Camera, best compact

[chumbacabra]

Anybody want to throw in ideas for a compact camera, that takes good pics, durable with a rechargeable battery. My riding friend bought an olympus XXXws. It was slow to take a pic after pushing the button so all my sweet air is lost forever .

Thanks for any input.

[Pho'dUp]

Canon.

Some of your friend's problems may be the speed of the digital media card he's using and maybe the camera.

I'm just guessing..

[jcbikeski]

My Canon SD500 has worked great. While I'm normally pretty careful I did drop it on rock from waist height and it was just fine after (heavy but solid camera). If fast operation is key you should check out the comparisons on cnet. I found that even within the Canon SDxxx line there is a lot of variation due to resolution and other factors so you might not want the very newest version.

[speckledtrout]

Any of the Canon elph digital cameras are terrific. I've had mine for about 5 years and I've never had any problems. They are less expensive now and small enough to put in your pocket so that you'll actually bring it with you and use it.

[foofighter]

there's extensive discussions about this and the conclusion is Canon is the way to go.

[Rivet]

Originally Posted by chumbacabra

Anybody want to throw in ideas for a compact camera, that takes good pics, durable with a rechargeable battery. My riding friend bought an olympus XXXws. It was slow to take a pic after pushing the button so all my sweet air is lost forever .

Thanks for any input.

best point and shoot digitals right now are the Panasonic Lumix's that use the Leica lens. Picture quality is head and shoulders above the competition right now.

[jcbikeski]

The Lumix seems pretty cool with its wide video ability. It's rated fast for continuous shooting, but slow for the first shot. At least this model: http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-came...2.html?tag=sub

[allison]

What's your budget?

Either way, Canon.

[chumbacabra]

Originally Posted by Rivet

best point and shoot digitals right now are the Panasonic Lumix's that use the Leica lens. Picture quality is head and shoulders above the competition right now.

I have a lumix. It is one of the bigger ones with the 12x optical zoom. I love the camera. It just a little big. Have you had experience with the smaller ones?

Originally Posted by allison

What's your budget?

Either way, Canon.

Probably looking to stay under $400.

[allison]

Originally Posted by chumbacabra

Probably looking to stay under $400.

I've got the SD950 IS. It's got a metal body instead of plastic so it should hold up a little better than my older 800IS did. I beat that camera and took over 27gigs of photos. It lasted just over a year when I got it wet

[sdyeti]

Canon SD1000...

[bvader]

Originally Posted by chumbacabra

Anybody want to throw in ideas for a compact camera, that takes good pics, durable with a rechargeable battery. My riding friend bought an olympus XXXws. It was slow to take a pic after pushing the button so all my sweet air is lost forever .

Thanks for any input.

BTW the time between pushing the button and the camera actually taking the picture is known as "Shutter Lag" and has little or nothing to do with the speed of the media card.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shutter_lag

Shutter Lag is more on an issue with Digital cameras, in particular, point and shoot types. Some cameras are better than others and there are some techniques you can use to help. (Prefocus, hold the shutter release half way down in the "Focused" Position...

So when you are doing research you want to ask a few questions about that. I have a Canon (can;t go wrong there) the Lumix Panasonics are also good choices and believe it or not, Olympus has some great outdoor/action oriented cameras.

A digital SLR is you best bet if you are really interested in action shots, but like most of us, you want a compact you can fit in a pocket/camelback.

BTW I have a Canon. (an older one)

Please look at this...
The Canon 850is got a "Highly Recommended" that is the highest rating from this very in depth site/review.
Intro...
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canonsd850is/

Conclusion...
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canonsd850is/page12.asp

[SheDevil]

Canon G9

[mntbiker12]

+1 Vote for Canon SD1000

I did have a Panasonic Lumix, but the zoom mechanism crapped out on me, and despite the high quality pics I got from it, I'll pass and go for same if not better quality w/ Canon and more reliability.

[Pugz]

The canon's are great, there are some great deals on Amazon (I just bought a 570IS), they also have some killer deals on memory cards.

[Rockinthecasbah]

for a compact i love my little fujifilm I wouldnt trade it for my dslr but its a great camera to throw in your camelback and takes rechargable AA's so uf you forget batterys you can always find backup

[KeepsWhatHappens]

Originally Posted by sdyeti

Canon SD1000...

+1

[HUGH]

Anything Canon SDxxx(pick a number). I have a Canon SD 870 is . Works great! the best part is the 3in LCD and a wide angle lense(in relation to the rest of the SD line).
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canonsd870is/
Just for the record I'm a Nikon DSLR guy.

HUGH

[brett]

I'll throw in another vote for the SD950is. Awesome little camera, though I still have my trusty S400 for rides.

[Burner]

I have the SD950IS and I haven't been impressed with the color / hue / whatever... especially when I look at other people's pictures from the same ride also taken with point and shoots. They just seem kind of dull on the 950IS. Anyone else notice this or do I just have a bunk one?

I wish I was more of a photog buff