Best P&S camera

[CrEsTo]

Hi there

I'm looking for a new camera, I'm not a pro user, I just need a high quality camera for daily use and I preffer those ultra portable.

What would you guys recommend? I can pay around $400.

[macsrules]

Go to Best Buy and talk to there camera sales people, they will show you what is current and comparable in your price range to meet your needs.

As far as high end camera's, I can give you personal experience advice in that area.

[netdog]

Fuji makes cameras with good colour that work well in low light situations.

In strong light, the Lumix DMC-LX2 is very good. You might want to wait for the LX3.

[Lovesong]

Hi there

I'm looking for a new camera, I'm not a pro user, I just need a high quality camera for daily use and I preffer those ultra portable.

What would you guys recommend? I can pay around $400.

I think there is a fundamental issue with wanting a high quality camera that is ultra-portable. One usually doesn't go with the other.

The problem is that ultra portable cameras tend to have fairly poor lenses (they need to make them small), a flash that will invariably produce red eye (due to its close location in relation to the lens), and a very small and noisy chip.

For $400 I would suggest that you look at some of the mid-sized Canons (like the higher-end A-series), the Fuji F-31 (if you can still find it), or the Sony W-series.

For something that will allow you to take even better pictures, you will need to go even bigger. The Canon S5 IS has received some good reviews, and the Lumix FZ-50, though large by most standards, can produce some very nice images as well.

The main question you have to ask yourself is "how much does having an ultra compact camera weigh as opposed to having good images." If you want image quality you should go with something heavier (read: better optics, handling, and manual controls). If you need portability first and foremost, you can get any of the Sony T-series.

[QuarterSwede]

You can't beat the Digic III chip in a Canon P&S. Seriously, you get fantastic color with great shots in low light as well. There is hardly any zoom but who cares if you want a P&S and the cameras are small.

Forget about what everyone says about high quality cameras. I've seen just as good shots from a good P&S that a friend pulled out quickly and took a random snap. It's all about how you frame a shot and what you're capturing. A lot of times you'll end up getting better shots because you don't have to lug a bigger camera around so you always have it with you. You'll easily get shots you would've never gotten with a larger camera.

dpreview.com/reviews (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs.asp) if you didn't already know about this great site.

[cube]

You are all answering to a question asked in 2006.

[Lovesong]

You are all answering to a question asked in 2006.

Ah- And I just got done with another tirade on how macrules doesn't answer questions. This makes it even better :mad: