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Here you go! It is tough because at full size they are crystal clear but there is some loss of resolution with the resize... A common technique is use photoshop "sharpening" which you can control the levels of, which I've done here... All in all I would say this and the two A series point and shoot Canons I've owned before it are the only ones I've been happy with.... I am still looking for a digital SLR at some point but this will do for now... Hope it helps!

 

[Rob O]

Aside from the requisite "G10" and Panny "LX3" recommendations that most DSLR shooters will offer up, and both are great midsize P&S cameras, my current recommendation for something closer to the slim, pocketable compact is the Canon SX200 IS.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0902/09021804canonsx200is.asp